第72部分(第3/8 頁)

all　be　laid　on　his　shoulders；　and　when　the　Head　of　that　church…militant　of　whose　humblest　members　he　is　one；　shall　give　the　word；　‘Rise；　follow　Me！’”

St。　John　said　these　words　as　he　pronounced　his　sermons；　with　a　quiet；　deep　voice；　with　an　unflushed　cheek；　and　a　coruscating　radiance　of　glance。　He　resumed—

“And　since　I　am　myself　poor　and　obscure；　I　can　offer　you　but　a　service　of　poverty　and　obscurity。　You　may　even　think　it　degrading—　for　I　see　now　your　habits　have　been　what　the　world　calls　refined：　your　tastes　lean　to　the　ideal；　and　your　society　has　at　least　been　amongst　the　educated；　but　I　consider　that　no　service　degrades　which　can　better　our　race。　I　hold　that　the　more　arid　and　unreclaimed　the　soil　where　the　Christian　labourer’s　task　of　tillage　is　appointed　him—the　scantier　the　meed　his　toil　brings—the　higher　the　honour。　His；　under　such　circumstances；　is　the　destiny　of　the　pioneer；　and　the　first　pioneers　of　the　Gospel　were　the　Apostles—their　captain　was　Jesus；　the　Redeemer；　Himself。”

“Well？”　I　said；　as　he　again　paused—“proceed。”

He　looked　at　me　before　he　proceeded：　indeed；　he　seemed　leisurely　to　read　my　face；　as　if　its　features　and　lines　were　characters　on　a　page。　The　conclusions　drawn　from　this　scrutiny　he　partially　expressed　in　his　succeeding　observations。

“I　believe　you　will　accept　the　post　I　offer　you；”　said　he；　“and　hold　it　for　a　while：　not　permanently；　though：　any　more　than　I　could　permanently　keep　the　narrow　and　narrowing—the　tranqui