extends into the glens, made repeated attempts to reach his distant
patients, twice driving so far into the dreary waste that he could
neither go on nor turn back. A ploughman who contrived to gallop ten
miles for him did not get home for a week. Between the town, which
is nowadays an agricultural centre of some importance, and the
outlying farms communication was cut off for a month; and I heard
subsequently of one farmer who did not see a human being, unconnected
with his own farm, for seven weeks. The school-house, which I managed
to reach only two days behind time, was closed for a fortnight, and
even in Thrums there was only a sprinkling of scholars.

On Sundays the feeling between the different denominations ran high,
and the middling good folk who did not go to church counted those
who did. In the Established Church there was a sparse gathering, who
waited in vain for the minister. After a time it got abroad that a
flag of distress was flying from the manse, and then they saw that
the minister was storm-stayed. An office-bearer offered to conduct
service; but the others present thought they had done their duty and
went home. The U.P. bell did not ring at all, and the kirk-gates
were not opened. The Free Kirk did bravely, however. The attendance
in the forenoon amounted to seven, including the minister; but in
the afternoon there was a turn-out of upward of fifty. How much
denominational competition had to do with this, none can say; but
the general opinion was that this muster to afternoon service was a
piece of vainglory. Next Sunday all the kirks were on their mettle,
and, though the snow was drifting the whole day, services were
general. It was felt that after the action of the Free Kirk the
Established and the U.P.'s must show what they too were capable of.
So, when, the bells rang-at eleven o'clock and two, church-goers
began to pour out of every close. If I remember aright, the victory