The Flowing Tide, a political novel

Preface

. The writer has selected the novel as a means of conveying his impressions respecting the attacks now being made on our country's religion by the Radical party, which, like a rising flood, are sapping the foundations of England's institutions, obliter ating the landmarks of her national faith, and threatening to overthrow her in the whirlpool of atheism. Every day false standards of equity and even of common humanity are being set up, till the tendency of the mob seems to be to — " Bring the old dark ages back, without the faith, without the hope ; Break the State, the Church, the Throne, and roll their ruins down the slope." The majority of the characters appearing in the book are mere creations of the writer's fancy ; the others are partly suggested by characteristics of some of our public men, though the words put into their mouths are not intended to be the reproduction of what they have said, but are merely given by the author as showing what he conceives to be their political tendency.

The book is the production of one who has long studied the subject in all its bearings; and in the hope that it may prove not only interesting but instructive, it is now sent forth on its voyage to stem the Flowing Tide of socialism and infidelity. The Author. Fekxdale, 1890. CHAPTEE I. *^^j£^^^ OU seem happy, little boy, and you sing very nicely too. Are you a stranger in Mertondale?" •^*25*i^* The speaker was a clergyman, and the youth whom he addressed had seen fifteen summers, although he looked some two or three years younger. " I am a stranger in Mertondale, sir," he replied, " but my father has been here for more than four months. He works at the local colliery." " And are you his only child, my little friend? " " I once had a sister, sir, but she died when I was very young." "Have you any employment, my little man, or do you still attend school?" u 1 have no work to do at present, sir, but am looking out for a berth.

I have been employed as a pupil teacher for two years, but have been compelled to relinquish my post through failing health." " I noticed how pale you looked, and concluded that you were not well. What do you purpose to do when the bracing air of Mertondale shall have put you right A : again? I suppose that you will attend the services of our church." " Well, sir, I have a great desire to become a railway clerk, and have actually made two applications for appoint ment, but without success. You probably believed that I was a Churchman, because I attended your services on Sunday last. I have, however, been reared amongst the Dissenters. I shall, nevertheless, be glad to join the Established Church, provided my father does not raise any objection." " If you will favour me with your address, I will call and see your father, my little friend.

And concerning your desire to become a railway clerk, I may be able to assist you in the matter. I have already secured a similar position for a Mertondale lad about your own age." " I am much obliged to you, sir, and am convinced that my father will be delighted to see you at any time. We live at No. 10 Glazebury Road, third flight of steps from the church. My father's name is Langton." " Very good, my little man. I will endeavour to visit your parents this afternoon." With these words the clergyman turned away again, and allowed Aubrey to continue his song under the old oak trees that hung around the village of Mertondale. Mertondale was situ ated on an important point of the South Wales coalfield, and had sprung into existence by reason of the black diamonds that lay beneath its rugged surface.

Though to a certain extent soiled by the coal dust blown from the mine, the district still bore noble traces of its pristine beauty. Hills a thousand feet high and more rose on either side of a winding valley, and reflected in many a purple haze the glories of the sun. Tall poplars raised their heads athwart the sides of these mountains, and gave a dignity to the quiet but beautiful scene. The valley itself was covered with the branches of fir, elm, and chestnut, and was intersected by the deepening beds of rivulets and brooks. At the bottom of the valley a sleepy old river had wended its way towards the sea for a thousand years and more. Rocks and boulders here and there peeped out from the bed of the old river, and invited the urchins of Mertondale to disport themselves in the foam by which they were surrounded.

The scenery around the village was still beautiful, and was well adapted to restore Aubrey Langton to health again. Study had not been the cause of the boy's indisposition so much as the worry and excitement that are inseparably connected with the life of a teacher in a Welsh elementary school. Two years of such a life had told upon Aubrey's constitution, and had reduced him to his present state. Aubrey was of a nervous temperament, too, and this may have had something to do with the matter. He possessed little love for books, although he had always passed his annual government examinations with satisfaction. Indeed, Mr. Evans, the schoolmaster, considered Aubrey to be one of the best teachers whom he had ever attempted to train for the hard life of a pedagogue in Wales. Such was the character of the little boy whom we have just introduced to our readers.

