Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-01-26

philosophy. After n few days, l grew
weary Of being lionised for nearly every
time there was grand dinner, and was
bored to death with the admiration OF
daft folk of both sexes. One forenoon,
rs ] was wandering about the streets,
looking ct the old houses, and calling to
mind the places / had known when lad,
| PASSED down the Gallowgatc, and saw
the name of 'AleSandcr Macpherson over
II small Groccr's shop. Now, | was in
gympathctic mood that day the contem.
platiun Of old scenes, and the thought OF
the kindness Of my countrymen, had
touched my heart, and it melted sudden
~ at the name of my old schooliellow.
Could 1t possibly be the same ? Before
knew what was doing, ] had entered
the shop
eyes, was right. There, standing
behind the counter WIS Snndie himself,
older grimmcr, but neat and clean as
usual. As ] entered in he was measur-
ing out pound of moist sugar for bare.
footed servant lassie, in petticoat and
short gown.
h" Mr.. Macpherson 2 | said, when he
had done. =.
He looked up, and our eyes met. |
saw in 4 moment that he recognized me,
but his face remained grim rs granite and
his eye was cold MS ice.
" That's ny name, he replied.
II smiled, and prepared to hold ont
my hand.
= j think We were old schoolmates to-
gether. Ny name is Ercildoune, Thomas
Ercildoune. Do you remember meY
He looked at me from head 10 foot.
His eye rested on my old cloak, my broad
brimlned hat, and he nodded darkly as he
replied:
=" I mind yo well enough. Can l serve
ye with unything?'
" Nothing, thanks only was pass
ing, and thought l should like to re-
mind you Of our old acquaintanceship.
"As l spoke Sandie proceeded leisure
" with his business behind the counter
opened his till and looked into it took
down a piece OF loaf sugar, and began
breaking it into small portions. He gave
IL sort of grunt rs finished my address
to him, and nodded again then, after a
pause, while stood hesitutiug, he OBJ
served quietly, surveying me critically
from head to foot
You're staying up in London, l
hear?'
"'Ycs.'
You're what they call leeterary
man, noo?'
" Just So replied, smiling goodna-
turedly, but feeling rather ashamed.
"'A weel, said 5andie reiiectively, as
he swept up his pieces of sugar and put
ting them into large jar. "A wcel, Lon
don's big place, and they call it the cen
tire Of cecvilization but-herc he shut
the lid OF the jar sharply-'mony things
please the folk in London that wouldna
gang doom in Glasgow!
"What he meant could hardly gather /;
it was mere general reflection. but felt
somehow that it had n personal applica-
ton. A long pause ensucd. stood awk-
wardly waiting in front Of the counter,
but Sandic did not seem inclined for fur
thcr conversation. At last, feeling rather
uncomfortable, | determined to put an
end 10 the interview.
well. I'll wish You good morning,
| said. moving to the shop door.
Good morning, gruuted Sandie, not
raising his eyes from his desk and ledger,
to which he had just gone
II walked out of the shop indignant Mt
the mans mperturbability Glanclng
back from tho pavement, | saw Sandies
iacc quietly regarding Inc over his ledger
and smiling-just MS it had smiled wien
| saw him reading my first effort III liter
allure. He was certainly quite irrecon-
ciiable.
"About this period of my career, as
you may remember, l was particularly
severe in my writings on the British
Philistine, and on the sordid, self-t on
ccited, money-grabbing secularity OF the
trading classes in this country. l de-
nounccd the hypocrisics of Sodom and
the iicslputs of Gomurrah. The press
took mp my cry, and Philistinlsm had
bad time of it, Poor idiots, they thought
that | had a grievance against society.
Nothing of the kind. | was only trying
to have my revenge on Sandie Macpher-
som
"For, wrestle as | might against HIM,
the man had mastered me. Folk might
compare me to John the Baptist preach
ing III the wilderness, they might say that
had come to preach honesty and indie
pondence, pure living and high thinking,
to q rotten generation, but Sandie Mac
phcrson knew better. Sandie saw through
me 1t was no use posing rs II great
thinker and teacher before HIN. lmind-
ed his words, 'Mony things please the
folk in London that wouldna gang doom
III Glasgow 1t was hnmiliating, to say
the least of it, Much as l despised the
fellow, his attitude OF invinclble htupidi-
ty was something Titanic. To the bed
SIDE of the heather emperor slave used
to come each morning saying, Philip,
remember You must die To my bed
side. for many day, came the spirit Of
Sandie, saying. Thomas Ercildounc, re-
,l..,, 'Ip
know it
81 thought TO have my revenge on San
die at last, the day they made me Lord
Rector of the University Of Glasgow.
more proud and exultant than you
can think, ! went down to my natal city
to deliver the rectorial address. WAS an
old man by this time, and had great
name all over the world. Such recep-
ton ns they gave me As stood IN the
large hall, with the professors and citizens
around me, the students i'll their thous-
unds cheering me, fine ladies in the gal
leries smiling down upon me, felt that
| had reached the height of my ambi-
ton. | addressed them like man ill.,
spired. | spoke of my early days. my
struggles, my fondness for the country OF
my birth, and ] was IN the middle OF
splendid peroratlon, when ali OF a sudden
| became conscious of a mans face look
ing quietly up ut me. One mans face in
all that sea of faces But knew it only
too well-grim, cold, hard as granite, yet
with kind of plying smile upon it
whose face could it be but the one | had
dreaded all my life ? The words went
out OF my head, and ] ended feebly, sit
ting down into my chair with sigh of re-
lief when ! had finished .,. The next
day there were columns in the papers,
and in the course of the long report some
thing te this effect ; AT this point III
his discourse, abiding to his early days
in this city, Mr.. Ercildoune was visibly
affected His emotion was touching to
| ,,..I...... ,.1.l In .lrnnuI Lrnl.n ln,yn lut