May 20, 2023 • 21 mins
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Naguib Mahfouz, Egyptian literature, existentialism, identity, love, relationships, social commentary, cultural norms, social class, personal growth, literary style, literary legacy, literary analysis, literary adaptation, literary criticism, Cairo, modernity, cultural influence, societal expectations, individualism, human nature, psychological analysis, Arab culture, family, urbanization
Naguib Mahfouz, Egyptian literature, existentialism, identity, love, relationships, social commentary, cultural norms, social class, personal growth, literary style, literary legacy, literary analysis, literary adaptation, literary criticism, Cairo, modernity, cultural influence, societal expectations, individualism, human nature, psychological analysis, Arab culture, family, urbanization
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Episode Transcript
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(00:00):
Chapter fourteen. The sun was shininggloriously when the two stepped from the trolley
at the little camp station and lookedbewildered about them, at the swarms of
uniforms and boyish faces searching for theirone. They walked through the long lane
lined with soldiers, held back bythe great rope and guarded by military police.
(00:22):
Each crowding, eager soldier had anair of expectancy upon him, a
silence upon him that showed the realizationof the parting that was soon to be
In many faces, deep disappointment wasgrowing as the expected ones did not arrive.
Ruth's throat was filled with oppression andtears as she looked about and suddenly
felt the grip of war and realizedthat all these thousands were bearing this bitterness
(00:47):
of parting, perhaps forever death.Stalking up and down a battlefield waiting to
take his pick of them. Thiswas the picture that flashed before her shrinking
eyes. It was almost like asolemn ceremony, this walking down the lane
of silent waiting soldiers to be claimedby their one. It seemed to bring
the two young people nearer in heartthan they had ever been before. When
(01:11):
at the end of the line.Cameron met them with a salute, kissed
his mother, and then turned toRuth and took her hand. With an
earnest, grave look of deep pleasurein his eyes, he led them up
under the big trees in front ofthe hostess house, while all around were
hushed voices and teary eyes. Thatfirst moment of meeting was the saddest and
(01:33):
the quietest of the day with everybodyexcept the last parting hour, when mute
grief sat unchecked upon every face,and no one stopped to notice if any
man were watching, but just livedout his real heart self and showed his
mother, or his sister, orhis sweetheart how much he loved and suffered.
That was a day which all thelittle painted butterflies of temptation should have
(01:56):
been made to witness. There wereno painted ladies coming through the gates that
day. This was no time forfriendships Like that. Death was calling,
and deep realities of life stood outand demanded attention. The whole thing was
unlike anything Ruth had ever witnessed before. It was a new world. It
was as if the old conventions whichhad heretofore hedged her life were dropped like
(02:20):
a garment, revealing life as itreally was, and everyone walked unashamed,
because the great sorrow and need ofall had obliterated the little petty rules of
life, and small passions were laidaside, while hearts throbbed in a common
cause. He waited on them likea prince, seeming to anticipate every need
and smooth every annoyance. He ledthem away from the throng to the quiet
(02:45):
hillside above the camp, where Springhad set her dainty footprint. He spread
down his thick army blanket for themto sit upon, and they held sweet
converse for an hour or two.He told them of camp life and what
was expected to be when they startedover and when they reached the other side.
His mother was brave and sensible.Sometimes the tears would brim over at
(03:07):
some suggestion of what her boy wassoon to bear or do, but she
wore a smile as courageous and sweetas any saint could wear. The boy
saw and grew tender over it.A bird came and sang over their heads,
and the moment was sweet with springingthings, and quiet with the brooding
tenderness of parting that hung over thebusy camp. Ruth had one awful moment
(03:30):
of adjustment when she tried to thinkhow her Aunt Rhoda would look if she
could see her now. Then shethrew the whole thing to the winds and
resolved to enjoy the day. Shesaw that while the conventions by which she
had been reared were a good thingin general, perhaps they certainly were not
meant to hamper or hinder the trueand natural life of the heart. Or
(03:50):
if they were, they were notgood things, And she entered into the
moment with her full sympathy. PerhapsAunt Rhoda would not understand, but the
girl she had brought up knew thatit was good to be here. Her
aunt was away from home with aninvalid friend on a short trip, so
there had been no one to questionRuth's movements when she decided to run down
(04:11):
to Washington with a friend from theRed Cross and incidentally visit the camp a
little while. He had them overthe camp by and by to the trenches
and dummies and all the paraphernalia ofwar preparation. Then they went back to
the hostess house and fell into lineto get dinner. As Cameron stood looking
down at Ruth in the crowded linein the democratic way, which was the
(04:33):
only way there was. It cameover them both, how strange and wonderful
it was that they, who hadseen each other so little in their lives,
and who had come from such widelyseparated social circles, should be there
together in that beautiful intimacy. Itcame to them both at once and flashed
its thought from one pair of eyesto the other and back again. Cameron
(04:56):
looked deep into her thoughts then fora moment to find out if there were
was a shadow of mortification or dismayin her face. But though she flushed
consciously, her sweet true eyes gaveback only the pleasure she was feeling and
her real enjoyment of the day.Then instantly each of them felt that another
crisis had been passed in their friendship. Another something unseen and beautiful had happened
(05:18):
to make this moment most precious,one never to be forgotten, no matter
what happened in the future, somethingthey would not have missed for any other
experience. It was Ruth who announcedsuddenly late in the afternoon, during a
silence in which each one was thinkinghow fast the day was going? Did
you know that we were going tostay over Sunday. Cameron's face blazed with
(05:42):
joyful light. Wonderful, he said, softly, Do you mean it?