Aubrey loved travel, and was never better pleased than when enlarging his conception of the world and the many-sided characters who had lived and died on it. We therefore suppose that he wished to become a railwayman, because such a position would enable him to roam about the country free of cost to his noble young self. He had often spoken to his parents upon the subject, but they had quite as often declared that Aubrey should be nothing but a schoolmaster. The collieries at Mertondale gave their workmen more constant employment than could be procured at Devington, and that was the sole and simple reason why the Honour able Lascelles Langton, Aubrey's father, had removed : there. A Dissenter by birth and by training, Mr. Langton was nevertheless a broad-minded man, hated bigotry, rarely quarrelled with anybody, and spent his spare time with powder, shot, and the gun.

Finding that his own deno mination had no place of worship at Mertondale, the Honourable Lascelles had taken his family to the Parish Church, and had there attracted the attention of the village clergyman. Mr. Turner was not given to proselytizing, but he considered it his duty to pay the Honourable Las celles a visit at his home. During the afternoon on which our story opens, the Langtons were therefore favoured with a visit from the curate in charge of Mertondale. Aubrey introduced his father to the reverend gentleman, and for the next five minutes there was an interchange of mutual flattery and of mutual welcome. " Your son appears to be an intelligent boy, Mr. Lang ton," said the clergyman, "and I shall be glad if you will allow him to attend the services of the Parish Church. I shall also be delighted if you and Mrs. Langton can make it convenient to come."

" We were there last Sunday," replied the Honourable Lascelles, " and we liked the service so much that we have decided to come again. I am a Dissenter by training, but am not attached to one form of ecclesiastical government more than another. Why need we quarrel about Church and Dissent when there is no difference in our faith?" " I am glad to hear you ask such a question, Mr. Lang ton, became I, too, belong to the Evangelical School. Dissent in Wales will continue to prosper so long as the Church maintains her present flourish of supercilious Tractarianism. I am disgusted at the manner in which my clerical compeers refuse to stand upon the same platform as their Dissenting brethren. However, mark my words, sir, this state of things will not last much longer. I have," he added after a pause, "taken a liking to Aubrey, and will endeavour to secure him a position on the Gording Railway."

" Thank you, sir, very much," replied Aubrey's paternal relative. "I hope that you will be successful in the undertaking. To facilitate his convalescence, I have decided to open a little newspaper business in the vil lage. Aubrey will deliver the daily newspapers, and thereby rid himself of any superfluous puff which he may have acquired, and earn his living at the same time. Practical idea, sir." "Most practical," laughed the curate as he rose to depart. " Aubrey is being well trained, Mr. Langton, and I commend you for it. Good afternoon, sir, I shall call again before Sunday." The promise of the Honourable Lascelles was soon redeemed, and Aubrey was installed as chief partner in the only stationery shop of Mertondale. He rose early and delivered his morning papers, and then devoted a considerable portion of his time to the business at home.

He soon worked up a remunerative little business, and was also gradually rewarded by the return of that health which he had temporarily lost at school. The morning walk from Mertondale to Glazebury gave a freshness to his cheeks and an elasticity to his step which were gratifying to himself and his parents. Mr. Turner wrote to the authorities of the Gording Rail way respecting an appointment for the lad, but received a reply stating that there was no vacancy to which lie could be settled. The letter, however, intimated that Aubrey's name had been placed upon the register of applicants, and would be remembered in due course. Aubrey had diligently pursued his work for two or three months, and had become acquainted with every fishwoman and chimney-sweep for miles around, when he was one day requested to see the chief clerk of the : offices at the local colliery.

