Shadows
1
To every people, in every
age, there comes a measure
of God to man -- through man.
2
Even today, Wisdom may dwell
among us, in humble guise,
unknown, despised, until, its
mission fulfilled, it slips
back into the mystery from
whence it came.
3
Urkey -- a little fishing
village whose sturdy folk
had always followed the
same simple faith of their
fathers.
4
DANIEL GIBBS
"Admiral" of Urkey's
fishing-fleet, was not
popular -- save with a
few of his own kind --
Walter Long.
5
All the village agreed
that a better woman
never lived than
Sympathy Gibbs.
Marguerite De La Motte.
6
"How Sympathy's pore pa
would turn in his
grave if he could
see what's come o'
his makin' her marry
Dan Gibbs!"
7
Then storm swept sudden
terror through the
little village -- its
fleet caught in the
tempest out at the
fishing-beds.
8
Sympathy Gibbs came
also -- to watch and
pray for Daniel.
9
Among those who held that
Sympathy would be better
off without Daniel -- was
Nate Snow, who owned the Bank,
the Drug Store -- and most of
the village.
John Sainpolis.
10
At dawn came calm --
and fragments of wreckage.
11
YEN SIN
Lon Chaney.
12
"We picked up the
Chink early in the
night -- prob'ly been
cook on one of the
coast boats that went
down."
13
"Daniel was one of
the first to go, Ma'am
-- a broken spar caught
him -- before we went
to pieces."
14
"Let us pray for
the souls of the
lost --"
15
"Pray -- or get out!
We're all believers
in Urkey -- we want
no heathens!"
16
But Yen Sin, the heathen,
elected to stay in Urkey.
17
Early and late, his
steam-blurred silhouette
swayed over his tubs
and irons, in the
shanty of the old scow
by Pickets' Wharf.
18
"Ly-chee nuts from
China-way. Allee
samee good for boys
-- even Mista Bad Boy!"
19
MISTA BAD BOY
Buddy Messenger.
20
Then came Minister Malden
to Urkey, heartsore because
he had not been called to
the "Field" of the Far East --
JOHN MALDEN -- Harrison Ford.
21
"I don't like it --
he's too young
t'be much of a
minister."
22
"For shame! He is
our brother! Christ
died for such as he!"
23
And so, after a time,
Minister Malden found,
besides his church,
two other consuming
interests --
24
"Have all my words
meant nothing? You
are good to us --
but you do not
believe in God!"
25
"You never think
of being saved! -
And I would give
my life if I could
make you believe!"
26
"Mista Yen Sin
velly humble dog,
but washee colla
fine!"
27
"I made you another
cushion, Yen -- I
almost forgot."
28
"Lat mean - 'Welcome --
always to my home.'"
29
"What does
that mean?"
30
"Lat's Mista You -- Chinaman
never know people's name,
so he give people name
they mean to him. Lat's
Mista You."
31
"-- Means -- 'Boy who not
aflaid of all water in
ocean, but who much
aflaid of it in wash-pan!'
Lat means you."
32
THE SOCIAL.
"He who winds the yarn
And finds his mate
Must grab her quick
And kiss her straight!"
33
"Isn't the minister
just wonderful!"
34
"Folks -- listen! I want
to tell you that
Sympathy and I -- are
going to be married!"
35
But Nate Snow was best
man at the wedding --
and, in the white flame
of Malden's love, Sympathy
forgot the dark shadow
that had been Daniel Gibbs.
36
"I s'pose Sympathy'll
take Daniel down now!"
37
SEE NO HEAR NO SPEAK NO
EVIL EVIL EVIL
38
After a year -- came their
first parting. Malden was
called to an important
church conference at
Infield -- Nate Snow went
along as lay-delegate.
39
"I can't leave you
now, Sympathy --
I can't!"
40
"It's only for a week,
dear -- and Aunt Emsy
will take good care
of me."
41
"Mista Minista go to
Sam Low Laundry --
Infield. He my flen' --
washee velly fine, too."
42
It was the "Big Day" of the
Infield Conference, and
Malden had been commended
for his masterly speech on
Foreign Missions --
43
"Sam Low come for
Mista Minista laundry
-- he 'leady now?"
44
"-- Daniel Gibbs
is alive!"
45
"Where's the letter?
I know Daniel Gibbs'
handwriting."
46
"Give me your check --
I'll cash it for you
downstairs."
47
"It may be some impostor!
After you've left the
money, I'll be on hand
to see if it really is
Gibbs."
48
At the
appointed hour --
49
The night of the
Minister's homecoming --
50
"We could hardly wait,
Parson, to tell ye what
a fine baby she is --
an' how Sympathy's eyes
is a-shinin' --"
51
"He must have had
some dreadful news --
he looks like death."
52
"-- I've some important
work to finish up
from the Conference --"
53
"-- it's best that I stay
in Nate's rooms over
the drug-store for awhile
-- you must be quiet
and rest --"
54
"He must be in some
awful trouble -- let's
sing a hymn -- it might
be some kind o' comfort
to him."
