ep voice of the Reverend Doctor Spence
Hutchison, minister of the parish, whose lair was on the broomy knowes
of Howpaslet beside its ancient kirk, was answered by the keener, more
intense tones of the Reverend William Henry Calvin, of the Seceder
kirk, whose manse stood defiantly on an opposite hill, and dared the
neighbourhood to come on. But the neighbourhood never came, except only
the Kers. In fact, the neighbourhood mostly went to Dr. Hutchison's, for
Howpaslet was a great country of the Moderates. Unto whom, as Mr. Calvin
said, be peace in this world, for they have small chance of any in the
next--at least not to speak of.

Now, ever since the school-board came to Howpaslet its meetings are the
great arena of combat. At the first election Dr. Spence Hutchison had
the largest number of votes by a very great deal, and carried two
colleagues with him to the top of the poll as part of his personal
baggage. He did not always remember to consult them, because he knew
that they were put there to vote as he wished them, and for no other
purpose. And, being honest and modest men, they had no objections. So
Dr. Hutchison was chairman of Howpaslet school-board.

But he reigned not without opposition. The forces of revolution had
carried the two minority men, and the Doctor knew that at the first
meeting of the board he would be met by William Henry Calvin, minister
of the Seceder kirk of the Cowdenknowes, and his argumentative elder,
Saunders Ker of Howpaslet Mains--one of a family who had laid aside
moss-trooping in order to take with the same hereditary birr to
psalm-singing and church politics. They were, moreover, great against
paraphrases.

That was a great day when the board was formed. There was a word that
the Doctor was to move that the meetings of the school-board be private.
So the Kers got word of it and sent round the fiery cross. They gathered
outside and roosted on the dyke by dozens, all with long faces and cutty
pipes. If the proceedings were to be private they would ding down the
parish school. So they said, and the parish believed them.

It is moved by the majority farmer, and seconded by the majority
publican (whose names do not matter), that the Reverend Dr. Spence
Hutchison, minister of the parish, take the chair. It is moved and
seconded that the Reverend William Henry Calvin take the chair--moved by
Saunders Ker, seconded by himself. So Dr. Hutchison has the casting
vote, and he gives it on the w