the man from glengarry-第31章

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of　the　church；　and　he　hasn't　got　much　spunk　in　him。　　And　many　of
the　older　men　remain　as　hard　as　the　nether　millstone。〃

〃I　really　think；〃　said　his　wife；　〃that　a　number　of　the　young　people
would　'come　forward'　if　some　one　would　make　a　beginning。　　They　are
all　very　shy。〃

〃So　you　always　say；〃　said　her　husband；　with　a　touch　of　impatience；
〃but　there　is　no　shyness　in　other　things；　in　their　frolics　and
their　fightings。　　I　am　sure　this　last　outrageous　business　is　enough
to　break　one's　heart。〃

〃What　do　you　mean？〃　said　his　wife。

〃Oh；　I　suppose　you　will　hear　soon　enough；　so　I　need　not　try　to　keep
it　from　you。　　It　was　Long　John　Cameron　told　me。　　It　is　strange　that
Hughie　has　not　heard。　　Indeed；　perhaps　he　has；　but　since　his
beloved　Ranald　is　involved；　he　is　keeping　it　quiet。〃

〃What　is　it？〃　said　his　wife；　anxiously。

〃Oh；　nothing　less　than　a　regular　pitched　battle　between　the
McGregors　and　the　McRaes　of　the　Sixteenth；　and　all　on　Ranald's
account；　too；　I　believe。〃

Mrs。　Murray　sat　in　silent　and　bitter　disappointment。　　She　had
expected　much　from　Ranald。　　Her　husband　went　on　with　his　tale。

〃It　seems　there　was　an　old　quarrel　between　young　Aleck　McRae　and
Ranald；　over　what　I　cannot　find　out；　and　young　Angus　McGregor；　who
will　do　anything　for　a　Macdonald；　must　needs　take　Ranald's　part；
with　the　result　that　that　hot…headed　young　fire…eater　Aleck　McRae
must　challenge　the　whole　clan　McGregor。　　So　it　was　arranged；　on
Sunday　morning；　too；　mind　you；　two　weeks　ago；　after　the　service；
that　six　of　the　best　of　each　side　should　meet　and　settle　the
business。　　Of　course　Ranald　was　bound　to　be　into　it；　and　begged　and
pleaded　with　the　McGregors　that　he　should　be　one　of　the　six；　and　I
hear　it　was　by　Yankee's　advice　that　his　request　was　granted。　　That
godless　fellow；　it　seems；　has　been　giving　Ranald　daily　lessons　with
the　boxing…gloves；　and　to　some　purpose；　too；　as　the　fight　proved。
It　seems　that　young　Aleck　McRae；　who　is　a　terrible　fighter；　and
must　be　forty　pounds　heavier　than　Ranald；　was；　by　Ranald's　especial
desire　and　by　Yankee's　arrangement；　pitted　against　the　boy；　and　by
the　time　the　fight　was　over；　Ranald；　although　beaten　and　bruised　to
a　'bloody　pulp；'　as　Long　John　said；　had　Aleck　thoroughly　whipped。
And　nobody　knows　what　would　have　happened；　so　fierce　was　the　young
villain；　had　not　Peter　McGregor　and　Macdonald　Bhain　appeared　upon
the　scene。　　It　appears　Aleck　had　been　saying　something　about　Maimie；
Long　John　did　not　know　what　it　was；　but　Ranald　was　determined　to
finish　Aleck　up　there　and　then。　　It　must　have　been　a　disgusting　and
terrible　sight；　but　Macdonald　Bhain　apparently　settled　them　in　a
hurry；　and　what　is　more；　made　them　all　shake　hands　and　promise　to
drop　the　quarrel　thenceforth。　　I　fancy　Ranald's　handling　of　young
Aleck　McRae　did　more　to　bring　about　the　settlement　than　anything
else。　　What　a　lot　of　savages　they　are！〃　continued　the　minister。　　〃It
really　does　not　seem　much　use　to　preach　to　them。〃

〃We　must　not　say　that；　my　dear；〃　said　his　wife；　but　her　tone　was
none　too　hopeful。　　〃I　must　confess　I　am　disappointed　in　Ranald。
Well；〃　she　continued；　〃we　can　only　wait　and　trust。〃

From　Hughie；　who　had　had　the　story　from　Don；　and　who　had　been
pledged　to　say　nothing　of　it；　she　learned　more　about　the　fight。

〃It　was　Aleck's　fault；　mother；〃　he　said；　anxious　to　screen　his
hero。　　〃He　said　something　about　Maimie；　that　Don　wouldn't　tell　me；
at　the　blacksmith　shop　in　the　Sixteenth；　and　Ranald　struck　him　and
knocked　him　flat；　and　he　could　not　get　up　for　a　long　time。　　Yankee
has　been　showing　him　how。　　I　am　going　to　learn；　mother；〃　interjected
Hughie。　　〃And　then　Angus　McGregor　took　Ranald's　part；　and　it　was　all
arranged　after　church；　and　Ranald　was　bound　to　be　in　it；　and　said　he
would　stop　the　whole　thing　if　not　allowed。　　Don　said　he　was　just
terrible。　　It　was　an　awful　fight。　　Angus　McGregor　fought　Peter
McRae；　Aleck's　brother；　you　know　and〃

