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robert falconer-第122章

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the greatest successes the world has ever beheld had been at one

time the greatest improbabilities!  He could not choose but go on;

for as yet he could think of no other way。



Neither could a man like Falconer long confine his interest to this

immediate object; especially after he had; in following it; found

opportunity of being useful。  While he still made it his main object

to find his father; that object became a centre from which radiated

a thousand influences upon those who were as sheep that had no

shepherd。  He fell back into his old ways at Aberdeen; only with a

boundless sphere to work in; and with the hope of finding his father

to hearten him。  He haunted the streets at night; went into all

places of entertainment; often to the disgust of senses and soul;

and made his way into the lowest forms of life without introduction

or protection。



There was a certain stately air of the hills about him which was

often mistaken for country inexperience; and men thought in

consequence to make gain or game of him。  But such found their

mistake; and if not soon; then the more completely。  Far from

provoking or even meeting hostility; he soon satisfied those that

persisted; that it was dangerous。  In two years he became well known

to the poor of a large district; especially on both sides of

Shoreditch; for whose sake he made the exercise of his profession

though not an object yet a ready accident。



He lived in lodgings in John Streetthe same in which I found him

when I came to know him。  He made few acquaintances; and they were

chiefly the house…surgeons of hospitalsto which he paid frequent

visits。



He always carried a book in his pocket; but did not read much。  On

Sundays he generally went to some one of the many lonely heaths or

commons of Surrey with his New Testament。  When weary in London; he

would go to the reading…room of the British Museum for an hour or

two。  He kept up a regular correspondence with Dr。 Anderson。



At length he received a letter from him; which occasioned his

immediate departure for Aberdeen。  Until now; his friend; who was

entirely satisfied with his mode of life; and supplied him freely

with money; had not even expressed a wish to recall him; though he

had often spoken of visiting him in London。  It now appeared that;

unwilling to cause him any needless anxiety; he had abstained from

mentioning the fact that his health had been declining。  He had got

suddenly worse; and Falconer hastened to obey the summons he had

sent him in consequence。



With a heavy heart he walked up to the hospitable door; recalling as

he ascended the steps how he had stood there a helpless youth; in

want of a few pounds to save his hopes; when this friend received

him and bid him God…speed on the path he desired to follow。  In a

moment more he was shown into the study; and was passing through it

to go to the cottage…room; when Johnston laid his hand on his arm。



'The maister's no up yet; sir;' he said; with a very solemn look。

'He's been desperate efter seein' ye; and I maun gang an' lat him

ken 'at ye're here at last; for fear it suld be ower muckle for him;

seein' ye a' at ance。  But eh; sir!' he added; the tears gathering

in his eyes; 'ye'll hardly ken 'im。  He's that changed!'



Johnston left the study by the door to the cottageFalconer had

never known the doctor sleep thereand returning a moment after;

invited him to enter。  In the bed in the recessthe room unchanged;

with its deal table; and its sanded floorlay the form of his

friend。  Falconer hastened to the bedside; kneeled down; and took

his hand speechless。  The doctor was silent too; but a smile

overspread his countenance; and revealed his inward satisfaction。

Robert's heart was full; and he could only gaze on the worn face。

At length he was able to speak。



'What for didna ye sen' for me?' he said。 'Ye never tellt me ye was

ailin'。'



'Because you were doing good; Robert; my boy; and I who had done so

little had no right to interrupt what you were doing。  I wonder if

God will give me another chance。  I would fain do better。  I don't

think I could sit singing psalms to all eternity;' he added with a

smile。



'Whatever good I may do afore my turn comes; I hae you to thank for

't。  Eh; doctor; gin it hadna been for you!'



Robert's feelings overcame him。  He resumed; brokenly;



'Ye gae me a man to believe in; whan my ain father had forsaken me;

and my frien' was awa to God。 Ye hae made me; doctor。  Wi' meat an'

drink an' learnin' an' siller; an' a'thing at ance; ye hae made me。'



'Eh; Robert!' said the dying man; half rising on his elbow; 'to

think what God maks us a' to ane anither!  My father did ten times

for me what I hae dune for you。  As I lie here thinkin' I may see

him afore a week's ower; I'm jist a bairn again。'



As he spoke; the polish of his speech was gone; and the social

refinement of his countenance with it。  The face of his ancestors;

the noble; sensitive; heart…full; but rugged; bucolic; and

weather…beaten through centuries of windy ploughing; hail…stormed

sheep…keeping; long…paced seed…sowing; and multiform labour; surely

not less honourable in the sight of the working God than the

fighting of the noble; came back in the face of the dying physician。

》From that hour to his death he spoke the rugged dialect of his

fathers。



A day or two after this; Robert again sitting by his bedside;



'I dinna ken;' he said; 'whether it's richtbut I hae nae fear o'

deith; an' yet I canna say I'm sure aboot onything。  I hae seen mony

a ane dee that cud hae no faith i' the Saviour; but I never saw that

fear that some gude fowk wud hae ye believe maun come at the last。

I wadna like to tak to ony papistry; but I never cud mak oot frae

the Bibleand I read mair at it i' the jungle than maybe ye wad

thinkthat it's a' ower wi' a body at their deith。  I never heard

them bring foret ony text but anethe maist ridiculous hash 'at

ever ye heardto justifee 't。'



'I ken the text ye mean〃As the tree falleth so it shall lie;〃 or

something like that'at they say King Solomon wrote; though better

scholars say his tree had fa'en mony a lang year afore that text saw

the licht。  I dinna believe sic a thocht was i' the man's heid when

he wrote it。  It is as ye sayower contemptible to ca' an argument。

I'll read it to ye ance mair。'



Robert got his Bible; and read the following portion from that

wonderful book; so little understood; because it is so full of

wisdomthe Book of Ecclesiastes:



'Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many

days。



'Give a portion to seven; and also to eight; for thou knowest not

what evil shall be upon the earth。



'If the clouds be full of rain; they empty themselves upon the

earth: and if the tree fall toward the south; or toward the north;

in the place where the tree falleth; there it shall be。



'He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regar
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