Sweet Mace: A Sussex Legend of the Iron TimesFenn, George Manville
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Sweet Mace: A Sussex Legend of the Iron Times
Fenn, George Manville
Sussex (England) -- Fiction
Gil bent his head, and held out his hand, which the other pressed.
"When do you sail again?" said the parson.
"I sail again? Maybe never," said Gil. "Why should I sail?"
"To give thyself occupation--work--toil-weary evening and restful night.
Up, man, and work. Bear thy load bravely till Heaven send the soft
touch of time to make it lighter. Thou art young; thy ship waits. Go
across the sea and do thy work. This is no place for thee."
"Why do you interfere with me, Master Peasegood?" cried Gil, testily.
"I am none of thy followers."
"Nay, my lad, thou art not; but I give thee good advice that my lips
seemed urged to speak. Go and toil, and sit not down sobbing like a
fretful child."
"Man, you would madden me if I listened," cried Gil.
"Nay, but thou shalt listen," said Master Peasegood, "and I will quell
thy madness. Thou hast received one terrible loss like a man; I would
not have thee do it like a woman. Then, too, Master Cobbe, when are
these fires to be relit, and the wreathing curls of smoke to rise from
each furnace chimney?"
"Never," said the founder sadly, "my energy has gone, and I am spent."
"Tut, tut, man; fie!"
"What have I to live for?" cried the founder, as angry now as Gil.
"Not for thyself," cried Master Peasegood. "Not both of ye to indulge a
moping selfish regret, but for others--for the memory of one dead. Tut!
man, those do not pay most respect to their dead who sit and sigh, and
groan, and work themselves into fevers. Gil Carr, thy men call for thee
to lead them in some seafaring adventure. Jeremiah Cobbe, thou hast got
together here some fifty souls--workmen, their wives, and the children
they have begotten. Thou didst bring them to do thy work, and now the
furnaces are cold, the busy wheel has ceased to turn, and thy workmen
lean against the doorposts, and idle, and get out of trim. Come, come!
up, and be doing."
"For whom?" cried the founder angrily, "for whom should I toil?"
"Not for thyself, but for thy people. Nay, nay! don't take it ill, and
think me unfeeling. To both of you I say it is your duty, and, in the
name of yon sweet girl whom we all so dearly loved, I say keep her
memory green in your heart of hearts, but cease unmanly repinings
against fate."
"Ah! Master Peasegood," said the founder more gently, "thou hast never
been a father."
"Had I been sweet Mace's father could I have loved her better, Jeremiah
Cobbe? Have not mine eyes oft filled with tears at the memory of her
sweet face; has not my voice choked, and have not my words failed when I
have tried to speak, Gil Carr? Tut, man, give me credit for loving her
as well. Thou hast felt sore against me because I tried to keep you two
apart; but why was it, Gil, why was it? Had I not seen that which made
me think thou would'st prove a faithless lover to her, poor child. Give
me your hand, man, my love for her was different to thine, but it was
quite as deep."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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