" For
Shepherd was a very fair musician, and gave a good deal of time to the
organ. "It's a grand notion, to think of him sitting here in the gloom,
with that great musical instrument towering above him, whence he sends
forth the voice of gladness, almost of song to his people, while they are
mowing the grass, binding the sheaves, or gazing abroad over the stormy
ocean in doubt, anxiety, and fear. 'There's the parson at his bells,' they
would say, and stop and listen; and some phrase might sink into their
hearts, waking some memory, or giving birth to some hope or faint
aspiration. I will see what can be done." Having come to this conclusion, I
left the abode of the bells, descended to the church, bade my conductress
good morning, saying I would visit her soon in her own house, and bore home
to my child the spoil which, without kirk-rapine, I had torn from the wall
of the sanctuary. By this time the stormy veil had lifted from the horizon,
and the sun was shining in full power without one darkening cloud.
Ere I left the churchyard I would have a glance at the stone which ever
seemed to lie gazing up at the tower. I soon found it, because it was the
only one in that quarter from which I could see the top of the tower.
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