“Eh!” said the worthy man; “no—eh—no—oh, dinna, dinna ask me; no, I canna!”
After waiting another quarter of an hour, during which the elder was in a state of great nervous excitement, the father again came to him, but the elder beckoned him to come out of the room. When both were outside, the father said:
“Eh, Mr. Sommerville, the wife, puir bodie, canna bear to let her wee Tammie be ‘liftit’ without a bit word o’ prayer; an’ she hasna gotten to the kirk since Tammie turned badly, an’ she’ll be the better, an we’ll a’ be the better, o’ a bit prayer. It’s awfu’ heathen-like to tak’ awa’ the bit bairn for gude an’ a’ out o’ it’s mother’s house without a word o’ comfort; dinna refuse us—we’re a’ kent [known] folk here.”
Mr. Sommerville, who was twitching his fingers until the father had finished, said: “Oh! for ony favour dinna ask me,—I positeevely cannot do’t in company;” then taking the father’s hand he pulled him near him, and said with great earnestness: “I wad rather gi’e the coffin for naething. Oh! ask the new schoolmaster.”
This was a young teacher who had lately come to Blinkbonny, and although he was taken aback, he engaged shortly in prayer. All present were much pleased, said that he was an uncommonly nice lad, very obliging, and that anybody could see by his prayer that “the root o’ the matter was in him.”
MODEST WORTH.
It may seem strange to add that Mr. Sommerville was a first-rate elder; he was charitable, considerate, upright, and helpful to many. His advices were short, but very “pat:” to the rash, it was, “Leisure a wee;” to the foolish, “Mend your ways;” to the intemperate, “Do thyself no harm;” to his apprentices or workmen when they committed mistakes, his reproofs were not rebukes, far less reproaches, but, “It’s a pity,” “Ye’ve gane wrang,” “That’s no’ wiselike;” the most severe was, “That’s very stupid-like.”
Mr. Tait, the young schoolmaster above referred to, had succeeded the good old man who had been parish teacher for nearly half a century. He was selected from a list of applicants owing to the excellent testimonials he presented, and had been asked to meet with the examination committee in Mr. Walker’s house before the appointment was finally made. He had acted for some time as assistant in a parish school adjoining Middlemoor, and was well known to Mr. Walker. Report said he was “after” a niece of Mr. Walker’s.
Mr. Tait on the day of meeting was shown into the parlour beside Mrs. Walker, the committee being in the study. He told Mrs. Walker how nervous he was, and he looked it. She told him not to be afraid—she would help him through. There was a roast of beef at the kitchen fire, which she made the servant carry through the lobby, and slowly past the door of the study; when the fragrant steam got diffused, she opened the study door, and said, “Mr. Tait’s here.”
THE CIVIL SERVICE EXAMINATION.