Christianity freed woman, because it opened to her the long-closed
world of spiritual knowledge. Sublime and speculative theories,
hitherto confined to the few, became, when once they were quickened by
faith, things for which thousands were eager to die. Simple women
meditated in their homes on questions which had long troubled
philosophers in the groves of academies. They knew this well; and felt
that from her who had sat at the feet of the Master, listening to the
divine teaching, down to the poorest slave who heard the tidings of
spiritual liberty, they had all become daughters of a great and
immortal faith. Of that faith women were the earliest adherents,
disciples, and martyrs. Women followed Jesus, entertained the
wandering apostles, worshipped in the catacombs, or died in the arena.
The _Acts of the Apostles_ bear record to the charity of Dorcas and
the hospitality of Lydia; and tradition has preserved the memory of
Praxedes and Pudentiana, daughters of a Roman senator, in whose house
the earliest Christian meetings were held in Rome.--_Women of
Christianity, by Julia Kavanagh_.
'WHARE'ER THERE'S A WILL THERE IS ALWAYS A WAY.'
Langsyne, when I first gaed to schule, I was glaiket,
In books and in learning nae pleasure had I;
And when for my fauts wi' the taws I was paiket,
'I canna do better,' was aye my reply.
'Deed Rab,' quo my mither, 'for daffn' and playin'
There 's nocht ye can manage by nicht or by day;
But this let me tell ye, and mind what I'm sayin'--
Whare'er there's a will there is always a way.
'Just look at our preacher, when but a bit callan,
The ills o' cauld poortith he aft had to dree,
But to better his lot the poor chiel aye was willin'--
At schule and at wark ever eident was he:
Sage books he wad read, and their truths he wad cherish,
And earnestly sprauchle up learning's steep brae;
And noo he's Mess John o' his ain native parish--
Sae whare there's a will there is always a way.
'And man, if ye saw how his manse is bedecket!
Ilk room's like a palace, it's plenished sae fine;
And then wi' the best in the land he's respecket,
And aft wi' My Lord is invited to dine.
O Rab, then, be active; frae him tak' example;
His case speaks mair powerfu' than ocht I can say;
And soon ye will find that your talents are ample;
For whare there's a will there is always a way.
'What though we are cotters?--the poorest may flourish,
And wha wadna rise wi' the glorious few?
Industry works wonders--its spirit aye nourish--
It isna the drone gathers hinney, I trew.
Then onward, my laddie! ye canna regret it;
What wrecks and what tears have been caused by delay!
If noble your wish is, press on, ye will get it!
For whare there's a will there is always a way.'
Thus spak my auld mither: ilk word seemed a sermon,
But just rather warldly, as ane micht alloo;
But, haith, it inspired me, and made me determine
To haud to the _lair_ and keep _progress_ in view.
Sae I tried ilka project instruction to gather:
When herdin' the sheep for our laird, Ringan Gray,
The Bible and Bunyan, I read 'mang the heather--
Aye whare there's a will there is always a way.
But my father he dee'd, and to help my auld mither
I noo had to struggle wi' hardship and care;
And aften I thocht I wad stick a'thegither,
But something within me said: 'Never despair!'
At last I grew bein, for I toiled late and early,
Syne to College I gaed, and was made a D.D.
And noo I'm Mess John in the Kirk o' Glenfairly--
Sae whare there's a will there is always a way.
The manse--but I shouldna wi' vainity crack o't--
Is as cozie a beil as a body could see;
Hauf-hid 'mang auld trees, wi' braw parks at the back o't,
Whare lambs, 'mang the gowans, are sporting wi' glee.
I've got a bit wife too, a rich winsome lady--
In short, I hae a' that a mortal could hae:
Sae onward, ye youths! as my auld mither said aye--
Whare'er there's a will there is always a way.
A. M'KAY.
* * * * *
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