They Call Me Carpenter: A Tale of the Second ComingSinclair, Upton
General
They Call Me Carpenter: A Tale of the Second Coming
Sinclair, Upton
Hollywood (Los Angeles, Calif.) -- Fiction; Jesus Christ -- Fiction
But the blood-hound of the press was not going to be evaded. “Where
do you come from, sir?” he demanded, of Carpenter.
To which Carpenter answered, promptly: “From God.”
“From God? Er--oh, I see. From God! Most interesting! How long ago,
may I ask?”
“Yesterday.”
“Oh! That is indeed extraordinary! And this mob that you've just
been addressing--did you use some kind of mind cure on them?”
I could see the story taking shape; the headlines flamed before my
mind's eye--streamer heads, all the way across the sheet, after the
fashion of our evening papers:
PROPHET FRESH FROM GOD QUELLS MOB
XXVI
I came to a sudden decision in this crisis. The sensible thing to do
was to meet the issue boldly, and take the job of launching
Carpenter under proper auspices. He really was a wonderful man, and
deserved to be treated decently.
I addressed the reporter again. “Listen. This gentleman is a man of
remarkable gifts, and does not take money for them; so, if you are
going to tell about him at all, do it in a dignified way.”
“Of course! I had no other idea--”
“Your city editor might have another idea,” I remarked, drily.
“Permit me to introduce myself.” I gave him my name, and saw him
start.
“You mean _the_ Mr.--” Then, giving me a swift glance, he decided it
was not necessary to complete the question.
Said I: “Here is my card,” and handed it to him.
He glanced at it, and said, “I'll be very glad to explain matters to
the desk, and see that the story is handled exactly as you wish.”
“Thank you,” I replied. “Now, yesterday I was caught in that mob at
the picture theatre, and knocked nearly insensible. This gentleman
found me, and healed me almost instantly. Naturally, I am grateful,
and as I find that he is a teacher, who aids the poor, and will not
take money from anyone, I want to thank him publicly, and help to
make him known.”
“Of course, of course!” said the reporter; and before my mind's eye
flashed a new set of headlines:
WEALTHY CLUBMAN MIRACULOUSLY HEALED
Or perhaps it would be a double head:
CLUBMAN, SLUGGED BY MOB, HEALED BY PROPHET
WEALTHY SCION, VICTIM OF PICTURE RIOT, RESTORED BY MAN FRESH FROM
GOD
I thought that was sensation enough, and that the interview would
end; but alas for my hopes! Said that blood-hound of the press:
“Will you give public healings to the people, Mr. Carpenter?”
To which Carpenter answered: “I am not interested in giving
healings.”
“What? Why not?”
“Worldly and corrupt people ask me to do miracles, to prove my power
to them. But the proof I bring to the world is a new vision and a
new hope.”
“Oh, I see! Your religion! May I ask about it?”
“You are the first; the world will follow you. Say to the people
that I have come to understand the nature and causes of their mobs.”
“Mobs?” said the puzzled young blood-hound.
“I wish to understand a land which is governed by mobs; I wish to
know, who lives upon the madness of others.”
“You have been studying a mob this morning?” inquired the reporter.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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