I've been trying to get courage allday to suggest it. Only I don't
know of any place this side ofWashington or Baltimore where you can be comfortable.
And I hate to think of youhunting around a strange city late at
night for ammendations. If I couldonly get out to go with you,
it isn't necessary, said Ruth quickly. We have our accommodations all arranged for
(06:08):
your mother, and I planned itall out before we came. But are
you sure we can get into camptomorrow? Yes? I'm almost certain we
can get you passes by going upto officers headquarters and applying. A fellow
in our company told me this morninghe had permission for his mother and sister
to come in tomorrow, and weare not likely to leave before monday.
(06:29):
Now, for this morning our lieutenantwent away, and I heard him say
he had a three days leave.They wouldn't have given him that if they
expected to send us before he gotback, at least not unless they recalled
him they might do. That.Is that the lieutenant, that you called
a mess the other day, askedRuth with twinkling eyes. Yes, said
(06:50):
Cameron, turning a keen startled glanceat her and wondering what she would say
if she knew it was Wainwright.He meant, but she answered demure early.
So he's away, is he?I'm glad I was hoping he would
be, why, asked Cameron.Oh, I thought he might be in
the way. She smiled and changedthe subject, calling attention to the meadow
(07:14):
lark, who was trilling out hislittle ecstasy in the tall tree over their
head. Cameron gave one glance atthe bird, and then brought his gaze
back to the sweet, upturned facebeside him, his soul thrilling with the
wonder of it that she should bethere with him. But you haven't told
me where you have arranged to stay. Is it in Baltimore or Washington?
(07:34):
I must look up your trains.I hope you will be able to stay
as late as possible. They're notputting people out of camp until eight o'clock
tonight, lovely, said Ruth,with the eagerness of a child. Then
we'll stay till the very last trolley. We're not going to either Baltimore or
Washington. We're staying right near thecamp entrance in that little town at the
(07:56):
station where we landed. I don'tremember what you call it. We got
accommodations this morning before we came intocamp. But where, asked Cameron,
anxiously, Are you sure it's respectable? I'm afraid there isn't any place there
that would do at all. Oh, yes, there is, said Ruth.
It's the Salvation Army hut they calledit. It looks more like a
(08:16):
barracks. And there's the dearest littlewoman in charge. John. I'm afraid
it isn't the right thing to lether do it, put in his mother
anxiously. I'm afraid her aunt wouldn'tlike it at all, and I'm sure
she won't be comfortable. I shalllove it, said Ruth happily, And
my aunt will never know anything aboutit. As for comfort, I'll be
(08:37):
as comfortable as you are, mydear lady, and I'm sure you wouldn't
let comfort stand in the way ofbeing with your boy. She smiled,
her sweet little triumph that brought tearsto the eyes of the mother, and
Cameron gave her a blinding look.Of gratitude and adoration, so she carried
her way. Cameron protested no more, but quietly inquired at the hostess if
(09:00):
the place was all right. Andwhen he put them on the car at
eight o'clock, he gave Ruth's handa lingering pressure and said in a low
tone that only she could hear,with a look that carried its beaning to
her heart, I shall never forgetthat you did this for my mother and
me. The two felt almost lighthearted in comparison to their fellow travelers,
(09:22):
because they had a short reprieve beforethey would have to say goodbye. But
Ruth sat looking about her at thesad eyed girls and women who had just
parted from their husbands and sons andsweethearts, and who were most of them
weeping, and felt anew the greatburden of the universal sorrow upon her.
