Asinglebitofliferemained——thelittlelogcottage，oncetheManager’shouseaquarterofacenturyago，stillstoodawayupamongthepinesbehindtheoldmillruinandremotefromthestreetsandhomesofthepresenttown。Attheendofalittlegrassylaneitstood，solidandsquare，resistingwithitswellhewnpinelogsthegnawingtoothoftime。Abandonedbythegrowingtown，forgottenbythemillowner，itwasre-discoveredbyMalcolmMcNish，orratherbyhiskeeneyedoldmotherontheirarrivalfromtheoldlandsixmonthsago。ForasongMcNishboughtthesolidlittlecottage，hemighthavehaditasagiftbutthathewouldnot，restoreditsroof，clearedoutitsstonechimneywhich，morethananythingelse，hadcaughtthemother’seye，re-setthewindowpanes，addedaweecunningporch，gaveitsfacingsacoatofpaint，encloseditsbitofflowergardeninfrontandits“kaleyaird“intherearwitharusticpaling，andmadeit，whentheSummerhaddoneitswork，abonniehomelikespotwhichcaughttheeyeandheldtheheartofthepasser-by。
Theinteriormorethanfulfilledthepromiseoftheexterior。Thebiglivingroomwithitsgreatstonefireplacewelcomedyouonopeningtheporchdoor。Fromthelivingroomontherightledtwodoors，eachgivingentrancetoatinybedroomandflankingalargerroomknownas“theRoom。“
Withinthelivingroomweregatheredthehouseholdtreasures，theLaresandPenatesofthelittlestonerose-coveredcottage“athameawa’ayontthesea。“Onthemantelasolidhewnlogofoak，amiracleofbroad-axework，were“bitso’chiny“rarelyvaluableasantiquestotheknowingconnoisseurbutbeyondpricetotheoldwhite-hairedladywhodailydustedthemwithreverentcareashavingbeenbornebyhermotherfromtheHighlandhomeinthefarnorthcountrywhenasabrideshecamebythe“cadger’scairt“tohernewhomeinthelonelycityofGlasgow。OfthatGlasgowhomeandofherownhomelaterthewallsofthelogcottagewereeloquent。
Thecharactergivingbitoffurniture，however，inthelivingroomwasabook-casethatstoodinacorner。Itsbeautifulinlaidcabinetworkwouldinitselfhaveattractedattention，butnotthecasebutthebookswereitsdistinction。ThegreatEnglishpoetswererepresentedthereinserviceablebindingsshowingsignsofuse，Shakespeare，Wordsworth，Coleridge，Browning，Keats，andwiththeminvariouseditions，Burns。BesidethepoetsRobertLouishadaplace，andSirWalter，aswellasKiplingandMeredithandothermoderns。ButontheshelfthatshowedmostwearweretobefoundthestandardworksofeconomistsofdifferentschoolsfromthegreatAdamSmithtoMarxandthelotofhisimitatorsanddisciples。
ThiswasMalcolm’sbook-case。Therewasinanothercornernearthefire-placealittletableandaboveithungacoupleofshelvesforbooksofanothersort，theBibleandTheWestminsterConfession，BunyanandBaxterandFox’sBookofMartyrs，RutherfordandMcCheyneandLaw，TheTenYears’Conflict，Spurgeon’sSermonsandSmith’sIsaiah，andawellworncopyoftheimmortalRobbie。Thiswasthemother’scorner，acosyspotwhereshenourishedhersoulbyconversewiththegreatmastersofthoughtandofconscience。
Inthis“cosyweehoosie“MalcolmMcNishandhismotherpassedtheirquietevenings，forthedaysweregiventotoil，intalk，nottosaydiscussionoftheproblems，therightsandwrongsoftheworkingman。Theyagreedinmuch；theydiffered，andstrongly，inpointofview。Themotherwasallforreformofwrongswiththeexistingeconomicsystem，reverencingthegreatAdamSmith。Thesonwasforanewdeal，anewsystem，theSocialistic，withmodificationsallhisown。All，oralmostall，thatMalcolmhadreadthemotherhadreadwiththeexceptionofMarx。She“cudnatholeyongodlessloon“orhistheoriesorhisworks。MalcolmhadgrownsomewhatsickofMarxsincethewar。Indeed，thewarhadseriouslydisturbedthefoundationsofMalcolm’seconomicfaith，andhewasseekingareadjustmentofhisopinionandconvictions，whichwereratheratlooseends。Inthisstateofmindhefoundlittlecomfortfromhisshrewdoldmother。
“Y’ehavenaeanchor，laddie，andilkawoofofairandilkaturno’
thetideandawa’yego。“
