DorahoaLL raaccoRraaf g
MrCHAEL AND  THE
Preacher
A TALE OF SKYE
by the
Rev.   Donald  MacSiller
Minister of the f Neo ] Gospel, Portree
Inverness
l'UHLISHED BY LAW, JUSTICE. & CO. 1883
THE AUTHOR dedicates this little volume to the  oppressors  of  the  crofters in the highlands and islands of scotland
PREFACE.
Reader,
That a minister, and a Highland one, should dare to write (or even to speak) a word in favour of the Crofters, may seem an act opposed to the spirit of his profession. It is generally believed that Politics and Religion are, or should be, things apart; but I now hold that the pulpit is alone the true place for instilling that political knowledge into the minds of the people which will enable them to see clearly what are their rights, how to obtain them, and how to resist the aggressions of irresponsible and self-assumed authority. A wise combination of Politics and Religion in the sermons of ministers would, unquestionably, tend to the elevation of the masses. The apathy of my brethren to the shameful, nay, barbaric treatment of the Crofters, has given tacit encouragement to the remorseless system of Eviction so cruelly practised in the Highlands by almost all the landowners. For a full account of these inhuman proceedings read Mr. Alexander Mackenzie's "Highland Clearances." The Old Gospel, so implicitly believed in by my brethren, much to their confusion, is,—"The eaith is the [Land] Lord's and the fulness thereof." We now see the
vi
PREFACE.
fruits of this miserable creed in our land being sold to wealthy foreigners and others who have not scrupled to sweep the people away, and convert the once fruitful regions into desolate game preserves. The law which makes such landlordism possible is simply this,—You have bought the land, and all who dwell thereon are at your mercy, should you elect to clear them off, we will assist you by soldiery or police,—By such civilised despotism the Highlanders have been expatriated in thousands. In these times of trial where were the clergy ? However, the New Gospel,—" The earth is The Lord's and the fulness thereof," dawns o'er our poor country, and the earnest promulgation of this doctrine from our pulpits will be fraught with better security to our people and greater prosperity to the country. I here frankly confess I have discarded our Old Gospel. The incident of my conversion to the Crofter's cause, I have endeavoured to lay before you in the following pages, with the hope that my brethren of the pulpit will not require to endure such a night, or see such a sight, to teach them wherein a christian preacher's duty lies. Should objections be taken to the colouring of the scene, it must be remembered that it is orthodox. Oh! my brethren, "all we like sheep have gone astray." We have been wilfully blind to the miseries entailed upon our people by the insatiate ghoul of landlordism. We have witnessed the practical expulsion of our race from their native glens,
PREFACE.
vii
yet we raised not our voices on their behalf. We have taken their money and done naught. Awake ! Brethren, Awake ! Repent the past. If ye are of Christ save the remnant of our people. Let your stern denunciations of Wrong be thundered forth till the hand of every evictor is stayed and Justice prevails. Let every pulpit be a fount at which the oppressed may drink freely of the inspiring eloquence of oppression-hating men. Fear not. The wrath of the rich is as a shower falling upon the sea: be ye therefore "A covert to the poor from the face of the spoiler."—Amen.
Donald MacSiller.
Portree,
Dec. jist, 1882.
.  MICHAEL and the PREACHER
A TALE OF SKYE.
" Sa with what heat the dogs of hell advance To waste and havoc yonder world, which I So fair and good created."—
Paradise Lost,
IN times of NOW ; when Highland preachers Are aught to men but Freedom's teachers, And take their stipends little caring How poor folk round about are faring ; Or how the crofters eke a living, 'Neath lairds or factors' selfish riving ; Or how they bear dark Winter's ire, In huts scarce fit to make a byre ; Or how their raiments' cost they raise, When reft of grazing on the braes ; Or how they feel when driven forth As homeless outcasts on the earth.
'Twas in these highly Christian times, I found the subject of my rhymes ;
B
ST.  MICHAEL AND  THE PREACHER.
57: MICHAEL AND   THE PREACHER.
Or why a few who never toil, Should rule as despots of the soil Unhindered in their ruthless deeds Of wrecking homes to suit their needs ?
