equired. If He does not so send it, then I shall
expect He will send me grace to be reconciled to the disappointment, and
I shall go back to my work without the Ship."

This, in substance, I had to repeat hundreds of times; and as often had
I to witness the half-pitying or incredulous smile with which it was
received, or to hear the blunt and emphatic retort, "You'll never
succeed! Money cannot be got in that unbusiness-like way."

I generally added nothing further to such conversation; but a Voice,
deep, sweet, and clear, kept sounding through my soul--"The silver and
the gold are Mine."

During the year 1884, as is well known, Ireland was the scene of many
commotions and of great distress. Yet at the end of my little tour
amongst the Presbyterian people of the North principally, though not
exclusively, a sum of more than L600 had been contributed to our Mission
Fund. And there was not, so far as my knowledge went, one single large
subscription; there were, of course, many bits of gold from those
well-to-do, but the ordinary collection was made up of the shillings and
pence of the masses of the people. Nor had I ever in all my travels a
warmer response, nor ever mingled with any Ministers more earnestly
devoted to their Congregations or more generally and deservedly beloved.

CHAPTER LXXXVII.
SCOTLAND'S FREE-WILL OFFERINGS.

RETURNING to Scotland, I settled down at my headquarters, the house of
my brother James in Glasgow; and thence began to open up the main line
of my operations, as the Lord day by day guided me. Having the aid of no
Committee, I cast myself on Minister after Minister and Church after
Church, calling here, writing there, and arranging for three meetings
every Sabbath, and one, if possible, every week-day, and drawing-room
meetings, wherever practicable, in the afternoons. My correspondence
grew to oppressive proportions, and kept me toiling at it every spare
moment from early morn till bedtime. Indeed, I never could have
overtaken it, had not my brother devoted many days and hours of precious
time, answering letters regarding arrangements issuing the "Share"
receipts for all moneys the moment they arrived, managing all my
transactions through the bank, and generally tackling and reducing the
heap of communications, and preventing me falling into hopeless arrears.

I printed, and circulated by post and otherwise, ten thousand copies of
a booklet, "Statement and Appeal,"--containing, besides