按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
in quiet reverie； or in exultant jubilation over the 〃attributes；〃
embracing in its worldwide sweep 〃the interests of the kingdom〃 far
and near； and of that part of humanity included therein present and
to come； and buttressing its petitions with theological argument；
systematic and unassailable。 Before the close； however； the
minister came to deal with the needs of his own people。 Old and
young； absent and present； the sick； the weary； the sin…burdened
all were remembered with a warmth of sympathy； with a directness of
petition； and with an earnestness of appeal that thrilled and
subdued the hearts of all； and made even the boys； who had borne
with difficulty the last half…hour of the long prayer； forget their
weariness。
The reading of Scripture followed the prayer。 In this the minister
excelled。 His fine voice and his dramatic instinct combined to
make this an impressive and beautiful portion of the service。 But
to…day much of the beauty and impressiveness of the reading was
lost by the frequent interruptions caused by the entrance of late
comers； of whom； owing to the bad roads； there were a larger number
than usual。 The minister was evidently annoyed； not so much by the
opening and shutting of the door as by the inattention of his
hearers； who kept turning round their heads to see who the new
arrivals were。 At length the minister could bear it no longer。
〃My dear people；〃 he said； pausing in the reading； 〃never mind
those coming in。 Give you heed to the reading of God's Word； and
if you must know who are entering； I will tell you。 Yes；〃 he
added； deliberately； 〃give you heed to me； and I will let you know
who these late comers are。〃
With that startling declaration； he proceeded with the reading； but
had not gone more than a few verses when 〃click〃 went the door…
latch。 Not a head turned。 It was Malcolm Monroe； slow…going and
good…natured； with his quiet little wife following him。
The minister paused； looking toward the door； and announced： 〃My
dear people； here comes our friend Malcolm Monroe； and his good
wife with him； and a long walk they have had。 Come away； Malcolm；
come away； we will just wait for you。〃
Malcolm's face was a picture。 Surprise； astonishment； and confusion
followed each other across his stolid countenance； and with quicker
pace than he was ever known to use in his life before； he made his
way to his seat。 No sooner had the reading began again when once
more the door clicked。 True to his promise； the minister paused and
cheerfully announced to his people： 〃This； my friends； is John
Campbell； whom you all know as 'Johnnie Sarah；' and we are very glad
to see him； for； indeed； he has not been here for some time。 Come
away； John； come away； man；〃 he added； impatiently； 〃for we are all
waiting for you。〃
Johnnie Sarah stood paralyzed with amazement and seemed uncertain
whether to advance or to turn and flee。 The minister's impatient
command； however； decided him； and he dropped into the nearest seat
with all speed； and gazed about him as if to discover where he was。
He had no sooner taken his seat than the door opened again； and
some half…dozen people entered。 The minister stood looking at them
for some moments and then said； in a voice of resignation：
〃Friends； these are some of our people from the Island； and there
are some strangers with them。 But if you want to know who they
are； you will just have to look at them yourselves； for I must get
on with the reading。〃
Needless to say； not a soul of the congregation； however consumed
with curiosity； dared to look around； and the reading of the
chapter went gravely on to the close。 To say that Maimie sat in
utter astonishment during this extraordinary proceeding would give
but a faint idea of her state of mind。 Even Mrs。 Murray herself；
who had become accustomed to her husband's eccentricities； sat in
a state of utter bewilderment； not knowing what might happen next；
nor did she feel quite safe until the text was announced and the
sermon fairly begun。
Important as were the exercises of reading； praise； and prayer；
they were only the 〃opening services；〃 and merely led up to the
event of the day； which was the sermon。 And it was the event； not
only of the day； but of the week。 It would form the theme of
conversation and afford food for discussion in every gathering of
the people until another came to take its place。 To…day it lasted
a full hour and a half； and was an extraordinary production。 Calm；
deliberate reasoning； flights of vivid imagination； passionate