The afternoon was near its close, The sun was speeding to repose ; The jagged, spiry, Coolin peaks Were gleaming 'neath its dying streaks, And Blavein's baid and rounded crest, In golden mist was lightly drest; While Glamaig's garb of lovely green Was mellowed with the sunset sheen ; The lark sang motionless on high, The curlew piped his doleful cry, The sea-gulls gathered by the shores, The matrons chatted at their doors, The men still dug their little plots, Or thatched with broom their leaky cots The lads and lasses courtship made, The children with the collies played, And gloaming time drew sweetly nigh, Upon the bonnie Isle of Skye.
That is,—as sure's I wield my pen, Or that great Nevis is a Ben, St. Michael left his heavenly home Amid the haunts of men to roam, Resolved to learn both wise and well, Why landlords are consigned to hell. Incog, he took the Highlands first, As long he knew the land was cursed With human misery and woe Sown by the lords who went below. From Lomond-side to Duncansbay, From Buchanness to Stornoway, He wandered as a simple gent, Upon a walking tour intent ; But all the while he saw with pain, Depopulation's cruel reign, And Poverty's relentless brand Stamped on the tillers of the land : He marked the castles of the few Who from the poor their riches drew, Embowered 'mid umbrageous trees As spots of opulence and ease; And asked himself what was the cause Of such Injustice in the laws ?
ST. MICHAEL AND  THE PREACHER.
'Twas at this hour St. Michael trod
Along Balmeanach's rugged road ;
As by the dingy huts he passed,
Suspicious looks the crofters cast ;
Some deemed him laird, and some, a factor.
Others, a journalist detractor,
While some old men with skilful eye
Dubbed him a governmental spy
•Sent to observe if they were still
Defiant to their landlord's will :
Respectful, silent, dignified,
As men who in themselves had pride,
They viewed the careless-seeming stranger
As if his presence boded danger.
" Good evening, men of Skye ! " he said,
In tones which sympathy betrayed.
" Good evening, Sir, " the group replied,
With modesty to fear allied ;
St. Michael for a moment stood
In Meditation's thoughtful mood,
His eye compassionately scanned
The anxious, fast-increasing band,
That gathering round him blocked his way,
And asked if he had aught to say :
ST.  MICHAEL AND  THE PREACHER.
He stepped upon a massive stone, Which by the roadside stands alone ; Then gazing on the eager crowd, He raised his arm and cried aloud, " Ye men of Skye ! why thus distrest ? Why are your hearts by grief opprest ? Pour out your grievances to me, An honest friend perchance I'll be." Then forward stepped a hoary man, Who timidly this tale began :— " Stranger ! not many years ago, The rents upon these huts were low; These little plots we tilled with care, To reap of food a little share ; And from the sea's unbounded store, We oft kept hunger from the door. Then on these grass and heather braes, The sheep we reared were free to graze, They were our rent-producing source, Their wool made us our garments coarse ' Twas thus we lived upon this spot, Contented with our lowly lot ; ' Twas thus our children were inured, To hardships which they well endured ;
ST. MICHAEL AND  THE PREACHER.
ST. MICHAEL AND  THE PREACHER.
' Twas thus in strength and valour's grace,
We stood the foremost of our race ;
' Twas thus our sons throughout the world,
The foes of England deathward hurled ;
' Twas thus we were renowned and feared,
And deeply then our chief revered.
Alas ! alas ! these days are past,
The bonds of love are snapt at last;
Long years of selfishness and greed
Have wrought a change in Skye indeed :
Where hundreds once in comfort dwelt,
And life's untarnished pleasures felt,
And sweet contentment filled each heart
With joys which wealth could ne'er impart,
Cold, silent Desolation reigns,
And nought of human life remains ;
Green grows the grass on many spots
Where stood our fathers' sacred cots,
All driven from the place because
There was no Justice in the laws,
Save that which gives a landlord's mind
The liberty to crush mankind,
Or make a desert of the soil
Which God designed for human toil :
And shall we bear such ills as those, Or feel Expatriation's woes, Because we dare to beard the man Whose burdens long have been our ban ? ' Tis true the landlord-law we break For Equity and Justice' sake, Yet we shall make our sufferings known To every man in every zone ; And if Christ's teachings are not vain, Surely some sympathy we'll gain. Long have our rents by slow degrees Been raised, the landlord's whims to please We bore the tax to live in peace, And starved to pay the harsh increase, Till harsher, harder, crueller far, The factor struck the note of war, When charging rental for Ben Lee, Whereon of old our sheep grazed free. ' Twas thus he crushed our chiefest stay, By taxes which we could not pay, And thus denied us, to his shame, The rights which we, as free-men, claim. Ah ! well we knew the dark intent To force us to resist his rent,
ST. MICHAEL AND   THE PREACHER.
