The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-09-23


In the year. my man so to hear the
gospel pr ached. For there 90 20 b. a
stranger frae the south shore az the
kirk OF Kclls this day. and they say he
mas a mighty power q words. Ana though
ye soon ana make light o M. I care not
am neither kirk-goer nor kirk-lover. va
say. True. but there Is a whisper In my
heart that sends me there this day. /
thank Sc. bonuy mlstressr'
He took the pint-stoup and with q bow
Of his head and an inclination Of his
body he did his Herylce TO Mistress
Eispeih. who. fresh as himself. had come
forth from her chamber TO relieve Jean
McCalmont, WHO. poor thing. had been
going 10 sleep on her feet for mauy weary
hours
Then Roaring Ralph Pringle cried out.
Land, We Will a. gang / had news
yestrcen Of this. ploy. The new bishop.
good luck to him, has outcd another OF
the high-tiying. prating cushion-thresh-
ers. This man goes go Edinburgh TO be
tried before his betters. lie IS 90 preach
la kells this very morn on the by-goiuE.
for the minister therefore ~ iikeminded
with himself We viii an gang. and Il he
gets a hearin' for his rebels cant-why.
lads. you are not the men I TAX you fort
SO they cried out ''Wcel said, Roar
ing RaiG" and got them ready TO 80 as
best they could. For come were red Of
face and some were ringed OF eye. and
all were touched with kind OF disgust
for the roysierous spirits OF tho might
But a dabble In the chill water OF the
spring and a rub OF the rough spur towel
brought us an TO some decent presentable-
nesss. For youth easily RECEIVERS itself
while IL lasts. though in the latter end
10 pays for such things twice over.
We partook OF such breakfast as we
could manage. and that was no great
thing after such night But We each
drank down stirrup cup, and with va
rious good speeds 10 Elspeih Nogie ana
her maid we wan TO horseback and so
down the strath 20 the kirk OF Kells. II
sits on the summit OF lille knowe. with
the whln golden about Il az all times OF
the year and the lock like a painted sheet
spread below.
from afar and near. from their mailings
ana 4O-shilng lands. their farm towns
and cothouses in half dozen parishes.
We are In luck's way. lads" cried Lid
derdale called Tentass Lldderdale. be-
cause he could drink that number OF
ssoups OF brandy neat. 1t Is a great gath
ering Of the Rodly our shutting Of this
mares mouth will make such a din as
Will be heard through all Galloway"
And so 10 our shame and my sorrow we
made Il up. We were so 20 the rounds OF
the meeting and gather together all the
likely lads who would stand with us
There were sure 60 be plenty such who
had no goodwill 10 preachings. And with
these In one place we could easily shut
the mouth OF the fanatic railer against
law and order. For so In our ignorance
and folly we called him. Because all this
sort Csuch as I myself was them hated
the very name OF religion and hoped 10
find things easier and better for chem
when the King should have his way. and
when the bishops would present none to
parishes but what We called good fell
lows"-by which we meant men as care
less OF principle as ourselves-loose-livers
and oath-swearers. such as In truth they
mostly were themselves.
But when we came that August morn
ing 20 the kirk OF kells. to- there before
ms was outspread such sighs as my eyes
never hehcld. The kirk knowe was fairly
black with folk. little way on you could
see them pouring inward In bands like
the spokcs OF a wheel. Further of yet. 1T
de black dots struggled down hillsides.
or M through glens disentanglinR them
selves from clumps OF blrchcs and scurry
thorns for al the world like the anss Of
the wise king gathering home from their
travels.
Then We were very content. and made
Il our business 90 go among the gay young
blades who had come for the excitement.
or as IL might be. because all the pretty
lasses OF the countryside were sure 10 be
there IN their best And with them We
arranged that we should keep silence til
the fanatic minister was well under way
with his reasonable parties. Then we
would rush IN with our swords drawn. car
~ him or down the step. and duck him
for a traitorous loon IN tho loch beneath.
To this we all assented. and shook
hands upon the pact. For we knew right
slckerly what would be our fate II the
battle which was coming on che land the
covenant men won the day. Perforce we
must subscribe 20 deeds and engagements.
attend kinks. lay aside gay colors, fore
swear all pleasant dating with such ms
Elspeth Vogue and Mary. her maid-not
that there was anything wrong with my
own practice with such. I speak only OF
others. The ciatter OF the dice would he
heard no more. The cartes themselves. the
knowledge Of which then made the gentle
man would be looked upon as the delfs Pic
ture books" An good broad oath would
mean a fine as broad. Instead OF chanting
loose catches, we would have TO listen
20 - rmons i've hours long. and be whip
ped for an the little pleasing transgress-
ions which made life worth living.
So Hush" We said. we will salt this
mans kan for him We will drill him.
wand hand and working hand. so that he
cannot stir We will make him drink his
mn of Kells loch this day.
An this while we knew not so much
ay the name Of the preacher. nor indeed
cared. He came from tho South; so much
we knew. and be had great repute for
rodliness. and what the broad-bonnets
called "falthfulness." Which. being inter
pr.ted signifed that he condemned the
king ana the bishops. and held 10 the old
aemeuts about doctrine. free grace ana
the authority OF the Holy Kirk.
The man had not arrived when we
reached the Kirk OF Kells. Indeed. Il was
NOT long before the hour OF service when
M the lochslde we saw n cavalcade APP
nroach. Then we were angry. For" we
said. "thls spells our sport These are
detbtless soldiers Of the king. who have
been sent 10 put a stop 20 the meeting.
we shall have no chance this day. our
coin Is spun and fallen edgewise between
tho stones Let US go homer
put I said: There may be some spirity
,,ork FOR an that, lads. Better bide and
Sect
so they abode according 20 my word.
put when they came near we could
SEQ that these were no soldiers OF the king
nor indeed any soldiers az all, though the
mon were an armed with whlngers and
rls.ols. and rode upon strong, slow-footed
horses. like farmers going % market
-rbero was q gentleman at the head OF
a snfh