Part 5 (1/2)
”'Well,' sez he.
”'An' ye recollect,' sez I, 'how one was loaded down with apples, while t'other had nuthin' but leaves?'
”I remember,” sez he.
”'Well, then,' sez I, 'One was pelted with sticks an' stones all summer, an' even hed some of its branches broken, while t'other was not teched.
Why was that?
”'Cause it hed plenty of good fruit on it,' sez he.
”'Jist so,' sez I. 'Cause it hed good fruit. An' that's why so often the Lord's good people er pelted with vile words cause they're loaded down with good deeds. If they never did nuthin' the devil 'ud leave 'em alone, but jist 'cause they bear good fruit is the reason they're pelted.' John reckoned I was right, an' he's got a purty level head, if I do say it.”
”I only hope most of the people in the parish will stand by the parson,”
replied Mrs. Larkins. ”I know some will, but there are others who are easily led, and Tom Fletcher's got a sharp tongue.”
”Why wouldn't they stan' by 'im, Mrs. Larkins? Wot hev they agin 'im? Tell me that.”
Mrs. Larkins did not answer for a while, but sat gazing out of the window as if she did not hear the remark.
”I'm thinking of the parson's son, Philip,” Mrs. Larkins at length replied. ”You know about him, of course?”
”Sartin' I do. I've knowed Phillie sense he was a baby, an' held 'im in me arms, too. He was a sweet lamb, that's wot he was. I understan' he's a minin' ingineer out in British Columbia, an' doin' fine from the last account I heerd.”
”That was some time ago, Mrs. Stickles, was it not?”
”I believe it was last summer.”
”Well, it seems that Philip's in trouble.”
”Lan' sake, ye don't tell me!” and Mrs. Stickles dropped her knitting and held up her hands in horror. ”I was afeered of it, Mrs. Larkins. It's no place fer man or beast out thar. Hev the Injins hurt 'im, or the bears clawed 'im? I understan' they're thick as flies in summer.”
”Oh, no, not that,” replied Mrs. Larkins. ”You see over a year ago Philip invested in some mining property out there, and the prospects looked so bright that he induced his father to join him in the enterprise. Though the parson's salary has always been small, with strict economy he had laid something by each year for his old age. The whole of this he gave to Philip to be invested. For a time things looked very bright and it seemed as if the mines would produce handsome profits. Unfortunately several claimants for the property suddenly turned up, with the result that the whole affair is now in litigation. The case is to be decided in a few months, and should it go against Philip he and his father will be ruined.
Philip manages the matter, and the parson advances what money he can sc.r.a.pe together. Just lately the whole affair has leaked out, and some people, knowing how the parson needs money, may not be slow to impute to him things of which he is entirely ignorant.”
Mrs. Stickles was about to speak, when a jingle of bells sounded outside.
”Well, I declare!” she exclaimed, ”Sammy's back already!” With that, she rose to her feet, and the conversation ended.
The church was crowded the day old Billy was buried, for a funeral in Glendow was always an important event. Parson John was clad in his simple robes of office and read the Burial Service in a resonant, well-modulated voice. Beholding such n.o.bleness, gentleness and dignity of his face and bearing, only the most suspicious could a.s.sociate him with any underhanded dealing. What connection had such a man with the base things of life?
Mounting the pulpit, he gave a short, impressive address. There was no sentiment, or flowery language. He glossed nothing over, but in a few words sketched Billy Fletcher's life, and pointed him out as a warning to those who become careless and indifferent to higher things.
”The parson talked mighty plain to-day,” said one man in a low voice to another, as they wended their way to the graveyard. ”He didn't put poor Billy in Heaven, that's certain, and perhaps he's right. I guess he hit the Fletchers pretty hard.”
”Oh, yes,” the other replied. ”The parson got his say from the pulpit, hut the Fletchers will have theirs later.”
”Why, what have they to say?”
”Oh, you'll see.”