ST. MICHAEL AND THE PREACHER. 9
c
Few are the friends in this tunmoil, Of us poor crofters of the soil ; Wealth may command a heavy rod, Our wealth is but our trust in God, His might is felt in every cause Which boldly strikes Injustice' Laws: But if you'd know the landlord's tale, Go ask the Man of Armadale."
St Michael's heart was deeply stirred With pity, as the tale he heard, And silently he scanned the throng Of offerings at the shrine of Wrong : Unable to repress his ire, His dark eyes glowed as if on fire ; His tawny cheeks e'en lost their hue, And in an instant pallid grew ; His thin, firm lips were more compressed, To stem the flood within his breast; He clenched the hand he raised on high, Yet calm and cool he gave reply:— " Ye men of Skye ! Ye heirs of woe! O'er whom great tribulations flow,
Would be the cry whereby he might
Invoke the landlord-law aright,
And by Eviction drive us forth
From all we hold so dear on earth.
We are not slaves, and we resent
The landlord-fixing of our rent,
And arbitrary acts which bring
Life's deepest pain and suffering.
Too long have we been forced to feel
Oppression's modern-moulded heel ;
Too long have we endured such law,
As gives a man the right to draw
His wealth unjustly from the toil
Of those who till or sow the soil.
So, hounds of law around us bay,
Their white fangs sharpened for the fray ;
While kinsmen for the sake of gold,
The leashes of dishonour hold,
In readiness to let them fly
Upon their countrymen of Skye.
But let them coine, their wrath we'll brave
Than bear the stamp of Highland Slave.
O! Stranger, thus we are opprest,
Say, will our wrongs be e'er redrest ?
lo ST.  MICHAEL AND THE PREACHER.
ST. MICHAEL AND  THE PREACHER.
Know that the mighty Lord designed
This bounteous earth for all mankind ;
That they, obedient to His law,
Might from its soil their sustenance draw,
And reap those joys which in the strife
Make light their little round of life:
But Landlords, by their works, have driven
From off the earth the will of heaven,
Yea, by their cruelty and greed
Have scorned the Great Eternal's creed,
And parcelled out the land that they
As little gods might briefly sway;
And passed those laws by which poor toilers
Are taxed to keep Earth's harsh despoilers:
Hence, Men of Skye, their love of wealth,
Obtained by law-protected stealth,
Makes desolate those fields which should
Be yielding naught but God-meant food,
And keeps ye bound to Poverty,
While mocking ye with Liberty;
Thus by their laws they ever stand
The foes of those who till the land,
And dread them should they e'er unite
To change a system fraught with blight
Or curb their powers which truly are The causes of all social war; But rather than to Justice cling, The myrmidons of Law they bring, And sweep ye from the soil away, As vermin whom they fain would slay; Preferring brutes and desolation To men, the bulwark of a nation 1 O ! remnant of a noble race, In every lineament I trace The sad and restless look of those In fellowship with rankling woes, Which once within the heart begun, Descend from suffering sire to son, And grow to hate which nought can stay Until the cause is swept away; But fear not tho' your countrymen, By sophistries of tongue and pen, Condemn ye heedlessly because Ye dare to dare a landlord's laws ; These but the men who are impressed With naught but what will pay them best, And would for gold their country sell To him who is the lord of Hell;
ST. MICHAEL AND THE PREACHER.
ST. MICHAEL AND  THE PREACHER. 13
O! be ye of good cheer, the hour Has struck the knell of landlord power, And men arise with vatic eye, And see the dawn of new things nigh, And fear not to proclaim the creed— The land for those who sow the seed ! Despair not, be united all, Resolved for right, to stand or fall, And should the factor's law-hounds come To drive ye from your peaceful home, Remember this is Freedom's token— Good laws are based on bad laws broken ! And no great Cause is worth the name, Without its martyrs, bonds, and shame ; E'en He in whom your hopes abide, Was spurned, spat on, and crucified, And His believers scorning death, Sealed with their blood the simple faith ; Adieu ! Adieu ! ye men of worth, Would all were like ye on the earth, Then would the world from wrong be free, And evermore would happy be."
