Page:Henry Northcote (IA henrynorthcote00snairich).pdf/20

 you, in his virgin immunity, who is called upon to release her from their false embraces."

"I, sir!" exclaimed the young man, with wild eyes and his heart beating violently. "I, without clothes to my skin, without food in my belly, and who to-morrow will have no roof under which to rest his head!"

The wan smile of the scarecrow embraced his own mutilated hat, broken boots, and ragged condition.

"You may or you may not be the emancipator," said the scarecrow, peering at him earnestly, "yet the veritable great one whom I see configured before me is some such man as you. I have listened many weeks to your oratory, and you have a strange power. Your voice is noble, and speaks words of authority. Even if you are not the demi-*god for whom the age is asking,—and, my dear friend, far be it from me to say you are not,—you were yet formed by Nature to do a momentous work for your country."

"In its casual wards," said the young man, with an outburst of bitterness.

"The elect upon whom Nature confers true power are generally safeguarded in this wise manner. The ambitions of the market-place are set beyond their reach. I lie down to-night with a pæan of thanksgiving upon my lips. May the hour dawn when you also may consign your bones to the snow. But in the meantime you have a great work to do in the world. Nature has filled you with speech; therefore you have the burden of immense responsibilities, for speech is the most signal of her gifts. You may or you may not be the great