Запретный лес

           ThechiefwasthatworkontheprophetIsaiahwhichshouldbeforalltimearepositoryofsacredlearning,sothatSempillonIsaiahwouldbequotedreverently,likeLutherontheGalatiansorCalvinontheRomans.Intheautumneveningshehadsketchedthelinesofhismasterpiece,andbeforethegreatsnowhehadembarkedonitsprolegomena.Butthestormmadeabreachinhisstudies.Hefelthimselfcalledtomoreurgentduties,forhewasapastorofsoulsbeforehewasascholar.Hisvisitationsandcatechizingsamonghisflockwerehischiefcare,andhebegantowinanamefordiligence.Onnightswhenevenashepherdwouldhavekepttheingleside,Davidwouldarriveatamoorlandcottage,andmanyatimeIsobelhadtowelcomeinthesmallhoursadrippingorfrozenmaster,thawhimbyherkitchenfire,andfeedhimwithhotaleandbannocks,whileherecountedhisadventures.Hewasstrongandbuoyant,andhelovedthelife,whichseemedtohimtohavethedisciplineofasoldier.Hisfacehigh-colouredbyweather,hischeerfuleyes,andhisboyishvoiceandlaughweresoonpopularinthelengthoftheparish."Heisacouthylad,"saidtheoldwives,"andforamano’Godhe’sterriblelikeaplainbody."

           Alsohetookchargeofthechildren.InWoodileetherewasnoschoolorschoolmaster.Therewerethreehundredcommunicants,butitwasdoubtfulifmorethanadozencouldreadasentenceorwritetheirnames.IntheKirkSessionitselftherewereonlythree.SoDavidstartedaschool,whichmetthriceaweekofamorninginthemansekitchen.