As soon as he his speech had ceased, The plaudits of the crowd increased ; Loud cheers arose from every tongue, While bonnets in the air were flung, And all were fain that he should stay Amid them till the coming day; But from the stone he lightly leapt, And tho' they crowding round him kept, He southward hied as gloaming fell, For Butter's Sligachan Hotel; And as he past each cottage sped, The women blest his noble head, And cried aloud, " Good luck attend Your footsteps wheresoe'er they wend." St. Michael laughed, and forward went, Upon his midnight business bent, And tho' the road was rough and lone, He walked as one to whom 'twas known : The evening glow was loth to fade, Calm gloaming's tints the scene arrayed, Above, the sky was deeply blue, And westward of a golden hue; Southward, the Coolin pinnacles Loomed as dark-armoured sentinels ;
14 ST. MICHAEL AND  THE PREACHER.
While eastward, dim in deepening grey,
A billowy mass of mountains lay,
Whose shadows stretched upon the deep,
As monstrous creatures sound asleep;
Exulting in a scene so bright,
He cried, " O ! what a glorious sight!"
And looked around with rapturous smiles,
And scorned the burden of the miles:
Far on ahead his keen-eyed scan
Beheld a solitary man
Approaching him as if he meant
To reach Portree e'er light was spent;
Near and more near the stranger drew,
Till well within St. Michael's view,
Who marked a man of medium size
Ciad in deep sorrow's woful guise,
Whose measured gait betokened one
Who all exertion seemed to shun ;
A low felt hat of olden àir,
Lay gently on his silvery hair;
His cheeks were smooth and showed a wealth
Of dainty living and good health ;
His eyes were grey and deeply set
'Neath tufted eyebrows black as jet,
ST. MICHAEL AND THE PREACHER. 15
And tho' their glance was calm and cold,
Of latent Highland ire they told.
He was a man of aspect meek,
In voice and manner suave and sleek:
They met, " Good e'en," St. Michael said,
The stranger stopped, then answer made,
" Good e'en ! Good e'en ! " and quickly took
Of Michael's face a critic look,
Which by its sweetness undefined,
Betrayed a highly cultured mind,
And loosed the bonds which held his heart
By nature to suspicion's part.
St. Michael saw his looks intent,
But knew his thoughts and what they meant,
Assuming then his blandest smile,
He asked the news that stirred the isle,
" News," quoth the stranger, " News, ah ! Sir,
Our Crofters now are all astir,
I never thought I'd see the day
When all my flock would go astray,
And scorn his lordship's rent-demands
For cottages or pasture lands.
Have ye not heard how on the Braes
The men have ta'en to threatening ways,
i6 ST. MICHAEL AND  THE PREACHER.
And dare the factor to expel
Them from the land on which they dwell ?
Or, how in factor-hating fervour,
They burned his writs and stoned the server
Have ye not heard how they deny
His lordship's right to rent them high ?
Or e'en to do whate'er he wills
With his estates of glens and hills ?
I've preached God's Word to them for years,
I've prayed for them with sighs and tears,
I've ever taught them to be humble
And pay their rents without a grumble,
And stand in fear and silent awe,
Obedient to his lordship's law;
And thò' ill-housed, ill-clad, ill-fed,
To seek the everlasting bread, ,
As those, who ne'er by sin enticed,
Endure all things to dwell with Christ:
Ah, Sir! 'tis vain, they've all united
To have their rents and sufferings righted !"
" Well," quoth St. Michael, " that is news
That Crofters should these times refuse
To pay their rents is somewhat strange,
But whence the cause of this great change ?
