Trail-Tales of Western CanadaRobinson, F. A. (Frank Alfred)
Religion
Trail-Tales of Western Canada
Robinson, F. A. (Frank Alfred)
Canadian fiction -- 20th century; Missions -- Canada, Western -- Fiction; Short stories, Canadian
"Not to-day, Mac, thanks," was the reply. "I've been to your place
pretty often, and I thought I ought to make the end of this road
to-day."
"Well, if you won't come in, I'll tell you what I was a-wanting to ask
you. There's a fellow I'd like you to see awful well. Say! do you
call on anybody else except Protestants? You do, eh? Well, I wish
you'd see Jimmy Hayson. He's in a bad fix. They shipped him home from
the camp. He was cookee there, and I guess he couldn't stand that kind
of life. His stummick's gone on a holiday. Anyway, he's most all in.
It ain't much of a trail to follow, but after you pass Marston's you'll
see a wood road, and then, if you keep your eyes skinned, on the north
side you'll see, about forty rod along, a foot track--Jimmy ain't got
any team--just follow the track, and you'll stumble into his shack."
The second stop that afternoon was at Hayson's. It was a poor place
for a sick man to be in. The entire furnishings of the home would not
have been a bargain at five dollars. The wife was most grateful for
the visit, and before the missionary had spoken to the invalid, she
said, "You are the only preacher ever in our house; and will you make a
bit of a prayer for Jimmy?" A few flour sacks had been made into a
curtain, and the faithful wife pulled them aside and gazed lovingly at
the sick man, and then questioningly at the missionary. The missionary
felt that not many prayers would have to be made for Jimmy, and perhaps
there was an increased tenderness in the voice as it was lifted to the
Friend of the weary and heavy-laden. The five children were not very
clear as to what was going on, and during the devotions the dog kept up
a low growl of distrust at the whole procedure, but the wasted form of
poor Jimmy, and the subdued sobs of the wife, overshadowed minor
disturbances.
It was the first of almost a dozen calls during the next two months. A
round trip of thirty-two miles once a week meant something over
unbeaten tracks; but Jimmy was in need, and there was only One Helper:
other helpers had failed, and Jimmy was pathetically eager for
something he had not hitherto received.
On the occasion of the fourth visit, the wife called the visitor as far
away from the sick bed as the dimensions of the little shack permitted.
"Would you"--the voice was agitated--"would you----. Oh! please, you
won't mind me asking, but would you stay for dinner; we've never had a
minister take a bite in our house, and Jimmy'd be so pleased?"
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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