Inchbracken: The Story of a Fama Clamosa

  CHAPTER XXVI.

  _FAMA CLAMOSA_.

  The meeting was an undeniable success. The chairman called on hisreverend supporters for addresses, which they made in their warmestand most florid style. They recalled the rebuilding of Jerusalem andthe Temple, when each man laboured with his sword by his side, andworked, and watched, and fought by turns; till every hearer presentbelieved that he might emulate Nehemiah and Zerubbabel by contributingto the collection, and began to finger his loose change with a view todoing it. There were stirring references, too, to John Knox,(especially to the scene at Holyrood, when he spoke back to theQueen,) to George Wishart and Andrew Rutherford, Margaret Wilson, JohnBrown of Priesthill, martyred by 'Clavers,' Jenny Geddes with hercreepie attacking the Dean of Edinburgh, and other Scots Worthies.

  Then followed reports, statements of funds and calculations ofexpenses from the Deacons, and finally speeches from all who chose toaddress the meeting. This last feature in the proceedings wasespecially popular. Every greybeard in the crowd was in turn urged andgoaded by his admiring family and neighbours to step forward, andwhen, after much shame-faced trepidation, he had hummed and stutteredthrough a few sentences and would finally come to a dead stop andreturn to his friends, he had earned the self-satisfied consciousnessthat he was a potential orator, and that 'gin the Lord had but grantedhim schulin' in his youth, he might have wagged his pow in a poopitwi' the best.'

  At length the hoary grandsires had all spoken, the fathers, the sons,even the 'halflin callants,' began to feel the stirrings of ambitiouseloquence. Luckie Howden, too, felt movings to rehearse her testimonyin favour of good morals, and Brother Dowlas saw it was time to drawthe line. In a whisper he called attention to the practice of SaintPaul, who suffered not a woman to teach--a sentiment which wasoverheard by Mrs. Sangster, and elicited from her a look of mostcontemptuous wonder, but nevertheless received the adhesion of theLaird. They therefore proceeded to lay the foundation stone, withappropriate prayer and praise, and the proceedings came to an end.

  At this moment, Mr. Dowlas came forward and stated in a loud voicethat he had been requested to intimate 'that the Session and Deacons'Court were requested to assemble for special and important business atthe Post Office, immediately after the close of the present meeting.'Mr. Sangster was taken by surprise. He asked on whose authority theintimation had been made, but the reverend announcer replied that awritten notice had been placed in his hand, and that he and Mr. Geddiehad been requested to be present.

  The elders and deacons were already assembled when Mr. Sangster andthe ministers entered the place of meeting, Joseph bringing up therear in his most official manner, yet diffidently,--as if uncertainwhether he were wanted,--but still desirous to know what was goingforward, and willing to give weight to it by the presence of thebeadle. He stood by the door with his hand meekly before his mouth,and surveyed the silent assemblage, whom he afterwards described toJean Macaulay as resembling 'a curran hoolets wi' their muckleblinkin' een, lookin' terrible wise an' sayin' naething.' Perhaps itwas in their silence that their wisdom lay.

  Ebenezer Prittie, being host, or at least the party in occupation ofthe premises, rose to his feet, and after clearing his voice, proposedthat the ruling elder, Mr. Sangster of Auchlippie, now take the chair,and that the clerk of session take the desk and minute theproceedings.

  Mr. Sangster rose in reply, saying that before he did so, he desiredto understand the nature of the meeting over which he was asked topreside, as he knew nothing about it but the intimation which had beenread after the meeting just closed and while it was dispersing.

  Ebenezer replied that it was the meeting adjourned from Monday, asagreed on, that they might consult with the two reverend members ofPresbytery, who were now kind enough to be present.

  The Laird answered that the joint meeting of Session and Deacons'Court on the Monday, had concluded its business and been adjourned_sine die_ by their acting minister who presided, and that when he(the speaker) subsequently conversed on the same evening with hisfriends, whom he had been happy once more to meet in that place, hehad dwelt strongly and without being gainsaid, on the fact that theirmeeting as a Church Court having been dissolved by the presidingofficer, that which they were then holding was merely a friendlyconversation, and without authority. And he begged to inform theperson, whoever he might be, at whose instance they had now cometogether, that it was altogether '_ultra vires_' (his voice hungemphatically on the Latin words, and they greatly impressed hisauditors) for the Session to assemble itself at the pleasure of any ofits members, and to act as a court. Mr. Brown as acting minister was'_ex officio_' (more emphasis and deep impression) the proper callerand president of such courts; and failing him, it was the ruling elderon whom it devolved to summon and preside over the Court. But theminister had no knowledge of,--far less had he called or sanctionedtheir meeting,--and for himself he could not, as a constitutedauthority in the Church, be party to a proceeding so irregular andsubversive of all Church government, as the course proposed.