She wondered how God could stand it, the old human question that wonders how
(09:45):
God can stand the great agonies oflife that have come to cure the world
of its sin, and never wondershow God can stand the sin. She
felt as if she must somehow findGod and plead with him not to do
it. And again, and therecame that longing to her soul. If
she only knew God intimately, Cameron'squestion recurred to her, thoughts, could
(10:07):
anyone on this earth know God?Had anyone ever known Him? Would the
Bible say anything about it? Sheresolved to read it through and find out.
The brief ride brought them suddenly intoa new and to Ruth somewhat startling
environment. As they followed the grassypath from the station to their abiding place,
(10:28):
two little boys in full military uniformappeared out of the tall grass of
the meadows, one as a private, the other as an officer. The
small private saluted the officer with precisionand marched on, turning after a few
steps to call back. Mother said, we might sleep in the tent tonight.
The rooms are all full. Theolder boy gave a whoop of delight
(10:52):
and bounded back toward the building witha most unofficer like walk, and both
disappeared inside the door. A tinydog tent was set up in the grass
by the back door, and ina moment more the two young soldiers emerged
from the back door with blankets anddisappeared under the brown roof with a zest
that showed it was no hardship tothem to camp out for the night.
(11:15):
There were lights in the long,pleasant room and people. Two soldiers with
their girls were eating ice cream atthe little tables, and around the piano.
A group of officers and their wiveswas gathered singing ragtime. Ruth's quick
glance told her they were not thekind she cared for, and how could
people who were about to part perhapsforever stand there and sing such abominable nonsense.
(11:39):
Yet perhaps it was their way ofbeing brave to the last, but
she wished they would go. Thesweet faced woman of the morning was busy
behind the counter, and presently shesaw them and came forward. I'm sorry,
I hoped there would be a room, but that woman from Boston came,
I can only give you cots outhere, if you don't mind,
(12:01):
missus. Cameron looked around in ahalf frightened manner, but Ruth smiled airily
and said that would be all right. They settled down in the corner between
the writing table and the bookcase andbegan to read, for it was obvious
that they could not retire at present. The little boys came running through,
and the officers corralled them and clamoredfor them to sing. Without any coaxing,
(12:24):
they stood up together and sang.Their voices were sweet as birds as
they piped out the words of apopular song, one singing alto the little
one taking the high soprano. Ruthput down her book and listened, wondering
at the lovely expressions on the twosmall faces. They made her think of
the baby seraphs in Michelangelo's pictures.Presently they burst into a religious song with
(12:46):
as much gusto as they had sungthe ragtime. They were utterly without self
consciousness, and sang with the fervorof a preacher. Yet they were regular
boys for presently. When they werereleased, they went to turning handsprings and
had a rough and tumble scuffle inthe corner till their mother called them to
order. In a few minutes more, the noisy officers and their wives parted,
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the men striding off into the nightwith a last word about the possibility
of unexpected orders coming, and apromise to wink a flashlight out of the
car window as the troop train wentby in case they went out that night.
The wives went into one of thelittle stallrooms and compared notes about their
own feelings and the probability of thenth Division leaving before Monday. Then the
(13:33):
head of the house appeared with aBible under his arm, humming a hymn.
He gave a keen, pleasant glanceat the two strangers in the corner,
and gave a cheery word to hiswife in answer to her question,
Yes, we had a great meetingtonight. A hundred and twenty men raised
their hands as wanting to decide forChrist, and two boys came forward to
be prayed for. It was ablessed time. I wish the boys had
(13:56):
been over there to sing. Themeeting was the big y MCA Auditorium.
Has Captain Holly gone yet not yet? His wife's voice was lowered. She
motioned toward one of the eight graydoors, and her husband nodded, sadly,
he goes at midnight, you know, poor little woman. Just then
the door opened and a young soldiercame out, followed by his wife,
(14:20):
looking little and pathetic, with greatdark hollows under her eyes and a forced
smile on her trembling lips. Thesoldier came over and took the hand of
the Salvation Army woman. Well,I'm going out tonight, mother, I
want to thank you for all you'vedone for my little girl, looking toward
his wife, and I won't forgetall the good things you've done for me
(14:43):
and the sermons you've preached. Andwhen I get over there, I'm going
to try to live right and keepall my promises. I want you to
pray for me that I may betrue. I shall never cease to thank
the Lord that I knew you.Two. The Salvationist shook hands earnestly with
him and promised to for him,and then he turned to the children.
