situation as junior clerk in the bank of which Mr Oswald was managing
director. There was no immediate necessity of deciding about the
matter, as the place would not be vacant till spring, and the father and
mother determined to take time to look at the matter in all its lights,
before they said anything about it to David. He was already nearly
fitted to enter the university, and they hoped that some time or other,
means would be found to send him there; but he was too young to enter at
once, and, also, he was too young and boyish-looking, to hope for a long
time yet to be able to earn means to help himself, as so many students
are able to do, by teaching in the public schools. So it seemed likely
that this situation might be the very thing they could wish for him for
the next few years. However, there were many things to be considered
with regard to it. It might unsettle him from his eager pursuit of his
studies, and from the cheerful doing of his other duties, were anything
to be said about his leaving home just now. So they were silent, and
the old year went out, and the new year came in, and everything went on
as usual, till the time for the donation visit drew near.

Donation visits ought to be pleasant occasions to all concerned, for we
have the very highest authority as to the blessedness of giving, and
only mean and churlish natures will refuse to accept graciously what is
graciously bestowed. That they often fail to be so, arises less
frequently from the lack of "graciousness" on the part of either pastor
or people, than from the fact that the principle on which they are often
undertaken is a mistaken one--the design to thus supplement some
acknowledged deficiency in the matter of the minister's salary. It
often happens that the people regard as a gift, what their pastor and
his family accept as their right, and thus both parties are defrauded of
the mutual benefits which are the result of obligations cheerfully
conferred and gratefully received.

The parish of Gourlay was very much like other parishes, in regard to
these matters. They were not a rich people. The salary of their
minister was moderately liberal, considering their means, but it was
scant enough considering the requirements of the minister's family. It
was not very regularly, nor very promptly paid; still, in one form or
other, the stipulated amount generally found its way to the minister's
house in the course of the year. So that the