〃Never　mind；　Hughie；〃　said　his　mother。　　〃I　don't　want　to　hear　of
it。　　It　is　too　disgusting。　　Was　Ranald　much　hurt？〃

〃Oh；　he　was　hurt　awful　bad；　and　he　was　going　to　be　licked；　too。　　He
wouldn't　keep　cool　enough；　and　he　wouldn't　use　his　legs。〃

〃Use　his　legs？〃　said　his　mother；　〃what　do　you　mean？〃

〃That's　what　Don　says；　and　Yankee　made　him。　　Yankee　kept　calling　to
him；　'Now　get　away；　get　away　from　him！　　Use　your　legs！　　Get　away
from　him！'　and　whenever　Ranald　began　to　do　as　he　was　told；　then　he
got　the　better　of　Aleck；　and　he　gave　Aleck　a　terrible　hammering；
and　Don　said　if　Macdonald　Bhain　had　not　stopped　them　Aleck　McRae
would　not　have　been　able　to　walk　home。　　He　said　Ranald　was　awful。
He　said　he　never　saw　him　like　he　was　that　day。　　Wasn't　it　fine；
mother？〃

〃Fine；　Hughie！〃　said　his　mother。　　〃It　is　anything　but　fine。　　It　is
simply　disgusting　to　see　men　act　like　beasts。　　It　is　very；　very
sad。　　I　am　very　much　disappointed　in　Ranald。〃

〃But；　mother；　Ranald　couldn't　help　it。　　And　anyway；　I　am　glad　he
gave　that　Aleck　McRae　a　good　thrashing。　　Yankee　said　he　would　never
be　right　until　he　got　it。〃

〃You　must　not　repeat　what　Yankee　says；〃　said　his　mother。　　〃I　am
afraid　his　influence　is　not　of　the　best　for　any　of　those　boys。〃

〃Oh；　mother；　he　didn't　set　them　on；〃　said　Hughie；　who　wanted　to　be
fair　to　Yankee。　　〃It　was　when　he　could　not　help　it　that　he　told
Ranald　how　to　do。　　I　am　glad　he　did；　too。〃

〃I　am　very；　very　sorry　about　it；〃　said　his　mother；　sadly。　　It　was　a
greater　disappointment　to　her　than　she　cared　to　acknowledge　either
to　her　husband　or　to　herself。

But　the　commotion　caused　in　the　community　by　the　fight　was　soon
swallowed　up　in　the　interest　aroused　by　the　opening　of　the　new
church；　an　event　for　which　they　had　made　long　and　elaborate
preparation。　　The　big　bazaar；　for　which　the　women　had　been　sewing
for　a　year　or　more；　was　held　on　Wednesday；　and　turned　out　to　be　a
great　success；　sufficient　money　being　realized　to　pay　for　the
church　furnishing；　which　they　had　undertaken　to　provide。

The　day　following　was　the　first　of　the　〃Communion　Season。〃　　In　a
Highland　congregation　the　Communion　Seasons　are　the　great　occasions
of　the　year。　　For　weeks　before；　the　congregation　is　kept　in　mind　of
the　approaching　event；　and　on　the　Thursday　of　the　communion　week
the　season　opens　with　a　solemn　fast　day。

The　annual　Fast　Day；　still　a　national　institution　in　Scotland；
although　it　has　lost　much　of　its　solemnity　and　sacredness　in　some
places；　was　originally　associated　with　the　Lord's　Supper；　and　was
observed　with　great　strictness　in　the　matter　of　eating　and
drinking；　and　in　Indian　Lands；　as　in　all　congregations　of　that　part
of　the　country；　the　custom　of　celebrating　the　Fast　Day　was　kept　up。
It　was　a　day　of　great　solemnity　in　the　homes　of　the　people　of　a
godly　sort。　　There　was　no　cooking　of　meals　till　after　〃the
services；〃　and　indeed；　some　of　them　tasted　neither　meat　nor　drink
the　whole　day　long。　　To　the　younger　people　of　the　congregation　it
was　a　day　of　gloom　and　terror；　a　kind　of　day　of　doom。　　Even　to
those　advanced　in　godliness　it　brought　searchings　of　heart；　minute
and　diligent；　with　agonies　of　penitence　and　remorse。　　It　was　a　day；
in　short；　in　which　conscience　was　invited　to　take　command　of　the
memory　and　the　imagination　to　the　scourging　of　the　soul　for　the
soul's　good。　　The　sermon　for　the　day　was　supposed　to　stimulate　and
to　aid　conscience　in　this　work。