Asforheranchor，shemadenobonesofannouncingthatshehadbeenbroughtupontheShorterCatechismandtheConfessionandinconsequencefoundaplaceforeverytheoryofhers，SocialandEconomicaswellasEthicalandReligious，withinthefourcornersofthemightyfabricoftheCalvinisticsystemofPhilosophyandFaith。
OneofthekeenjoysofherlifesincecomingtothenewcountryshefoundinherdiscussionswiththeRev。MurdoMatheson，whom，aftersomeconsiderablehesitation，shehadfinallychosento“situnder。“TheRev。Murdo’stheologywasalittlenarrowforher。
ShehadbeentrainedintheschoolsoftheHigherCriticsoftheFreeKirkleadersathome。ShetalkedfamiliarlyofGeorgeAdamSmith，whomsheaffectionatelydesignatedas“GeorgeAdam。“ShewouldwaxwrathfuloverthememoryofthetreatmentmetedouttoRobertsonSmithbyaformergenerationofFreeKirkheresyhunters。
HencesheregardedwithpitythehesitationwithwhichherMinisteracceptedsomeofthepositionsoftheHigherCritics。AlthoughitistobeconfessedthatthewarhadsomewhatrudelyshatteredherdevotiontoGermantheology。
“Whatd’yethinko’yerefriendHarnackthenoo？“hersonhadjibedathersoonaftertheappearanceofthegreatmanifestofromtheGermanprofessors。
“WhatdoAthinko’him？“sheanswered，sparringfortime。“WhatdoAthinko’him？“Then，ashereyeranoverherson’suniform，forhewasonleaveatthetime，sheblazedforth，“A’lltellyewhatAthinko’him。AthinkthatAuldHorniehashishookintilhimandthehalekaboodleo’them。TheyhaeforsakenGodandmadetaethemselvesithergodsandtheAlmichtyhaegi’enthemowertaeareprobatemind。“
ButherCanadianMinister’seconomicpositionssatisfiedher。HehadspecialisedinSocialandEconomicScienceinhisUniversityCourseandsheconsideredhimsound“inthemain。“
Shehadlittlepatiencewithhalfbakedtheoristsandnoneatallwithmereagitators。ItwasthereforewithnosmallindignationthatshesawonaSundaymorningMr。Wigglesworthmakinghiswayupthelanetowardherhousedoor。
“TheLordbeguidtaeus！“sheexclaimed。“Whatbringsyoncraturhere——andonaSabbathmornin’？Mindyou，Malcolm，“shecontinuedinavoiceofsharpdecision，“A’llhaenaneo’his’rightso’
Britishcitizens’clackthemorn。“
“Whoisit，Mother？“enquiredherson，comingfromhisroomtolookoutthroughthewindow。“Oh，dinnafashye’reheidoweryonwindbag，“headded，droppingintohisbroadestDoricandpattinghismotherontheshoulder。
“Hedisnafashme，“saidhismother。“Naefears。ButA’llnopairmithimtobraktheSabbathinthishoose，Acantellye。“
NonethelesssheopenedthedoortoMr。Wigglesworthwithdignifiedcourtesy。
“Guidmornin’，Mr。Wigglesworth，“shesaidcordially。“Ye’reairlyonyerewaytaetheKirk。“
“Yes——thatis——yes，“repliedMr。Wigglesworthinsomeconfusion，“I
amabit(h)early。Factis，Iwas(h)anxioustocatchMalcolmbefore’ewentaht。I’avearather(h)importantbusinesson’andwith’im，very(h)importantbusiness，Imightsay。“
“’Business，’didyesay，Mr。Wigglesworth？“Mrs。McNishstoodfacinghimatthedoor。“Business！OntheLord’sDay？“
Mr。Wigglesworthgapedather，hatinhand。
“Well，Mrs。McNish，not(h)exactlybusiness。Thatis，“hesaidwithanapologeticsmile，“(h)itdepends，yousee，justw’atyehputs(h)intoaword，Mrs。McNish。“
Mr。Wigglesworth’sheadwentovertoonesideasifincontemplationofanewandstrikingidea。
“Apitnaemeaningintoawordthat’snoinitonitsainaccoont，“
sherepliedwithuncompromisinggrimness。“Businessisjustbusiness，an’mysondiznaebusinessontheLord’sDay。“
TherewasnoplaceforcasuistryintheoldScotchlady’smind。A
thingwasorwasnot，andtherewasanendtothat。
“Certainly，Mrs。McNish，certainly！AndsosezI。Buttheremightbeaslightdifferenceof(h)opinionbetweenyouandI，sotospeak，astojustw’atmayconstitute’business。’Now，for(h)instance——“Mr。Wigglesworthwaswarmingtohissubject，buttheoldladystandingonherdoorstepfixedherkeenblueeyesuponhimandruthlesslysweptawayallargumentationonthematter。