1
ST. MICHAEL AND THE PREACHER. iy
Here on this grassy bank we'll sit, While gloaming's shadows round us flit, And sift in converse frank and free The subject, which is dear to me." The Preacher marked with deep surprise, A fierce gleam in the stranger's eyes, Which pierced the portals of his soul, And reft him of his self-control; He vainly tried to break the speil, Which, with that look, upon him fell; But impotent to thwart its power, He felt his heart beneath it cower; Tho' conscious of all things around, Tho' sensible to sight and sound, He knew that by some subtle skill The stranger had dethroned his will, And made him slave, obedient to Aught that he might command or do.
Upon a heathery knoll they sat, And soon began their friendly chat; "Ah!" quoth St. Michael, " and ye say Your Crofter flock hath gone astray,
<S ST. MICHAEL AXD  THE PREACHER.
ST. MICHAEL  AND  THE PREACHER.
Can Law be Law when landlords stand
Rack-renting mankind off the land ?
By ' Law' a landlord can become
The ghost of every Crofter's home;
By ' Law' their little cots can be
Dark dens of dirt and misery;
By ' Law' the tax upon their toil
Is squandered on an alien soil;
By 'Law' their daughters, sons, and wives,
Are doomed ta slavish drudgery's lives;
By ' Law' Eviction's dreadful crimes
Are possible in Christian times ;
By ' Law' a spendthrift lord's intents
Are met by drawing higher rents ;
By ' Law' all food-producing glens
Are changed from farms to cattle pens:
This is your ' Law' whereby a few
Are shielded in the deeds they do.
'Laws' made by landlord-men can ne'er
The simple test of Justice bear,
And if your State supports such ' Laws,'
Be sure 'twill be its Ruin's cause.
You say you preach God's Word to them,
And yet their actions ye condemn,
Now, think ye that they sin, because
They strive against' his lordship's' laws ?"
" Of course they sin," the Preacher said,
" Law must be rigidly obeyed."
"Law!" quoth St. Michael, "Law of pelf!
Can man make laws to suit himself ?
Or is it ' Law' when want and woe
From individual actions flow ?
Methinks men do no sin when they
' Laws' of this nature disobey !"
" Hold !" quoth the Preacher, "you'll agree.
That landlords must perforce be free
To value land as they may will it,
Without considering those who till it;
This is 'the Law' as realized,
And by the State is recognised,
Hence those who dare resist its sway
Are by the devil led astray."
St. Michael laughed, "Ay! Ay!" quo' he,
" Your definition, 'Law' may be;
But stay, I see in it a flaw,
Say, where is Justice in your 'Law'?
Can Law be Law when based on Wrong ?
Can Law be Law when for the strong ?
20 ST. MICHAEL AND  THE PREACHER.
ST. MICHAEL AND THE PREACHER.
But come with me, fast fades the light, Dark Coruisk we must view to-night; There I will show ye such a scene As ne'er to man vouchsafed hath been !"
The Preacher heard St. Michael's words, Which pierced him as with many swords, While thro' his soul remorse began To cry " Thou art a sinful man !" They rose, and forthwith took the road, And silently together trod ; The Preacher filled with pangs of dread, Yet strangely bound to him who led ; Away they went across the heath, Nor paused to take a moment's breath ; Along their path a timid hare Ran swiftly to his grassy lair; And darting from their human foes, A partridge covey whirring rose; While far away the cry was heard, Of some disturbed or wandering bird ; And deeper fell the gloom of night On lonely heath and mountain height;
His Word is this,—All men shall be
From law-maintained oppressioìi free !
In this alone is liberty,
And bulwark 'gainst all poverty.
Preacher! I fear the landlord's dishes,
Or sweets of pulpit loaves and fishes,
Have made ye shape God's Holy Word
To suit the bias of ' my lord';
What said king Solomon, the wise,
Anent th' oppressor's cruelties?
' Who o'er the poor shall wield a rod,
Reproacheth the Eternal God !'
O ! preaching Man ! can ye maintain
The ' Laws' which are your Crofters' bane ?
Can ye behold them crushed beneath
A system fraught with lingering death ?
Can ye be deaf to pity's cries
Ascending to the blushing skies ?
Can ye such acts endure and ne'er
Denounce the cause, nor landlords fear ?
This is your mission ! this your duty!
This gives all preaching heavenly beauty.
If ye do not these things, ah ! well,
Remember where false preachers dwell;
ST. MICHAEL AND  THE TREACHER.