  'But Mester Sangster,' put in Ebenezer, 'ye canna but say that we methere on Monday nicht, and gin ye dinna ken that we agreed to comethegither again the day, to consult wi' the twa ministers herepresent, it's yer ain faut. Ye gaed awa at yer ain wull, an' naebodycud tak on him to bid ye bide.'

  'Brethren,' interposed Peter Malloch, with an elated but solemn smile,'what say ye to ca't a' a meetin' o' the Deacons' Coort? An' we couldmeenit it a' in our books,--I'm thinkin' that's our plan. I'm theconvener, an' I hae a richt to convene my ain coort!'

  'Certainly, Mr. Convener,' responded the Laird, 'you may call aDeacons' Court; but on what point is it that you want the advice ofthe Eldership here present? Will the treasurer's books not balance?Have some of the collectors failed to make their returns? Or what isit?'

  'Hoot, Laird! ye ken just fine! The treasurer's a' richt, an' sae arethe collectors. It's the minister an' his bairn we're after, as ye kenbrawly.'

  'I regret then, Mr. Convener, to have to remind you that your courthas no jurisdiction. Faith, morals, and discipline, are the exclusiveprovince of the Session; and I for one protest against the Deacons'Court presuming to touch such matters.'

  'Presumin'! quotha!' interjected Andrew Semple. 'An' hasna ilka auldwife e'y Glen been presumin', as ye ca' 't, for twa week back an'mair?'

  Here Mr. Geddie felt compelled to intervene, and pour the oil ofevangelical sweetness on the troubled waters. He was to dine and spendthe night along with Mr. Dowlas at Auchlippie, therefore he would fainhave agreed with his host; at the same time he had no intention ofbeing balked of a sensation, and what promised to be a mostinteresting hunt after recent iniquity, at the very outset.

  'It appears to me, my friends,' he said in his smoothest accents,'that the points of order raised by our excellent brother have greatweight, and are taken with that clear and perspicuous wisdom whichhave made his opinions a tower of strength to the church in turningback the army of the aliens; and therefore while the Deacons' Courtare manifestly moved by a holy zeal for righteousness, such as wemight have expected at their hands, it will be best that they do nottake action officially in this matter.'

  'I defy them to do it!' interjected the Laird, little mollified by theunctuous adjectives.

  'It is also not to be expected,' continued this reverend Achitophel,'that our erring brother'----

  'Prove the error,' muttered the Laird.

  'That our brother who has wandered from the paths of holy living, butwhom we all love (and brethren, I may add that he is still but young,and the flesh is weak)! It is not to be expected that he should call aCourt to investigate into his own shortcomings; or that until he hasbeen brought to see and admit the heinousness of his offences, andthat they have all been found out (for that, brethren, I have alwaysobserved is a powerful lever in awakening a slumbering conscience)--Itis when the poor sinner has discovered that his refuges of lies willnot stand, that they are all swept away like
mists before the winds ofindignation, and that the clear light of truth is shining down on hisnakedness, and wretchedness, and moral wounds; it is then that thepoor sinner comes forth with tears in his eyes and sackcloth on hisloins, and cries aloud, "I have sinned."'

  Here the orator stopped for breath. He was moved by his own patheticelocution, and his picture of the returning prodigal. Also, he had gotentangled among his parts of speech, and lost his way among theparentheses; and now he scarcely knew where he was, or what he hadintended to say next.