Goodbye, Dicky. I shan't forgetthe songs you've sung. I'll hear them
(15:05):
sometimes when I get over there inbattle, and they'll help to keep me
true. But Dickie, not contentwith a handshake, swarmed up the leg
and back of his tall friend asif he had been a tree, and
whispered in a loud, confidential childwhisper, I'm going to pray for you
too, Captain Holly, God blessyou. The grown up phrases on the
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childish lips amused Ruth. She watchedthe little boy as he lifted his beautiful,
serious face to the responsive look ofthe stranger and marveled. Here was
no parrot like repetition of word shehad heard oft repeated by his elders.
The boy was talking a native tongueand speaking of things that were real to
him. There was no assumption ofgodliness, nor conceit, no holier than
(15:50):
thou smirk about the child. Itwas all sincere, as a boy would
promise to speak to his own fatherabout a friend's need. It touched Ruth,
and tears sprang to her eyes.All the doubts she had had about
the respectability of the place had vanishedlong ago. There might be all kinds
of people coming and going, butthere was a holy influence here which made
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it a refuge for anyone. Shefelt quite safe about sleeping in the great
barn like room, so open itwas as if they had happened on some
saints abode and been made welcome intheir extremity. Presently, one by one
the inmates of the room came inand retired. Then the cots were brought
out and set up, little simpleaffairs of canvas and steel rods, put
(16:33):
together in a twinkling and very invitingto the two weary women. After the
long day, the cheery proprietor calledout, missus Brown, have it you
an extra blanket in your room?And a pleasant voice responded promptly, yes,
do you want it? Throw itover then, please. A couple
of ladies hadn't any place to goanybody else got one. A great gray
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blanket came flying over the top ofthe partition and down the line. Another
voice called I have one I don'tneed, and a white blanket with pink
stripes followed, both caught by thesalvationist and spread upon the little cots.
Then the lights were turned out oneby one, and there in the shelter
of the tall piano, curtained bythe darkness, the two laid down.
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Ruth was so interested in it all, and so filled with the humor and
the strangeness of her situation, thattired as she was, she could not
sleep for a long time. Thehouse settled slowly to quiet. The proprietor
and his wife talked comfortably about theduties of the next day, called some
directions to the two boys in thepuppy tent, soothed their mosquito bites with
(17:42):
a lotion, and got them anotherblanket. The woman who helped in the
kitchen complained about not having enough suppliesfor mourning, and that contingency was arranged
for all in a patient, earnestway, and in the same tone in
which they talked about the meetings,they discussed their own boy, evidently the
brother of the small boys, whohad apparently just sailed for France as a
(18:04):
soldier a few days before, andwhom the wife had gone to New York
to see off. And they commendedhim to their christ in little, low
sentences of reassurance to each other.Ruth could not help but hear much that
was said, for the rooms wereall open to sounds, and these good
people apparently had nothing to hide.They spoke as if all their household were
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one great family, equally interested inone another, equally suffering and patient in
the necessities of this awful war.In another tiny room, the y Mcamn,
who had been the last to comein, talked in low tones with
his wife, telling her in tender, loving tones what to do about a
number of things after he was gone. In a room quite near there were
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soft sounds as of suppressed weeping.Something made Ruth sure it was the mother
who had been spoken of earlier inthe evening, as having come all the
way from Texas and arrived too lateto bid her boy good bye. Now
and again, the sound of atroop train stirred her heart to untold depths.
There is something so weird and sorrowfulabout its going, as if the
(19:11):
very engine sympathized, screaming its sorrowthrough the night. Ruth felt she would
never forget that sound. Out therein the dark, Cameron might be even
then slipping past them, out intothe great future. She wished she could
dare ask that sweet faced woman orthat dear little boy to pray for him.
(19:32):
Maybe she would. Next day,the two officers wives seemed to sit
up in bed and watch the train. They had discovered a flashlight and were
counting the signals, and quite excited. Ruth's heart ached for them. It
was a peculiarity of this trip thatshe found her heart going out to others,
so much more than it had evergone before. She was not thinking
(19:53):
of her own pain, although sheknew it was there, but of the
pain of the world. Her body, lying on the strange, hard cot
ached with weariness in unaccustomed places.Yet she stretched and nestled upon the tan
canvas with satisfaction. She was sharing, to a certain extent the hardships of
the soldiers, the hardship of onesoldier whose privations hurt her deeply. It
(20:18):
was good to have to suffer withhim. Where was God? Did he
care? Was he in this queerlittle hostel? Might she ask him now
to set a guard over Cameron andlet him find the help he needed.
