A Colonial Reformer, Vol. 3 (of 3)

The Project Gutenberg eBook, A Colonial Reformer, Vol. III (of 3), by Rolf Boldrewood
Note: The table of contents has been added by the transcriber.
A COLONIAL REFORMER
BY ROLF BOLDREWOOD AUTHOR OF ‘ROBBERY UNDER ARMS,’ ‘THE SQUATTER’S DREAM,’ ‘THE MINER’S RIGHT,’ ETC.
IN THREE VOLUMES
VOL. III
London MACMILLAN AND CO. AND NEW YORK 1890
All rights reserved
In the strange exceptional condition of nervous tension up to which that marvellous instrument, the human ‘harp of a thousand strings,’ is capable of being wound, under the pressure of dread and perplexity, there is a type of visitor whose face is always hailed with pleasure. This is a fact as unquestionable as the converse proposition. For the bien-venu under such delicate and peculiar circumstances, helpfulness, sympathy, and decision are indispensable. Of no avail are weakly condolences or mild assenting pity. The power to dispense substantial aid may or may not be wanting. But the friend in need must have the moral power and clearness of mental vision which render decisiveness possible and just. His fiat, favourable or unfavourable, lets in the light, separates real danger from undefined terror, offers security for well-grounded hope, or persuades to the calmness of resignation.
A man so endowed, in a very unusual degree, was Mr. Levison. Deriving his leading characteristics from Nature’s gift—very scantily supplemented by education—he yet possessed the rare qualities of apprehensive acuteness, intrepidity, and discrimination in such measure and proportion as a hundred prize-takers at competitive examinations might have vainly hoped to emulate. Like that Australian judge, of whom the American citizen, in an inland assize town, is reported to have said, ‘Wal, Judge Shortcharge may be right, or he may be wrong, but he decides . I go for the judge myself.’
Abstinens Levison much resembled that brief but weighty legal luminary, in that, after due consideration of any case concerning which he was minded to give judgment, his verdict was clear and irrevocable.