  'Are you not condemning a man before you have even heard theaccusation brought against him?' inquired the Laird; but withoutgaining much attention from any one. The audience, in fact, was justthen uttering a sigh of satisfaction over the moving words of theprevious speaker, which were as impressive as a doleful sing-songcould make them, besides being in accordance with their own opinion;and nothing is more interesting and weighty than our own sentimentsuttered by another, with a fluency and copiousness which we could nothave lent them. It is like looking at ourselves through a glorifyingmedium, contemplating our own portrait from the brush of adistinguished court painter; which, judged by the walls of RoyalAcademy Exhibitions, is the highest, as well as the best paid form ofart. The golden bowls and pomegranates of the morning were nothing tothis! it was as good as a sermon, and 'so practical,' as some onewhispered. Nothing like a practical sermon! my friend; and muchtilting at sin. Always premising that the sin is not yours nor mine(which would be personal and rude), it makes one feel virtuous byproxy.

  Mr. Geddie looked over for a suggestion how to proceed, to brotherDowlas, who was quietly enjoying the scene. He knew what it was to beflown away with by Pegasus, and then dropped helpless in a swamp. Ithad happened to himself; but he was older now, and it was notdisagreeable to see his young friend meet the reward of hisoverforwardness in this miscarriage.

  Mr. Dowlas suggested that the present was properly to be considered ameeting of members and office-bearers of the congregation, toinvestigate certain rumours affecting the character of their actingminister, and to decide what action, either by way of petition to thePresbytery or otherwise, as might seem most expedient was to be takenthereanent.

  'Ay! Thereanent, Elluck! Hear ye that?' whispered a neighbour to AlecLamont, 'That's juist what they say e'y Presbytery. I ken, for I haeheard them mysel'! A graund head for business he's gotten, that MesterDowlas. We's gang the richt gate to wark noo, I'm thinkin'. An' heartill him noo, Elluck!' he continued. 'Hear til him noo!' while poorAlec was straining his ears to listen, and was only prevented by thechatter of his talkative neighbour.

  Mr. Dowlas went on to propose that the postmaster, Mr. Prittie, act assecretary to the meeting, which was carried with general applause; andEbenezer took a new quill pen from his drawer, examined the nibcritically on his nail, and then placed it thoughtfully between histeeth, while he took his stand at the little shop desk. Observing thetall stool he bethought him that a chairman was wanted, and forthwithreciprocated the holy man's politeness by proposing that he take thechair. Mr. Dowlas bearing in mind his own bulk, and surveying the talland slender legs of the stool, demurred, suggesting that the chairshould be filled by one of themselves--the Laird in fact. The Lairddeclined with emphasis. He said that it would not be long till theywould not only regret, but be heartily ashamed of what they weredoing, that he would not compromise himself in their proceedings, evenso far as to be present, but that he thought it well that a friend ofboth sides, who had not yet committed himself to a judgment withoutevidence, should be present, to prevent mischief as far as possible.

  No one ventured to retort. The majesty of wealth and prosperityforbade that; but it may be safely said that for the moment thekindness and goodwill of a lifetime did little to mitigate theindignation begotten of that rebuke.

  With some trepidation and much care, Mr. Dowlas clambered up to hislofty perch, from which he looked giddily down. He could not now_rise_ to speak, and there was nothing so abstruse going forward thathe need come down to the level of his hearers, wherefore he remainedwhere he was, and like the Queen addressing her Parliament, he spokeseated.

  He looked down over Ebenezer and his clean sheet of paper and directedhim how he should begin the minutes of the meeting, and then informedhis auditors that they might now consider the meeting as constituted,and that it would be in order for some one to bring before it acategorical statement of the business which had brought them together.

  All eyes were turned on Ebenezer, but that terrible word 'categorical'had proved a stumbler to him. Looks, winks and nods were in vain,because he had resolved not to see them, and was busy remaking hispen, and flicking the point with his thumb that the hair split mightcome straight. Next they looked to Peter Malloch, but _he_ waspersistently looking to some one else, so that the electric influence,if there was any, was simply passed along further by him as aconductor, and nothing came of it.

  'Is there no one,' said Mr. Dowlas at length, 'who will state thepurpose of this meeting? We have nothing before us which we canconsider or come to a decision upon, surely some one present couldrepeat the charges and statements on which Mr. Geddie and myself wereinduced to attend here.'

  His eye had fallen on that of Andrew Semple, who was looking up andlistening with all attention, and there, unwittingly fixed, it hadremained, till Andrew feeling himself singled out and addressedindividually, stood up as by special command, and after someintroductory stammering, found voice.

