Don't wait, but, just as you are,
come. Sing.'
They sang, not loud, as they would 'Stand Up,' or even 'The Sweet By and
By,' but in voices subdued, holding down the power in them.
After the singing, Craig stood a moment gazing down at the men, and then
said quietly--
'Any man want to come? You all might come. We all must come.' Then,
sweeping his arm over the audience, and turning half round as if to move
off, he cried, in a voice that thrilled to the heart's core--
'Oh! come on! Let's go back!'
The effect was overpowering. It seemed to me that the whole company
half rose to their feet. Of the prayer that immediately followed, I
only caught the opening sentence, 'Father, we are coming back,' for
my attention was suddenly absorbed by Abe, the stage-driver, who was
sitting next me. I could hear him swearing approval and admiration,
saying to himself--
'Ain't he a clinker! I'll be gee-whizzly-gol-dusted if he ain't a
malleable-iron-double-back-action self-adjusting corn-cracker.' And
the prayer continued to be punctuated with like admiring and even
more sulphurous expletives.
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