And dark clouds gathered in the sky, Portentous of a tempest nigh : But fearlessly St. Michael sped Along the way with jaunty tread, Communing with himself upon The mind of his companion, Who timidly kept close behind, Distressed in body, breath, and mind, And ill-maintained the walking strife While thinking of his anxious wife, Ahead a glimmering light appeared, And suddenly his heart was cheered, He watched it long and knew full well It marked the " Sligachan Hotel," And inwardly conceived that he Would from this stranger soon be free. They neared the haven of the glen, (Which cheers the heart of wearied men) The watch-dogs heard their footsteps' sound. And forward rushed with bark and bound ; The gillies from their cots came out, And called them back with furious shout; While Butter, startled by the roar, Left his retreat and ope'd the door
ST.  MICHAEL AND  THE PREACHER.
To welcome with attention due
The travellers who appeared in view.
" Two ponies ! Quick ! " St. Michael cried,
" Two Highland ponies strong and tried,
Good Sir! Coruisk's gloom sublime
We must behold ere midnight time."
Then Butter on the stranger gazed,
And thought him joking, drunk, or crazed,
And answered not the curt command,
Until the other's face he scanned.
" The minister ! The minister!
Dear me ! " he said, " what is astir ? "
And gave the Preacher's hand a shake,
But ne'er a word the Preacher spake,
Yet from his nodding he implied
His wish to take the midnight ride.
Convinced the track to Coruisk,
By night was fraught with fearful risk,
Yet trusting in the Preacher's ken
Of every corner of the glen,
Th' obliging Butter, tho' in doubt,
The ponies quietly ordered out,
Two ponies sure in foot and strong,
And 'customed to the journey long.
24 ST. MICHAEL AND  THE PREACHER.
Roused from their strawy, stable bed,
The hardy ponies, Highland bred,
Were forward brought without delay,
In readiness to take the way :
St. Michael scanned his little steed
And deemed him fit to do the deed,
Tho' when the creature's back he crowned,
His feet had barely left the ground ;
" Mount! Preacher mount! " he loudly cried,
" Now for our yet unequalled ride."
The Preacher, trembling and afraid,
The stern command at once obeyed,
And sprang upon his leathern seat,
Then in the stirrups placed his feet;
Thus mounted, wistfully he gazed
On Butter who stood by amazed
That ne'er a word his Reverence spake
For friendly explanation's sake.
" Away ! " St Michael cried, " away !
Now for Coruisk ere ends this day ! "
Away ! then instantly each steed
Sprang from the porch with headlong speed,
ST. MICHAEL AND  THE PREACHER. 25,
As creatures filled with force and fire Whom none could bridle, hold, or tire; Disdaining rider, voice, or rein, With lowered head, and streaming mane, They furiously forward flew, And in the gloom were lost to view ; Their hoofs were heard upon the bridge, Their clatter o'er the stony ridge, Then quickly died their lessening sound, And deeper silence reigned around : St. Michael led and loved the pace, At which his steed maintained the race ; He knew the art of horsemanship, And scorned the rein, or heel, or whip, And on his saddle sat upright, His every movement free and light ; He placed his hands upon his thighs, And slowly scanned the lowering skies, Which blacker, and more threatening grew, As up the glen of gloom he flew; Then oft he turned around to mark The Preacher's features in the dark, Whose steed, at a terrific rate, Rushed as if free from rein or weight, E
ST.  MICHAEL AND THE PREACHER.
He saw its rider crouching low,
And swaying wildly to and fro ;
With frenzied hands the mane he grasped,
His rigid knees the saddle clasped ;
His hat was gone, and every hair
Was straightened out by fear's despair ;
His gleaming eyes with madness rolled,
And seemed no more by will controlled;
His mouth with terror widely gaped,*
His tongue beyond his lips escaped,
And as a being death-resigned,
He madly followed on behind.
By some mysterious power impelled,
The fiery ponies onward held,
Nor left the devious track which strays
Along the mountain's grassy base ;
Now thundering o'er a torrent's bed,
O'er moss and marsh they bounding fled,
O'er pool and burn they lightly leapt,
And still the path securely kept;
Swift as the rush of winter's wind,
With gloom before and gloom behind,
They neared the ridge of hills which sweep
From Blavein to the Coolins' steep,
ST. MICHAEL AND  THE PREACHER.