  'It's little I can say 'at I _ken_, Mester Dowlas, an' I see na whatfor ye suld look to me to mak yer statement; but seein' ye're aminister 'at kens what's richt, an' wad na be for leadin' simple folk'at lippens to ye, intil harm, I'm no mindin' gin I say what I can. Aweel, sir, ye see it was just the very day our Davie was ta'en downwi' the jandies. It may hae been on a Tuesday? Na, it was Wadnesday,I'm gye an' sure it was a Wadnesday. I had gotten thegither a score o'yows, an' I was just gaun to herd them down by til Elluc Powie's; an'the gudewife she comes to me an' she says, "Andra," says she, "I'msair misdoubtin' but our Davie"--or na! It was "that puir bairn Davie"she ca'd him. Ay! thae was her very words, "that he's gotten thejandies, an', gin yer road's through Glen Effick, I wuss ye wadjust rin in as ye gang by, an' tell my Auntie Lillie, she's justgraund on the jandies." An', says I, "gudewife, I'll do yer biddin'."An' sae, me an' my yows, an' my dug Bawtie--ay it was--Bawtie, I'mthinkin'--Mustard had gotten a lang jag in's forepaw, sae he bed athame. Aweel, as I was sayin'--'

  'Hurry up! Andra,' whispered the Laird, 'or it will be supper timebefore you get through! I want to get home.'

  'The truith's better nor rubies, Laird! speer the minister there ginit's no! I wull no lee, for a' the lairds atween here an' Fruchie! an'it's a sair job to be mindin' byganes. But, as I was sayin', minister,we was just fornent the smiddie, (me, an' the yows, ye ken, an'Bawtie) whan wha suld I see but Auntie Lillie hersel, an' says I toher, "Hoo's a' wi' ye, Auntie?" says I--Na! that's no hit. It was her'at says to me, "Andra Semple," says she, "but the sicht o' you's gudefor sair eyen," says she, an' syne she speered for the gudewife. An' Iup an' telled her hoo our Davie was down wi' the jandies, an' her, shewas sair afflicket to hear tell o't, for she's a rael kindly auldbody. An' says she to me, "It's just trouble an' affliction a' round,"says she, "I'm thinkin' it's the days of the end 'at's comin' topass," says she. "An' there's nane to lippen til. We're just born tilevil as the sparks flee up. An' there's non that doeth gude, no notwan," for she's weel grundet e'y scripter, our Auntie Lillie. "An'ye'll no hae been hearin' what's come o'er our minister," says she,"Him we a' tuk for sic a sonsie honest laad, an' a gude!--aweel gin a'the folk says," says she, "be true, he's gaen clean wrang a'thegither." An' sae she up an' telled me a' 'at a'body kens a'ready;an' ye a' ken't, an' that's just hoo I cam to hear tell o't at thefirst. An' sae I hae telled ye a' I ken.'

  'But you have told us nothing at all,' said the Laird, 'except thatyour Auntie Lillie has skill with the "Jandies," and it was not thatwe assembled to hear about, though it is a far m
ore useful thing toknow than the other stuff. I think we had better go home!'

  'Patience! brethren,' said the chairman, 'let us cultivate a calm andjudicious frame of mind. What was it, Andrew, that your aunt told youabout the minister?'

  'Hear-say evidence!' interjected the Laird.

  'Not at all! It is not evidence in the legal sense we are after atpresent, simply a beginning of some kind,--an allegation, a statementto be afterwards sifted. Now, Andrew Semple, what was it your aunttold you about Mr. Brown?'

  'Aweel, sir, she telled me o' the bairn 'at auld Eppie Ness was takin'tent on; an' I says, ne'er misdoubtin' wrang, ye ken, says I, "It'sjuist like him; it's him 'at's aye doin' gude." An' Auntie Lillie shejust leugh, an' gae a kin' o' glint o' the e'e, an' syne she gae theither nicker, an' says she, "Andra," she says, "Semple's yer name, an'simple's yer natur! It's his ain bairn, bless ye!--the pawkie youngsneckdrawer 'at we a' thocht was sae blate an' sae douce. I canna butlaugh whiles, to think sic fules as he has made o' us, for a' it's saewrang." "But it's no true," says I. "That's just the fash o't," quo'she; "it's ower true! There's no a wife e'y hale glen 'at disna ken a'about it."'

