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 eighteen. When Ruth MacDonald gotback from camp, she found herself utterly
dissatisfied with her old life. Thegirls in her social set were full of
war plans. They had one andall enlisted in every activity that was going.
Each one appeared in some pretty andappropriate uniform, and took the new
(00:21):
regime with as much eagerness and enthusiasmas ever she had put into dancing and
dressing. Not that they had givenup either of those employments, oh dear,
no. When they were not busygetting up little dances for the poor
dear soldier boys from the nearby camps, they were learning new solo steps wherewith
to entertain those soldier boys when theirturn came to go to camp, and
(00:43):
keep up the continuous performance that seemedto be necessary to the cheering of a
good soldier. And as for dressing, no one need ever suggest again a
uniform for women as the solution ofthe high cost of dressing. The number
of dainty devices of gold braid andred stars and silver tassels that those same
staid uniforms developed made plain forever thatthe woman who chooses can make even a
(01:07):
uniform distinctive and striking and altogether costly. In short, they went into the
war with the same superficial flightiness formerlyemployed in the social realms. They were
dashing here and there in their highpowered cars on solemn errands with all the
nonchalants of their ignorance and youth,till one, knowing some of them well,
(01:29):
trembled for the errand if it wereimportant, and many of them were
really useful, which only goes toprove that a tremendous amount of unsuspected power
is wasted every year, and thatunskilled labor often accomplishes almost as much as
skilled. Some of them secured positionsin the navy yard or in other public
offices, where they were thrown delightfullyinto intimacies with officers, and were able
(01:53):
to step over the conventionalities of theirown social positions into wildly exciting Amian adventures
under the popular guise of patriotism,without a rebuke from their elders. There
was not a dull hour in thelittle town. The young men of their
social set might all be gone towar, but there were others, and
(02:13):
the whirl of life went on gailyfor the thoughtless butterflies who danced and knitted
and drove motor cars and made bandages, and just rejoiced to walk the streets
knitting on the Sabbath day, agay creton, knitting bag on arm and
knitting needles, plying industriously, asif the world would go naked if they
did not work every minute, Justa horde of rebellious young creatures who at
(02:37):
heart enjoyed the unwonted privilege of breakingthe sabbath and shocking a few fanatics far
more than they really cared to knit. But nobody had time to pry into
the quality of such patriotism. Therewere too many other people doing the same
thing, and so it passed everywherefor the real thing. And the world
whirled on and tried to be gayto cover its deep heartache and dricken horror
(03:00):
over the sacrifice of its sons.But Ruth, although she bravely tried for
several weeks, could not throw herselfinto such things. She felt that they
were only superficial. There might bea moiety of good in all these things,
but they were not the real bigthings of life, not the ways
in which the vital help could begiven. And she longed with her whole
(03:22):
soul to get in on it.Somewhere the first Sabbath after her return from
camp, she happened into a bitof work which, while it was in
no way connected with war work,still helped to interest her deeply and keep
her thinking along the lines that hadbeen started while she was with John Cameron.
A quiet, shy, plain littlewoman, an old member of the
(03:43):
church and noted for good work,came hurrying down the aisle after the morning
service and implored a young girl inthe pew just in front of Ruth to
help her. That afternoon in anItalian Sunday school she was conducting in a
small settlement about a mile and ahalf from brine Haven. It's only to
play the hymns, Miss Emily,she said, Carrie Wayne has to go
(04:04):
to a funeral. She always playsfor me. I wouldn't ask you if
I could play the least mite myself, but I can't, and the singing
won't go at all without some oneto play the piano. Oh, I'm
sorry, missus Beck, but Ireally can't, pleaded Miss Emily quickly.
I promised to help out in thecanteen work this afternoon. You know,
(04:25):
the troop trains are coming through andmissus Martin wanted me to take her place
all the afternoon. Missus Beck's faceexpressed dismay. She gave a hasty glance
around the rapidly emptying church. Oh, dear, I don't know what I'll
do, she said. Oh letthem do without singing, for once,
suggested the care free Emily. Everybodyought to learn to do without something in
(04:47):
war time. We can serve sugarand flour. Let the Italians conserve singing,
And with a laugh at her ownbrightness, she hurried away. Ruth
reached forward and touched the troubled missionaryon the arm. Would I do?
She asked? I never played hymnsmuch, but I could try. Oh
would you? A flood of reliefwent over the woman's face, and Ruth
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was instantly glad she had offered.She took missus Beck down to the settlement
in her little runabout, and theafternoon's experience opened a new world to her.
