登陆注册
19498800000088

第88章

"Why, sure." That seemed quite simple to Ike.

"Swearing, drinking, fighting, gambling," Shock continued.

Ike hesitated.

"Why, you don't suppose He would mind a little thing like a smile with the boys now and then, or a quiet game of poker, do you?""What I say, Ike, is this--if you thought He did mind, would you quit?""Why, sure.You just bet! I said so."

"Well, Ike, supposing some--one of those chaps from the Pass, say Hickey, should walk up and hit you right the face, what would you do?""What? Proceed to eddicate him.Preject him into next week.That is, if there was anything left."Shock opened his Bible and read, "'But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil; but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek turn to him the other also.' That is what Jesus Christ says, Ike.""He does, eh? Does it mean just that?" Ike felt that this was a serious difficulty.

"Yes, it means just that."

"Are all you fellers like that?"

This wrought in Shock sudden confusion.

"Well, Ike, I am afraid not, but we ought to be, and we aim to be.""Well," said Ike slowly, "I guess I aint made that way."Then Shock turned the leaves of his Bible, and read the story of the cruel bruising of the Son of Man, and on to the words, "Father, forgive them." Ike had heard this story before, but he had never seen its bearing upon practical life.

"I say," he said, with reverent admiration in his voice, "He did it, didn't He? That's what I call pretty high jumpin', aint it? Well,"he continued, "I can't make no promises, but I tell you what, I'll aim at it.I will, honest.And when you see me weaken, you'll jack me up, won't you? You'll have to stay with me, for it's a mighty hard proposition."Then Shock took his hands."Ike, you are a better man than I am, but I promise you I will stay all I can with you.But there will be days when you will be all alone except that He will be with you.Now listen," and Shock, turning over the leaves of his Bible, read, "Lo, I am with you always," and a little further over and read again, "Ican do all things through Christ that strengtheneth me.""That is His solemn promise, Ike.He has promised to save us from our sins.Do you think you can trust Him to do that?""Why, sure," said Ike, as if nothing else was possible."That's His game, aint it? I guess He'll stay with it.He said so, didn't He?""Yes," said Shock, with a sudden exaltation of faith, "He said so, and He will stay with it.Don't you be afraid, Ike.He will see you through."The Communion Roll when it was completed numbered some eighteen names, and of these eighteen none were more sorely pressed to the wall in God's battle than Ike, and none more loyally than he stayed with the game.

Owing to miscarriage in arrangements, when the Superintendent arrived at the Fort he was surprised to find no one to meet him.

This had an appearance of carelessness or mismanagement that unfavorably impressed the Superintendent as to the business capacity of his missionary.He was too experienced a traveller, however, in the remote and unformed districts of the West, to be at all disconcerted at almost any misadventure.

He inquired for Mr.Macfarren, and found him in Simmons' store, redolent of bad tobacco and worse whiskey, but quite master of his mental and physical powers.The Superintendent had business with Mr.

Macfarren, and proceeded forthwith to transact it.

After his first salutation he began, "When I saw you last, Mr.

Macfarren, you professed yourself keenly desirous of having services established by our church here.""Yes."

"Why this sudden change, represented by your letter to the Committee, and the petition, which I judge was promoted by yourself?

I placed a man here, with every expectation of success.How can you explain this change in you and in the people you represent?"The Superintendent's bodily presence was anything but weak, and men who could oppose him when at a distance, when confronted with him found it difficult to support their opposition.Macfarren found it so.He began in an apologetic manner, "Well, Doctor, circumstances have changed.Times have been none too good.In fact, we are suffering from financial stringency at present.""Mr.Macfarren, be specific as to your reasons.Your letter and your petition were instrumental in persuading the Committee to a complete change of policy.This should not be without the very best of reasons.""Well, as I was saying," answered Macfarren, "finances were--""Tut! tut! Mr.Macfarren.You do not all become poor in six months.

Your cattle are still here.Your horses have suffered from no plague.""Well," said Mr.Macfarren, "the people have become alienated.""Alienated? From the church?"

"Well, yes.They seem to be satisfied with--to prefer, indeed, the Anglican services.""Mr.Macfarren, do you mean to tell me that the Presbyterians of this country prefer any church to their own? I fear they are a different breed from those I have known, and unworthy to represent the church of their fathers.""Well, the truth is, Doctor," said Macfarren, considerably nettled at the Superintendent's manner, "the people consider that they were not well treated in the supply you sent them.""Ah! Now we have it.Well, let us be specific again.Is Mr.

Macgregor not a good preacher?"

"No, he is not.He is not such a preacher as many of us have been accustomed to.""By the way, Mr.Macfarren, what do your people pay toward this man's salary? Five hundred? Three hundred? We only asked you two hundred, and this you found difficult.And yet you expect a two-thousand-dollar preacher."