Yet slackened not their meteor speed, Across the marsh each foaming steed, Impetuously rushed, until They felt the labour of the hill; Then up the boulder-strewn ascent They willingly, but slower, went; Instinctively they knew the way 'Mid rocks and stones that round them lay, So upward cautiously they went, Avoiding every chasm or rent; But ere they reached the barren crest, A flash of lightning lit the west, And swept along the Coolin peaks In sudden-blinding, lurid streaks ; Then from the clouds, surcharged with fire, Loud thunders burst in volleys dire, And every hill, and every rock, Shook 'neath the awful-sounding shock, Then ceaselessly the cloudy war Rolled on sublimer, grander far; Flash followed flash, more keen, more bright. And lit the chambers of the night; Peal followed peal, more near, more loud, And seemed to burst from every cloud ;
28 ST. MICHAEL AND  THE TREACHER.
ST. MICHAEL AND  THE PREACHER. 29
He feared to gaze upon his face, So bright, so sweet, so full of grace, And at his feet would fain have sought Forgiveness for all evil wrought; But suddenly the lightnings broke, And struck the lake with fearful stroke, Then upward shot a lurid glare That filled the thunder-sounding air, And showed each jagged Coolin spire As 'twere a pyramid of fire, And o'er the' precipices shed A crackling glow of furnace red, E'en Blavein's bare and rugged breast Was by the fiery tinge caressed, While overhead the clouds appeared In molten masses, dire, and weird, And 'gainst the fire-encompassed zone St. Michael's form in grandeur shone ; " Preacher! " said he, in accents low, " What see ye in the lake below ?" The Preacher looked with timid gaze, And saw the dread abyss ablaze, Then said, " O ! Angel, I behold A burning lake like molten gold,
Yet upward thro' the fiery blast,
Undauntedly the ponies passed,
And reached the ridge where, far below,
Coruisk lay with fire aglow.
" Dismount!" St. Michael cried, " here ye
A truly wondrous scene shall see ;
Upon this precipice we'll stand,
Till ye all sights have wisely scanned.
Fear not! O ! Preacher, why dismayed ?
God's throne in lightning is arrayed,
Dark clouds and thunders Him engird,
And from their depths His voice is heard ! "
The Preacher started with surprise,
A veil had fallen from his eyes,
Beside him stood a man of light,
Enrobed in garments shining white,
Upon his head a diadem
Lit by a solitary gem,
Which steadily and brightly threw
Around his face a golden hue :
He deemed him not the man he met,
He looked, Ah ! 'twas the same, but yet
How changed, the human form tho' there
Was now an angel-being fair;
3P
ST. MICHAEL AND  THE PREACHER.
Its seething waves dash up the rocks
And back recoil with thundering shocks,
Or as loud-hissing tongues they leap
Against the precipices steep
In countless thousands, darting high
And swift as lightnings in the sky,
While ceaselessly their maddened roar
Reverberates along the shore ;
And in the bubbling fiery flood,
A scaly monster, red as blood,
Writhes 'mid the waves that round him lash
And o'er his head tumultuous dash,
His great wild-rolling, green eyes glare,
Filled with unutterable despair,
And ever at the clouds he scowls,
Pouring his rage in hideous howls ;
I see where crags rise red and sheer,
Dens hollowed out in tier on tier,
And thro' their red-hot grating spaces,
I mark the dwellers' fearful faces;
Ah ! me, above each glowing den,
I read the names of once known men."
" Read ! " said St. Michael, " Read the names
Of those amid the golden flames !"
ST. MICHAEL AND THE PREACHER. 31
"There Lords Mac Ells and Lords Mac Dees,
With factors roasting at their knees ;
The Dukes of Ess and Dukes of Aas,
With rent-rolls round them in a blaze;
The Marquises of Bee and Em,
Writhing with none to solace them ;
Sir A. Mac Kees, Sir Ar. Mac Ars,
Dashing themselves against the bars ;
Pees and Gees, and Effs and Ens,
Fill many of the fire-laved dens ;
And round about a howling host,
Of frizzling wretches, lost! lost! lost!