It was the first time she hadever come in contact with the really
poor and lowly of the earth,and she proved herself a true child of
God, and in that she didnot shrink from them, because many of
(05:31):
them were dirty and poorly clad.Before the first afternoon was over, she
had one baby in her arms,and three others hanging about her chair with
adoring glances. They could not talkin her language, but they stared into
her beautiful face with their great darkeyes, and spoke queer, little,
unintelligible words to one another about her. The whole little company were delighted with
(05:55):
a new pretty lady who had comeamong them. They openly exam Ammond her
simple, lovely frock and hat,and touched with shy, furtive fingers the
blue ribbon that floated over the benchfrom her girdle. Missus Beck was in
the seventh heaven and begged her tocome again, and Ruth, equally charmed,
promised to go every Sunday, forit appeared that the wayward pianist was
(06:17):
very irregular and had to be constantlycoaxed. Ruth entered into the work with
zest. She took the children's class, which formerly had been with the older
ones, and, gathering them abouther, told them Bible stories till their
young eyes bulged with wonder and theirlittle hearts almost burst with love of her
love God. Of course, theywould try to please Jesus certainly if missus
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Ruth, as they called her,said they should they adored her. She
fell into the habit of going downduring the week and slipping into their homes
with a big basket of bright flowersfrom her home garden, which she distributed
to young and old. Even themen, when they happened to be from
work, wanted the flowers and touchedthem with eager reverence. Somehow, the
(07:04):
little community of people so different fromherself filled her thoughts more and more.
She began to be troubled that someof the men drank and beat their wives
and little children. In consequence,she set herself to devise ways to keep
them from it. She scraped acquaintancewith one or two of the older boys
(07:24):
in her own church and enlisted themto help her, and bought a moving
picture machine, which she took tothe settlement. She spent hours attending moving
picture shows that she might find theright films for their use. Fortunately,
she had money enough for all herschemes and no one to hinder her good
work, although Aunt Rhoda did objectstrenuously at first, on the ground that
(07:46):
she might catch something, but Ruthonly smiled and said, that's just what
I'm out for Auntie, Dear.I want to catch them all and try
to make them live better lives.Other people are going to France. I
haven't got a chance to go yet, but while I stay here, I
must do something. I can't bean idler. Aunt Rhoda looked at her
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quizzically. She wondered if Ruth wasworried about one of her men friends and
which one. If you'd only takeup some nice work for the government,
Dear, such as the other girlsare doing, she sighed, work that
would bring you into contact with nicepeople. You always have to do something
queer. I'm sure I don't knowwhere you got your low tendencies. But
(08:28):
Ruth would be off before more couldbe said. This was an old topic
of Aunt Rhoda's and had been mostfully discussed during the young years of Ruth's
life, so that she did notcare to enter into it further. But
Ruth was not fully satisfied with justhelping her Italians. The very week she
came back from camp, she hadgone to their old family physician, who
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held a high and responsible position inthe medical world, and made her PLEA
daddy doctor, she said, usingher old childish name for him. You've
got to find a way for meto go over there and help the war.
I know I don't know much aboutnursing, but I'm sure I could
learn. I've taken care of Grandpaand Auntie a great many times and watched
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the trained nurses, and I'm sureif Laylah Farrington and Bernice Brooks could get
into the Red Cross and go overin such a short time, I'm as
bright as they brighter, said theold doctor, eyeing her approvingly. But
what will your people say. They'llhave to let me, daddy doctor.
Besides, everybody else is doing it, and you know that has great weight
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with Aunt Rhoda. It's a hardlife, child, you never saw much
of pain and suffering and horror.Well it's time then. But those men
over there you would have to carefor will not be like your grandfather and
aunt. They will be dirty andbloody and covered with filth and vermin.
Well what of that? Could youstand? It? So? You think
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I'm a butterfly, do you,Daddy doctor? Well, I want to
prove to you that I'm not.I've been doing my best to get used
to dirt and distress. I washeda sick little Italian baby yesterday and helped
its mother scrub her floor and makethe house clean the dickens you did,
beamed the doctor proudly. I alwaysknew you had a lot of grit.
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I guess you've got the right stuffin you. But say, if I
help you, you've got to tellme the real reason why you want to
go or else? Nothing doing?Understand? I know you aren't like the
rest, just wanting to get intothe excitement and meet a lot of officers
and have a good time so youcan say afterward you were there. You
aren't that kind of a girl.What's the real reason you want to go?
