bosoms. Our faithfu' champions o' the testimony agree
e'en waur wi' this than wi' the open tyranny and apostasy of the persecuting
times; for souls are hardened and deadened, and the mouths of fasting multitudes
are crammed wi' fizzenless bran instead of the sweet word in season; and mony a
hungry, starving creature, when he sits down on a Sunday forenoon to get
something that might warm him to the great work, has a dry clatter o' morality
driven about his lugs, and« -
    »In short,« said Morton, desirous to stop a discussion which the good old
woman, as enthusiastically attached to her religious profession as to the duties
of humanity, might probably have indulged longer - »In short, you are not
disposed to acquiesce in this new government, and Burley is of the same
opinion?«
    »Many of our brethren, sir, are of belief we fought for the Covenant, and
fasted, and prayed, and suffered for that grand national league, and now we are
like neither to see nor hear tell of that which we suffered, and fought, and
fasted, and prayed for. And ance it was thought something might be made by
bringing back the auld family on a new bargain and a new bottom, as after a',
when King James went awa, I understand the great quarrel of the English against
him was in behalf of seven unhallowed prelates; and sae, though ae part of our
people were free to join wi' the present model, and levied an armed regiment
under the Yerl of Angus; yet our honest friend, and others that stude up for
purity of doctrine and freedom of conscience, were determined to hear the breath
o' the Jacobites before they took part again them, fearing to fa' to the ground
like a wall built with unslaked mortar, or from sitting between twa stools.«
    »They chose an odd quarter,« said Morton, »from which to expect freedom of
conscience and purity of doctrine.«
    »O, dear, sir!« said the landlady, »the natural day-spring rises in the
east, but the spiritual day-spring may rise in the north, for what we blinded
mortals ken.«
    »And Burley went to the north to seek it?« replied the guest.
    »Truly, aye, sir; and he saw Claver'se himsell, that they ca Dundee now.«
    »What!« exclaimed Morton, in amazement; »I would have sworn that meeting
would have been the last of one of their lives.«
    »