Scotland/Scots > Reminiscences of a Highland parish

A HIGHLAND PARISH.
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tide is out, for it ebbs far to seaward at this spot,
and so he has to wait patiently for the return of
the tide. The tide turns, taking its own time to
do so. Half wading, half rowing, they at last cross
the strait. It is now daybreak, and the minister
journeys homeward, and reaches the manse about
five in the morning.
Such land journeys were frequently undertaken,
(with adventures more or less trying,) not merely
to visit the sick, but for every kind of parochial
duty—sometimes to baptize, and sometimes to
marry. These services were occasionally per¬
formed in most primitive fashion at one of those
green spots among the hills. Corrie Borrodale,
among the old “ shielings,” was a sort of half-way-
house between the opposite sides of the parish.
There, beside a clear well, children have been
baptized ; and there, among “the bonnie blooming
heather,” the Highland shepherd has been married
to his bonnie blooming bride. There were also in
different districts preaching and “catechising,” as
it was called. The catechising consisted in ex¬
amining on the Catechism and Scriptures every
parishioner who was disposed to attend the meet-