Oor ain folk times

A HARD-WORKED MINISTER . 239
had died that morning, asking my father to go to Men-
muir and officiate there in place of the reverend Doctor,
who, owing to his sad and sudden bereavement, did not
himself feel able to go.
It happened to be the Fast -Day in Menmuir, a
secluded, hilly parish lying away in a corner of the
Grampians, some eight or ten miles from our home.
My father started off at once in great haste. He
reached the manse and selected two sermons, and
putting these in his pocket, he started to walk the long
distance, over bad roads, and reached Menmuir Church
only some twenty-five minutes after the usual hour for
divine service. The congregation were just beginning
to disperse when his figure hove in sight, but he managed
to conduct the services with great acceptance.
On another Fast- Day in Brechin my father was
again the recipient of a hasty summons from Dr. Foote
to come in and officiate, as the minister who had been
expected had been somehow unavoidably detained. My
father was sowing oats on his land when the summons
came, but with his usual good nature and promptitude
he at once responded to the call of friendship and duty,
and took two services in Brechin, sowing ' the good seed
of the word ' in place of the ' bare grain.' Dr. Foote
seems to have had an unbounded faith in his readiness
to oblige, for my brother George writes me that he
often, without previous announcement, would send for
my father to preach during the afternoon in Brechin,
sending a gig to intercept him at the church door, not
allowing him time even for dinner ; and he would
have to be back for his own service in his own church
at six o'clock in the evening.