They Call Me Carpenter eBook

a man, I am, and I’ll have you understand I’m master in my own house!  I’ll drink if I feel like drinking, I’ll stop and chat with my neighbors if I feel like stopping, I’ll buy sugar if I remember to buy it, and if you don’t like it, you can buy your own!” And so on—­becoming more inspired with his own eloquence—­or maybe with the whiskey, or the gin, or the grape-juice; until young Philip became so filled with the spirit of the combat that he popped up out of the hay and shouted, “Good for you, old man!  Stand up for your rights!  Don’t let her down you!  Hurrah for men!” And the astounded farmer stood staring with his mouth open, while the two “wobbles” leaped up and fled from the barn, so convulsed with laughter they hardly noticed the floods of rain pouring down upon them.

LII

But, of course, it wasn’t long before this little company became serious again.  Carpenter told Franklin that he ought not stay here; he, Carpenter, was too conspicuous a figure, the authorities were certain to be watching him.  Korwsky backed him up.  There were sure to be spies here!  They would never leave such a man unwatched.  They would set to work to get something on him, and if they couldn’t get it they would make it.  When Carpenter asked what he meant, he explained, “Dey’ll plant dynamite in de place vere you are, or dey’ll fake up some letters to show you been plannin’ violence.”

“And do people believe such things?” asked Carpenter.

“Believe dem?” cried Korwsky.  “If dey see it in de papers, dey believe it—­sure dey do!”

The prophet answered, “Let a man live so that the world will believe him and not his enemies.”  Then he added a startling remark.  “There is one among us who will betray me.”

Of course, they all looked at one another in consternation.  They were deeply distressed, and each tried in turn—­“Comrade,” or “Brother,” or “Fellow-worker,” or whatever term they used—­“is it I?” Presently the sturdy looking fellow named Hamby, who called himself a pacifist, asked, “Is it I?” And Carpenter answered, quietly, “You have said it.”

Then, of course, some of the others started up; they wanted to throw him out, but Carpenter bade them sit down again, saying, “Let things take their course; for the powers of this world will perish more quickly if they are permitted to kill themselves.”

Apparently he saw no reason why this episode should be permitted to interfere with the festivities.  Mary Magna came in laughing, bearing the strawberry short-cake, and set it on the table and proceeded to portion it out.  When it was served, Carpenter said, “I shall not be with you much longer, my friends; but you will remember me when you see this beautiful red fruit on top of a cake; and also you will think of me and my message when you taste rich purple grape-juice that has perhaps stayed a day or two too long in the bottle!”