denunciation； and fervid appeal； marked its course。 Its subject
was the great doctrine of Justification by Faith； and it contained
a complete system of theology arranged with reference to that
doctrine。 Ancient heresies were attacked and exposed with
completeness amounting to annihilation。 Modern errors； into which
our 〃friends〃 of the different denominations had fallen； were
deplored and corrected； and all possible misapplications of the
doctrine to practical life guarded against。 On the positive side
the need； the ground； the means； the method； the agent； the
results； of Justification； were fully set forth and illustrated。
There were no anecdotes and no poetry。 The subject was much too
massive and tremendous to permit of any such trifling。
As the sermon rolled on its majestic course； the congregation
listened with an attentive and discriminating appreciation that
testified to their earnestness and intelligence。 True； one here
and there dropped into a momentary doze； but his slumber was never
easy； for he was harassed by the terrible fear of a sudden summons
by name from the pulpit to 〃awake and give heed to the message；〃
which for the next few minutes would have an application so
personal and pungent that it would effectually prevent sleep for
that and some successive Sabbaths。 The only apparent lapse of
attention occurred when Donald Ross opened his horn snuff…box； and
after tapping solemnly upon its lid； drew forth a huge pinch of
snuff and passed it to his neighbor； who； after helping himself in
like manner； passed the box on。 That the lapse was only apparent
was made evident by the air of abstraction with which this
operation was carried on； the snuff being held between the thumb
and forefinger for some moments； until a suitable resting…place in
the sermon was reached。
When the minister had arrived at the middle of the second head； he
made the discovery； as was not frequently the case； that the
remotest limits of the alloted time had been passed； and announcing
that the subject would be concluded on the following Sabbath； he
summarily brought the English service to a close； and dismissed the
congregation with a brief prayer； two verses of a psalm； and the
benediction。
When Maimie realized that the service was really over； she felt as
if she had been in church for a week。 After the benediction the
congregation passed out into the churchyard and disposed themselves
in groups about the gate and along the fences discussing the sermon
and making brief inquiries as to the 〃weal and ill〃 of the members
of their families。 Mrs。 Murray； leaving Hughie and Maimie to
wander at will； passed from group to group； welcomed by all with
equal respect and affection。 Young men and old men； women and
girls alike； were glad to get her word。 To…day； however； the young
men were not at first to be seen； but Mrs。 Murray knew them well
enough to suspect that they would be found at the back of the
church； so she passed slowly around the church； greeting the people
as she went； and upon turning the corner she saw a crowd under the
big maple； the rendezvous for the younger portion of the congregation
before 〃church went in。〃 In the center of the group stood Ranald
and Don； with Murdie； Don's eldest brother； a huge； good…natured
man； beside them； and Peter Ruagh； with his cousin Aleck； and others
of the clan。 Ranald was standing； pale and silent； with his head
thrown back； as his manner was when in passion。 The talk was mainly
between Aleck and Murdie； the others crowding eagerly about and
putting in a word as they could。 Murdie was reasoning good…humoredly；
Aleck replying fiercely。
〃It was good enough for him；〃 Mrs。 Murray heard Don interject； in a
triumphant tone； to Murdie。 But Murdie shut him off sternly。
〃Whisht； Don； you are not talking just now。〃
Don was about to reply when he caught sight of Mrs。 Murray。
〃Here's the minister's wife；〃 he said； in a low tone； and at once
the group parted in shamefaced confusion。 But Murdie kept his face
unmoved； and as Mrs。 Murray drew slowly near； said； in a quiet
voice of easy good…humor； to Aleck； who was standing with a face
like that of a detected criminal： 〃Well； we will see about it to…
morrow night； Aleck； at the post…office；〃 and he faced about to
meet Mrs。 Murray with an easy smile； while Aleck turned away。 But
Mrs。 Murray was not deceived； and she went straight to the point。
〃Murdie；〃 she said； quietly； when she had answered his greeting；
〃will you just come with me a little； I want to ask you about
something。〃 And Murdie walked away with her； followed by the winks
and nods of