“I don’t give in wi’ this dam’d political business,” said Tam Donaldson, who was frankly critical.  “I’ve aye stood up for Smillie, but I dinna’ like being dragged intae this Socialist movement.  A dam’d fine nest o’ robbers an’ work-shy vermin.  Trade Union officials should attend tae Trade Union affairs.  That’s what we pay them for.  But it looks to me as if they were a’ that dam’d busy trying to get intae Parliament, thet they hinna time to look after oor affairs.”

“I’m kind o’ suspeecious aboot it mysel’, Tam,” said Robert quietly, as they made their way to the hall that night.  “I’m no’ sure jist yet as to what this Socialism is, it looks frae the papers to be a rotten kind o’ thing an’ I’m no’ on wi’ it.  But I’ll wait an’ hear what Hardie an’ Smillie say aboot it, afore a’ make up my mind.”

“To hell wi’ them an’ their Socialism,” said Tam with some heat.  “I want a shillin’ or twa on my day.  It’s a’ yin damn to me hoo mony wives they gie me.  I canna’ keep the yin I hae.  What the hell wad a workin’ man dae wi’ three wives?  An’ they tell me they’re goin’ to abolish religion too.  Not that I’m a religious man mysel’, but I’m damn’d if I’d let them interfere wi’ it.  If I want religion I’ve a guid richt to hae it; an’ forby, if they abolish religion, hoo wad folk do wi’ the funerals?  I can see hoo they’ll do wi’ marriages, for there’s to be nane.  You’ve to get your wife changed every two-three years, an’ the weans brought up by the State as they call it.  But the puirhouse is a dam’d cauld step-mother, an’ I’d be up against that.”

Thus discussing the subject, they reached the hall to find it packed, everyone being keen to see and hear this man, who was making such an uproar in the country with his advocacy of Socialism.

Robert was chairman, and had labored hard to prepare a few remarks with which to open the meeting.  He wanted to be non-committal, and his reading and self-teaching had been of immense service to him.  His mother’s influence in the molding of his character, unconsciously to himself, had made his mind just the sort of soil for the quick rooting of the seed to be sown that night.

It was certainly a great occasion.  Robert thought as he looked at this man, that he had never seen anyone who so typefied the spirit of independence in his bearing.  His figure was straight, the eyes fearless, yet kindly and gentle; but the proud erect head, the straight stiff back which seemed to say “I bend to no one” impressed Robert more than anything else in all his make up.

Yet there was nothing aggressive about him with it all; but on the contrary, an atmosphere of kindliness exuded from him, creating a wonderful effect upon those with whom he came in contact.  The wild stories of this turbulent agitator, which everyone seemed to hear, and be acquainted with, made the audience hostile to begin with.  It was not a demonstrable hostility; but one felt it was there, ready to break out, and overwhelm this stormy petrel of the political world.