Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-09-22
From Appleton's Journal.l
CONTINUED FROM YESTERDAY.


CONTINUED FROM YEsTERDAY.1
Pryse Campbell was gaunt, powerful
man OF about fifty. His hair was very
thick and very white; bis countenance was
white also, and morose he had mighty
hump on his back-said by the neighbors
to be the seat OF mis- extraordinary lifting
powers and, in short, in his Sabbath suit
of musty broadclolh, he looked so accur-
ately clerical that it was difficult to con-
ceive that the little. stout, hearty old mar
in the pulpi could be the master of so sol.
emn piece of mechanism. Bat Pryse's
appearance belied his disposition for he
was genial. humorous, and entertaining,
and, though profoundly superstitous-
like his class-he was a faithful servant,
and a good old man. He was an old sol.
dier, had been to the wars. and though he
did happen now and then to fight in bat
ties in which his regiment had never en-
gagged. we must attribute this rather to his
love of glory and devotion to his country
than to bad memory or disregard to truth.
Pryse was lieutenant-governor of the min
VI this "gleben the Scottish Established
clergyman is sole life-proprietor, and thus
he is the only man in the country, besides
the lard and the English tenant sportsman,
who has the right OF shooting on his acres,
or OF fishing in the neighboring streams
often this is an immense privilege, and an
energetic parson-even with the invaria-
ble large family-can make both ends
meet decently without ever touching his
very substantial salary.
All this contributes to make the position
of minister in the Established Church OF
10 nd ,I,l Il IL.
Pile, as well from those causes as from
their own backwardness, regard him with
a reverence hardly conceivable to the in
habltants OF a leveling and progressive
country.
One memorable night, Pryse, who slept
in an clubhouse, heard. while half dream
ing, prolonged in the night air, that slow
moaning wall which the credulous High
landers rank as one of the "portentsn fore
shadowing a sudden death. From noun
tain craig to valley, from moorland to
woodland, it was re-echoed mournfully
now swelling. now sinking, until at last it
faded softly away in the distance While
under its spell. Pryse lay as one dead,
with dilated eyes and breath withheld.
All his senses seemed merged in that ter
rible one of hearing. When this dismal
with superhuman jerk had brought him
self to a sitting posture in bed-presented
a most striking confirmation of Shakes
peare's assertion that strong mental emo
ton is dscomposing to the operations of
the hair dresser. Every moment he ex-
pected the dread denizens of the church
yard-which was separated from him only
by green, or lawn-to marshal them
selves in ghostly array before him, and to
point will warning fingers to him as the
earliest accession TO their ranks. Howev-
er, as all things come to an end, he cot
over this excess of terror. and fell into a
troubled sleep, from which he did not
awake until late in the morning. But as
certaning. on anxious inquiry in The ktch-
en- after breakfast that he. and he only, Of
all the souls in that household. had heard
those doleiul torebodings OF doom, his ter
rors returned toHrfold; and he was firmly
convinced that it all pointed directly to
him, and that, therefore, it behooved him
to solicit his reverence's ministrations be-
fore he should look on his "last of earth"
Accordingly, after morning reading, or
family pray yers-which came after, not be-
fore, breakfast Gan arrangement that
seems to me as pious as it is sensible)---
Pryse, with very troubled voice, took
the minister into his confidence, indicat-
ing as correctly as possible his position on
the road leading from the city of Destruc-
ton, and winding up by asking what
chances he had OF ultimate salvation.
| Be it observed that the Highland Pres
byterian mind is essentially conservative.
and that in its progress toward the Holy
City it prefers to regard the increasing 2
distance from the city of Destruction, and
to date thereafter. rather than to anxious
ly count the days that intervene before
the pleasant land of Beulah is reached.
The excess of this feeling, this haste to
get away from the city at all hazards,
neutralizes to a considerable extent the
burdensome effect of the "pack on the
back and our Highlander Christian finds
himself far past the interpreters before
he feels impressed with the necessity of
ridding himself of the incumbrance; and
! the way he gets rid of it is a decidedly
awkward and ungainly one. Had worthy
John Bunyan taken Scottish Presbyteri-
an as model for his Pilgrim he would, |
think, have placed the site of Christians
release t.om his burden much nearer the
Dark River.
The worthy clergyman, after sounding
TO What ueplh MIS- present morbid craze
intended. and knowing how vain it would
be to combat his supersttious fears at their
present high temperature, exhorted him
in Gaelic-always the medium OF commu
nicalion between him and his "man'-to
be of good cheer, urging that living or
dying we are the Lords and that such su-
pernatural manifestations, so far from be-
ing evil omens, were rather voices from
heaven reminding its chosen children of
the necessity OF constant preparation for
the arrival Of the bridegroom. So Pryse,
with his thoughts turned into a healthier
channel, went to his daily occupations,
consoled if not cured.
Meanwhile, airy-headed Quentin, as a
stanch and loyal worshiper OF the many
featured goddess; of her who had many
temples erected to her honor, even in one
city, when other divinities had to content
themselves with one or none at all; of
her with the wreath of laurel vaunted
Libcr'as, claimed by autocrat, aristocrat.
al d mocrat alike-Quentin was in high
dungeon at the curlailment of certain
priviie ges which he considered AS his ina