ing you in an . . . embarrassing position; it is my misfortune
to have to-day neither silver nor gold,"--catching sight of Carmichael
in the passage, "This is a Providence. May I borrow from you, John,
some suitable sum for our brother here who is passing through
adversity?"
[Illustration: "SOME SUITABLE SUM FOR OUR BROTHER HERE WHO IS PASSING
THROUGH ADVERSITY"]
"Do not be angry with me, John"--after the tramp had departed, with
five shillings in hand and much triumph over Carmichael on his
face--"nor speak bitterly of our fellow-men. Verily theirs is a hard
lot who have no place to lay their head, and who journey in weariness
from city to city. John, I was once a stranger and a wayfarer,
wandering over the length and breadth of the land. Nor had I a friend
on earth till my feet were led to the Mains, where my heart was greatly
refreshed, and now God has surrounded me with young men of whose
kindness I am not worthy; wherefore it becometh me to show mercy unto
others"; and the Rabbi looked at Carmichael with such sweetness that
the lad's sullenness began to yield, although he made no sign.
"Moreover," and the Rabbi's voice took a lower tone, "as often as I
look on one of those men of the highways, there cometh to me a vision
of Him who was an outcast of the people, and albeit some may be as
Judas, peradventure one might beg alms of me, a poor sinful man, some
day, and lo it might be . . . the Lord himself in a saint"; and the
Rabbi bowed his head and stood awhile much moved.
"Rabbi," after a pause, during which Carmichael's face had changed,
"you are incorrigible. For years we have been trying to make you a
really good and wise man, both by example and precept, and you are
distinctly worse than when we began--more lazy, miserly, and
uncharitable. It is very disheartening.
"Can you receive another tramp and give him a bed? for I am in low
spirits, and so, like every other person in trouble, I come to you, you
dear old saint, and already I feel a better man."
"Receive you, John? It is doubtless selfish, but it is not given to
you to know how I weary to see your faces, and we shall have much
converse together--there are some points I would like your opinion
on--but first of all, after a slight refreshment, we must go to Mains:
behold the aid to memory I have designed"--and the Rabbi pointed to a
large square of paper hung above Chrysostom, with "Farewell, George
Pitillo, 3 o'clock." "He is the son's s
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