Read Online A Field Full of Folk by Iain Crichton Smith - Free Book Online

narrow heads like vipers. On the other hand it might just be a pair of birds. The Bible of course could be used to justify anything. In the past he had thought that that was not possible, that he knew the final meaning of all the passages. But what could be made of a saying like, “To them that hath shall be given”, or “In my father’s house are many mansions”? In what heaven would they sit together round a table such as this holding a committee meeting?
    â€œIt certainly doesn’t say that in the Bible,” said Scott gazing mildly at the minister as if he expected him to make a comment. The minister ignored the look and continued the doodle.
    â€œThat’s what I am saying,” said Murdo triumphantly. “We have to make a stand somewhere.”
    In the old days if a complaint was made about a postman a form was filled in and if there were no more complaints that year the complaint was scrubbed. But now a postman could put his letters through the wrong letterbox and nothing was done about it. The younger generation didn’t care what they did with letters or anything. He for one wasn’t giving in to them.
    â€œIt doesn’t say in the Bible that churches should have church halls,” said Macrae slowly. Drummond smiled affably but didn’t say anything.
    â€œIt’s high time we put our foot down,” said Murdo angrily. “They think they can get everything they want. Who put them up to this? What did we have when we were growing up? Did we have church halls for dancing? But now they want everything. And who is going to clean it up when they finish, that’s another thing I’d like to know.”
    â€œI think the janitor might do that,” said Scott smoothly. “He’s not against it. He’s got children of his own.”
    â€œAnd why wouldn’t they clean it up themselves?” said Murdo.
    â€œBut I thought you were against giving them the hall.” Those bloody English, thought Murdo, smooth as oil they are. What’s his business here anyway? What right has he to speak?
    â€œThe way I see it is like this,” said Murdo. “What do they do for the old folk? They’re very good at asking but not giving. They expect money just to run a message.”
    â€œOh, I don’t think you could say that they don’t do anything,” said the minister. “The Girl Guides have a party for the Old Age Pensioners. They’re not bad children.”
    â€œNot bad children? Why are they tapping the windows of the old people’s houses at night then? And why are they hanging about the street corners?”
    â€œThat’s the whole point,” said Scott. “It’s because they have nowhere to go that they do that.”
    â€œIt’s the devil’s work,” said Murdo, “that’s what I say. They smoke and they drink, some of them. And I’ll tell you, I’ve seen one of them …” He stopped suddenly, for the person he was thinking of was Scott’s own eldest daughter who had been sent home from a private school because of some scandal.
    â€œWhat about the school then?” said Macrae slowly. “Why can’t we use the school?”
    â€œThe school’s being used for other things,” said Drummond abruptly.
    â€œI can see it all,” said Murdo. “You give them this and then they’ll ask for something else. They’ll want the church itself next. And how many of them go to the Sunday School?”
    â€œI have a class of forty,” said the minister without looking up from his note-pad.
    â€œAnd there’s another thing.” He stopped. He didn’t like putting his wife’s proposition next. He felt tired and drained. Well, was it right or wrong to give them the church hall? The fact was that he wasn’t sure. Everyone was turning to him for advice as if all the details of dances and church were imprinted in the Bible