Wherewith to go to meet death,if death he must meet. She laid
her hands together as a little childmight do, and with wide open eyes,
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staring into the dark of the highceiling, she whispered from her heart,
Oh God, help us to findyou. And unconsciously she too set
her soul on the search. Thatnight, as she closed her eyes,
a great piece and sense of safetycame over her. Outside on the road
a company of eight soldiers coming homefrom Leaf, noised by. Some of
(21:03):
them were drunk and wrangling or singing, and a sense of their pitiful need
of God came over her as shesank into a deep sleep. End of
Chapter fourteen.
Chapter fourteen. The sun was shininggloriously when the two stepped from the trolley
at the little camp station and lookedbewildered about them, at the swarms of
uniforms and boyish faces searching for theirone. They walked through the long lane
lined with soldiers, held back bythe great rope and guarded by military police.
(00:22):
Each crowding, eager soldier had anair of expectancy upon him, a
silence upon him that showed the realizationof the parting that was soon to be
In many faces, deep disappointment wasgrowing as the expected ones did not arrive.
Ruth's throat was filled with oppression andtears as she looked about and suddenly
felt the grip of war and realizedthat all these thousands were bearing this bitterness
(00:47):
of parting, perhaps forever death.Stalking up and down a battlefield waiting to
take his pick of them. Thiswas the picture that flashed before her shrinking
eyes. It was almost like asolemn ceremony, this walking down the lane
of silent waiting soldiers to be claimedby their one. It seemed to bring
the two young people nearer in heartthan they had ever been before. When
(01:11):
at the end of the line.Cameron met them with a salute, kissed
his mother, and then turned toRuth and took her hand. With an
earnest, grave look of deep pleasurein his eyes, he led them up
under the big trees in front ofthe hostess house, while all around were
hushed voices and teary eyes. Thatfirst moment of meeting was the saddest and
(01:33):
the quietest of the day with everybodyexcept the last parting hour, when mute
grief sat unchecked upon every face,and no one stopped to notice if any
man were watching, but just livedout his real heart self and showed his
mother, or his sister, orhis sweetheart how much he loved and suffered.
That was a day which all thelittle painted butterflies of temptation should have
(01:56):
been made to witness. There wereno painted ladies coming through the gates that
day. This was no time forfriendships Like that. Death was calling,
and deep realities of life stood outand demanded attention. The whole thing was
unlike anything Ruth had ever witnessed before. It was a new world. It
was as if the old conventions whichhad heretofore hedged her life were dropped like
(02:20):
a garment, revealing life as itreally was, and everyone walked unashamed,
because the great sorrow and need ofall had obliterated the little petty rules of
life, and small passions were laidaside, while hearts throbbed in a common
cause. He waited on them likea prince, seeming to anticipate every need
and smooth every annoyance. He ledthem away from the throng to the quiet
(02:45):
hillside above the camp, where Springhad set her dainty footprint. He spread
down his thick army blanket for themto sit upon, and they held sweet
converse for an hour or two.He told them of camp life and what
was expected to be when they startedover and when they reached the other side.
His mother was brave and sensible.Sometimes the tears would brim over at
(03:07):
some suggestion of what her boy wassoon to bear or do, but she
wore a smile as courageous and sweetas any saint could wear. The boy
saw and grew tender over it.A bird came and sang over their heads,
and the moment was sweet with springingthings, and quiet with the brooding
tenderness of parting that hung over thebusy camp. Ruth had one awful moment
(03:30):
of adjustment when she tried to thinkhow her Aunt Rhoda would look if she
could see her now. Then shethrew the whole thing to the winds and
resolved to enjoy the day. Shesaw that while the conventions by which she
had been reared were a good thingin general, perhaps they certainly were not
meant to hamper or hinder the trueand natural life of the heart. Or
(03:50):
if they were, they were notgood things, And she entered into the
moment with her full sympathy. PerhapsAunt Rhoda would not understand, but the
girl she had brought up knew thatit was good to be here. Her
aunt was away from home with aninvalid friend on a short trip, so
there had been no one to questionRuth's movements when she decided to run down
(04:11):
to Washington with a friend from theRed Cross and incidentally visit the camp a
little while. He had them overthe camp by and by to the trenches
and dummies and all the paraphernalia ofwar preparation. Then they went back to
the hostess house and fell into lineto get dinner. As Cameron stood looking
down at Ruth in the crowded linein the democratic way, which was the
(04:33):
only way there was. It cameover them both, how strange and wonderful
it was that they, who hadseen each other so little in their lives,
and who had come from such widelyseparated social circles, should be there
together in that beautiful intimacy. Itcame to them both at once and flashed
its thought from one pair of eyesto the other and back again. Cameron
(04:56):
looked deep into her thoughts then fora moment to find out if there were
was a shadow of mortification or dismayin her face. But though she flushed
consciously, her sweet true eyes gaveback only the pleasure she was feeling and
her real enjoyment of the day.Then instantly each of them felt that another
crisis had been passed in their friendship. Another something unseen and beautiful had happened
(05:18):
to make this moment most precious,one never to be forgotten, no matter
what happened in the future, somethingthey would not have missed for any other
experience. It was Ruth who announcedsuddenly late in the afternoon, during a
silence in which each one was thinkinghow fast the day was going? Did
you know that we were going tostay over Sunday. Cameron's face blazed with
(05:42):
joyful light. Wonderful, he said, softly, Do you mean it?
