The “helper” came forward with a bashful confidence, expecting that he would receive commendation for his great diligence.  But he was the most surprised “helper” in six counties when the minister struck at him suddenly with his stick, and abruptly ordered him out of the school and out of his employment.

“I did not bring ye frae Edinburgh to gang sneaking aboot my pairish sugarin’ the bairns an’ flairdyin’ the auld wives.  Get Oot o’ my sicht, an’ never let your shadow darken this pairish again, ye sneevlin’ scoondrel!”

Then he turned the children out to the green, letting some of the laggards feel his stick as they passed.  Thus was closed the first Sabbath-school that was ever held in the village of Whunnyliggate.  The too-enthusiastic “helper” passed away like a dream, and the few folk who journeyed every Sabbath from Whunnyliggate to the parish kirk by the side of the Dee Water received the ordinances officially at noon each Lord’s Day, by being exhorted to “begin the public worship of God in this parish” in the voice which a drill-sergeant uses when he exhorts an awkward squad.  Walter did not bring this event before the authorities at Drumquhat.  He knew that the blow of the minister’s oaken staff was a judgment on him for having had anything to do with an Erastian Establishment.

After the catechising, the minister prayed.  He prayed for the venerable heads of the household, that they might have wisdom and discretion.  He prayed that in the younger members the fear of the Lord might overcome the lust of the eye and the pride of life—­for the sojourners, that the God of journeying Israel might be a pillar of fire by night and of cloud by day before them, and that their pilgrimage way might be plain.  He prayed for the young child, that he might be a Timothy in the Scriptures, a Samuel in obedience, and that in the future, if so it were the will of the Most High, he might be both witness and evangelist of the Gospel.

III

THE MINISTER’S LOON

Saw ye ae flour in a fair garden, Where the lilac blossom blooms cheerily; “Fairest and rarest ever was seen,” Sing the merle and laverock merrily.

Watered o’ dew i’ the earliest morn, Lilac blossom blooms cheerily; Bield aboot wi’ a sweet hawthorn, Where the merle and lark sing merrily.

Wha shall pu’ this flour o’ the flours?  Lilac blossom blooms cheerily; Wha hae for aye to grace their booers, Where the merle and lark sing merrily?

This is the note that came for me this morning.  It was the herd of Hanging Shaws that brought it.  He had been down at the smiddy getting the horses shod; and Mr. Marchbanks, the minister, handed it to him himself as he was passing the manse on his way home.  The herd said that it was “bound to be something pressing, or the minister wadna hae been so soon oot o’ his bed.”  So he waited till I had opened it to hear what it was about, for the wife of Hanging Shaws would be sure to be asking.  I read it to him, but he did not seem to be much the wiser.  Here is the letter, written in an ill, crabbed hand-of-write, like all ministers’ writings:—­