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Have you got somebody over there you'reinterested in? He looked at her
keenly with loving, anxious eyes,as her father's friend, who had known
her from birth might look. Ruth'sface grew rosy and her eyes dropped,
but lived it again, undaunted.And if I have daddy, doctor,
is there anything wrong about that?The doctor frowned. It isn't that fat
(11:03):
chump of a Wainwright? Is it? Because if it is, I shan't
lift my finger to help you go. But Ruth's laugh rang out clear and
free. Never, dear friend,never set your mind at rest about him,
she finished, sobering down. Andif I care for someone, daddy,
doctor, can't you trust me?I'd pick out someone who was all
right. I suppose, so,grumbled the doctor, only half satisfied.
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But girls are so dreadfully blind.I think you'd like him, she hazarded,
her cheeks, growing pinker. Thatis, you would, if there
is anybody, she corrected herself,laughing. But you see, it's a
secret yet, and maybe always willbe. I'm not sure that he knows,
and I'm not quite sure I knowmyself. Oh I see, said
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the doctor, watching her sweet facewith a tender jealousy in his eyes.
Well, I suppose I'll help youto go, but i'll shoot him.
Remember if he doesn't turn out tobe all right. It would take a
mighty superior person to be good enoughfor you, little girl. That's just
what he is, said Ruth sweetly, and then, rising and stooping over
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him, she dropped a kiss onthe wavy silver lock of hair that hung
over the doctor's forehead. Thank you, daddy doctor, I knew you would,
she said happily. And please don'tbe too long about it. I'm
in a great hurry. The doctorpromised. Of course, no one could
resist Ruth when she was like that, and in due time certain forces were
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set in operation to the end thatshe might have her desire. Meanwhile,
as she waited, Ruth filled herdays with thoughts of others, not forgetting
Cameron's mother, for whom she wasalways preparing some little surprise, a dainty
gift, some fruit or flowers,a book that she thought might comfort and
while away her loneliness, a RESTfulride at the early evening, all the
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little things that a thoughtful daughter mightdo for a mother. And Cameron's mother
wrote him long letters about it,all of which would have delighted his heart
during those dreary days if they couldonly have reached him. Then Ruth's letters
to Cameron were full of the thingsshe was doing, full of her sweet,
wise thoughts that seemed to be growingwiser every day. She had taken
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pictures of her Italian friends and introducedhim to them one by one. She
had filled every page with little wordpictures of her daily life. It seemed
a pity that he could not havethem just when he needed them most.
It would have filled her with dismayif she could have known the long wandering
journey that was before those letters,before they would finally reach him, she
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might have been discouraged from writing them. Little missus Beck was suddenly sent for
one Sunday morning to attend her sister, who was very ill, and she
hastily called Ruth over the telephone andbegged her to take her place at the
Sunday school. Ruth promised to securesomeone to teach the lesson, but found,
to her dismay that no one waswilling to go at such short notice,
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And so with trembling heart, sheknelt for a hasty petition that God
would guide her and show her howto lead these simple people in the worship
of the day. As she stoodbefore them, trying to make plain in
the broken mixed Italian and English,the story of the Blind Man, which
was the lesson for the day,there came over her a sense of her
great responsibility. She knew that thesepeople trusted her, and that what she
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told them they would believe, andher heart lifted itself in a sharp cry
for help, for light to giveto them. She felt an appalling lack
of knowledge and experience herself. Wherehad she been all these young years of
her life? And What had shebeen doing that she had not learned the
way of life so that she mightput it before them? Before her sat
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a woman bowed with years, herface seemed with sorrow and hard work,
and grimed with lack of care,a woman whose husband frequently beat her for
attending Sunday school. There were fourmen on the back seat, hard workers,
listening with eager eyes, assenting vigorouslywhen she spoke of the sorrow on
the earth. They too had seenthe trouble. They sat there, patient,
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sad eyed, wistful. What couldshe show them out of the book
of God to bring a light ofjoy to their faces. There were the
little children whose future looked so fullof hard knocks and toil that it seemed
a wonder they were willing to growup knowing what was before them. The
money that had smoothed her way thusfar through life was not for them.
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The comfortable home and food and raimentand light and luxury that had made her
life so full of ease were almostunknown to them. Had she anything better
to offer them than mere earthly comfortswhich probably would never be theirs, no
matter how hard they might strive.But after all, money and ease could
in no way soothe the pain ofthe heart. And she had come close
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enough already to these people to knowthat they had each won his own heart's
pain and sorrow to bear. Therewas one man who had lost five children
by death. That death had comein consequence of dirt and ignorance made it
no easier to bear. The dirtand ignorance had not all been his fault.
People who were wiser and had notcared to help were to blame.