55
"Nearer, my God, to Thee --
Nearer to Thee,
56
E'en tho' it be a cross
57
That raiseth me."
58
"In my selfish happiness,
I forgot Thee, Oh, Father!
But I love her so --
I love her so! --"
59
Christian Hymn --
and Heathen Charm.
60
On Malden's next visit
to Yen Sin, the Chinaman's
keen eyes seemed to
search the Minister's soul.
61
"I -- am unable to
conduct Divine Service.
I fear -- I must resign
the pulpit."
62
"Our Pastor's zeal has eaten
up his strength. Until it
returns, Brother Snow
can conduct temporary
services of song and prayer
-- if it be your wish -- ?"
63
"What have I done,
John? Why don't
you come home to us?"
64
Then Malden knew
it was best to tell
her -- the truth.
65
"Now you see -- why I can
never enter that door --
and that no one must
know why -- for the sake
of our baby."
66
It seemed that all the purpose
of Malden's life was now directed
into the one channel left him --
the conversion of Yen Sin.
67
"Yen Sin, isn't there
anything I can say,
or do, that will make
you want to be saved
from your sins? -- We are
all of us so wicked --"
68
"Mista Minista
wickee - ?"
69
"Nate -- no man ever
had a friend like you!
How can I repay you
for going to Infield
for me -- for keeping
Gibbs away from Urkey?"
70
"It was easier for me
to have business in
Infield, than for you,
but this trip he insisted
on seeing you --"
71
"It's a thousand dollar
loan he wants this
time -- to buy an
interest in a boat."
72
"Of course, I can help
you raise a little
of it, but not all.
Times are hard --"
73
Perhaps the cat, with
its ancient wisdom,
sensed the nearness
of the End.
74
"Yen Sin go back
China-way pletty
quick now -- get Mista
Minista -- please!"
75
"The Chinaman -- he's
goin' to die -- he
wants the Minister!"
76
"But he wanted
the Minister!"
77
"The Chinaman's dyin'
-- an' he wants the
Minister -- an' Nate
Snow got there first!"
78
"Repent of your sins
-- and be saved!"
79
"Get me allee
collas on shelf
-- in big box."
80
"Try to think of what
I am saying Yen Sin.
You are dying --
confess your sins --"
81
"I confessee -- if
Mista Nate Snow
confessee."
82
"Yes -- all flesh is weak.
I admit the sins of
pride -- of impatience --"
83
"Confessee -- Mista
Nate Snow!"
84
"Once -- two years ago --
I did Joe Jarvis out
of seventy dollars on
a deal. I'd pay him
tonight if he were here --"
85
"And -- I have coveted
my neighbor's wife."
86
"That is nothing,
Yen Sin -- nothing --
to what I have done!"
87
"For over a year, I
have known that Daniel
Gibbs, Sympathy's husband
-- wasn't drowned -- he's
still alive --"
88
"Gibbs wrote me the
day the baby was born.
Since that time, I've
sent him money -- where
he told me to send
it --"
89
"I've gone hungry and
ragged to satisfy Gibbs.
I've begged my living
of my friend -- I've
drained the life of the
woman who loved me --"
90
"I did it rather than
give him back the
woman I loved -- rather
than that a stain should
mar my child's life!"
91
"And I have broken
my vow -- never to
see her again -- or
my child. I have
sinned -- but I confess
-- I confess!"
92
"And I've kept you here
-- in this righteous
community -- while
you've been deceiving --
even me!"
93
"Nate Snow likee
play with mousie?"
94
"Cat say -- 'Mousie
stay with nicee cat --
likee see mousie jump?"
95
"When Mista Minista go
Infield -- I write on his
colla to Sam Low there --
'Take care Minista --
flen' of mine.'"
96
"Sam Low follow Minista,
see him in trouble,
see lots of things --
write me on colla, too --"
97
"Sam Low write me on
this -- lat Minista cry --
shiver -- go put letter
under sidewalk -- and go
'way like sick man. Then
Sam Low wait and see --"
98
"The man lies! He'll tell
you I took the letter
from under the sidewalk
-- I didn't! - I didn't --"
99
"Yes -- it's true -- I
did it! I loved her
-- and I hated him --"
100
"Then Gibbs isn't alive - ?
And Sympathy - and
little Ruth - ? Then
all my fears have been
just - shadows?"
101
"I have suffered -- but
you, Nate -- you must
have suffered a thousand
times more -- to do
the thing you did."
102
"Mista Minista -- you
forgive Mista Nate
Snow - ?"
103
"He has confessed
-- he must be
forgiven."
104
"If you forgive --
then Yen Sin believe."
105
"Yen Sin want to
be alone with
Mista God little
while --"
106
"Please takee Mista
Cat -- Yen Sin no
wantee -- now."
107
The old scow had become
a thing of life -- like
an eager bird -- shaking
off its bonds -- calling
to the wind and the
wide open spaces.
108
"Mista Yen Sin go
back China-way
pletty quick."
109
"The storm brought him,
and the storm is taking
him away, but the peace
he found for us is
awaiting him -- in the
Harbour."
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