Upon arrival, he was in formed that the proprietors required a messenger to carry letters between Mertondale and Glazebury. The duties being light, they would not interfere with his delivery of newspapers, and Aubrey could have the position if he liked. Aubrey thanked the chief clerk, and accepted the post at once. In a few hours time he placed the colliery letter-bag upon his shoulders and commenced his duties. Days, weeks, and months passed by, and Langton had not only made the acquaintance of the local railwaymen, but had availed himself of their friendship to learn everything about the career which he had in view. How the prospect of attaining it fired every sensation of his being ! How he reflected upon the different towns, counties, and countries to which he should be appointed, the people with whom he should associate, the new conceptions of life and of the larger world which he should acquire !

The telegraph department of the Gording Railway possessed only one superintendent, and his jurisdiction extended over the whole of the line. It thus differed from the traffic and goods sections, which were divided into districts, each presided over by a local man. Telegraph clerks thus enjoyed a freedom to which the other clerks were strangers. And how they made good use of it we leave our readers to conjecture. Great as was the fascination which a railway career had for Aubrey, it did not prevent him from performing his present tasks with diligence and care. He went en his journeys with expedition, and he only missed one train, which he regularly had to meet, during the whole of the time that marked his connection with the Mertondale Colliery. Perhaps that was owing more to an error in the clock at the Mertondale signal box than to any fault of his own ; but Aubrey, who was even then an adept at wriggling out of difficulties, made his explanation, and escaped a reprimand.

Not only did Langton become acquainted with the guards who worked the Mertondale and Glazebury trains, but he also formed an intimacy with the telegraph clerk at the latter station. To him Aubrey communicated his aspirations, and received in return instruction in the working of the instruments, the way to replenish the batteries, the mode of cleaning the coils, and the way to magnetize the needles. Our readers must recollect that self-magnetizing needles were not in vogue at the time of which we write. Aubrey had to perform three journeys a day, and although he frequently succeeded in securing a ride, he was compelled to walk whenever the trains were late. The Mertondale parsonage was situated on a hill that overlooked the highway between Mertondale and Glazebury. Aubrey frequently came across Mr. Turner, either reading in some shady nook of his extensive garden or walking over the gravel paths admiring his flowers.

The clergyman usually had a cheery word for Langton as he passed the parsonage on his way to Glazebury. Mr. Turner possessed a practical rather than a speculative mind, and conversed about subjects of everyday interest oftener than upon matters of abstruse or polemical bear ing. He knew nearly all the villagers, and could read them through and through. He was acquainted with the politicians amongst them as well as with the theo logians, who often came to tender him advice. He was one of the old-fashioned clergy, who used to mix up with their parishioners rather as a neighbour than as their spiritual guide, and who knew far more about them than his more modern successor. Mr. Turner's conversation usually turned upon questions of general interest, questions concerning the sliding scale or the amount of small coal which the colliers had been compelled to cut for the exclusive benefit of their masters, and he thus became acquainted with every vestige of village life and village gossip.

Mr. Turner was aware that a clergyman had great influence with the Directors of the Gording Railway, and he did not relinquish his hold upon them in favour of an appointment for Langton. One afternoon when Aubrey happened to pass the par sonage he was accosted by the curate. "Aubrey," said he, " I have just received an important letter from Lon don, which I will read to you." Mr. Turner thereupon opened the missive and commenced to read thus : — Telegraph Dept. Gording Railway, London, Aug. 12th, 18 — Rev. H. Turner, Sir, With respect to your application in favour of an appointment for the youth Aubrey Lang ton, I beg to inclose passes to enable him to attend at this office for examination on Tuesday morning next the 14th inst. Master Langton may select his own route of travel, and I have no doubt that these negotiations will result in giving him an appointment on our system.

