The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-10-17

little astonished. Have you gotten the
grace OF God In your hearth
Nay. father / answered him. that
know not. But nevertheless l have a
desire TO know and TO learn
But another voice cut into the matter
and gravity Of our discourse.
Bless the lad-and so you shall. Quin-
TIM cried my mother from the door.
l heard my father sigh as though he
would have said, "The fat is in the fire
! nowr'
"Wen." he said. lat all events. there is
| time enough. The lad is but fourteen and
muckle much good water will run
under the brigs ere II be time TO send
him to the college But l will speak 10
| Gilbert Semple, the Edinburgh carrier.
to ask his cousin. the cody minister
what books are best fitted for lad who
desires to seek learning and college breed
ing. And In the meantime the laddle mas
aye his Bible mind what good Master
| Rutherford said when he was in Anwoth:
| IF so be We want manners, cen read
the Bible For the Bible is no ill-bred
| book II will take you unashamed through
an earthly court. as well as through the
courts OF the Master of Assemblies
through the Star Chamber, as well as
through the Chamber of the Stars.
After a while Gilbert Semple. the car
rler. brought me from Edinburgh certain
other volumes-some OF Latin and Greek
grammar, with one or two in the math-
ematics. which were a sore puzzle and
heartbreak to mo till there came among
us one of the Hill folk. a well learned
man, who, being in hiding i'm Wings
hole on the side Of Cairn Edward, was
glad for the passing OF the time to teach
me to thread the stony despation of verbs
irregular and the quags of the rules Of
syntax.
This was really the sweet and gentle
youth. James Renwick, though I knew
not his name till / saw them hang him
in the Grassmarket Of Edinburgh in the
first year of my college-going.
Many a time did our great. stupid.
kindly. butter-hearted Hob coma at me.
as I lay prone. kicking my heels at some
dykeback with my Latin Grammar under
my nose. and stand looking over with a
kind Of awe on his honest face.
Read us a bit" he would say.
Whereat very gladly I would screed
him of half page OF the rules OF the
syntax I'm the Latin tongue, according
to the Dutch pronunciation, which the
preacher lad Of the Cairn Edward cave
had taught me.
Ard as / rolled the weighty and sound
ing words gllbly off. Hob would listen
with an air of infinite satisfaction. Ike
one that rolls a sweet morsel under his |
tongue.
Read that leaf again, It's grand |
sondin' ane that Like. And the Lord |
said unto Mosesr in the book of Exodus. |
Certes. what il is to have learning"
Then I would very gravely read the
foot OF the page and stop.
Hob would stand a moment 10 digest |
his meal OF Humanities
Lie We there laddie," he would say.
gather what lear We can out Of your
books, I will look TO the hill sheep for
you this day.
Ny father smiled at all this. but COW
ertly not believing. l think. that there
was any outgate for me into the ministry.
And with the state Of things in Scot
land. indeed myself saw none. Never
theless / had IL in me to try. And II Mr..
LINING. Mr.. Boyd Mr.. Shields. Mr.. Rem
wick. and others had gotten their learn
ing I'm Holland. why should not II
In return for my reading Hob taught
me the use Of arms, the shooting 10 the
dot Of an with a gun and pistol, the
broad sword and the small sword. hav-
ing no mercy on me at all, but abusing
me like a sheep-stealer If failed or grew
slack.
For" said he. IF ever you are TO be
n right minister III OtplldNhf IL - 40 hiNV |
that We will need to lead charge with
Richard Cameron as that We will spend all
your time in making of sermons and de-
livering them.
So he taught me also single-stick, till
I was black and blue all over.
One day when he had basted me most
said to him II also would
ask you one thing, Hob. and If you tell me
without sleeping on it I will give you the
silver buckle Of my belt
"Say on" said he, casting an eager
eye at the belt which Jean Gordon had
sent me.
wherein have I the advantage over
the leopard" / asked him.
He thought Il over most profoundly.
"I give It up" he said at last. Il do not
know"
why" said T. as IL it had been the
simplest thing. because when 1 play
with you, can change my
spots and Scripture declares that the
eouard cannot"
This he understood not at the time But
he next Sabbath morning it came upon
him in time Of worship in the kitchen
md in the midst Of the sOlemnity he
aughed aloud. Whereat my father. much
ncensed. asked him what allied him.
md If his wits had suddenly taken leave :
II him.
1T was our Quintin." differed Hob,
romulously. trying 10 command his mid
III: "he told me that when | played
,ask-sword with him. he could change