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'It is two years since I have been able to singtwo years；' she
repeated； 'since'and then her brave voice trembled'my husband
was killed。'
'I quite understand；' I said； having no other word on my tongue
'And；' she went on quietly； 'I fear I have been selfish。 It is
hard to sing the same songs。 We were very happy。 But the miners
like to hear me sing； and I think perhaps it helps them to feel
less lonely； and keeps them from evil。 I shall try to…night； if I
am needed。 Mr。 Craig will not ask me unless he must。'
I would have seen every miner and lumberman in the place hideously
drunk before I would have asked her to sing one song while her
heart ached。 I wondered at Craig； and said； rather angrily
'He thinks only of those wretched miners and shantymen of his。'
She looked at me with wonder in her eyes； and said gently； 'And are
they not Christ's too？'
And I found no word to reply。
It was nearing ten o'clock； and I was wondering how the fight was
going； and hoping that Mrs。 Mavor would not be needed； when the
door opened； and old man Nelson and Sandy； the latter much battered
and ashamed； came in with the word for Mrs。 Mavor。
'I will come；' she said simply。 She saw me preparing to accompany
her； and asked； 'Do you think you can leave him？'
'He will do quite well in Nelson's care。'
'Then I am glad； for I must take my little one with me。 I did not
put her to bed in case I should need to go； and I may not leave
her。'
We entered the church by the back door； and saw at once that even
yet the battle might easily be lost。
Some miners had just come from Slavin's； evidently bent on breaking
up the meeting； in revenge for the collapse of the dance； which
Slavin was unable to enjoy； much less direct。 Craig was gallantly
holding his ground； finding it hard work to keep his men in good
humour； and so prevent a fight； for there were cries of 'Put him
out！ Put the beast out！' at a miner half drunk and wholly
outrageous。
The look of relief that came over his face when Craig caught sight
of us told how anxious he had been； and reconciled me to Mrs。
Mavor's singing。 'Thank the good God；' he said； with what came
near being a sob； 'I was about to despair。'
He immediately walked to the front and called out
'Gentlemen； if you wish it； Mrs。 Mavor will sing。'
There was a dead silence。 Some one began to applaud； but a miner
said savagely； 'Stop that； you fool！'
There was a few moments' delay； when from the crowd a voice called
out； 'Does Mrs。 Mavor wish to sing？' followed by cries of 'Ay；
that's it。' Then Shaw； the foreman at the mines； stood up in the
audience and said
'Mr。 Craig and gentlemen； you know that three years ago I was known
as 〃Old Ricketts；〃 and that I owe all I am to…night； under God； to
Mrs。 Mavor； and'with a little quiver in his voice'her baby。
And we all know that for two years she has not sung； and we all
know why。 And what I say is； that if she does not feel like
singing to…night； she is not going to sing to keep any drunken
brute of Slavin's crowd quiet。'
There were deep growls of approval all over the church。 I could
have hugged Shaw then and there。 Mr。 Craig went to Mrs。 Mavor； and
after a word with her came back and said
'Mrs。 Mavor； wishes me to thank her dear friend Mr。 Shaw； but says
she would like to sing。'
The response was perfect stillness。 Mr。 Craig sat down to the
organ and played the opening bars of the touching melody； 'Oft in
the Stilly Night。' Mrs。 Mavor came to the front； and； with a smile
of exquisite sweetness upon her sad face； and looking straight at
us with her glorious eyes； began to sing。
Her voice； a rich soprano； even and true； rose and fell； now soft；
now strong； but always filling the building； pouring around us
floods of music。 I had heard Patti's 'Home； sweet Home；' and of
all singing that alone affected me as did this。
At the end of the first verse the few women in the church and some
men were weeping quietly； but when she began the words
'When I remember all
The friends once linked together；'
sobs came on every side from these tender…hearted fellows； and Shaw
quite lost his grip。 But she sang steadily on； the tone clearer
and sweeter and fuller at every note； and when the sound of her
voice died away； she stood looking at the men as if in wonder that
they should weep。 No one moved。 Mr。 Craig played softly on； and；
wandering through many variations； arrived at last at
'Jesus； lover of my soul。'
As she sang the appealing words； her face was lifted up； and she
saw none of us； but she must have seen some one； for the cry in her
voice could only come from one who could see and feel help close at
hand。 On and on went the glorious voice； searching my soul's
depths； but when she came to the words
'Thou； O Christ； art all I want；'
she stretched up her armsshe had quite forgotten us； her voice
had borne her to other worldsand sang with such a passion of
'abandon' that my soul was ready to surrender anything； everything。
Again Mr。 Craig wandered on through his changing chords till again
he came to familiar ground； and the voice began； in low； thrilling
tones； Bernard's great song of home
'Jerusalem the golden。'
Every word； with all its weight of meaning； came winging to our
souls； till we found ourselves gazing afar into those stately halls
of Zion； with their daylight serene and their jubilant throngs。
When the singer came to the last verse there was a pause。 Again
Mr。 Craig softly played the interlude； but still there was no
voice。 I looked up。 She was very white； and her eyes were glowing
with their deep light。 Mr。 Craig looked quickly about； saw her；
stopped； and half rose； as if to go to her； when； in a voice that
seemed to come from a far…off land； she went on
'O sweet and blessed country！'
The longing； the yearning； in the second 'O' were indescribable。
Again and again； as she held that word； and then dropped down with
the cadence in the music； my heart ached for I knew not what。
The audience were sitting as in a trance。 The grimy faces of the
miners； for they never get quite white； were furrowed with the
tear…courses。 Shaw； by this time； had his face too lifted high；
his eyes gazing far above the singer's head； and I knew by the
rapture in his face that he was seeing； as she saw； the thronging
stately halls and the white…robed conquerors。 He had felt； and was
still feeling； all the stress of the fight； and to him the vision
of the conquerors in their glory was soul…drawing and soul…
stirring。 And Nixon； toohe had his vision； but what he saw was
the face of the singer； with the shining eyes； and； by the look of
him； that was vision enough。
Immediately after her last note Mrs。 Mavor stretched out her hands
to her little girl； who was sitting on my knee； caught her up； and；
holding her close to her breast； walked quickly behind the curtain。
Not a sound followed the singing： no one moved till she had
disappeared； and then Mr。 Craig came to the front； and； motioning
to me to follow Mrs。 Mavor； began in a low； distinct voice
'Gentlemen； it was not