Rabbi Saunderson eBook

Ian Maclaren
This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 101 pages of information about Rabbi Saunderson.

Rabbi Saunderson eBook

Ian Maclaren
This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 101 pages of information about Rabbi Saunderson.

[Illustration:  The farmers carted the new minister’s furniture from the nearest railway station]

“You will be careful—­exceeding careful,” he implored; “if one of the boxes were allowed to descend hurriedly to the ground, the result to what is within would be disastrous.  I am much afraid that the weight is considerable, but I am ready to assist”; and he got ready.

“Dinna pit yirsel intae a feery-farry (commotion)”—­but Mains was distinctly pleased to see a little touch of worldliness, just enough to keep the new minister in touch with humanity.  “It’ll be queer stuff oor lads canna lift, an’ a’ll gie ye a warranty that the’ll no be a cup o’ the cheeny broken”; and then Saunderson conducted his congregation to the siding.

“Dod, man,” remarked Mains to the station-master, examining a truck with eight boxes; “the manse ’ill no want for dishes at ony rate.  But let’s start on the furniture; whar hae ye got the rest o’ the plenishing?

“Naething mair? havers, man, ye dinna mean tae say they pack beds an’ tables in boxes; a’ doot there’s a truck missin’.”  Then Mains went over where the minister was fidgeting beside his possessions.

“No, no,” said Saunderson, when the situation was put before him, “it’s all here.  I counted the boxes, and I packed every box myself.  That top one contains the fathers—­deal gently with it; and the Reformation divines are just below it.  Books are easily injured, and they feel it.  I do believe there is a certain life in them, and . . . and . . . they don’t like being ill-used”; and Jeremiah looked wistfully at the ploughmen.

“Div ye mean tae say,” as soon as Mains had recovered, “that ye’ve brocht naethin’ for the manse but bukes, naither bed nor bedding?  Keep’s a’,” as the situation grew upon him, “whar are ye tae sleep, and what are ye tae sit on?  An’ div ye never eat?  This croons a’;” and Mains gazed at his new minister as one who supposed that he had taken Jeremiah’s measure and had failed utterly.

Mea culpa—­it’s . . . my blame,” and Saunderson was evidently humbled at this public exposure of his incapacity; “some slight furnishing will be expedient, even necessary, and I have a plan for book-shelves in my head; it is ingenious and convenient, and if there is a worker in wood . . .”

“Come awa’ tae the dog-cart, sir,” said Mains, realizing that even Kilbogie did not know what a singular gift they had obtained, and that discussion on such sublunary matters as pots and pans was useless, not to say profane.  So eight carts got a box each; one, Jeremiah’s ancient kist of moderate dimensions; and the tenth—­that none might be left unrecognised—­a hand-bag that had been on the twelve years’ probation with its master.  The story grew as it passed westwards, and when it reached us we were given to understand that the Free Kirk minister of Kilbogie had come to his parish with his clothing in a paper parcel and twenty-four packing-cases filled with books, in as many languages—­half of them dating from the introduction of printing, and fastened by silver clasps—­and that if Drumtochty seriously desired to hear an intellectual sermon at a time, we must take our way through Tochty woods.

Copyrights
Project Gutenberg
Rabbi Saunderson from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.