“It’s to provide clothing and coals for the poor.”
“Then why do you not call it something else than that foreign name Dorcas? Is it Latin, or French, or what is it?”
“Oh,” said Miss Roxburgh, “it’s called after Dorcas, the woman that made garments for the poor. You’ll remember of her,—Tabitha or Dorcas?”
“Not I. I never even heard of her name before,—Tabby or Dorcas, or whatever you call her. Where did you fall in with her? I am certain it was not in the Bible,” said Mr. Skinner firmly.
“Hoots, ye’re forgetting,” said Miss Roxburgh. “It’s in the Acts of the Apostles. We read that she died, and they sent for Peter; and when the poor widows showed him the clothes she had made for them, he prayed, and she was brought to life again.”
“I read the Bible as well as you,” replied Mr. Skinner, “and I never either heard or read of any such woman. It’s not in the Acts, I’m certain. However, as the object is a good one, there’s a pound to you; but for any favour give your society a decent name, for nobody will understand what Dorcas means. Dorcas! there is not such a person in all the Bible.”
After the first year the society ceased to be a Free Church scheme and became a village one; but Mrs. Clark was continued at the head of it. She made it a matter of conscience,—stuck to the principle of helping nobody that had others—especially a “man”—that could work for them. The distribution of coals was to her a matter of first concern in the early winter; and, like Job, she could say, “The cause which I knew not I searched out,” until the receivers came to speak of them as “Mrs. Clark’s coals.” I commend this “bit” to what an old elder used to call “my female brethren,” and am convinced if they go and do likewise they will in no wise lose their reward.
“’Twas to share wi’ the needfu’ our blessin’s were gi’en,
And the friend o’ the puir never wanted a frien’.”
Mr. Barrie had some trouble over what was known as the “Morisonian” controversy. I will not enter on the question itself. It turned on the decrees of election, predestination, and what are known as the Calvinistic doctrines.