ed from many vain ideas of the schools and from
artificial learning, and heard the Galilean speak as He used to do
among the fields of corn. He came on people going in the same
direction, but they only saluted, refraining even from the weather,
since the minister's thoughts must not be disturbed, and they were
amazed to notice, that he stooped to pluck a violet in the wood. His
host would come a little way to meet him and explain the arrangements
that had been made for a kirk. Sometimes the meeting-place was the
granary of the farm, with floor swept clean and the wooden shutters
opened for light, where the minister preached against a mixed
background of fanners, corn measures, piles of sacks, and spare
implements of the finer sort; and the congregation, who had come up a
ladder cautiously like hens going to roost--being severally warned
about the second highest step--sat on bags stuffed with straw, boards
resting on upturned pails, while a few older folk were accommodated
with chairs, and some youngsters disdained not the floor. It was
pleasanter in the barn, a cool, lofty, not unimpressive place of
worship, with its mass of golden straw and its open door through which
various kindly sounds of farm life came in and strange visitors
entered. The collies, most sociable of animals, would saunter in and
make friendly advances to Carmichael reading a chapter; then, catching
their master's eye and detecting no encouragement, would suddenly
realise that they were at kirk, and compose themselves to sleep--"juist
like ony Christian," as Hillocks once remarked with envy, his own plank
allowing no liberties--and never taking any part except in a hymn like

"See the mighty host advancing,
Satan leading on,"

which they regarded as recreation rather than worship.

It was also recalled for years that a pet lamb came into Donald
Menzies's barn and wandered about for a while, and Carmichael told that
pretty legend of St. Francis, how he saw a white lamb among the kids,
and burst into tears at the sight, because it reminded him of Jesus
among the sinners. Indeed, these services were very extemporaneous,
with hymns instead of psalms, and sermons without divisions.
Carmichael also allowed himself illustrations from the life around, and
even an anecdote at a time, which was all the more keenly relished that
it would have been considered a confession of weakness in a regular
sermon. He has been heard to say that he came near