to him that hath-第21章
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〃Weel； weel； laddie； remember what day it is。 Ye ken weel it's no
day for warldly amusement。〃
〃Ay； Mither；〃 replied her son； smiling a little at the associating
of Mr。 Wigglesworth with amusement of any sort on any day。
In abundance of time Malcolm was ready to allow a quiet； unhurried
walk with his mother which would bring them to the church a full
quarter of an hour before the hour of service。
It happened that the Rev。 Murdo was on a congenial theme and in
specially good form that morning。
〃How much better is a man than a sheep；〃 was his text； from which
with great ingenuity and eloquence he proceeded to develop the
theme of the supreme value of the human factor in modern life；
social and industrial。 With great cogency he pressed the argument
against the inhuman and degrading view that would make man a mere
factor in the complex problem of Industrial Finance； a mere
inanimate cog in the Industrial Machine。
〃What did you think of the sermon； Mother？〃 asked Malcolm as they
entered the quiet lane leading home。
〃No sae bad； laddie； no sae bad。 Yon's an able laddie； especially
on practical themes。 Ay； it was no that bad；〃 replied his mother
with cautious approval。
〃What about his view of the Sabbath？〃
〃What about it？ Wad ye no lift a sheep oot o' the muck on the
Sawbath？〃
〃A would； of course；〃 replied Malcolm。
〃Weel； what？〃
〃A was jist thinkin' o' Mr。 Wigglesworth this morning。〃
〃Yon man！〃
〃You were rather hard on him this morning'； eh； Mither？〃
〃Hard on him？ He's no a sheep； nor in some ways as guid's a sheep；
A grant ye that； but such as he is was it no ma duty to pull him
oot o' the mire o' Sawbath desecration and general ungodliness？〃
〃Aw； Mither； Mither！ Ye're incorrigible！ Ye ought to come to the
meeting this afternoon and give them all a lug out。〃
〃A wull that then；〃 said his mother heartily。 〃They need it； A
doot。〃
〃Hoots！ Nonsense； Mither！〃 said her son hastily； knowing well how
thoroughly capable she was of not only going to a meeting of Union
workers but also of speaking her mind if in her judgment they were
guilty of transgressing the Sabbath law。 〃The meeting will be just
as religious as Mr。 Matheson's anyway。〃
〃A'm no sae sure；〃 said his mother grimly。
Whether religious in the sense understood by Mrs。 McNish； the
meeting was not wanting in ethical interest or human passion。 It
was a gathering of the workers in the various industries in the
town； Trade Unionists most of them； but with a considerable number
who had never owed allegiance to any Union and a number of
disgruntled ex…Unionists。 These latter were very vociferous and
for the most part glib talkers； with passions that under the
slightest pressure spurted foaming to the surface。 Returned
soldiers there were who had taken on their old jobs but who had not
yet settled down into the colourless routine of mill and factory
work under the discipline of those who often knew little of the
essentials of discipline as these men knew them。 A group of
French…Canadian factory hands； taken on none too willingly in the
stress of war work； constituted an element of friction； for the
soldiers despised and hated them。 With these there mingled new
immigrants from the shipyards and factories of the Old Land； all
members or ex…members of Trade Unions； Socialists in training and
doctrine； familiar with the terminology and jargon of those
Socialistic debating schools； the Local Unions of England and
Scotland； alert； keen； ready of wit and ready of tongue； rejoicing
in wordy； passionate debate； ready for anything； fearing nothing。
The occasion of the meeting was the presence of a great International
Official of the American Federation of Labour； and its purpose to
strengthen International Unionism against the undermining of
guerilla bands of non…Unionists and very especially against the new
organizations emanating from the far West； the One Big Union。
At the door of the hall stood Mr。 Wigglesworth； important； fussy
and unctuously impressive； welcoming； directing； introducing and；
incidentally but quite ineffectively； seeking to inspire with
respect for his august person a nondescript crowd of small boys
vainly seeking entrance。 With an effusiveness amounting to
reverence he welcomed McNish and directed him in a mysterious
whisper toward a seat on the platform； which； however； McNish
declined； choosing a seat at the side about half way up the aisle。
A local Union official was addressing the meeting but saying
nothing in particular； and simply filling in till the main speaker
should arrive。 McNish； quite uninterested in the platform； was
quietly taking note of the audience； with many of whom he had made
a slight acquaintance。 As his eye travelled slowly from face to
face it was suddenly arrested。 There beside her father was Annette
Perrotte； who greeted him with a bright nod and smile。 They had
long ago made up their tiff。 Then McNish had another surprise。 At
the door of the hall appeared Captain Jack Maitland who； after
coolly surveying the room； sauntered down the aisle and took a seat
at his side。 He nodded to McNish。
〃Quite a crowd； McNish；〃 he said。 〃I hear the American Johnnie is
quite a spouter so I came along to hear。〃
McNish looked at him and silently nodded。 He could not understand
his presence at that kind of a meeting。
〃You know I am a Union man now；〃 said Captain Jack； accurately
reading his silence。 〃Joined a couple of months ago。〃
But McNish kept his face gravely non…committal； wondering how it
was that this important bit of news had not reached him。 Then he
remembered that he had not attended the last two monthly meetings
of his Union； and also he knew that little gossip of the shops came
his way。 None the less； he was intensely interested in Maitland's
appearance。 He did Captain Jack the justice to acquit him of
anything but the most honourable intentions； yet he could not make
clear to his mind what end the son of his boss could serve by
joining a Labour Union。 He finally came to the conclusion that
this was but another instance of an 〃Intellectual〃 studying the
social and economic side of Industry from first…hand observation。
It was a common enough thing in the Old Land。 He was conscious of
a little contempt for this dilettante sort of Labour Unionism；
and he was further conscious of a feeling of impatience and
embarrassment at Captain Jack's presence。 He belonged to the enemy
camp； and what right had he there？ From looks cast in their
direction it was plain that others were asking the same question。
His thought received a sudden and unexpected exposition from the
platform from no less a person than Mr。 Wigglesworth himself to
whom as one of the oldest officials in Unionised Labour in the town
had been given the honour of introducing the distinguished visitor
and delegate。
In flowing periods and with a reckless but wholly unauthorised
employment of aspirates he 〃welcomed the （h）audience； （h）especially
the ladies； and other citizens among 'oom 'e was delighted to
（h）observe a representative of the （h）employing class 'oo was for
the present 'e believed one of themselves。〃 To his annoyed
embarrassment Captain Jack found himself the observed of many eyes；
friendly and otherwise。 〃But 'e would assure Captain Maitland that
although 'e might feel as if 'e 'ad no right to be 'ere〃
〃'Ere！ 'Ere！〃 came a piercing voice in unmistakable approval；
galvanising the audience out of its apathy into instant emotional
intensity。
〃（H）I want most （h）emphatically to （h）assure Captain Maitland；〃
continued Mr。 Wigglesworth； frowning heavily upon the interrupter；
〃that 'e is as welcome〃
〃No！ No！〃 cried the same Cockney voice； followed by a slight
rumbling applause。
〃I say 'e is；〃 shouted Mr。 Wigglesworth； supported by hesitating
applause。
〃No！ No！ We don't want no toffs 'ere。〃 This was followed by more
definite applause from the group immediately surrounding the
speaker。
Mr。 Wigglesworth was much affronted and proceeded to administer a
rebuke to the interrupter。
〃I （h）am surprised；〃 he began； with grieved and solemn emphasis。
〃Mr。 Chairman；〃 said the ow