I've been trying to get courage allday to suggest it. Only I don't
know of any place this side ofWashington or Baltimore where you can be comfortable.
And I hate to think of youhunting around a strange city late at
night for ammendations. If I couldonly get out to go with you,
it isn't necessary, said Ruth quickly. We have our accommodations all arranged for
(06:08):
your mother, and I planned itall out before we came. But are
you sure we can get into camptomorrow? Yes? I'm almost certain we
can get you passes by going upto officers headquarters and applying. A fellow
in our company told me this morninghe had permission for his mother and sister
to come in tomorrow, and weare not likely to leave before monday.
(06:29):
Now, for this morning our lieutenantwent away, and I heard him say
he had a three days leave.They wouldn't have given him that if they
expected to send us before he gotback, at least not unless they recalled
him they might do. That.Is that the lieutenant, that you called
a mess the other day, askedRuth with twinkling eyes. Yes, said
(06:50):
Cameron, turning a keen startled glanceat her and wondering what she would say
if she knew it was Wainwright.He meant, but she answered demure early.
So he's away, is he?I'm glad I was hoping he would
be, why, asked Cameron.Oh, I thought he might be in
the way. She smiled and changedthe subject, calling attention to the meadow
(07:14):
lark, who was trilling out hislittle ecstasy in the tall tree over their
head. Cameron gave one glance atthe bird, and then brought his gaze
back to the sweet, upturned facebeside him, his soul thrilling with the
wonder of it that she should bethere with him. But you haven't told
me where you have arranged to stay. Is it in Baltimore or Washington?
(07:34):
I must look up your trains.I hope you will be able to stay
as late as possible. They're notputting people out of camp until eight o'clock
tonight, lovely, said Ruth,with the eagerness of a child. Then
we'll stay till the very last trolley. We're not going to either Baltimore or
Washington. We're staying right near thecamp entrance in that little town at the
(07:56):
station where we landed. I don'tremember what you call it. We got
accommodations this morning before we came intocamp. But where, asked Cameron,
anxiously, Are you sure it's respectable? I'm afraid there isn't any place there
that would do at all. Oh, yes, there is, said Ruth.
It's the Salvation Army hut they calledit. It looks more like a
(08:16):
barracks. And there's the dearest littlewoman in charge. John. I'm afraid
it isn't the right thing to lether do it, put in his mother
anxiously. I'm afraid her aunt wouldn'tlike it at all, and I'm sure
she won't be comfortable. I shalllove it, said Ruth happily, And
my aunt will never know anything aboutit. As for comfort, I'll be
(08:37):
as comfortable as you are, mydear lady, and I'm sure you wouldn't
let comfort stand in the way ofbeing with your boy. She smiled,
her sweet little triumph that brought tearsto the eyes of the mother, and
Cameron gave her a blinding look.Of gratitude and adoration, so she carried
her way. Cameron protested no more, but quietly inquired at the hostess if
(09:00):
the place was all right. Andwhen he put them on the car at
eight o'clock, he gave Ruth's handa lingering pressure and said in a low
tone that only she could hear,with a look that carried its beaning to
her heart, I shall never forgetthat you did this for my mother and
me. The two felt almost lighthearted in comparison to their fellow travelers,
(09:22):
because they had a short reprieve beforethey would have to say goodbye. But
Ruth sat looking about her at thesad eyed girls and women who had just
parted from their husbands and sons andsweethearts, and who were most of them
weeping, and felt anew the greatburden of the universal sorrow upon her.
She wondered how God could stand it, the old human question that wonders how
(09:45):
God can stand the great agonies oflife that have come to cure the world
of its sin, and never wondershow God can stand the sin. She
felt as if she must somehow findGod and plead with him not to do
it. And again, and therecame that longing to her soul. If
she only knew God intimately, Cameron'squestion recurred to her, thoughts, could
(10:07):
anyone on this earth know God?Had anyone ever known Him? Would the
Bible say anything about it? Sheresolved to read it through and find out.
