She leaned slightly toward him, smiling brightly, and,
touching his arm gently, said--
'Come, Billy, there's no fear,' and in a lower voice, 'God will help
you.'
As Billy went up, following Mrs. Mavor close, a hush fell on the men
until he had put his name to the pledge; then they came up, man by
man, and signed. But Craig sat with his head down till I touched his
shoulder. He took my hand and held it fast, saying over and over, under
his breath, 'Thank God, thank God!'
And so the League was made.
CHAPTER VI
BLACK ROCK RELIGION
When I grow weary with the conventions of religion, and sick in my soul
from feeding upon husks, that the churches too often offer me, in
the shape of elaborate service and eloquent discourses, so that in my
sickness I doubt and doubt, then I go back to the communion in Black
Rock and the days preceding it, and the fever and the weariness leave
me, and I grow humble and strong. The simplicity and rugged grandeur of
the faith, the humble gratitude of the rough men I see about the table,
and the calm radiance of one saintly face, rest and recall me.
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