I remain, Dear Sir, Yours obediently, C. Thompson "What do you think of that?" asked the clergy man, when he had finished reading the letter. Aubrey was too delighted to express his thoughts, but taking the proffered note from Mr. Turner's hand, and making a low bow, he turned to communicate the welcome intelligence to his parents at home. During the next half hour Aubrey was contemplating London with its immense population, and wondering how he had been fortunate enough to secure passes to proceed there. His passes were marked second class, too, and for once in his lifetime he would probably travel with the aristocracy of England. And he was now within reach of a telegraph clerkship upon the Gording Railway. Marvellous thought! Aubrey walked into the house to inform his parents that he actually possessed passes to proceed to the metropolis of the world.

The Hon. Lascelles and Mrs. Langton congratulated him upon his good fortune, although they really disapproved of his enthusiasm in the matter. He had lately been preparing for this railway examination, and therefore discovered few misgivings respecting its issue. The subjects were elementary, and only embraced arithmetic up to decimal fractions, dictation, English composition, and phonography as a voluntary art. Langton did not contemplate the distractions of London with any degree of complacency, for he believed that the examination room was surrounded by the jargon of steam whistles, omnibuses, together with the shouts of railway porters, shoeblacks, costermongers, pickpockets, and police men. In fact, his knowledge of the metropolis was no better than that of many other greenhorns who have fallen victims to the sharpers of London.

Aubrey re" solved, however, not to converse with any stranger, and thereby to ensure immunity from all forms of fraud. He usually rose at six o'clock in the morning, but on this important Monday, he was ready for breakfast even earlier than usual. He proceeded to Glazebury Station in good time, and entered the 9.30 train for London, choosing to travel via Racehead and Dormanster. The soft cushions and arm-rests of a second-class com partment were so different to the seats which Aubrey had hitherto occupied, that he insensibly felt himself to be a gentleman. His attention was chiefly concentrated upon a letter which he held in his hand, and which he was : endeavouring to commit to memory. The missive was an application for an appointment upon the Gording Rail way, and had been composed and given to Aubrey by the curate of Mertondale.

Langton had already passed more severe examinations than the one to which he was hastening, and could have acquitted himself satisfactorily without any extraneous aid. He was, however, grateful for the interest which Sir. Turner had thus evinced in his welfare, and he had accepted the letter from him. Aubrey soon committed the contents of that letter to memory, and then commenced to peruse a book which he had brought to while away the time. In due course he arrived at Sansome, where the locomotives of the Gording Railway were made. He, however, took little interest in engineering, and did not therefore alight at Sansome. A gentleman shortly afterwards directed his attention to the Castle of Winson Green, where the early English kings had lived and died. The train passed the castle at a quarter to five, and in less than another hour Aubrey found himself in the great city of London.

He stepped out upon the platform, and a burst of pride passed over his soul. At last he had travelled through a large portion of England, and had reached the greatest city in the modern world. A wave of gratification stole across his countenance as he thought upon the matter. Aubrey believed, however, that if he were seen to loiter in the streets, some stranger would perhaps offer to show him around, so he walked away as if he were quite familiar with the streets of London. He looked about and pre sently discovered a comfortable-looking coffee-house. He walked in and ordered tea. The lady attendant eyed him critically, and Aubrey as boldly returned her glance. "Are you alone, my little boy?" she inquired. "Just at present I am, madam," replied he, "although my friends will soon want my company, for they are rather afraid to be in London alone.

By the way, I suppose that you can accommodate me with a bed, madam?" " Single or double, sir ; a bed for yourself or a bed for two?" " Double, please, then I can make sure of having plenty of room." The lady laughed, and concluded that Aubrey was not a dangerous fellow. At nine o'clock he retired. How different everything seemed when compared with Merton dale ! London appeared to be perpetually awake, for omnibuses rattled over the streets until the small hours of the morning, and the public-houses had only closed at midnight. The citizens paraded the thoroughfares long after the public-houses were closed, and Aubrey wondered whether they ever slept or not. Passenger trains also ran to and from the metropolitan stations during the whole of the night, and Langton concluded that such a strain of excitement was not the thing for him.