The brief ride brought them suddenly intoa new and to Ruth somewhat startling
environment. As they followed the grassypath from the station to their abiding place,
(10:28):
two little boys in full military uniformappeared out of the tall grass of
the meadows, one as a private, the other as an officer. The
small private saluted the officer with precisionand marched on, turning after a few
steps to call back. Mother said, we might sleep in the tent tonight.
The rooms are all full. Theolder boy gave a whoop of delight
(10:52):
and bounded back toward the building witha most unofficer like walk, and both
disappeared inside the door. A tinydog tent was set up in the grass
by the back door, and ina moment more the two young soldiers emerged
from the back door with blankets anddisappeared under the brown roof with a zest
that showed it was no hardship tothem to camp out for the night.
(11:15):
There were lights in the long,pleasant room and people. Two soldiers with
their girls were eating ice cream atthe little tables, and around the piano.
A group of officers and their wiveswas gathered singing ragtime. Ruth's quick
glance told her they were not thekind she cared for, and how could
people who were about to part perhapsforever stand there and sing such abominable nonsense.
(11:39):
Yet perhaps it was their way ofbeing brave to the last, but
she wished they would go. Thesweet faced woman of the morning was busy
behind the counter, and presently shesaw them and came forward. I'm sorry,
I hoped there would be a room, but that woman from Boston came,
I can only give you cots outhere, if you don't mind,
(12:01):
missus. Cameron looked around in ahalf frightened manner, but Ruth smiled airily
and said that would be all right. They settled down in the corner between
the writing table and the bookcase andbegan to read, for it was obvious
that they could not retire at present. The little boys came running through,
and the officers corralled them and clamoredfor them to sing. Without any coaxing,
(12:24):
they stood up together and sang.Their voices were sweet as birds as
they piped out the words of apopular song, one singing alto the little
one taking the high soprano. Ruthput down her book and listened, wondering
at the lovely expressions on the twosmall faces. They made her think of
the baby seraphs in Michelangelo's pictures.Presently they burst into a religious song with
(12:46):
as much gusto as they had sungthe ragtime. They were utterly without self
consciousness, and sang with the fervorof a preacher. Yet they were regular
boys for presently. When they werereleased, they went to turning handsprings and
had a rough and tumble scuffle inthe corner till their mother called them to
order. In a few minutes more, the noisy officers and their wives parted,
(13:09):
the men striding off into the nightwith a last word about the possibility
of unexpected orders coming, and apromise to wink a flashlight out of the
car window as the troop train wentby in case they went out that night.
The wives went into one of thelittle stallrooms and compared notes about their
own feelings and the probability of thenth Division leaving before Monday. Then the
(13:33):
head of the house appeared with aBible under his arm, humming a hymn.
He gave a keen, pleasant glanceat the two strangers in the corner,
and gave a cheery word to hiswife in answer to her question,
Yes, we had a great meetingtonight. A hundred and twenty men raised
their hands as wanting to decide forChrist, and two boys came forward to
be prayed for. It was ablessed time. I wish the boys had
(13:56):
been over there to sing. Themeeting was the big y MCA Auditorium.
Has Captain Holly gone yet not yet? His wife's voice was lowered. She
motioned toward one of the eight graydoors, and her husband nodded, sadly,
he goes at midnight, you know, poor little woman. Just then
the door opened and a young soldiercame out, followed by his wife,
(14:20):
looking little and pathetic, with greatdark hollows under her eyes and a forced
smile on her trembling lips. Thesoldier came over and took the hand of
the Salvation Army woman. Well,I'm going out tonight, mother, I
want to thank you for all you'vedone for my little girl, looking toward
his wife, and I won't forgetall the good things you've done for me
(14:43):
and the sermons you've preached. Andwhen I get over there, I'm going
to try to live right and keepall my promises. I want you to
pray for me that I may betrue. I shall never cease to thank
the Lord that I knew you.Two. The Salvationist shook hands earnestly with
him and promised to for him,and then he turned to the children.
Goodbye, Dicky. I shan't forgetthe songs you've sung. I'll hear them
(15:05):
sometimes when I get over there inbattle, and they'll help to keep me
true. But Dickie, not contentwith a handshake, swarmed up the leg
and back of his tall friend asif he had been a tree, and
whispered in a loud, confidential childwhisper, I'm going to pray for you
too, Captain Holly, God blessyou. The grown up phrases on the
(15:26):
childish lips amused Ruth. She watchedthe little boy as he lifted his beautiful,
serious face to the responsive look ofthe stranger and marveled. Here was
no parrot like repetition of word shehad heard oft repeated by his elders.
