Though press’d an’ hemm’d on every side, ha’e faith an’ ye’ll win through,
For ilka blade o’ grass keps its ain drap o’ dew.”
James Ballantine.
MR. BARRIE had written to Sir John McLelland, thanking him for his uniform kindness, and saying that he had disjoined himself from the Established Church. He also wrote to the clerk of his presbytery to the same effect, adding that he would leave the manse as soon as he could.
A short time sufficed to put Knowe Park into habitable order. Whenever this was known, Mr. Barrie was cumbered by proffers of help from the farmers in the parish. He could have had fifty carts to remove his furniture for one that he required; and acts or offers of considerate attention were so showered on him that he was embarrassed by them.
At length the day came for “flitting.” It was a fine morning in the middle of summer,—everything was looking its best. The manse in itself was a charming place. To Mr. and Mrs. Barrie and their children it had been a happy home, and in their inmost hearts it was hallowed by many tender associations; and the church was endeared to Mr. Barrie as he recalled the pleasant meetings therein with his beloved flock. The parting was a bitter ordeal, trying to flesh and blood, and as such they felt it very keenly.
THE MELODY OF JOY AND PEACE.
At the hour for family worship, the men who were taking down the furniture and making it ready for being carted were asked to come to the “books;” and they told afterwards that in singing the 23d Psalm their voices quivered, and that there was a lump in their throat as the 138th Psalm was read as the “ordinary” for the morning, for the circumstances seemed to give additional meaning to such parts of it as—“strengthenedst me with strength in my soul,” “though I walk in the midst of trouble, Thou wilt revive me,” “the Lord will perfect that which concerneth me,” “forsake not the works of Thine own hands.”
As soon as the first cart was laden and off, Bell went to Knowe Park to get things put rightly in and up. The three elder children had resolved to flit their own belongings. James took his small barrow, filled with a confused load of skates, books, etc. Mary carried her little chair, Black Tam the negro doll, and some books and toys; Lewie his little chair, a toy horse, and a whip. They had reached the post office (which stood a little back from the main street), and were resting on the broad open pavement in front of it, James sitting on his barrow, the others in their chairs.
DR. GUTHRIE AND THE BAIRNS.