River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1873-05-09
From the Waterman Reflector.
MARSELIE AND JOCK.
BY MRS. JANE DUNBAR CHAPLIN.

BY MRS. JANE DUNBAR CHAPLIN.
Some one has said, "The folly Of
Scottish fools is replete with wisdom,
and the madness of Scottish maniaes is
bright with CLEANS Of intellect.
Never was this strange mingling Of
strength and weakness, of wisdom and
folly, more exemplified than in strange,
weird par who, half a century ago,
roved over the heaths and hills of the
extreme highlands, bound together by
a common misery.
Marselie Mcleod, a tall, strong wo-
man, bearing the traces Of early beauty,
was the daughter of q man noted for
mercy toward ali Gods creatures. He
was more like a father than master TO
his many farm servants, and was the
umpire in all his neighbors' difficulties.
He was the fifth Of his name who had
borne the office 81 Elder in the Kirk.
The only sin men saw in him was the
pride in the unblemished name of Me
Leod.
But God only knows what there is of
evil in the united heart Of man. David
Mcleod was brave in measuring theo-
logical lances with the errorist, and he
could have gone 90 the stake for his
faith; but there was depth of humil-
iation into winch he could not go on
the strength Of that faith. He had laid
seven children in the grave, and been
dumb, because the Lord did il. But
when the lamb Of Ills severed fold, the
child of his heart, took false step and
sulled his honored name, he felt that
he did well TO be angry. In that an
guish which dried mp the spirit, he
proved to those about him that it is
Faster 20 smite with Peters sword.
Than watch one hour IN humble prayer
for the sanctifying influence Of a deep
humiliation.
In his righteous Indignation he, who
had prided himself on his mereiful
nature. shut the door of his home on
his motherless child, and left her TO
the pity Of the world aud To the wiles
Of the adversary. He never had an
opportunity to recall has bitter words,
for sorrow and pride both broke his
heart, and be was, very soon, laid
among the McLeods IN Kirkhaven
churchyaId.
Marselie did not 90 into the world
utterly alone. She was followed by a
simple youth Of fifteen years, whose
mother, q servant at the farm, had
commended him to her care in dying,
and of whom she had for years been
the tender guardian and the almost
worshipped friend Strangers were
more merciful than father or brother
and the forlorn pair found food and
shelter at the surrounding farm-houses
and at the manse, which was IA HON,
for the friendless, who all fancled thel
heard the word Welcome" in TIA,
rustline OF the vines that draped il, an,
in the twitteung of the swallows tina
flew about its broad square chimneys
The elders only son, man in mid
die life, soon sold the lease of the Ian,
his ancestors bad tiled for generations
aud omigated To- what was then tn,
" Wilds Of Michigan He was 10,
proud TO leave his sister, whose mind
some now said, was shattered, on tn,
charity Of his nCghbors SO he So
apart a certain little property Of hi,
fathar's-and il was very little-for heI
use, leaving her a home with an hones
old cotter and his wife, who had beer
tenants of his fathers. And then h,
buried her from his heart, as il one SIT
or an hundred sins could break Tn,
family bond When Marsehe heard
that he was gone, and that She had n,
longerany hope OF his pardon. she sanl
into hopeless melancholy, and began
the wandering winch never stayed tl
the grave, kinder than her kindred,
opened is bosom to receive her Her
mind ,had been shattered before. bat
her heart was broken now.
When the minister sent for her Ia
the manse, 10 tell her of the provision
made for with Cotter James," she
became accompanied by her po1i
squire. Jock, who was now mSepamble
from 'er, aud whose comfort she
sought i, fore her own
Matsclie heard all the minister said
IN silence, and then replied
Nay. minister. dear. though | starvt
on the lone hills, III ne'er eat a crumt
earned by my fathers hand I'm obey
his last words as | left his door, and
passed tie long, stormy night ON my
mothers grave
i" What were those words, Marselie &
asked the minister.
WNever again, while ye ha' need g.
the bread that peiisheth, do ye put ant
crumb that belongs 90 me between YET
Iips. We sinin BARN And do So
think N DO it, cen though " come
through the kind hand o. Cotter james
Nav, nay, minister I'm rs proud as
INV father; aud as honest too, I'll nae
steal from his dead hand what hls liv-
ing one denied met Jock an will eat
the crumbs that "a from yer table, or
any other pitiiul saints, dear minister {;
but never of that forbidden Loaf she
said eolemnlv I'm just rove on,
mourning and waiing over the loss q
sa,I tauaa. fhnta was never -