Early next morning he arose, and having partaken of breakfast, sauntered forth to the office at which he was to undergo his examination. The boy was instructed to be present at nine o'clock, and precisely at that hour he nervously knocked at the door of the superintendent's office. It was answered by a messenger in uniform, who peremptorily inquired what Langton wanted. Aubrey produced his letter of introduction, and the office-boy handed it to one of the clerks inside. With a smile the clerk then appeared, and both he and the messenger patronizingly pronounced Aubrey too small to become a telegraph clerk. However, they dared not counter mand the order which Mr. Thompson had issued, so they asked Langton inside to await the chief clerk's arrival. Aubrey walked into the office and sat down.

After waiting for about half-an-hour his examination paper was handed to him, and he was bidden to commence : work. The youth did so, and in due course announced that he was ready for dictation. The messenger then appeared with a newspaper and requested him to transcribe a paragraph which was marked out. This proceeding was, of course, irregular, and was prompted less by generosity than by the belief that the small boy would not benefit by the favour, because he was too little to be accepted. The paper was then handed to Mr. Thompson's chief clerk, who examined it and informed Aubrey that he had passed a satisfactory ex amination. It was not his province to enter into con versation with candidates, so he quietly asked Langton to wait until Mr. Thompson should make his appearance. Aubrey politely thanked the gentleman, and sat down to await the issue of events.

The superintendent was talking with a visitor, but in a few minutes Aubrey was ushered into his presence. The boy nervously approached Mr. Thompson, and in reply to his first question stated that he was from Mertondale, South Wales. " You have passed a satisfactory examination, Lang ton," observed Mr. Thompson, " but I really think that you are too small for the post. You know that the Directors object to employ little boys like yourself, since you cannot possibly be an attraction to the service- But how old are you, Langton?" " Sixteen, sir," replied Aubrey. "Ah, that makes matters worse for you, for you are evidently destined to remain a little man." Aubrey's heart began to sink within him, but that feeling of despair only prompted him to speak boldly, so he said— "Well, sir, I have always understood that the mind is the standard of the man, and if your Directors are determined to reverse that order of merit, they will do wisely to fill their offices with elephants, wild Indians or with the offspring of the missing link."

Mr. Thompson smiled at Aubrey's intrepidity, and con cluded that every small boy was not so puerile as his size would naturally suggest. He therefore turned the subject by inquiring — " What have you hitherto done for your living, Langton?" " I have been a pupil teacher for two years, sir, and since I left school I have sold newspapers and carried the Mertondale office bag to Glazebury Station." Mr. Thompson thereupon opened the testimonials which had been forwarded in Aubrey's favour. That from the schoolmaster stated that Langton had been the most successful teacher in school, and had invariably passed the Government examinations for his office with credit. " I not only express my own sentiments," continued the schoolmaster, " but also those of the managers of the school, when I say that we are all extremely sorry that the youth has found it necessary to sever his connection with our school."

Mr. Thompson again looked at Langton, and perhaps conjectured that the small boy who had been the most successful teacher in school might possibly make a successful telegraph clerk also. " Well, Langton," he remarked in a kinder tone, "taking all things into consideration, I have decided to give you a trial, and you may commence to learn the working of the single-needle instrument on Mon day morning next at Glazebury." " Thank you, sir," replied Aubrey ; " I will always endeavour to give you every satisfaction." "That is right," said Mr. Thompson, "but I must caution you against running between the trains, or over the metals, and also against riding in the vans of goods trains. No clerk is allowed to practise such irregularities, hence it is my duty to warn you against a breach of the Company's regulations."

"Very good, sir; I will respect your warning," Langton answered, as he bowed and took his departure. Aubrey sauntered forth upon the platform feeling ten inches taller than when he entered the examination room. He inquired what time the next express left for South Wales, and was informed that it would depart at half past two in the afternoon. As that time was rapidly drawing near, Langton did not leave the station, but took up his position in a compartment of the train. A lady and a gentleman entered the same compartment and proceeded to read newspapers, with which they had provided themselves. Langton secured a corner seat facing the engine, and was so full of ideas respecting his success that he involuntarily leaned against the door. He wTas speedily awakened from his reverie by the words of the lady sitting beside him — " My little boy, do not lean against that door, for it may fly open.

