Bits from Blinkbonny; or, Bell o' the Manse

by John Strathesk

CONTENTS.

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CHAPTER I.
THE MANSE.
		PAGE
The Artist and his Bits—Blinkbonny—The Author and hisRelations—The Good Folks at Greenknowe—The Manse—Oncethinking of getting married—The Interrupted Call—Mr.and Mrs. Barrie—Bell of the Manse—Wee Nellie—HerIllness, Death, and Grave—“A Butterfly on a Grave”(Mrs. Sigourney),		[1]
CHAPTER II.
A QUIET EVENING AT THE MANSE.
Bell’s Sliding Scale—Her Pattens—The Hospitality of theManse—Be judeecious—James and his Skates—Mrs.Barrie’s Experiences—Mr. Barrie’s Illness—The GoodSamaritan—A Startling Proposal,		[22]
CHAPTER III.
THE MARRIAGE AND THE HOME-COMING.
“The Books”—P.P.C.—Marriage Presents—“The Confessionof Faith”—Toasts—“The Frostit Corn”—“The CountryRockin’”—Auntie Mattie—“The Farmer’s Ingle”—PeggyRitchie on the Churchyard—A Lamb Leg and a BerryTart—Mathieson’s Heid,		[41]
CHAPTER IV.
THE TWO SIDES OF THE CHURCH QUESTION.
Coming Events—Bell and the Seed Potatoes—Her Idea of theGovernment—Knowe Park—Spunks—The Town-Clerk ofEphesus—Bell’s summing up—Daisy—The Eve of Battle—SirJohn McLelland’s Opinions on the “Evangelicals”—Patronage—PreachingCompetitions—Little Gab—Non-Intrusionand Voting,		[58]
CHAPTER V.
BLINKBONNY AND THE DISRUPTION.
Bell’s Opinion of Knowe Park—Mr. Barrie’s Return—TheDeputation’s Visit to the Manse—Mr. Barrie’s Statement—Mr.Taylor’s Views—George Brown on the Crisis—HisCovenanting Relics,		[85]
CHAPTER VI.
THE DISRUPTION AND BLINKBONNY.
The Meeting in Beltane Hall—The End of the Ten Years’Conflict—George Brown’s Exercises—The Bellman’s Difficulty—SabbathServices at the Annie Green—“ThaeCath’lics”—The Secession Church—Mr. Barrie’s Successor—Belland Smoking—“Hillend” on Doctors and Ministers—AMan amang Sheep,		[99]
CHAPTER VII.
OUT OF THE OLD HOME AND INTO THE NEW.
Leaving the Manse—Dr. Guthrie and the Children—Nellie’sTibby—Well settled—Bell’s Experiment with the Hens—DanCorbett—Braid Nebs—Babbie’s Mill,		[126]
CHAPTER VIII.
BLINKBONNY FREE CHURCH.
The Disruption of 1843—Hardships—Scotch Villages and ChurchMatters—The New Church—The Session and Deacons—TheBeadle, Walter Dalgleish—The Precentorship—Psalmsand Hymns—Mr. Barrie’s New Life—Foreign Missions—TheAssembly’s Decision—The Living Child—Saxpence—“GudeSiller gaun oot o’ the Country”—Reminiscences ofDr. Duff,		[154]
CHAPTER IX.
BELL AT HOME IN KNOWE PARK.
The Three Ministers of Blinkbonny—Mr. Walker—The TenVirgins—The finest o’ the Wheat—Bell’s Fee—Alloa Yarn—Bell’sCooking—Sheep’s-head—Mr. Kirkwood and thePotato-Soup—Dan in the Kitchen—Mr. Gordon o’ theGranaries and the Smugglers—Dan at Nellie’s Grave—Mr.Barrie’s Visit to Dan,		[177]
CHAPTER X.
INCIDENTS IN BLINKBONNY.
Miss Park on Dan—The Sweep’s dead—Mrs. Gray’s Elegy onher Husband—The Coffin for naething—The New School-master—TheRoast Beef in the Lobby—The ExaminationCommittee—“Hoo’ to get there”—George Brown’s Death—ScriptureReferences—Mrs. Barrie and Mr. Corbett—Danand the Pictures—Dan’s Bath—His Dream—Dan atChurch—His Visit to Babbie’s Mill—Colonel Gordon’s FirstVisit—Sir John McLelland at the Soiree—“The Angel’sWhisper” (Samuel Lover),		[205]
CHAPTER XI.
CHANGES AT KNOWE PARK.
The Dorcas Society—The Morisonian Controversy—ColonelGordon’s Second Visit—A Real Scotch Dinner—Champagne—Danan’ the Duke o’ Gordon—The Smuggler’s Log-book—ColonelGordon’s Will—Dan’s Bank—The Call to Edinburgh—No-PoperyAgitation—David Tait o’ Blackbrae—TheSow and the Corinthians—Bell woo’d—Mrs. Barriebreaks the Ice—Bell won—Found out and congratulated,		[230]
CHAPTER XII.
ANOTHER MARRIAGE AND HOME-COMING.
The Forms of Procedure—Reception of the News of Bell’sMarriage by Mr. Taylor, and by Sir John McLelland—“HerWeight in Gold”—Bell’s Presents—“Hook maBack”—Mr. Walker’s Violin—Bell’s Marriage and Home-coming—TheInfar Cake—Creeling—Dan, “Burke,” andthe Noisy Convoy—The Vexing Pig—The “Kirkin’,”		[259]
CHAPTER XIII.
CONCLUSION.
The Packing at Knowe Park—The Bachelor Umbrella—Nellie’sBox—Dan and Rosie—Dan on Evangelical Effort—On“The Angel’s Whisper”—Bell in Edinburgh—Home toBlackbrae—Andrew Taylor’s Criticisms,		[284]