Said, “I knew that the angels were whispering with thee.”
CHAPTER XI.
CHANGES AT KNOWE PARK.
“But mony are the ups an’ the douns o’ life,
When the dice-box o’ fate turns tapsalteerie.”
Old Song, “Kate Dalrymple.”
SILENCE IS GOLDEN.
THE Blinkbonny Free Church congregation was now a strong one,—so strong that a Dorcas Society was added to its other schemes, and proved of great service to the members as well as to the poor. The choice of Mrs. Clark as convener was a happy one. She became the mainspring of the concern; and faithfully did she inquire into all needful cases, and considerately did she administer the funds,—in some instances so quietly, that several compared the help they received to “Peter’s sheet that was let down from heaven;” and in not a few cases the assistance was all the more welcome because, although it was greatly needed, it would only have been asked as a last resort.
The collectors had some difficulty in getting the Dorcas Society started. One of them—a Miss Roxburgh—asked a subscription for this purpose from Mr. Skinner, a well-to-do and successful man.
“A what kind of society do you call it,—a Dorcas Society? What in all the world’s that?” said he.