another, and by twos and threes, and there was
the stamping of wet shoes, and the shaking out of wet plaids, and many a
sneeze, and many a "hoast" (cough). And still more came, some of them
with familiar faces from the neighbouring streets, and some from beyond
the hills, miles away. Peter Gilchrist was there, of course, and
Saunners Crombie, and an old woman or two, who would better have kept
the house, John thought, on such a day. And by and by the kirk was well
filled. John would have liked to see the minister's seat. It was close
to the door, and so was the one in which he sat; but a little porch,
which protected the door, came between. He heard the clatter of the
boys' feet as they came in, and once he heard their mother's "quietly,
boys," gently but firmly uttered, and by that time the minister was in
the pulpit, and the service began.

It was just to be like other services in other kirks, John thought at
first. There was a psalm read, and a remark was made on a verse here
and there, and then they sang. He had a certain enjoyment in the
singing, because he had never heard anything like it before. The sleet
or something else had kept the usual precentor at home, and Saunners
Crombie filled the office for the time. He had the singing mostly to
himself for the first verse, because no one knew what tune he meant to
sing, and some of those who joined, trying to do their best, "went out
of it a'thegither," as Saunners said angrily afterward. The second
verse went better. The minister's boys took it up and their mother, and
were joined by "the discordant crowd," as John called them while he
listened; and though he might have done good service on the occasion, he
never opened his lips.

Then came the "long prayer," in which John certainly did not join. But
he listened, and after a little he wondered. It was "like all the
prayers," he said to himself at first--confession, petition,
thanksgiving. Yet it was a little different. The words came with a
certain power. It was as if he who prayed saw the face of Him whom he
addressed, a living Person whom he knew and had proved, and not an awful
unknown Being hidden in light unapproachable, or in dimness or darkness.
He was speaking to One whose promise had been given, and many times
made good unto those who trusted Him. And to him who was asking,
evidently the promise was sure, the Word unchangeable.

"All good things! Why, a man who believed that need be af