“IfitisamatterconsistentwiththeLord’sDay，comein；ifnot，stayoot。“
“Oh！Yes，thankyou。Bytheway，isyoursonin，by(h)anychance？Per’raps’e’sshavin’’isself，eh？“Mr。Wigglesworthindulgedinanervousgiggle。
“Shavin’himsel！“exclaimedMrs。McNish。“OntheSawbath！Man，d’yethinkhe’saheathen，then？“Mrs。McNishregardedthemanbeforeherwithseverity。
“An’eathen？Notme！Ishouldconsideritan’eathenishpracticetogodirtyofaSunday，“saidMr。Wigglesworthtriumphantly。
“Hoots，man，wha’stalkin’aboutgaein’dirty？CanyenomakduepreparationontheSaturday？WhatisyereSaturdayfor？“
ThiswasanewviewtoMr。Wigglesworthandratherabashedhim。
“Whatisit，Mother？“Malcolm’svoiceindicatedadesiretoappeasethewraththatgleamedinhismother’seye。“Oh，itisMr。
Wigglesworth。Yes，yes！IwanttoseeMr。Wigglesworth。Willyoucomein，Mr。Wigglesworth？“
“Malcolm，Awasjisttellin’Mr。Wigglesworth——“
“Yes，yes，Iknow，Mother，butIwant——“
“Malcolm，yekenwhatdayitis。AndAwullnot——“
“Yes，Mother，Akenweel，but——“
“Andyekenye’llbesettin’ootfortheKirkinhalfanoor——“
“Halfanhour，Mother？Why，itisonlyhalfpastnine——“
“Akenweelwhatitis。ButAdinnaliketaebefashedandflusteredinmamindonmawaytilltheHooseo’God。“
“Ishallonlyrequireaveryfewmoments，Madam，“saidMr。
Wigglesworth。“Thematterwithw’ichIam(h)entrustedneednottakemorethanaminuteortwo。Infact，Isimplywantto(h)announceaspecial，averyspecialmeetin’oftheUnionthis(h)afternoon。“
“Areleegiousmeetin’，Mr。Wigglesworth？“enquiredMrs。McNish。
“Well——notexactly——thatis——Idon’tknowbutyoumightcallitareligiousmeetin’。Tomymind，Mrs。McNish，youknow——“
ButMrs。McNishwouldhavenosophistry。
“Mr。Wigglesworth，“shebegansternly。
ButMalcolmcutin。
“Now，Mother，Isupposeit’saregularenoughmeeting。JustwaittillIgetmyhat，Mr。Wigglesworth。I’llbewithyou。“
Hismotherfollowedhimintothehouse，leavingMr。Wigglesworthatthedoor。
“Malcolm，“shebeganwithsolemnemphasis。
“Now，now，Mother，surelyyouknowmewellenoughbythistimetotrustmyjudgmentinamatterofthiskind，“saidherson，hurriedlysearchingforhishat。
“Ay，butA’mnosaesureo’yonbuddie——“
“Hoot，toot，“saidherson，passingout。“A’llbebackinabundanttimefortheKirk，Mither。Neveryoufear。“
“Weel，weel，laddie，rememberwhatdayitis。Yekenweelit’snodayforwarldlyamusement。“
“Ay，Mither，“repliedherson，smilingalittleattheassociatingofMr。Wigglesworthwithamusementofanysortonanyday。
InabundanceoftimeMalcolmwasreadytoallowaquiet，unhurriedwalkwithhismotherwhichwouldbringthemtothechurchafullquarterofanhourbeforethehourofservice。
IthappenedthattheRev。Murdowasonacongenialthemeandinspeciallygoodformthatmorning。
“Howmuchbetterisamanthanasheep，“washistext，fromwhichwithgreatingenuityandeloquenceheproceededtodevelopthethemeofthesupremevalueofthehumanfactorinmodernlife，socialandindustrial。WithgreatcogencyhepressedtheargumentagainsttheinhumananddegradingviewthatwouldmakemanamerefactorinthecomplexproblemofIndustrialFinance，amereinanimatecogintheIndustrialMachine。
“Whatdidyouthinkofthesermon，Mother？“askedMalcolmastheyenteredthequietlaneleadinghome。
“Nosaebad，laddie，nosaebad。Yon’sanableladdie，especiallyonpracticalthemes。Ay，itwasnothatbad，“repliedhismotherwithcautiousapproval。
“WhatabouthisviewoftheSabbath？“
“Whataboutit？Wadyenoliftasheepooto’themuckontheSawbath？“
“Awould，ofcourse，“repliedMalcolm。
“Weel，what？“
“Awasjistthinkin’o’Mr。Wigglesworththismorning。“
“Yonman！“
“Youwereratherhardonhimthismorning’，eh，Mither？“
“Hardonhim？He’snoasheep，norinsomewaysasguid’sasheep，Agrantyethat，butsuchasheiswasitnomadutytopullhimooto’themireo’Sawbathdesecrationandgeneralungodliness？“
“Aw，Mither，Mither！Ye’reincorrigible！Yeoughttocometothemeetingthisafternoonandgivethemallalugout。“
“Awullthatthen，“saidhismotherheartily。“Theyneedit，A
doot。“
