The sun., 1895-05-26
THE MEN
Of
THE MOSS-HAGS
Being n History from tho Papers
of William Gordon OF Enristoun
in the Glenkans, Told Over
Again by a. II. Crockett.
COPYRIGHT ,ss. ~ s. n. Crockett.
CHAPTER SV.


beautiful md still water, called the Lane o
Erenoch. In the midst of the water and imme
di tely opposite to the mont there is an island
called the Hollan Isle full of coverts and hiding
places among hazel bushes. which grow there In
thick matted copses. BEYOND that again there
are only the moors and the mountains for thirty
miles The country all about is LARRY and boegy
impossible for horses to ride; while over TO the
eastward little. the rond passes TO Kells and
tnrsnhairn, but out of sight, behind the shoul.
der OF the hill
There was a preaching tent erected on q little
emnence in the middle Of the round bare top OF
the mote. The people sat al about, and those
who came late clustered on the further bank.
across the ditch. -.
observed that every man came fully armed
for the opprcssions OF Lauderdale in Scotland,
and especially the seventies OF John Graham
and Robert Grier In Galloway. were bearing
their own proper fruit. The three maids sat
down together. and Wat Gordon and sat down
near them-I to Maisie Lennox as
dared because for old acquaintance sake. my
liking was chiefly toward her. Also. I perceived
that Kate McGhie was more interested to talk
TO me of my cousin than to hear concerning my
self. thing thrt never could abide In talking
10 a woman.
But Maisie kept her head bent. and her face
hidden by the fold of her shawl. for she had.
even at that time. what SO sadly lacked a lv-
ing interest In religion.
From where sat could see the watchers on
the crniRs above the Holdan Isle, and those also
over on the hill by the Folds. So many were
thoy that knew that not muir fowl would
cry nor a crow carry a stick to its nest without
n true man taking note ofit heard afterward
tha: over by the Fords OF Crae they had come
on a certain informer lying crouched in the
heather to watch what should happen. Him
they chased for three miles over the heather by
SloRarie, clodding him with divots Of peat and
sod, yet not so as to do the ill-set rascal over
inucn harm. But clouring does such like good.
Then there arose the sweet sound Of singing;
for Mr.. Cameron had gone up into the preach
ing tent and given out the psalm. We all stood
u? to sing, and as noted my cousin standing
apart. looking uncertainty about. I went over to
him and brought him to my side, where
gave us book to look upon together. AS they
snng, watched to see the sentinel on the craigs
turn him about to listen 10 US. and noted the
light glance on his sword and on the barrel OF
the musket on which he leaned. For these little
tricks OF observation were ever much to me,
though the true WhIg folk minded them not q
hair. but stuck to their singing, as indeed it was
their duty to do.
But. even to me. the sound of the psalm was
uns2cakably solemn and touching out there in
the open fields. 1t seemed. as we sang OF the
God that was our refuge and our strength that
~ W. Iouhtu oh uTcuOCu We "cTc luueeu IN u
defenced city in place OF broad rivers and
ttreams. wherein should go no galley with oars,
Iethcr should gallant ship pass thereby.
lhnd never felt so near God or had 40 sweet
an income OF gladness upon my spirit, though l
often wondered what 1t all meant when heard
my father and mother speak together There
seemed a gale Of the Spirit upon the meeting.
and think that from that moment I understood
moro Of the mind Of them that suffered for their
fays ,rk{ lpAa h;pG a.
till he himself is ready TO undergo his share Of
the suffering.
But when Richard Cameron began to speak
easily forgat everything else He had n dom!.
mating voice. the voice of n strong man crying In
the wilderness. I'VE are hero In a kenned
place." he said. and there are many witnesses
about us. To day the bitter is taken out of our
cup. II 1t be only for a moment. Yea. and
sweet cup we have of 1t now. We who have
been much on the wild mountains know what II
ia to be- made glad by Thy works-the works of
the Lords hands. When we look up to the
moon or the stars, 10! the hand of the Lord is in
them, and we are glad. See ye the cornrigs up
ayont us there. on the Duchrae Hill. the hand of
God is In the sweet springng OF them when the
sun shines upon them after rain; and it is lie
who sendeth forth every pile Of grass that springs
So sweetly In the meadows by the water side.'
I own 1t was very pleasant to me to listen to
him. for had not thought there such ten
dtrncss In the man. He went on:
I'VE are hirsled over moss and moor over
crags and rocks, and after US the devil drives.
he not crabbt with u.s. o Lord 1t is true we
have gotten many calls. and have not answered.
We In the west and south have been like David,
cockered and pampered overmuch Not even
the wild Highlands have sitten through so
many calls AS we have done here In Galloway
and the south.
For / bear testimony that 1t is not easy to
bring folk to Christ. ]. that am man. weak as
other men. bear testimony that it is not easy
And here saw the people begin to yearn to-
ward him And In the gray light saw the tear.
seemed as II the minister and also the most
Ga the re nto OF calm M
Are there none such heref" he asked. And
Sins stood Back and threatening before G me " a. H
listened. WOW that at the time feared his
ns kas snd n
religion and he day from which and many an
other Asg ground u % our @ hope nao, ,,,n.o,, . .,
again. took a glance at the maid Maisie Len
n"S b.sde %s and the look On her face was
sG o sss ha ass called assSlss s y R
Ba, Knts et only shs
oyer the water on she hoan u ise to the blue
was not the man 70 whom was given the art to
Richard Cameron went on:
=" Are there any here that find difficulty to
close with Christi But before we speak TO that,
think we shall pray short word"
So all the people stood up on tho hillside and
the sough of their uprising was Ike tine wind
among the cedars. And even ms he prayed for
tho Spirit 10 come on these poor folk, that were
soon to be scattered again over the moors and
hags us sheep that wanted q shepherd. the Wind
Of the Lord lfor SO think II wasl came breath
Ing upon US. The grny OF the clouds broke up
aud the sun sl,one through SO kindly and warm
that many let their plaids fall TO the ground
tops of tho Bennan and Cairn Edward.
Then. after he had prayed not long, he went on
uf Christ. for the sake of whose cause and king
dom We were that day In that wild place Much
lie pleaded with us to make sure Of our interest
and not think that because we were there at
teid preaching, therefore all was well. On.
but he was faithful to us that day, and there
were many who felt tnat the gate OF Heaven was
very near 70 them az tho great conventicle by
the Water OF Dee.
A; even after many years. ! that have been
many sils on my soul since I sat there on the
Cameron's words. sive God thank and service
tllat was there TO hear the Lion OF the Cove
r IN n Nf.n ~