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What was the remedy for the world'ssorrow, the world's need? Ruth knew
in a general way that Jesus Christwas the savior of the world, that
his name should be the remedy forevil. But how to put it to
them in simple form? Ah,that was it. It was Cameron's search
for God, and it seemed thatall the world was on the same search.
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But now today she had suddenly comeon some of the footprints of the
Man of Sorrow as he toiled overthe mountains of earth searching for lost humanity,
and her own heart echoed his loveand sorrow for the world. She
cried out in her helplessness for somethingto give to these wistful people. Somehow
the prayer must have been answered,for the little congregation hung upon her words.
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And one old man with deep creasesin his forehead and kindly wrinkles around
his eyes, spoke out in meetingand said, I like God. I
like him good. I like himall the time with me, all the
time, everywhere Him live in myhouse. The tears sprang into her eyes
with answering sympathy. Here in herlittle mission she had found a brother's soul
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seeking after God. She had anotherswift vision then, of what the kinship
of the whole world meant, andhow Christ could love everybody. After Sunday
school was out, little Sandra camestealing up to her mind brother die.
She said, sorrowfully, what Tony, the pretty fat baby? Oh?
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I'm so sorry, said Ruth,putting her arm tenderly around the little girl.
Where is your mother? I mustgo and see her. Down the
winding, unkempt road, they walked, the delicately reared girl and the little
attali in drudge to the hobble wherethe family were housed, a tumbled down
affair of ancient stone, toddrily washedover in some season passed with scaling pink
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whitewash, the noisy abode of thefamily pig was in front of the house,
in the midst of a trim littlegarden of cabbage, lettuce, garlic
and tomatoes. But the dirty,swarming little house, usually so full of
noise and good cheer, was tidytoday, and no guests hovered on the
brief front stoop, sipping from afriendly bottle or playing the accordion. There
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was not an accordion herd in thecommunity, for there had been a funeral
that morning, and everyone was tryingto be quiet out of respect for the
bereaved parents. And there in theopen doorway, in his shirt sleeves,
crouched low upon the step sat thehead of the house, his swarthy face
bowed upon his knees a picture ofutter despair, And just beyond, the
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mother's head was bowed upon her foldedarms on the window seat. And thus
they mourned in public silence before theirlittle world. Ruth's heart went out to
the two poor, ignorant creatures intheir grief, as she remembered the little
dark child with the brown curls andglorious eyes, who had resembled one of
Raphael's cherubs. And thought how emptythe mother's arms would be without him.
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Oh, Sanda, tell your motherhow sorry I am, she said to
the little girl, For the mothercould not speak or understand English. Tell
her not to mourn so terribly,dear, Tell her that the dear baby
is safe and happy with Jesus.Tell her she will go to him some
day. And as the little girlinterpreted her words, suddenly Ruth knew that
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what she was speaking was truth.Truth she might have heard before but never
recognized or realized till now. Themother lifted her sorrowful face, all tear
swollen, and tried a pitiful smile, nodded to say she understood, then
dropped sobbing again upon the window sill. The father lifted a sad face,
not too sober, but blear eyedand pitiful too in his hopelessness, as
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if he accepted the fact she hadtold, but it gave him no comfort,
and then went back to his owndespair. Ruth turned away with aching
heart, praying, Oh God,they need you, come and comfort them.
I don't know how, but somehow, on her homeward way, she
seemed to have met and been greetedby her Savior. It was so she
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received her baptism for the work thatshe was to do. The next day,
permission came for her to go toFrance, and she entered upon her
brief training. Don't you dread tohave her go, asked a neighbor of
Aunt Rhoda. Oh yes, sighedthe good lady comfortably. But then she
is going in good company, andit isn't as if all the best people
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weren't doing it. Of course,it will be a great experience for her,
and I wouldn't want to keep herout of it. She'll meet a
great many nice people over there thatshe might not have met if she had
stayed at home. Everybody they tellme is at work over there. She'll
be likely to meet the nobility.It isn't as if we didn't have friends
there too, who will be sureto invite her over week ends. If
(21:10):
she gets tired, she can goto them, you know. And really
I was glad to have something comeup to take her away from that miserable
little country slum she has been socrazy about. I was dreadfully afraid she
would catch something there, or elsethey would rob us and murder us and
kidnap her some day. And thatwas the way things presented themselves to Aunt
Rhoda, and of chapter eighteen
Chapter eighteen. When Ruth MacDonald gotback from camp, she found herself utterly
dissatisfied with her old life. Thegirls in her social set were full of
war plans. They had one andall enlisted in every activity that was going.
