Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1880-01-02
Ralph Erskine, the Father Of the Scottish
sy,, .i Secession. ,a Jas


Secession. .a e15
The only amusement in which this cele-
brated man INDUCED was playing on tne
violin. He was SO great a proficient on
this instrument, and SO often begulled MS
leisure hours with it, that the people OF
Dunfermlime believed he composed his
sermons to its tones, as a poet writes
song to a particular air. They also tell
the following traditionary anecdote con
nected with the subject: Gas 4ft9 5.s
A poor man, in one of the neighborlng
parishes, having a child to baptize, re-
solved not to employ his own clergyman,
with whom he was at issue on certain
points of doctrine. but to have the office
performed by some minister ief whose
tenets fame gave better report. With
the child in his arms. therefore, and at
tended by the full complement OF old and
young women who usually minister on
such occasions, he proceeded to the manse
of -, some miles off, mot that OF Mr..
Erskine), where he inquired if the clergy
man was at home. ''Na; he's no. at hame
yenoo," answered the servant lass; she's
down the burn fishing; but I can soon cry
him in" I'VE medina gle yourself the
trouble" replied the man, quite shocked
at this account Of the minister's habits;
s'nane o. your tishin' ministers shall bap-
teeze my BARN." Off he then trudged,
followed by his whole train, to the resi-
dence of another parochial clergyman, at
the distance of some miles. Here, on his
inquiring if the minister was at home the
lass answered, s'Deed, he's no. at hame
the day; he's been out since sex il the
morning at the shooting. Ye medina
wait, neither; for he'll be sac made-out
fatigued) when he comes back that he'll
no be able to say DO to calf, let-a-be
krissen a wean!a' ssWait, lassie!p cried
the man in tone of indignant scorn;
''wad wait. we think, to baud up my
BARN before a minister that gangs cot at
sax il the morning to shoot Gods crea-
lures? I'll AVA down to guide Mr.. Frs
kline at Dunfermline, and he'll be neither
DOT at the fishing nor shooting, / Think
The whole baptismal train then set off
for Dunfermllne, sure that the father of
the Secession, although not now a placed
minister, would al least be engaged in no
unclerical sports, to incapacitate him for
performing the sacred ordinance in ques-
ton. On their arriving, however, at the
house of the clergyman, which they did
not do till late in the evening, the man.
on rapping at the door,, anticipated that
he would not be at home any more than
his brethren. as he heard the strains of
fiddle proceeding from the upper cham
Der. 1.-THE minister will no be at hame,"
he said, with a sly smile to the girl who
came to the door, ''or your lad isweet-
hearty wadna be playing that gate t'ye on;
the fddle.' ''The minister is at hame,"
quoth the girl. ssmair by token it's himself
that's playing, honest man; he aye takes
tune at night before gangin' to bed.
Faith, there's nae lad O. mine can play
that gate; it wad be something to tell if
ony o. them could. 'sIhdt the minister
playing!" cried the man, in a degree OF
establishment and horror far transcend1ng
what he had expressed on either of the for
mer occasions. elf he does this, what
may the rest no. do? Weel,'I fairly gle
them up a'thegither. I have travelled
this hail day in search o. cody minister,
and never man met VII nair disappoint-
ment in days journey. Ill tell ye what,
gudewife, y he added, turning to the dis
consulate party behind, ''we'll just AVA
back to oor ain minister, after a.! He's
no a'thegither sound, it's true; but let
him be what he likes in doctrine, dell haze
me if ever kennel him fish, shoot, or
play on TIE fiddle a. his days!'' 7mi-