To Him That Hath

n the Blackwater River which furnished the power for th

mway to the saw. A quarter of a mile up stream a mill race, tapping the river, led the water to an "overshot wheel" in the early days, later to a turbine, th

by the mill was to the boys "swimming hole" and fishing pool, where, during the long summer evenings and through the sunny summer days, they spent amphibious hours in high and serene content. But in springtime when the pond was black with floating logs it became the scene of thrilling deeds of darin

then the pond would be a black and glittering surface whereon wheeled and curved the ringing, gleaming blades of

ad shrunk to an insignificant pool where only pollywogs and minnows passed unadventurous lives, the mill race had dwindled to a trickling stream grown thick wit

andoned by the growing town, forgotten by the mill owner, it was re-discovered by Malcolm McNish, or rather by his keen eyed old mother on their arrival from the old land six months ago. For a song McNish bought the solid little cottage, he might have had it as a gift but that he would not, restored its roof, cleared out its stone chimney which, more than

stone fireplace welcomed you on opening the porch door. From the living room on the right led t

ork, were "bits o' chiny" rarely valuable as antiques to the knowing connoisseur but beyond price to the old white-haired lady who daily dusted them with reverent care as having been borne by her mother from the Highla

s, Burns. Beside the poets Robert Louis had a place, and Sir Walter, as well as Kipling and Meredith and other moderns. But on the shelf that showed most wear were to be found the standard works of economists of different schools from the great Adam Smith to Marx and the lot of his imitators and disciples. This was Malcolm's book-case. There was in another corner near the fire-place a little table and above it

s with the existing economic system, reverencing the great Adam Smith. The son was for a new deal, a new system, the Socialistic, with modifications all his own. All, or almost all, that Malcolm had read the mother had read with the exception of Marx. She "cudna thole yon godless loon" or his theories or his work

nd ilka woof of air and ilka tu

he Confession and in consequence found a place for every theory of hers, Social and Economic as well as Ethica

n trained in the schools of the Higher Critics of the Free Kirk leaders at home. She talked familiarly of George Adam Smith, whom she affectionately designated as "George Adam." She would wax wrathful over the memory of the treatment meted out to Robertson Smith by a for

her son had jibed at her soon after the appearance

was on leave at the time, she blazed forth, "A'll tell ye what A think o' him. A think that Auld Hornie has his hook intil him and the ha

. He had specialised in Social and Economic Science in his U

agitators. It was therefore with no small indignation that she saw on a Sund

n a Sabbath mornin'? Mind you, Malcolm," she continued in a voice of sharp d

hrough the window. "Oh, dinna fash ye're heid ower yon windbag," he added

t him to brak the Sabbath in this hoose, A can tell ye." None the l

," she said cordially. "Ye're a

ly. Fact is, I was (h)anxious to catch Malcolm before 'e went aht. I 'ave a rathe

rth?" Mrs. McNish stood facing him at

th gaped at he

he said with an apologetic smile, "(h)it depends, you

r to one side as if in contempla

oont," she replied with uncompromising grimness. "Business is

old Scotch lady's mind. A thing was or

o speak, as to just w'at may constitute 'business.' Now, for (h)instance-" Mr. Wigglesworth was warming to his subject, but th

ent with the Lord's Day, c

by (h)any chance? Per'raps 'e's shavin' 'isself,

awbath! Man, d'ye think he's a heathen, then?" Mrs

an 'eathenish practice to go dirty of a Su

dirty? Can ye no mak due preparation on

o Mr. Wigglesworth an

rath that gleamed in his mother's eye. "Oh, it is Mr. Wigglesworth. Yes,

jist tellin' M

know, Mother,

what day it is.

er, A ken

settin' oot for the

her? Why, it is on

ike tae be fashed and flustered in ma

ith w'ich I am (h)entrusted need not take more than a minute or two. In fact, I simply

, Mr. Wigglesworth?"

but you might call it a religious meeti

sh would have

worth," she

lcolm

nough meeting. Just wait till I get my h

nto the house, leaving Mr

began with so

this time to trust my judgment in a matter of this

no sae sure o

out. "A'll be back in abundant time

hat day it is. Ye ken weel it's

little at the associating of Mr. Wigglesw

hurried walk with his mother which would bring them to the

was on a congenial theme and in

supreme value of the human factor in modern life, social and industrial. With great cogency he pressed the argument against the inhuman and

Mother?" asked Malcolm as they en

ie, especially on practical themes. Ay, it was no t

his view of

no lift a sheep oot o'

course," re

l, w

n' o' Mr. Wigglesw

n m

ard on him this mo

, A grant ye that, but such as he is was it no ma duty to pull hi

! Ye ought to come to the meeting this

d his mother heartily.

