the wooded knoll south of the town and was
happier for the change. The leafy garden where many ministers have
written their sermons, has seemed to them a very paradise in after
years, and their cry has been, "O why left I my hame?"

But these were happy days for Richard Cameron when he brought his books
and his violin to the manse that nestled at the foot of the hill. He
came among men strict with a certain staid severity concerning things
that they counted material, but yet far more kindly-hearted and
charitable than of recent years they have gotten credit for.

Saunders did not object to the minister's violin, being himself partial
to a game at the ice, and willing that another man should also have his
chosen relaxation. Then, again, when the young man began to realise
himself, and lay about him in the pulpit, there were many who would tell
how they remembered his father--preaching on one occasion the sermon
that "fenced the tables," on the Fast Day before the communion, when the
partitions were out and the church crowded to the door. Being oppressed
with the heat, he craved the indulgence of the congregation to be
allowed to remove his coat; and thereafter in his shirt-sleeves, struck
terror into all, by denunciations against heresy and infidelity,
against all evil-doing and evil-speaking. It was interesting as a
battle-tale how he barred the table of the Lord to "all such as have
danced or followed after play-actors, or have behaved themselves
unseemly at Kelton Hill or other gathering of the ungodly, or have
frequented public-houses beyond what is expedient for lawful
entertainment; against all such as swear minced oaths, such as 'losh,'
'gosh,' 'fegs,' 'certes,' 'faith'; and against all such as swear by
heaven or earth, or visit their neighbours' houses upon the Lord's Day,
saving as may be necessary in coming to the house of the Lord."

The young man could not be expected at once to come up to the high
standard of this paternal master-work--which, indeed, proved to be too
strong meat for any but a few of the sterner office-bearers, who had
never heard their brother-elders' weaknesses so properly handled before.
But they had, nevertheless, to go round the people and tell them that
what the Doctor had said was to be understood spiritually, and chiefly
as a warning to other denominations, else there had been a thin kirk and
but one sparse table instead of the usual four or five, on the day of
high communion in th