Each one appeared in some pretty andappropriate uniform, and took the new
(00:21):
regime with as much eagerness and enthusiasmas ever she had put into dancing and
dressing. Not that they had givenup either of those employments, oh dear,
no. When they were not busygetting up little dances for the poor
dear soldier boys from the nearby camps, they were learning new solo steps wherewith
to entertain those soldier boys when theirturn came to go to camp, and
(00:43):
keep up the continuous performance that seemedto be necessary to the cheering of a
good soldier. And as for dressing, no one need ever suggest again a
uniform for women as the solution ofthe high cost of dressing. The number
of dainty devices of gold braid andred stars and silver tassels that those same
staid uniforms developed made plain forever thatthe woman who chooses can make even a
(01:07):
uniform distinctive and striking and altogether costly. In short, they went into the
war with the same superficial flightiness formerlyemployed in the social realms. They were
dashing here and there in their highpowered cars on solemn errands with all the
nonchalants of their ignorance and youth,till one, knowing some of them well,
(01:29):
trembled for the errand if it wereimportant, and many of them were
really useful, which only goes toprove that a tremendous amount of unsuspected power
is wasted every year, and thatunskilled labor often accomplishes almost as much as
skilled. Some of them secured positionsin the navy yard or in other public
offices, where they were thrown delightfullyinto intimacies with officers, and were able
(01:53):
to step over the conventionalities of theirown social positions into wildly exciting Amian adventures
under the popular guise of patriotism,without a rebuke from their elders. There
was not a dull hour in thelittle town. The young men of their
social set might all be gone towar, but there were others, and
(02:13):
the whirl of life went on gailyfor the thoughtless butterflies who danced and knitted
and drove motor cars and made bandages, and just rejoiced to walk the streets
knitting on the Sabbath day, agay creton, knitting bag on arm and
knitting needles, plying industriously, asif the world would go naked if they
did not work every minute, Justa horde of rebellious young creatures who at
(02:37):
heart enjoyed the unwonted privilege of breakingthe sabbath and shocking a few fanatics far
more than they really cared to knit. But nobody had time to pry into
the quality of such patriotism. Therewere too many other people doing the same
thing, and so it passed everywherefor the real thing. And the world
whirled on and tried to be gayto cover its deep heartache and dricken horror
(03:00):
over the sacrifice of its sons.But Ruth, although she bravely tried for
several weeks, could not throw herselfinto such things. She felt that they
were only superficial. There might bea moiety of good in all these things,
but they were not the real bigthings of life, not the ways
in which the vital help could begiven. And she longed with her whole
(03:22):
soul to get in on it.Somewhere the first Sabbath after her return from
camp, she happened into a bitof work which, while it was in
no way connected with war work,still helped to interest her deeply and keep
her thinking along the lines that hadbeen started while she was with John Cameron.
A quiet, shy, plain littlewoman, an old member of the
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church and noted for good work,came hurrying down the aisle after the morning
service and implored a young girl inthe pew just in front of Ruth to
help her. That afternoon in anItalian Sunday school she was conducting in a
small settlement about a mile and ahalf from brine Haven. It's only to
play the hymns, Miss Emily,she said, Carrie Wayne has to go
(04:04):
to a funeral. She always playsfor me. I wouldn't ask you if
I could play the least mite myself, but I can't, and the singing
won't go at all without some oneto play the piano. Oh, I'm
sorry, missus Beck, but Ireally can't, pleaded Miss Emily quickly.
I promised to help out in thecanteen work this afternoon. You know,
(04:25):
the troop trains are coming through andmissus Martin wanted me to take her place
all the afternoon. Missus Beck's faceexpressed dismay. She gave a hasty glance
around the rapidly emptying church. Oh, dear, I don't know what I'll
do, she said. Oh letthem do without singing, for once,
suggested the care free Emily. Everybodyought to learn to do without something in
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war time. We can serve sugarand flour. Let the Italians conserve singing,
And with a laugh at her ownbrightness, she hurried away. Ruth
reached forward and touched the troubled missionaryon the arm. Would I do?
She asked? I never played hymnsmuch, but I could try. Oh
would you? A flood of reliefwent over the woman's face, and Ruth
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was instantly glad she had offered.She took missus Beck down to the settlement
in her little runabout, and theafternoon's experience opened a new world to her.