"Well, his preaching was not his only fault," said Macfarren."He was totally unsuited to our people.He was a man of no breeding, no manners, and in this town we need a man--""Wait a moment, Mr.Macfarren.You can put up with his preaching?""Yes."

"Did he visit his people?"

"Yes, goodness knows, he did that enough.""Was his character good?"

"Oh, certainly."

同类推荐
  • 紫竹林颛愚衡和尚语录

    紫竹林颛愚衡和尚语录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 晦台元镜禅师语录

    晦台元镜禅师语录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 影响集

    影响集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 僖公

    僖公

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 东谷赘言

    东谷赘言

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 快乐怀孕280天

    快乐怀孕280天

    本书内容包括:孕期营养指导、孕期运动指导、孕期胎教提示、孕期检查提醒、孕期疾病护理、孕期心理调整等。
  • 神兵纪

    神兵纪

    掌控大力牛魔经,铸就牛魔神兵,开创神兵新纪元,刘天宝的目的很简单,让美女师尊步步高升,誓做天下第一纨绔。神兵天下,无上兵道,一个精彩纷呈的神兵世界即将呈现在大家的面前,在这里你也可以找到一把属于自己的神兵。
  • 盛婚:豪门通妻令

    盛婚:豪门通妻令

    “忠于你的心,承认爱上我。”他爱她,宠她,她心陷沉沦,挣扎在爱与恨的边缘,一场噩梦悄然降临……
  • 卿本风流之夫人,我错了

    卿本风流之夫人,我错了

    一觉醒来,她失去了所有记忆,身边除了一个貌美如花的侍女,便什么都没有了。于她,所有的一切都只剩下了本能。但是,即使只是本能,她都还是她,不管怎么变,骨子里头天生的东西却是从来都不会变的。于她,于他,三世的重逢,即便忘记一切,也依然记得在那一年的那一天,他们曾在那棵梧桐树下许下的诺言,待卿长发及腰,圆吾十里红妆梦。欢迎各位看官们入坑,文风重宠轻虐,结局一对一。
  • 洪荒妖祖

    洪荒妖祖

    叶晨重生于洪荒,成了天地间第一头狮子。敬请关注一头狮子如何证得混元,成就一代不朽圣人。
  • 新落樱千年三国恋

    新落樱千年三国恋

    一段诉说三国的故事。一场阴差阳错的意外相爱。他们都是背负使命的人,真的能相拥永久吗?古去今来,最终是否有情人终成眷属?且听碎玉倾杯的爱情,落花无声,美如千年。
  • 重生之异世女王:睥睨天下

    重生之异世女王:睥睨天下

    她是东方大陆一代战神太子,女扮男装,阴暗偏激,阴狠狡诈,擅长权术,阴谋诡计,冷酷无情,残暴嗜血,一人之下万人之上。登基之日遭众叛亲离,让她重生到了西方大陆。再度女扮男装,手握水火元素,杀光明教皇,灭光明天使,毁光明神殿,开辟一条杀伐之路。身怀空间戒指,收魔宠,收战宠,还有收男宠……废材?斗玄双修的天才是废材?渣渣?拥有驯兽师、丹药师、炼器师身份的变态是渣渣?回眸一笑天下乱,哪想到惊才绝艳的他竟然是她?于是,众美男怒,女人,你骗我们骗得好苦!
  • 盛世繁华:遇见

    盛世繁华:遇见

    苏婉婉虽然才二十五岁,可是自小却有着一股子成熟,比起同龄人来说她要成熟的很多,自从经历过上一段感情之后她便不再抱有任何希望,她的想法是回家相个亲,然后找个人安安稳稳的度过了,却不曾想一场旅行彻底改变她的人生。一场相遇,多少爱恨纠葛。
  • 上古世纪之地球尽头

    上古世纪之地球尽头

    英雄长恨,女神倾情。世界从这里开始,又从这里结束。地球尽头,一场毁灭性杀戮刚刚结束,大陆中央,另一场战争式重建早早开始。神与英雄,谁能拯救这片大陆?女神与精灵,谁又能俘获英雄的爱情?
  • 异界超级制造机

    异界超级制造机

    带着超级制造机的林洛,在科技大陆,斗气大陆,修真大陆三种文明大战的世界里,可以翻起什么样的风暴?机甲?战舰?我可以批量生产!法宝?丹药?你还在一件件一颗颗炼制的时候,我都可以量产了。什么?你说你们修炼斗气的不靠这些,靠自己的实力?别逗了,怪不得你们被欺负的最惨。跟着我混吧,包你们吃香的喝辣的。当林洛带着自己的金手指来到异界的时候,就注定了这个世界会因为林洛而改变……