The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1854-03-21
Hlisrrllanrnug.
The Child of the Cathedral.


their great victory over Charles Edward, the
Pretendar, the son Of James Ill, and termlna-
ted the attempts of the Scots to re-establlsh
the Stuart family on the throne. This heath
IS about four miles from Iverness. About 80
miles east of IverneSs is Elgin, a royal borough,
(or as we should call it the county town OF
Moravshire. On entering this beautiful town,
the eve is struck with two large buildings, as
among the chief objects of interest They are
wholly unlike in appearance, and ages passed
away between the building Of the first and the
last, and vet they are connected by golden
chain of circumstances, which displays 1od
power in wonderful and beautiful manner
They prove how God can raise up the hum
blest creature to perform the works which the
strong and able have not done. 1t is a beau
tifu and encouraging thought, that the mighty
God, who could, if it pleased him, send le-
gion of angels to do his bidding, often chooses
lowly child, and gives to him the power and
privilege. Now listen to the history OF the old
Cathedral and the new Anderson Institute
The ruins Of the old Egn Cathedral have
stood in solemn grandeur for many hundred
wears. 1t was splendid Romi,h Church be-
fore the Reformation but after that, when
men returned to purer and simpler faith, 1t
was suffered to fall to decay. There stand now
onlv the four huge walls, unrooled long ago
bv the hand of time. They are eighty feet or
more in height, and so broad across the top
that a carriage could be driven upon them.-
The stones Of the walls and floor are covered
with rich moss, and grass long and rank hangs
from the crevices, and stands up between the
flags in the interior. There is niche III one
of the side walls containing 4 large stone, or
marble font, some seven or eli hit feet long,
which was used in those days for baptISmal
purposes. George w, then Hing OF EngianG,
wished to preserve it as long as possible lie
ordered all the chinks which old lime had
made in the walls to be repaired, the gates TO
be replaced bv new ones, aud man to be kept
on the premises to prevent reckless boys or
the lovers of antiquity from marring the relic
of the oIden time.
Not far from this ruin stands the Anderson
Institute, home for the aged and for tr'endtess
children. 1t is spacious, built of hewn tree
stone, and not unlike in its architecture, the
New York City Hall. 1t was built III the be-
o;nnino of the present century, under singular
circumstances.
More than hundred years ago, there wan
dered through the street, of Elgin, begg'ng
could. poor homeless idiot. There was not
at that time home for such unfortunate c'ea,
tures in all that region, but she was plted, ana
fed and sheltered by the good people OF Tue
town, for many lorg years. 30 great was "e'
passion for wandering, that often IN the sever
est storms she refused the offered shelter, ana,
facing the wind and rain, with her hair hyihS
and her garments wet, would make hcr rou'ia
of harmless visits, always quiet and sn'.ihg'-
Sometimes for weeks she would make the oiu
Cathedral her home carrying thi'her the food
she begged by day, and making her BED IN the
font in the wall Such was the life OF "the
pur daft lasse," rs she was called
Nerv early one morning, two shepherd boys
in search of stray lamb, came to the town
and stroIled into the old Cathedral. There
thew found the poor idiot, talking and laugh
inr aloud to a bright little oabe which lay IN
the font. The boys soon spread the news, aud
some benevolent ladies FASTENED to the spot to
rescue the poor little stranger from the hands
of such rude nurse. But the poor senseiess
woman wept when she saw them lest they
should take it from her, for she knew enough
to love her child. 1t appeared to be a fine
healthy child, a few weeks old, and it seemed
hard to 90 away and leave it in such home
They tried to induce her to giveit up, but she
only pressed it closer to her heart, and wept
like a child. They then urged her to 60 with
them, but she suspected it was to get posses
sion of the child, aud would not stir. So it
was decided to let her keep it, and see that
she was well provided for.
Time passed, and the ''daf lassie" and spuir
bairne' found welcome at almost every house
whether cottage or mansion. Blu; when the
bright little fellow was three years old. it was
thought wrong to let him grow up vagrant,
and he was taken from his mother and put in
To the care of some one who was paid by the
people of the town When he was old enough,
he was sent to school, and his only friend was
soon forgotten by him. Not long after this,
the poor mother ceased her wanderIngs and
found rest in the grave. The boy rapldiy
gained knowledge, and enjoyed the good VIII
of all around him. From his earliest years ne
had cvinccd strong love Of rowing, the only
trait he inherited from his mo,hcr. AS he
grew, his orderly, quiet life became IrkSome,
and he enlisted as a drummer in the army, and
WAS sent to India None tried to dissuade
him from his purpose. for he had none to love
him or to care whittier he went. But the eye
of the Heavenly Father was on him. lie
marked the friendless child, aud although he
was thrown in the worst Of company, his foot
did not slide nor did his early good habits give
way before the vicious habits around him. Be.