It was the first time she hadever come in contact with the really
poor and lowly of the earth,and she proved herself a true child of
God, and in that she didnot shrink from them, because many of
(05:31):
them were dirty and poorly clad.Before the first afternoon was over, she
had one baby in her arms,and three others hanging about her chair with
adoring glances. They could not talkin her language, but they stared into
her beautiful face with their great darkeyes, and spoke queer, little,
unintelligible words to one another about her. The whole little company were delighted with
(05:55):
a new pretty lady who had comeamong them. They openly exam Ammond her
simple, lovely frock and hat,and touched with shy, furtive fingers the
blue ribbon that floated over the benchfrom her girdle. Missus Beck was in
the seventh heaven and begged her tocome again, and Ruth, equally charmed,
promised to go every Sunday, forit appeared that the wayward pianist was
(06:17):
very irregular and had to be constantlycoaxed. Ruth entered into the work with
zest. She took the children's class, which formerly had been with the older
ones, and, gathering them abouther, told them Bible stories till their
young eyes bulged with wonder and theirlittle hearts almost burst with love of her
love God. Of course, theywould try to please Jesus certainly if missus
(06:42):
Ruth, as they called her,said they should they adored her. She
fell into the habit of going downduring the week and slipping into their homes
with a big basket of bright flowersfrom her home garden, which she distributed
to young and old. Even themen, when they happened to be from
work, wanted the flowers and touchedthem with eager reverence. Somehow, the
(07:04):
little community of people so different fromherself filled her thoughts more and more.
She began to be troubled that someof the men drank and beat their wives
and little children. In consequence,she set herself to devise ways to keep
them from it. She scraped acquaintancewith one or two of the older boys
(07:24):
in her own church and enlisted themto help her, and bought a moving
picture machine, which she took tothe settlement. She spent hours attending moving
picture shows that she might find theright films for their use. Fortunately,
she had money enough for all herschemes and no one to hinder her good
work, although Aunt Rhoda did objectstrenuously at first, on the ground that
(07:46):
she might catch something, but Ruthonly smiled and said, that's just what
I'm out for Auntie, Dear.I want to catch them all and try
to make them live better lives.Other people are going to France. I
haven't got a chance to go yet, but while I stay here, I
must do something. I can't bean idler. Aunt Rhoda looked at her
(08:07):
quizzically. She wondered if Ruth wasworried about one of her men friends and
which one. If you'd only takeup some nice work for the government,
Dear, such as the other girlsare doing, she sighed, work that
would bring you into contact with nicepeople. You always have to do something
queer. I'm sure I don't knowwhere you got your low tendencies. But
(08:28):
Ruth would be off before more couldbe said. This was an old topic
of Aunt Rhoda's and had been mostfully discussed during the young years of Ruth's
life, so that she did notcare to enter into it further. But
Ruth was not fully satisfied with justhelping her Italians. The very week she
came back from camp, she hadgone to their old family physician, who
(08:48):
held a high and responsible position inthe medical world, and made her PLEA
daddy doctor, she said, usingher old childish name for him. You've
got to find a way for meto go over there and help the war.
I know I don't know much aboutnursing, but I'm sure I could
learn. I've taken care of Grandpaand Auntie a great many times and watched
(09:11):
the trained nurses, and I'm sureif Laylah Farrington and Bernice Brooks could get
into the Red Cross and go overin such a short time, I'm as
bright as they brighter, said theold doctor, eyeing her approvingly. But
what will your people say. They'llhave to let me, daddy doctor.
Besides, everybody else is doing it, and you know that has great weight
(09:33):
with Aunt Rhoda. It's a hardlife, child, you never saw much
of pain and suffering and horror.Well it's time then. But those men
over there you would have to carefor will not be like your grandfather and
aunt. They will be dirty andbloody and covered with filth and vermin.
Well what of that? Could youstand? It? So? You think
(09:56):
I'm a butterfly, do you,Daddy doctor? Well, I want to
prove to you that I'm not.I've been doing my best to get used
to dirt and distress. I washeda sick little Italian baby yesterday and helped
its mother scrub her floor and makethe house clean the dickens you did,
beamed the doctor proudly. I alwaysknew you had a lot of grit.
(10:16):
I guess you've got the right stuffin you. But say, if I
help you, you've got to tellme the real reason why you want to
go or else? Nothing doing?Understand? I know you aren't like the
rest, just wanting to get intothe excitement and meet a lot of officers
and have a good time so youcan say afterward you were there. You
aren't that kind of a girl.What's the real reason you want to go?
