按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
speaking in our ears。 It becomes us to hear； and to submit
ourselves to His holy will。 Let us pray。〃
As Ranald listened to the prayer； he could not help thinking how
different it was from those he was accustomed to hear from the
pulpit。 Solemn； simple； and direct； it lifted the hearts of all
present up to the throne of God； to the place of strength and of
peace。 There was no attempt to explain the 〃mystery of the
Providence；〃 but there was a sublime trust that refused to despair
even in the presence of impenetrable darkness。
After the minister had gone； Macdonald Bhain took Ranald aside and
asked him as to the arrangements for the funeral。 When Ranald had
explained to him every detail； Macdonald laid his hand on his
nephew's shoulder and said； kindly； 〃It is well done； Ranald。 Now
you will be going home； and in the morning you will see your aunt；
and if she will be wishing to come to the wake to…morrow night；
then you will bring her。〃
Then Ranald went home； feeling well repaid for his long hours of
anxiety and toil。
CHAPTER XI
THE WAKE
The wake was an important feature in the social life of the people
of Indian Lands。 In ancient days； in the land of their forefathers；
the wake had been deemed a dire necessity for the safeguarding of
the dead； who were supposed to be peculiarly exposed to the
malicious attacks of evil spirits。 Hence； with many lighted
candles； and with much incantation； friends would surround the body
through the perilous hours of darkness。 It was a weird and weary
vigil； and small wonder if it appeared necessary that the courage
and endurance of the watchers should be fortified with copious
draughts of 〃mountain dew；〃 with bread and cheese accompaniments。
And the completeness of their trust in the efficacy of such supports
was too often evidenced by the condition of the watchers toward the
dawn of the morning。 And； indeed； if the spirits were not too
fastidious； and if they had so desired； they could have easily flown
away； not only with the 〃waked；〃 but with the 〃wakers〃 as well。
But those days and those notions had long passed away。 The wake
still remained； but its meaning and purpose had changed。 No longer
for the guarding of the dead； but for the comfort of the living；
the friends gathered to the house of mourning and watched the weary
hours。 But Highland courtesy forbade that the custom of refreshing
the watchers should be allowed to die out； and hence； through the
night； once and again； the whisky； bread； and cheese were handed
around by some close friend of the family； and were then placed
upon the table for general use。 It was not surprising that； where
all were free to come and welcome to stay； and where anything like
scantiness in providing or niggardliness in serving would be a
matter of family disgrace； the wake often degenerated into a
frolic； if not a debauch。 In order to check any such tendency； it
had been the custom of late years to introduce religious services；
begun by the minister himself and continued by the elders。
As the evening fell； a group of elders stood by the back door of
Long John Cameron's sorrow…stricken home； talking quietly over the
sad event and arranging for the 〃exercises〃 of the night。 At a
little distance from them sat Yankee； with Ranald beside him； both
silent and listening somewhat indifferently to the talk of the
others。 Yankee was not in his element。 He was always welcome in
the homes of his comrades； for he was ready with his tongue and
clever with his fingers； but with the graver and religious side of
their lives he had little in common。 It was； perhaps； this feeling
that drew him toward Macdonald Dubh and Ranald； so that for weeks
at a time he would make their house his home。 He had 〃no use for
wakes；〃 as he said himself； and had it not been that it was one of
the gang that lay dead within； Yankee would have avoided the house
until all was over and the elders safely away。
Of the elders； only four were present as yet： Donald Ross； who was
ever ready to bring the light of his kindly face to cheer the
hearts of the mourners； Straight Rory； who never； by any chance；
allowed himself to miss the solemn joy of leading the funeral
psalm； Peter McRae； who carried behind his stern old face a heart
of genuine sympathy； and Kenny Crubach； to whom attendance at
funerals was at once a duty and a horror。
Donald Ross； to whom all the elders accorded； instinctively； the
place of leader； was arranging the order of 〃the exercises。〃
〃Mr。 McCuaig；〃 he said to Straight Rory； 〃you will take charge of
the singing。 The rest of us will； in turn； give out a psalm and
read a portion of Scripture with a few suitable remarks； and lead
in prayer。 We will not be forgetting； brethren；〃 said old Donald；
〃that there will be sore hearts here this night。'
Straight Rory's answer was a sigh so woeful and so deep that Yankee
looked over at him and remarked in an undertone to Ranald； 〃He
ain't so cheerful as he might be。 He must feel awful inside。〃
〃It is a sad and terrible day for the Camerons；〃 said Peter McRae。
〃Aye； it is sad； indeed；〃 replied Donald Ross。 〃He was a good son
and they will be missing him bad。 It is a great loss。〃
〃Yes； the loss is great；〃 said Peter； grimly。 〃But； after all；
that is a small thing。〃
Straight Rory sighed again even more deeply than before。 Donald
Ross said nothing。
〃What does the old duck mean； anyhow？〃 said Yankee to Ranald。
The boy made no reply。 His heart was sick with horror at Peter's
meaning； which he understood only too well。
〃Aye；〃 went on Peter； 〃it is a terrible； mysterious Providence； and
a heavy warning to the ungodly and careless。〃
〃He means me； I guess；〃 remarked Yankee to Ranald。
〃It will perhaps be not amiss to any of us；〃 said Kenny Crubach；
sharply。
〃Indeed； that is true；〃 said Donald Ross； in a very humble voice。
〃Yes； Mr。 Ross；〃 said Peter； ignoring Kenny Crubach； 〃but at times
the voice of Providence cannot be misunderstood； and it will not do
for the elders of the church to be speaking soft things when the
Lord is speaking in judgment and wrath。〃
Donald was silent； while Straight Rory assented with a heartrending
〃Aye； aye；〃 which stirred Yankee's bile again。
〃What's he talkin' about？ He don't seem to be usin' my language；〃
he said； in a tone of wrathful perplexity。 Ranald was too
miserable to answer； but Kenny was ready with his word。
〃Judgment and wrath；〃 he echoed； quickly。 〃The man would require
to be very skillful whatever in interpreting the ways of Providence；
and very bold to put such a meaning into the death of a young man
such as Malcolm yonder。〃 The little man's voice was vibrating with
feeling。
Then Yankee began to understand。 〃I'll be gol…blamed to a cinder！〃
he exclaimed； in a low voice； falling back upon a combination that
seemed more suitable to the circumstances。 〃They ain't sendin' him
to hell； are they？〃 He shut up the knife with which he had been
whittling with a sharp snap； and rising to his feet； walked slowly
over to the group of elders。
〃Far be it from me to judge what is not to be seen；〃 said Peter。
〃But we are allow