The boy was talking a native tongueand speaking of things that were real to
him. There was no assumption ofgodliness, nor conceit, no holier than
(15:50):
thou smirk about the child. Itwas all sincere, as a boy would
promise to speak to his own fatherabout a friend's need. It touched Ruth,
and tears sprang to her eyes.All the doubts she had had about
the respectability of the place had vanishedlong ago. There might be all kinds
of people coming and going, butthere was a holy influence here which made
(16:11):
it a refuge for anyone. Shefelt quite safe about sleeping in the great
barn like room, so open itwas as if they had happened on some
saints abode and been made welcome intheir extremity. Presently, one by one
the inmates of the room came inand retired. Then the cots were brought
out and set up, little simpleaffairs of canvas and steel rods, put
(16:33):
together in a twinkling and very invitingto the two weary women. After the
long day, the cheery proprietor calledout, missus Brown, have it you
an extra blanket in your room?And a pleasant voice responded promptly, yes,
do you want it? Throw itover then, please. A couple
of ladies hadn't any place to goanybody else got one. A great gray
(16:57):
blanket came flying over the top ofthe partition and down the line. Another
voice called I have one I don'tneed, and a white blanket with pink
stripes followed, both caught by thesalvationist and spread upon the little cots.
Then the lights were turned out oneby one, and there in the shelter
of the tall piano, curtained bythe darkness, the two laid down.
(17:19):
Ruth was so interested in it all, and so filled with the humor and
the strangeness of her situation, thattired as she was, she could not
sleep for a long time. Thehouse settled slowly to quiet. The proprietor
and his wife talked comfortably about theduties of the next day, called some
directions to the two boys in thepuppy tent, soothed their mosquito bites with
(17:42):
a lotion, and got them anotherblanket. The woman who helped in the
kitchen complained about not having enough suppliesfor mourning, and that contingency was arranged
for all in a patient, earnestway, and in the same tone in
which they talked about the meetings,they discussed their own boy, evidently the
brother of the small boys, whohad apparently just sailed for France as a
(18:04):
soldier a few days before, andwhom the wife had gone to New York
to see off. And they commendedhim to their christ in little, low
sentences of reassurance to each other.Ruth could not help but hear much that
was said, for the rooms wereall open to sounds, and these good
people apparently had nothing to hide.They spoke as if all their household were
(18:26):
one great family, equally interested inone another, equally suffering and patient in
the necessities of this awful war.In another tiny room, the y Mcamn,
who had been the last to comein, talked in low tones with
his wife, telling her in tender, loving tones what to do about a
number of things after he was gone. In a room quite near there were
(18:49):
soft sounds as of suppressed weeping.Something made Ruth sure it was the mother
who had been spoken of earlier inthe evening, as having come all the
way from Texas and arrived too lateto bid her boy good bye. Now
and again, the sound of atroop train stirred her heart to untold depths.
There is something so weird and sorrowfulabout its going, as if the
(19:11):
very engine sympathized, screaming its sorrowthrough the night. Ruth felt she would
never forget that sound. Out therein the dark, Cameron might be even
then slipping past them, out intothe great future. She wished she could
dare ask that sweet faced woman orthat dear little boy to pray for him.
(19:32):
Maybe she would. Next day,the two officers wives seemed to sit
up in bed and watch the train. They had discovered a flashlight and were
counting the signals, and quite excited. Ruth's heart ached for them. It
was a peculiarity of this trip thatshe found her heart going out to others,
so much more than it had evergone before. She was not thinking
(19:53):
of her own pain, although sheknew it was there, but of the
pain of the world. Her body, lying on the strange, hard cot
ached with weariness in unaccustomed places.Yet she stretched and nestled upon the tan
canvas with satisfaction. She was sharing, to a certain extent the hardships of
the soldiers, the hardship of onesoldier whose privations hurt her deeply. It
(20:18):
was good to have to suffer withhim. Where was God? Did he
care? Was he in this queerlittle hostel? Might she ask him now
to set a guard over Cameron andlet him find the help he needed.
Wherewith to go to meet death,if death he must meet. She laid
her hands together as a little childmight do, and with wide open eyes,
(20:40):
staring into the dark of the highceiling, she whispered from her heart,
Oh God, help us to findyou. And unconsciously she too set
her soul on the search. Thatnight, as she closed her eyes,
a great piece and sense of safetycame over her. Outside on the road
a company of eight soldiers coming homefrom Leaf, noised by. Some of
(21:03):
them were drunk and wrangling or singing, and a sense of their pitiful need
of God came over her as shesank into a deep sleep. End of
Chapter fourteen.
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