(10:39):
Have you got somebody over there you'reinterested in? He looked at her
keenly with loving, anxious eyes,as her father's friend, who had known
her from birth might look. Ruth'sface grew rosy and her eyes dropped,
but lived it again, undaunted.And if I have daddy, doctor,
is there anything wrong about that?The doctor frowned. It isn't that fat
(11:03):
chump of a Wainwright? Is it? Because if it is, I shan't
lift my finger to help you go. But Ruth's laugh rang out clear and
free. Never, dear friend,never set your mind at rest about him,
she finished, sobering down. Andif I care for someone, daddy,
doctor, can't you trust me?I'd pick out someone who was all
right. I suppose, so,grumbled the doctor, only half satisfied.
(11:28):
But girls are so dreadfully blind.I think you'd like him, she hazarded,
her cheeks, growing pinker. Thatis, you would, if there
is anybody, she corrected herself,laughing. But you see, it's a
secret yet, and maybe always willbe. I'm not sure that he knows,
and I'm not quite sure I knowmyself. Oh I see, said
(11:50):
the doctor, watching her sweet facewith a tender jealousy in his eyes.
Well, I suppose I'll help youto go, but i'll shoot him.
Remember if he doesn't turn out tobe all right. It would take a
mighty superior person to be good enoughfor you, little girl. That's just
what he is, said Ruth sweetly, and then, rising and stooping over
(12:11):
him, she dropped a kiss onthe wavy silver lock of hair that hung
over the doctor's forehead. Thank you, daddy doctor, I knew you would,
she said happily. And please don'tbe too long about it. I'm
in a great hurry. The doctorpromised. Of course, no one could
resist Ruth when she was like that, and in due time certain forces were
(12:31):
set in operation to the end thatshe might have her desire. Meanwhile,
as she waited, Ruth filled herdays with thoughts of others, not forgetting
Cameron's mother, for whom she wasalways preparing some little surprise, a dainty
gift, some fruit or flowers,a book that she thought might comfort and
while away her loneliness, a RESTfulride at the early evening, all the
(12:54):
little things that a thoughtful daughter mightdo for a mother. And Cameron's mother
wrote him long letters about it,all of which would have delighted his heart
during those dreary days if they couldonly have reached him. Then Ruth's letters
to Cameron were full of the thingsshe was doing, full of her sweet,
wise thoughts that seemed to be growingwiser every day. She had taken
(13:16):
pictures of her Italian friends and introducedhim to them one by one. She
had filled every page with little wordpictures of her daily life. It seemed
a pity that he could not havethem just when he needed them most.
It would have filled her with dismayif she could have known the long wandering
journey that was before those letters,before they would finally reach him, she
(13:37):
might have been discouraged from writing them. Little missus Beck was suddenly sent for
one Sunday morning to attend her sister, who was very ill, and she
hastily called Ruth over the telephone andbegged her to take her place at the
Sunday school. Ruth promised to securesomeone to teach the lesson, but found,
to her dismay that no one waswilling to go at such short notice,
(14:00):
And so with trembling heart, sheknelt for a hasty petition that God
would guide her and show her howto lead these simple people in the worship
of the day. As she stoodbefore them, trying to make plain in
the broken mixed Italian and English,the story of the Blind Man, which
was the lesson for the day,there came over her a sense of her
great responsibility. She knew that thesepeople trusted her, and that what she
(14:26):
told them they would believe, andher heart lifted itself in a sharp cry
for help, for light to giveto them. She felt an appalling lack
of knowledge and experience herself. Wherehad she been all these young years of
her life? And What had shebeen doing that she had not learned the
way of life so that she mightput it before them? Before her sat
(14:46):
a woman bowed with years, herface seemed with sorrow and hard work,
and grimed with lack of care,a woman whose husband frequently beat her for
attending Sunday school. There were fourmen on the back seat, hard workers,
listening with eager eyes, assenting vigorouslywhen she spoke of the sorrow on
the earth. They too had seenthe trouble. They sat there, patient,
(15:11):
sad eyed, wistful. What couldshe show them out of the book
of God to bring a light ofjoy to their faces. There were the
little children whose future looked so fullof hard knocks and toil that it seemed
a wonder they were willing to growup knowing what was before them. The
money that had smoothed her way thusfar through life was not for them.
(15:31):
The comfortable home and food and raimentand light and luxury that had made her
life so full of ease were almostunknown to them. Had she anything better
to offer them than mere earthly comfortswhich probably would never be theirs, no
matter how hard they might strive.But after all, money and ease could
in no way soothe the pain ofthe heart. And she had come close
(15:54):
enough already to these people to knowthat they had each won his own heart's
pain and sorrow to bear. Therewas one man who had lost five children
by death. That death had comein consequence of dirt and ignorance made it
no easier to bear. The dirtand ignorance had not all been his fault.
People who were wiser and had notcared to help were to blame.