ly going to a meeting of Union workers but also of speaking her mind if in her judgment they were guil

re," said his

ghtest pressure spurted foaming to the surface. Returned soldiers there were who had taken on their old jobs but who had not yet settled down into the colourless routine of mill and factory work under the discipline of those who often knew little of the essentials of discipline as these men knew them. A group of French-Canadian factory hands, taken on none too willingly in the stress of war work, constituted an element of friction, for the s

Labour, and its purpose to strengthen International Unionism against the undermining of guerilla bands of n

seeking to inspire with respect for his august person a nondescript crowd of small boys vainly seeking entrance. With an effusiveness amounting to reverence he welcome

with many of whom he had made a slight acquaintance. As his eye travelled slowly from face to face it was suddenly arrested. There beside her father was Annette Perrotte, who greeted him with a bright nod and smile. They had l

I hear the American Johnnie is quit

odded. He could not understand his

Captain Jack, accurately reading his s

clear to his mind what end the son of his boss could serve by joining a Labour Union. He finally came to the conclusion that this was but another instance of an "Intellectual" studying the social and economic side of Industry from first-hand observation. It was a common enough thing in the Old Land. He was conscious of a little contempt for this dilettante sort of Labour Unionism, and he was further conscious of a feeling of impatience and embarrassmen

om 'e was delighted to (h)observe a representative of the (h)employing class 'oo was for the present 'e believed one of themselves." To his annoyed embarrassment Captain

kable approval, galvanising the audience out o

n Maitland," continued Mr. Wigglesworth, frowning h

ockney voice, followed by

r. Wigglesworth, support

was followed by more definite applause from

onted and proceeded to adminis

he began, with grieve

lf a small man with large head and thin wizened features, "Mr. Chairman, I rise to protest

dier, rising from his place

s wildly appealing to the chair and was supported by the furious cheering of a group of his friends, Old Country men most of whom, as it turned out, were of the extreme Socialist type. By this time it h

he eye and apparently the approval of the audience, for it broke into cheers which gathered in volume till by the time that McNish and Captain Jack stood on the platform the great majority were wildly yelling their enthusiasti

ponse was a yell of savage cheers which seemed to rock the building and which continued while Mr. Wigglesworth in overflowing effusiveness first shook Maitland's limp hand in a violent double-handed pump handle exercise and then proceeded to introduce him to the distinguished v

aptain Jack in the stranger'

ut," he added with a slow wink, "this old fool is the daddy of

and held up his hand. The cheering assumed an even gre

oward E. Bigelow, a representative of the American Federation of Labour, whom as a

once more swaying under a tempest of cheers, an

g a happy criticism, completely checked every attempt of the speaker to take flight in his oratory. The International official was evidently an old hand in this sort of game, but in the hands of these past masters in the art of obstruction he met more than his match. Maitland was amazed at his patience, his self-control, his adroitness, but they were all in vain. At l

in this," said Captain Jack in t

s purpose they broke into cheering. When he reached the side of the speaker he spoke a word in his ear, then came to the front

lies over there. A'm for free speech! Noo, listen tae me, you Cockney wheedle doodle. Let another cheep

leaping to the aisle. With a roar a

"Fall into this aisle! Shun!" As if on parade

said, pointing t

said Ma

t little rat

s,

r place b

Macnamara was

test," began the lit

" said the Ca

a's hand swept the little man o

!" said Captai

ughter of the crowd the little man was passed along like a b

shouted Macn

!" came the

amara stood

nodded to t

t," he sa

than peace, and Labour was resolved to get and to hold those things which they had fought for, "which you British and especially you Canadians shed so much blood to win. We are making no threats, but we are not going to stand for tyranny at the hands of any man or any class of men in this country. Only one thing will defeat us, not the traditional enemies of our class but disunion in our own ra

reached the sidewalk a light hand touched his arm. Turning he saw at his elbo

derful! Splendid! Oh! I don't know what to say! I-" She paused in sudden c

w you there. Why! Wha

of tears had f

don't know what-" She pulled her hands awa

ptain Jack. "Very neat bit of work that, eh? Very neat

iting." She

ain Jack with a smile.

father," said Annet

ther knows his way about." The girl paused a moment,

cited!" She danced along at his side in gay abandon. As they

he cried, turning about.

"come along. I don't want him just now. I want-" S

back anyway. Come along Annette, old girl. I

g, beautiful, unspoiled, in the innocence of her girlish heart was flinging at him the full tribute of a warm, generous admiration with every flash of her black eyes and every intonation of her voice. Small wonder if Captain Jack found h