The times., 1897-10-31


10 the hot and crowded kirk that day OF
hign summer.
Twas well through my discourse, and en-
tering upon my last head, when 1 heard
a stir at the door. 1 paused somewhat
markedly, lest there should be some un-
seeIIy disturbance. But l saw only d
grfa at hurry, red bearded gentleman with
his HAIR little touched with gray. The
men ahUut the porch made room for him
with mighty difference.
Cliagine to his arm was d young girl with
q face lliy-pale, dark eyes and a wealth Of
hair And instead of the bare head and
modest snoUd Of the country maid, or the
m1tch OF the douce matron, there was
upon thcIady head brave fashioned
hat, with I: white feather.
KNEW theInih d m0ment-AleXander Cor
dOu oi EarIstoun, and his daughter Mary.
1 cannot tell if my voice tremblcdr OF
whether slowed ahy signs Of the abound
ing agitatiuli oC my spirit. But certain it
is tn II t9r q space, which TO me seemed ages,
the eoursc of my thought went from me
spt Ike words idle and empty and twas only
by the strongest effort Of VIII that / re-
calI-i myself to the solemn matters in
fand. That this should have happened in
time knew lot that these disturbances, so
great ss.eIsting 10 the speaker, are little if
atal, ,Obse: re6 by his hearers, who are ever
willing 70 lay the blame upon their own
lack Of comprehension, rather than upon
their Instructors want Of cIeaTness.
Bot the moment after, with strong up
rising OF my spirit, l Won above the tur-
mol Of my intcJects, and ended with an
outgoing of my heart, charging those be-
for. me TO lay aside the evils Of their life
and enter upon the better way with Zeal
ami 0ssured confidence.
And seeing that the people Were much
moved 10y my appeal, 1 judged wise to let
them 90 with what fire OF God they had
gotten yet burning In their hearts. l closed
quickly and so dismissed the congregation.
Then, when / came down to go from
the kirk, the people Were already dis
persing Tie great red-bearded man came
forward and put lis hand on my shoulder
Young sir" he said, lit is true that
ye have left the Hin-folk, and with your
feet have walked iu devious ways. Not
witigta uding, IL what we have heard TO
dag be- Your message, we shall yet have
you on Your knees before the eIdeTshlp Of
the societies, For the heart OF the man who
can thus speak is with us of the wilderness
and not among the flesh spots Of an Eras-
tiAn Egypt"
A. which 1 shook my head, not seeing
hosg true his words were to prove, nor yet
how soon the Kirk OF Scotland was to bow
the head. whict hitherto had only bent to
her heavenly Lord, TO the scepter OF
clay aud the rule OF a freekleSs, earthly
monarch.
But though l looked wistfully at Mary
Gordon, and woG!d have gone forward 10
help her upon her horse where it stood
tethered at the kirk liggate she passed
me by as though she had not seen me.
wHIch surely was not Well done Of her.
She beekoue1 young man from tie crowd
in the kirk yarJ, who came forward with
his hat in his hand and conveyed her to
Rer horse with a privileged and couTtly
air. Then the three rode off together
Alexander Gordon Turning about in his
saddle and CRYING back, in his loud, hearty
manner, Haste ye, and come over Ia the
Earlstoun, and we viii yet show YOU the
way across the Red Sea out of the land
of bondage"
And l was icft standing there, sadly
enough, vet for my life L cannot tell why
! should have been sad. For the folk came
thronging about me, shaking me by the
hand and saying how tina they had found
their minister. and would choose me in
spite OF IairG OF prince OF presbytery. For
it seems that already some of NV si yings
had given offense in high quarters.
Yet 1t was as If l heard not these
good folk, for God forgive me,l even a that
solemn moment my thoughts were circling
about that proud young lass, who had not
deigned me look, even in the hour OF
triumph, but lad ridden 50 proudly away
with the nan who was doubtless her
lover.
Thus stood awhile Junbly tgaze, with
cut finding word to say to any. And the
folk, thinking that the spirit OF the spoken
word was yet upon me- drew off a little.
Then there came a Voice in mine ear, low
and persuasive, that awoke me from nay
dream.
This is my father, who would bid ye
welcome and that kindly to his house OF
DrumgiaSs."
Itwas the Young lass whose piece had
eaten in tile morning.
The feeling in my heart that had been
shaneG end sighted by Mary Gordon made
Mistress Jean GerHnell's word sweet and
agrees bic 10 me. ! turned Inc about and
found myself clasping the hands OF d rug
ged old man, with q broad and honest
face, who took snuff freely with one hand
while he shook mine with the other.
"rm proud to see ye, young SIR he
said. ''prooo to see YET Ny dochter
jean here. feat and bonny bit lass has
telled me that / am to gle ya my guid
word. And my guild word We shall hae
Ana riony the elders and klrk-menibers
owes sillcr tc auid Drummie- aye aye. and
they shall. do as l say, or l shall know the
reason"
But, SIR" I said hastily, Il desire no
undue influence to bc used. Let my sum-
mons, If 1t come, be the cali of a peopl.,
of 1ne mind concerning the fitting man to
have the OF erSieht of them in the things of
the spirit"
''Of one lnindl' exclaimed the old man
| taking snuff more freely than ever, ''ye
are dootIess d naist learned and college
bred young lad, with rowth O learnin
and iashins o grace, but We dinna ken
this parish o Balma ghie if ye think that
ye can eve hae tile folk . wan mind
/ Laddie, the things no possible. There's
as many minds in Balmaghie as there's
4 folk in it. And mar uEruly, camstecry
1 parish there's no between Kirknaiden and
the wild Hollands border.
Gin ye Come amang US lad, FL learn
We a trick or twa aboot the folk O.
Bafmaglie that ye VIII be the wiser O.
Mind hue been her a lay life, and ar
elder @ the kirk thirty Year,
Il am much indebted, sir, for your
J srapd int q Mi ions huf--t'
Nae butts" cried Aud Drummie, 81
! haa my aat.bter leans word that ye ar.