  'You affirm, then, that it is commonly reported, Andrew,' said thechairman, 'that the infant adopted by Mr. Brown is his own child? Hereis an allegation which the ecclesiastical authorities cannot possiblylet pass unsifted. On what authority is the assertion made?'

  'Just a' body tells the same tale. An' I hae telled ye a' 'at I ken,an' that's naething!'

  The ice being broken, every one was now willing to contribute asurmise or a circumstance, till in the end they had worked up thenarrative to the full strength at which it was circulating out ofdoors.

  'And now,' said the chairman, 'we have the accusation before us; andyet, strange to say, there is no accuser. We have here a publicscandal, a case which would give the enemy ground to blaspheme. Wemust do our duty to the Church by taking steps for the removal of itswithered branch. Now, who will undertake the Christian duty oflibelling Mr. Brown before the Presbytery? Will the Session do it? orwill the members of Session do it? It is a thing that must be done!You are all guilty of connivance, and are in fact accessories to thesin. Will the Session undertake to present the libel?'

  'I won't for one,' said the Laird. 'I believe it to be all idletattle. You have not a thread of evidence to support your libel,whatever.'

  'Is there no one whom we could examine, so as to get at the facts?'

  'Here's Joseph the bederal,' said Peter Malloch. 'The minister's mansees mair o' him nor ither folk!'

  'I ken naething!' said Joseph, coming forward with a troubled look,'naething ava! I'm ower weel kenned for a douce an' peacefu'Christian, for ony body to let on to me, gin their walk andconversation wasna what they suld be.'

  Mr. Geddie appeared touched, and began to observe more attentivelythis excellent person.

  'Did you see Mr. Brown bring home this infant?'

  'No sir; but I saw the bairn in Miss Brown's arms, no lang after.'

  'Where was the child brought from?'

  'Naebody kens.'

  'The child was brought from the seashore,' interposed the Laird,'where it had been cast by the waves after a shipwreck. Mr. Brownnever made any mystery about that!'

  'Ah yes!' broke forth Mr. Geddie in his most dulcet cadence, 'charitynever faileth! It is good for us to be here! This simple undoubtingcredence in our beloved and highly esteemed brother, is refreshing tothe soul, as the grapes of Eshcol in a thirsty land! We know, mybrethren, that we must all become as little children, trustful andbelieving in the gospel message. And here is one who has beennourished on the slopes of Carmel, in the footsteps of the flock, onwhom the heaven has dropped her fatness, and the wisdom of the wordhas been his abundant nourishment. He is as a prince among us, anddwells in his own land among his flocks and herds, with none to makehim afraid. Lo! my brethren, behold the simple and confiding innocencyof our well-beloved brother, and his charity that never faileth, andhis voice that is as the voice of a dove. But ah! my brethren, this isnot the primeval Eden of our earliest progenitors! Alas! the trail ofthe serpent can be traced among the flowers! Sin has entered on ourgoodly land, and though we should still seek to be harmless as thedove, the wisdom of the serpent is also required, and we are cautionedto arm ourselves with that wisdom, even before we show the lovelygentleness of the bird of beauty, whose wings are sprinkled withsilver, and its feathers with yellow gold. It is a wicked world, myfriends, and while we may well envy our brother his beautiful charityof soul, we are clearly called upon to take heed to our steps, and notto be deceived by the cunning craftiness of evil men.'

  An angry flush suffused the forehead of the Laird. I sadly fear he wasnot the heavenly-minded person depicted by the gushing preacher. Hecertainly would have resented and repudiated the portrait himself, andwould have liked to detect some palpable sign of ironical intent, thathe might quarrel with the man on the spot. But the preacher continuedto regard him with his most lambent and seraphic smile, and in perfectgood faith, without the smallest tinge of mockery. The audience, too,bore the outpouring in the best possible spirit. It struck them asvery pretty language, and no doubt the Laird deserved it, though thatwas scarcely the view of his excellences which had hitherto presenteditself to their minds; however, no doubt, the minister being a learnedman knew best.

  Joseph was the only person present whose sense of humour was in anyway disturbed. When he heard the Laird likened to a bird of beauty,his wandering eyes alighted on his honour's bald and blushing poll. Hefelt tempted to grin, but checked himself in time, raised his eyes tothe ceiling and sighed long and softly, like one recovering breathafter a protracted draught of sweetness. Mr. Dowlas bore the effusionwith entire composure. Such bearing is a necessary gift in theeloquent professions. He had often had to practise it for the behoofof his fellows, and he suspected that they too had had reason to useit for his. He took up the examination.