For　the　communion　service　Mr。　Murray　always　made　it　a　point　to　have
the　assistance　of　the　best　preachers　he　could　procure；　and　on　this
occasion；　when　the　church　opening　was　combined　with　the　sacrament；
by　a　special　effort　two　preachers　had　been　procureda　famous
divine　from　Huron　County；　that　stronghold　of　Calvinism；　and　a
college　professor　who　had　been　recently　appointed；　but　who　had
already　gained　a　reputation　as　a　doctrinal　preacher；　and　who　was；
as　Peter　McRae　reported；　〃grand　on　the　Attributes　and　terrible　fine
on　the　Law。〃　　To　him　was　assigned　the　honor　of　preaching　the　Fast
Day　sermon；　and　of　declaring　the　church　〃open。〃

The　new　church　was　very　different　from　the　old。　　Instead　of　the
high　crow's　nest；　with　the　wonderful　sounding…board　over　it；　the
pulpit　was　simply　a　raised　platform　partly　inclosed；　with　the　desk
in　front。　　There　was　no　precentor's　box；　over　the　loss　of　which
Straight　Rory　did　not　grieve　unduly；　inasmuch　as　the　singing　was　to
be　led；　in　the　English　at　least；　by　John　〃Aleck。〃　　Henceforth　the
elders　would　sit　with　their　families。　　The　elders'　seat　was　gone；
Peter　McRae's　wrath　at　this　being　somewhat　appeased　by　his　securing
for　himself　one　of　the　short　side　seats　at　the　right　of　the　pulpit；
from　which　he　could　command　a　view　of　both　the　minister　and　the
congregationa　position　with　obvious　advantages。　　The　minister's
pew　was　at　the　very　back　of　the　church。

It　was　a　great　assemblage　that　gathered　in　the　new　church　to　hear
the　professor　discourse；　as　doubtless　he　would；　it　being　the　Fast
Day；　upon　some　theme　of　judgment。　　With　a　great　swing　of　triumph　in
his　voice；　Mr。　Murray　rose　and　announced　the　Hundredth　Psalm。　　An
electric　thrill　went　through　the　congregation　as；　with　a　wave　of
his　hand；　he　said：　　〃Let　us　rise　and　sing。　　Now；　John；　Old　Hundred。〃

Never　did　John　〃Aleck〃　and　the　congregation　of　Indian　Lands　sing　as
they　did　that　morning。　　It　was　the　first　time　that　the　congregation；
as　a　whole；　had　followed　the　lead　of　that　great　ringing　voice；　and
they　followed　with　a　joyous；　triumphant　shout；　as　of　men　come　to
victory。


　　　　　〃For　why？　　The　Lord　our　God　is　good；〃


rolled　out　the　majestic　notes　of　Old　Hundred。

〃What's　the　matter；　mother？〃　whispered　Hughie；　who　was　standing　up
in　the　seat　that　he　might　look　on　his　mother's　book。

〃Nothing；　darling；〃　said　his　mother；　her　face　radiant　through　her
tears。　　After　long　months　of　toil　and　waiting；　they　were　actually
singing　praise　to　God　in　the　new　church。

When　the　professor　arose；　it　was　an　eager；　responsive　congregation
that　waited　for　his　word。　　The　people　were　fully　prepared　for　a
sermon　that　would　shake　them　to　their　souls'　depths。　　The　younger
portion　shivered　and　shrank　from　the　ordeal；　the　older　and　more
experienced　shivered　and　waited　with　not　unpleasing　anticipations；
it　did　them　good；　that　remorseless　examination　of　their　hearts'
secret　depravities。　　To　some　it　was　a　kind　of　satisfaction　offered
to　conscience；　after　which　they　could　more　easily　come　to　peace。
With　others　it　was　an　honest；　heroic　effort　to　know　themselves　and
to　right　themselves　with　their　God。

The　text　was　disappointing。　　〃Above　all　these　things；　put　on
charity；　which　is　the　bond　of　perfectness；〃　read　the　professor　from
that　exquisite　and　touching　passage　which　begins　at　the　twelfth
verse　of　the　fifteenth　chapter　of　Colossians。　　〃Love；　the　bond　of
perfectness；〃　was　his　theme；　and　in　simple；　calm；　lucid　speech　he
dilated　upon　the　beauty；　the　excellence；　and　the　supremacy　of　this
Christian　grace。　　It　was　the　most　Godlike　of　all　the　virtues；　for
God　was　love；　and　more　than　zeal；　more　than　knowledge；　more　than
faith；　it　was　〃the　mark〃　of　the　new　birth。

Peter　McRae　was　evidently　keenly　disappointed；　and　his　whole　bearing
expressed　stern　disapproval。　　And　as　the　professor　proceeded；
extolling　and　illustrating　the　supreme　grace　of　love；　Peter's　hard
face