IX. Before Lammas

           OnedayinJulyDavidsaddledhishorseandrodetoKirkAllerforaPresbyterymeeting.Hefoundabewilderedbrotherhood.Theusual"exercises"wereomitted,therewasnoprelectiononasetdoctrinalthemeforthebenefitoftheyoungerministers,thesittingsinthekirkwereoccupiedmainlywithprayersforahumbledSionandadistractedcountry,andthedinnerthereafterintheCrossKeyswasnotnotableforgoodfellowship.Butitwasacrowdedgathering,andamongthelaymembersinthekirkwasEphraimCaird.

           AtthemealMr.MungoMuirhead,primedwithlettersfromEdinburgh,gaveillnewsofthewarintheNorth.Montrosetherecusantcontinuedtowinbattles,andwasevennowmarchingsouthwardwithhissavageIrishrytostrikeatthecitadel."WhatfordoesDavieLeslienohasten,"hecried,"andwhatprofitsittohaveacovenantedStateandapurifiedKirkifamailedAmalekitecanhuntoursodgersfromDantoBeersheba?Itellyou,sirs,thiswarwhichhashithertobeenfoughtamongHielandglenswillsoonbeatouraindoorcheeks,andourpuirfolkwillbecalledtotestify,notwithvoiceandwordandthescartofapen,butwithsufferingsandrevilingsandbloodymurderings.ForthandAllermayyetrunred,andthehandofdeathbeontheLowdonfields.Areweprepared,Iask,andIaskityetagain?Whatnagiftswillwebringtothealtarinthecomingdayofsacrifice?"

           HisfearshadgivendignitytotheministerofKirkAller.Themanwasafighter,forhismouthshuttight,andtherewasasparkoffireinhisheavyeyes.NorwasMr.ProudfootofBoldlessreadyforthefray.