  'How was this infant brought home? he asked of Joseph.

  'On Patey Soutar's pownie, sir. The minister cam hame ridin'.'

  'Patey Soutar!' ejaculated Ebenezer, 'Patey Soutar the cadger? Themaist ill doin' drucken vagabond e'y parish. Ye may tak yer aith theminister was after nae gude whan he gaed ridin' Patey Soutar'spownie!'

  'Did you see him riding it then?' asked the Laird.

  'No sir, but I heard tell o't.'

  'Who told you?'

  'I'm sure I canna say, sir.'

  'Then we must question Soutar himself.'

  'He's the warst leear e'y glen!' cried Joseph, who had no desire thatit should be found out that it was himself who had procured Patey'spony for the minister. Had that come out, and the object of theminister's journey, all the suspicion and mystery would have fallen topieces; and while he had no deliberate wish to injure the minister(whom indeed he liked as well as any one, except Joseph Smiley), yetif somebody else did it, and if Tibbie could be induced to join, whythen his suit to Jean Macaulay might come to something. His attitude,therefore, may be described as 'expectant,' and his policy, to use hisown words, was 'to haud a man on his ain gate.'

  'And what do you think about this yourself, Joseph?' asked Mr. Geddie.

  'A weel sir! I dinna weel ken just what to think; but my granny had anauld sayin' 'at there was "aye water whaur the stirk was drowned," an'I'm feared it's a true ane, for the heart of man rins on evilcontinual, we hae Scripter for that, an' the flesh is waik ye ken,sir, for, after a', ministers are but men, though wi' a hantle gracethey may come to great things, as in yer ain case,' said this politeJoseph.

  Mr. Geddie was visibly touched,--the tribute was as unexpected as itwas gratifying. 'Evidently a very superior man,' he thought, 'and onewho has the root of the matter in him. He seems to know his Bible welltoo.'

  'And now,' said Mr. Dowlas, 'what is to be the result of ourdeliberations? We dare not let this matter drop. Of all here present,who will sustain before the Presbytery the libel that must be drawn?'

  'Who _can_ sustain it?' said th
e Laird, 'that is what I want to know.'

  'There is clearly a _fama clamosa_ in this parish, against the actingminister, destroying his usefulness, and injurious to the church. Ifsome of the office-bearers here present will frame a libel, it will bethe best and most expeditious mode of proceeding; if not, Mr. Geddieand I must bring this _fama clamosa_ before the Presbytery, that itmay deal with it as in its wisdom may appear best, and I call on youall here present to assist us in the work! Further, it seems to methat we should appoint a committee to visit and deal with thesuspected transgressors, in all faithfulness and love. Who knows butthey may be brought to a due sense of their offences, and may makeconfession (which would simplify proceedings)? Or at any rate suchadmissions as they may make, will be of assistance in framing ourlibel.'

  'Wha's that he's gaun tae gar confess?' asked Alec Lamont. 'I ne'erheard the name afore. Phemie wha? I'm thinkin' ye hae her name wrang,minister!' he continued in a louder voice. 'Her name's no Phemie ava,it's juist Tibbie Tirpie!'

  Alec was speedily reduced to silence by his neighbours, and Mr. Dowlaswent on.

  'I have important duties at home which will call me away to-morrow,but I propose that the committee to call on and deal with the partiesunder suspicion, be as follows:--To represent the Presbytery, BrotherGeddie, who, I feel sure, will see it his duty to remain over, Mr.Sangster and Mr. Prittie to represent the Eldership, Mr. Peter Mallochthe Deacons and congregation.'

  'For myself,' said the Laird, 'I will accompany your deputation towait on Mr. Brown, if it were only to show him that there are some whobelieve in him still; but as for visiting the young woman who has hadthe ill luck to fall under the suspicion of this meeting, I must craveto be excused. How any man can think of going on such an errand to alonely old woman and her daughter is beyond my comprehension. Formyself, I could not do it.'

  'Duty, brother! duty!' cried Mr. Geddie. 'That should be the watchwordof every true soldier of the cross! Likings and dislikes will go fornothing in the eyes of true wisdom when duty calls, and _her_ ways areways of pleasantness and all her paths are peace!'