(16:17):
What was the remedy for the world'ssorrow, the world's need? Ruth knew
in a general way that Jesus Christwas the savior of the world, that
his name should be the remedy forevil. But how to put it to
them in simple form? Ah,that was it. It was Cameron's search
for God, and it seemed thatall the world was on the same search.
(16:37):
But now today she had suddenly comeon some of the footprints of the
Man of Sorrow as he toiled overthe mountains of earth searching for lost humanity,
and her own heart echoed his loveand sorrow for the world. She
cried out in her helplessness for somethingto give to these wistful people. Somehow
the prayer must have been answered,for the little congregation hung upon her words.
(17:02):
And one old man with deep creasesin his forehead and kindly wrinkles around
his eyes, spoke out in meetingand said, I like God. I
like him good. I like himall the time with me, all the
time, everywhere Him live in myhouse. The tears sprang into her eyes
with answering sympathy. Here in herlittle mission she had found a brother's soul
(17:25):
seeking after God. She had anotherswift vision then, of what the kinship
of the whole world meant, andhow Christ could love everybody. After Sunday
school was out, little Sandra camestealing up to her mind brother die.
She said, sorrowfully, what Tony, the pretty fat baby? Oh?
(17:45):
I'm so sorry, said Ruth,putting her arm tenderly around the little girl.
Where is your mother? I mustgo and see her. Down the
winding, unkempt road, they walked, the delicately reared girl and the little
attali in drudge to the hobble wherethe family were housed, a tumbled down
affair of ancient stone, toddrily washedover in some season passed with scaling pink
(18:10):
whitewash, the noisy abode of thefamily pig was in front of the house,
in the midst of a trim littlegarden of cabbage, lettuce, garlic
and tomatoes. But the dirty,swarming little house, usually so full of
noise and good cheer, was tidytoday, and no guests hovered on the
brief front stoop, sipping from afriendly bottle or playing the accordion. There
(18:32):
was not an accordion herd in thecommunity, for there had been a funeral
that morning, and everyone was tryingto be quiet out of respect for the
bereaved parents. And there in theopen doorway, in his shirt sleeves,
crouched low upon the step sat thehead of the house, his swarthy face
bowed upon his knees a picture ofutter despair, And just beyond, the
(18:55):
mother's head was bowed upon her foldedarms on the window seat. And thus
they mourned in public silence before theirlittle world. Ruth's heart went out to
the two poor, ignorant creatures intheir grief, as she remembered the little
dark child with the brown curls andglorious eyes, who had resembled one of
Raphael's cherubs. And thought how emptythe mother's arms would be without him.
(19:18):
Oh, Sanda, tell your motherhow sorry I am, she said to
the little girl, For the mothercould not speak or understand English. Tell
her not to mourn so terribly,dear, Tell her that the dear baby
is safe and happy with Jesus.Tell her she will go to him some
day. And as the little girlinterpreted her words, suddenly Ruth knew that
(19:41):
what she was speaking was truth.Truth she might have heard before but never
recognized or realized till now. Themother lifted her sorrowful face, all tear
swollen, and tried a pitiful smile, nodded to say she understood, then
dropped sobbing again upon the window sill. The father lifted a sad face,
not too sober, but blear eyedand pitiful too in his hopelessness, as
(20:04):
if he accepted the fact she hadtold, but it gave him no comfort,
and then went back to his owndespair. Ruth turned away with aching
heart, praying, Oh God,they need you, come and comfort them.
I don't know how, but somehow, on her homeward way, she
seemed to have met and been greetedby her Savior. It was so she
(20:26):
received her baptism for the work thatshe was to do. The next day,
permission came for her to go toFrance, and she entered upon her
brief training. Don't you dread tohave her go, asked a neighbor of
Aunt Rhoda. Oh yes, sighedthe good lady comfortably. But then she
is going in good company, andit isn't as if all the best people
(20:48):
weren't doing it. Of course,it will be a great experience for her,
and I wouldn't want to keep herout of it. She'll meet a
great many nice people over there thatshe might not have met if she had
stayed at home. Everybody they tellme is at work over there. She'll
be likely to meet the nobility.It isn't as if we didn't have friends
there too, who will be sureto invite her over week ends. If
(21:10):
she gets tired, she can goto them, you know. And really
I was glad to have something comeup to take her away from that miserable
little country slum she has been socrazy about. I was dreadfully afraid she
would catch something there, or elsethey would rob us and murder us and
kidnap her some day. And thatwas the way things presented themselves to Aunt
Rhoda, and of chapter eighteen
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