see oor auld minister safe, that I canna help thankin' you for what ye hae done for him an' us." "I am delighted," said Frederick, "to have had the power of rendering such an acceptable service to the good people of your congregation, and I am doubly delighted to find that my reverend friend is situated among such a virtuous and kind people, who, having experienced his worth, have the good sense to appreciate it, and the gratitude to acknowledge it with such zealous affection." "My flock have ever been affectionate towards me," observed Mr. M'Culloch. "I have endeavoured conscientiously to perform my duty towards them as a minister of Christ. I have taught them the doctrines I myself firmly believed, and have urged their attention to the duties which these doctrines inculcate; and I have reason to bless God that my labours have not been altogether without usefulness. But the affectionate regard of my people exceeds my merits; for, God knows, that although I did my best, I am too conscious of many and great deficiences in my performance of the work assigned me." "You hae aften tauld us o' your imperfections," said Garvin; "but it was the only thing you tauld us whilk we could ne'er believe. Nae doobt the word sometimes fell upon stony ground; but that was na your fault-and I hae ken'd even stony ground saftened by the grace gi'en to your word, and made to yield precious fruit." "Such a testimony, Samuel," said the divine, "affects me, because I know it to be sincere; although it may be the pure result of partiality and affection. But, I surely, cannot make, by any exertion within my limited powers, an adequate return for such kindness as my flock has ever shewn me. I pray God, that when he chooses to separate me from it, he will raise up to it one as zealous for its welfare, and more capable of contributing to it than I have been." "I am aulder than you, Mr. M'Culloch," observed the elder," by at least five or six years; for I was thirty and you but twenty-four at the ordination. I ha'e the comfort, therefore, to think that it's likely my head will lie aneath the grass before that day comes. It will be a sair day for Ballycarney. The ablest preacher that can be taucht within the college wa's o' Glasgow winna' supply the loss.-But oor neebours will be uneasy. They'll think every minute an oor till they hear that they ha'e na' yet met wi' that loss. An' Mrs. M'Culloch is amaist wud we fear that things may be waur than they ha'e been tauld her.” "We will set off instantly, my dear Isabella," said the clergyman. "Your grand-mother, and all our friends, are, no doubt, extremely anxious. We must hasten to relieve their apprehensions. Isabella assented, and they departed for Ballycarney, leaving Frederick's mind overpowered with love and admiration, mixed with a delightful feeling of self-congratulation, on account of having contributed so essentially to the happiness of such worthy and interesting people. CHAPTER XIX. The opposed files, Which, like the meteors of a troubled heaven, SHAKSPEARE. COLONEL JENNINGS had received information that a meeting of a party of the Hearts of Steel was to take place that night, at a house near Lough Morne, about three miles from Carrickfergus. The object of this meeting was to concert measures for an attack on the dwelling of one Huntly, a farmer in the neighbourhood, who had incurred their displeasure, by taking the farm on which he then resided out of the hands, or as they phrased it, over the head of its former occupant, by out bidding him for a new lease. This practice of making proposals to a landlord for unleased lands already tenanted, was particularly offensive to the Hearts of Steel: and whenever it occasioned the dispossession of an old tenant, scarcely ever escaped being visited with their ven geance. Huntly's cattle had, of late, been frequently driven away, or houghed, or their tails cut off, or otherwise maimed or maltreated; while he had been forewarned by several anonymous letters that, if he did not throw up his bargain, and withdraw from the farm, he should, together with his whole family, be subjected to the severest personal punishment. Notwithstanding these depredations and threatenings, Huntly had hitherto persisted in holding the property, contenting himself with arming his domestics, and keeping a vigilant watch against any nocturnal attack. Having received, however, a notification from some unknown friend belonging to the Steel boys, that a certain night was fixed upon for assaulting his dwelling-house, he thought it prudent to solicit protection from the garrison of Carrickfergus. It was in consequence of this, that Colonel Jennings despatched Major Rosendale, with about thirty soldiers, to Huntly's place. As he wished, much to capture some of the assailants, for the purpose of making a legal example for the intimidation of others, he deferred sending off the party till towards the evening; and instructed Frederick to march quickly, but silently, lest the Hearts of Steel should hear of his intention, and be frightened from coming into his reach. |