A serious accident occurred the other day, wThen a little boy about your own size leaned against the door, fell out, and was killed." " Thank you, ma'am," replied Aubrey, as he seated himself more comfortably in the corner of the carriage. The route which this train took was through the cities of Arfernton and Hitchford. Langton had no desire to enter a university, but he took a great interest in viewing towns of such celebrity and attraction. He watched the cathedral of Hitchford as it reared its head above every other edifice in the city. After seven hours' travelling, the train reached Prude, where Aubrey was destined to re main during the night, as the last train for home had left some hours before. Langton did not object to this ar rangement, because it would afford him an opportunity of taking a longer ride in the morning.

He alighted at Prude, and went in quest of a night's lodging. A suit able house was soon discovered near the railway station. He retired to rest, leaving instructions to be called for the Irish express the next morning. The host aroused him at six o'clock, and after enjoying a hearty breakfast Aubrey resumed his journey. In five hours' time he found himself at Glazebury again, where the station men were anxious to hear the result of his adventures. But Aubrey was eager to acquaint his parents and Mr. Turner of his success, and consequently did not remain in long conversation with the men at Glaze bury. The curate of Mertondale smiled when he saw Langton, and patiently listened to the tale of his success. " I thought that you would not be rejected in con sequence of your stature," said the clergyman, " and I most heartily congratulate you upon the attainment of your good fortune.

You have waited patiently for six months, and can now call yourself a Gording railwayman." " I am to commence duties as a learner on Monday morning," replied Aubrey, "but I shall not be remu nerated until I take sole charge of the instruments." " So I understand, and I presume that your apprentice ship will last three months. However, as you are anxious to run home, I will not detain you any longer." Langton hurried home to inform his parents that he had at last been accepted as a railway telegraph clerk. The Honourable Lascelles and Mrs. Langton congratulated him upon his success, although they were secretly mortified at Aubrey's determination to remain an illiterate man. Mrs. Langton possessed a masculine will and a strength of judgment which were far above her position in life. She was haughty and proud, yet her haughtiness did not partake of egotism, nor her pride of disdain.

She respected a man if he possessed those qualities that deserve respect; she held him in derision : if he were without them. She bowed to genius where ever it was found, and she despised even a nobleman if he had done aught to merit her contempt. She had taught Aubrey that the only test of nobility was character, and she soundly rated him whenever he seemed to ques tion the truth of some of her contentions. Mrs. Lang ton was sorely disappointed when Aubrey became in disposed ; but she still hoped that a little rest would restore him to health, and that he would then pursue his studies with increased zeal. Her want of a thorough education had intensified her desire to give it to her son. She was therefore sorely disappointed when he evinced a general dislike for books. The castle which she had been building for so many years had suddenly fallen to the ground.

A woman with a weaker will would have grieved over the matter, but Mrs. Langton's soul rose higher with every adversity which she was called upon to endure. Indeed, the loftiness of her deport ment made many people believe that her ancestors must have rejoiced in the possession of noble blood. Had she bequeathed those qualities to Aubrey? Would he yet live to propagate the principles which his mother had taught him? We shall see. Mrs. Langton possessed an optimistic soul; and although Aubrey had evinced a general dislike of books, she secretly believed that he would some day appreciate her principles, and would then propagate another code for the regulation of social life. Aubrey persevered in acquiring a knowledge of his work, and as no pay was forthcoming until he had mastered the manipulation of the instrument, he bent all his energies towards the accomplishment of that object; and by the end of his first week's practice had made sufficient progress to warrant the belief that he would be a competent clerk in six weeks' time.