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CHAPTER I.
THE MANSE.
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The Artist and his Bits—Blinkbonny—The Author and his Relations—The Good Folks at Greenknowe—The Manse—Once thinking of getting married—The Interrupted Call—Mr. and Mrs. Barrie—Bell of the Manse—Wee Nellie—Her Illness, Death, and Grave—“A Butterfly on a Grave” (Mrs. Sigourney),
CHAPTER II.
A QUIET EVENING AT THE MANSE.
Bell’s Sliding Scale—Her Pattens—The Hospitality of the Manse—Be judeecious—James and his Skates—Mrs. Barrie’s Experiences—Mr. Barrie’s Illness—The Good Samaritan—A Startling Proposal,
CHAPTER III.
THE MARRIAGE AND THE HOME-COMING.
“The Books”—P.P.C.—Marriage Presents—“The Confession of Faith”—Toasts—“The Frostit Corn”—“The Country Rockin’”—Auntie Mattie—“The Farmer’s Ingle”—Peggy Ritchie on the Churchyard—A Lamb Leg and a Berry Tart—Mathieson’s Heid,
CHAPTER IV.
THE TWO SIDES OF THE CHURCH QUESTION.
Coming Events—Bell and the Seed Potatoes—Her Idea of the Government—Knowe Park—Spunks—The Town-Clerk of Ephesus—Bell’s summing up—Daisy—The Eve of Battle—Sir John McLelland’s Opinions on the “Evangelicals”—Patronage—Preaching Competitions—Little Gab—Non-Intrusion and Voting,
CHAPTER V.
BLINKBONNY AND THE DISRUPTION.
Bell’s Opinion of Knowe Park—Mr. Barrie’s Return—The Deputation’s Visit to the Manse—Mr. Barrie’s Statement—Mr. Taylor’s Views—George Brown on the Crisis—His Covenanting Relics,
CHAPTER VI.
THE DISRUPTION AND BLINKBONNY.
The Meeting in Beltane Hall—The End of the Ten Years’ Conflict—George Brown’s Exercises—The Bellman’s Difficulty—Sabbath Services at the Annie Green—“Thae Cath’lics”—The Secession Church—Mr. Barrie’s Successor—Bell and Smoking—“Hillend” on Doctors and Ministers—A Man amang Sheep,
CHAPTER VII.
OUT OF THE OLD HOME AND INTO THE NEW.
Leaving the Manse—Dr. Guthrie and the Children—Nellie’s Tibby—Well settled—Bell’s Experiment with the Hens—Dan Corbett—Braid Nebs—Babbie’s Mill,
CHAPTER VIII.
BLINKBONNY FREE CHURCH.
The Disruption of 1843—Hardships—Scotch Villages and Church Matters—The New Church—The Session and Deacons—The Beadle, Walter Dalgleish—The Precentorship—Psalms and Hymns—Mr. Barrie’s New Life—Foreign Missions—The Assembly’s Decision—The Living Child—Saxpence—“Gude Siller gaun oot o’ the Country”—Reminiscences of Dr. Duff,
CHAPTER IX.
BELL AT HOME IN KNOWE PARK.
The Three Ministers of Blinkbonny—Mr. Walker—The Ten Virgins—The finest o’ the Wheat—Bell’s Fee—Alloa Yarn—Bell’s Cooking—Sheep’s-head—Mr. Kirkwood and the Potato-Soup—Dan in the Kitchen—Mr. Gordon o’ the Granaries and the Smugglers—Dan at Nellie’s Grave—Mr. Barrie’s Visit to Dan,
CHAPTER X.
INCIDENTS IN BLINKBONNY.
Miss Park on Dan—The Sweep’s dead—Mrs. Gray’s Elegy on her Husband—The Coffin for naething—The New School-master—The Roast Beef in the Lobby—The Examination Committee—“Hoo’ to get there”—George Brown’s Death—Scripture References—Mrs. Barrie and Mr. Corbett—Dan and the Pictures—Dan’s Bath—His Dream—Dan at Church—His Visit to Babbie’s Mill—Colonel Gordon’s First Visit—Sir John McLelland at the Soiree—“The Angel’s Whisper” (Samuel Lover),
CHAPTER XI.
CHANGES AT KNOWE PARK.
The Dorcas Society—The Morisonian Controversy—Colonel Gordon’s Second Visit—A Real Scotch Dinner—Champagne—Danan’ the Duke o’ Gordon—The Smuggler’s Log-book—Colonel Gordon’s Will—Dan’s Bank—The Call to Edinburgh—No-Popery Agitation—David Tait o’ Blackbrae—The Sow and the Corinthians—Bell woo’d—Mrs. Barrie breaks the Ice—Bell won—Found out and congratulated,
CHAPTER XII.
ANOTHER MARRIAGE AND HOME-COMING.
The Forms of Procedure—Reception of the News of Bell’s Marriage by Mr. Taylor, and by Sir John McLelland—“Her Weight in Gold”—Bell’s Presents—“Hook ma Back”—Mr. Walker’s Violin—Bell’s Marriage and Home-coming—The Infar Cake—Creeling—Dan, “Burke,” and the Noisy Convoy—The Vexing Pig—The “Kirkin’,”
CHAPTER XIII.
CONCLUSION.
The Packing at Knowe Park—The Bachelor Umbrella—Nellie’s Box—Dan and Rosie—Dan on Evangelical Effort—On “The Angel’s Whisper”—Bell in Edinburgh—Home to Blackbrae—Andrew Taylor’s Criticisms,