4.24 The Little Minister wi’ a mixture o’ fear and pride, me being his mother; and sinful though I am to say it, I canna help thinking at sic times that I ken what the mother o’ Jesus had in her heart when she found Him in the temple.’ “ Dominie, it’s sax and twenty years since | was made an elder o’ the kirk. I mind the day as if it was yestreen. Mr. Carfrae made me walk hame wi’ him, and he took me into the manse parlour, and he set me in that very chair. It was the first time I was ever in the manse. Ay, he little thocht that day in his earnestness, and I little thocht mysel’ in the pride o’ my lusty youth, that the time was coming when I would swear in that reverenced parlour. I say swear, dominie, for when she had finished I jumped to my feet, and I cried, ‘Hell!’ and I lifted up my hat. And I was chief elder. “She fell back frae my oath,” he said, “and syne she took my sleeve and speired, ‘ What has come ower you, Mr. Whamond? Hae you onything on your mind?’ “<¢]Tve sin on it, I roared at her. ‘I have neglect o’ duty on it. J am one o’ them that cries “ Lord, Lord,” and yet do not the things which He commands. He has pointed out the way to me, and I hinna followed it.’ “«¢ What is it you hinna done that you should hae done?’ she said. ‘Oh, Mr. Whamond, if you want my help, it’s yours.’ «Your son’s a’ the earth to you,’ I cried, ‘but my eldership’s as muckle to me. Sax and twenty years hae I been an elder, and now I maun gie it up.’