I hear their agonising cries
Above the boiling din arise,
Oh! Angel, pity them I pray
Their torments, Oh ! allay, allay."
"Peace!" said St. Michael, "ye should know
That pity cannot dwell below ;
This is the Everlasting Rest
Of those who once the poor opprest;
0! Preacher, upward turn your eyes,
What see ye in the thundrous skies ?"
The Preacher looked above and cried,
" I see the red clouds opening wide,
32 ST. MICHAEL AND THE PREACHER.
.ST. MICHAEL AND  THE PREACHER.
And far beyond a cloudless sphere,
Where all is peaceful, bright, and clear ;
Therein upon a great white throne,
A Mighty King sits calmly lone ;
Worlds round him roll, wrapt in His light,
His sceptre rules their circling flight,
His feet on sun-like orbs repose,
With purity His raiment glows ;
I fear to gaze upon the grace
And awful beauty of His face :
Lo ! countless forms around Him rise
From every corner of the skies,
Pure as the snow on mountain wild,
And to His glory reconciled,
A starry crown is on each head,
On every countenance love is shed,
And gathering round their glorious King,
A song of praise they sweetly sing :
Fain would my soul now upward fly,
And join that white-robed choir on high,
O ! Angel, who are these that dwell
In happiness unspeakable ? "
" Preacher ! Behold the Heavenly Rest
Of those who were in life opprest
By those whom ye beheld below
Enduring everlasting woe!
If ye this blissful home would gain,
Fear not your crofters to sustain,
Be valiant to defend their cause,
Preach Christ! and smite Injustice' laws
The dark clouds close, Adieu ! Adieu !
Remember to the poor be true."
Then as a beam of light he fled,
And all was darkness overhead,
And lightnings flashed from every cloud,
And thunders thundered long and loud.
The Preacher felt he was alone, And knelt upon the rugged stone, And from his stricken heart outpoured A sinner's prayer unto the Lord ; The while he prayed the tempest passed, The thundrous clouds evanished fast, And Silence brooded o'er the scene, As if disturbed she ne'er had been, While gentle Dawn's first kiss of light Lay faintly on each peak and height.
w
ST.  MICHAEL AND  THE PREACHER.
35
Resolving that his future preaching, Would ever be of Justice teaching, And as a man of Christ in deed, The Crofters' Cause would be his creed !
As from his knees the Preacher rose And gazed on Nature's grey repose, He looked above, around, below, As one recovering from a blow ; He saw the Coolin peaks were there, And Blavein solemn, huge and bare, And Coruisk's dark inky breast Lay in unbroken shadow drest; So nought remained around to tell, The place had been transformed to Hell. Then o'er the rocks he took his way, And heard the ponies' cheering neigh, Behind a sheltering crag they stood , Awaiting him in patient mood ;
He stroked their heads and felt o'erjoyed To find they had not been destroyed, Nor showed in limb or skin a trace Of suffering from their fearful race ; He seized the reins, then homeward slow He led them to the path below, Where wearily he mounted, then Lazily he rode down the glen ; Rejoicing that his heart was changed, And from all landlord-law estranged ;
34 .ST.  MICHAEL AND  THE TREACHER.
NEW GOSPEL TEXTS.
" Woe unto them that decree unrighteous decrees . . . to take the right from the poor . . . that widows may be their prey   .   .   .   fhat they may rob the fatherless."—
Isaiah.
" Who, not content With fair equality, fraternal state, Will arrogate dominion undeserved Over his brethren, and quite dispossess Concord and law of nature from the earth."—Milton.
" You cannot reckon on the wealth or rank of the country . . . these powers are against you . . . wherever there is a close corporation, organized monopoly, or sectional interest apart from that of the country, you have no tolerance or friendship to expect . . . they are your most determined foes."—W. E. Gladstone.
" I freely own that compulsory expropriation is a thing, which, for an adequate public object, is itself admissible, and so far sound in principle."—Ibid.
"The time will come when the middle and working classes will have to decide between the claims of territorial magnates and the just rights of millions of our country--men."—John Bright.
"The time has come when landlords' rights might be somewhat curtailed ... if the present conditions of land-tenure are unfavourable to production from the soil
.   .   .   Parliament has ground for interference   .   .   . the condition of things with regard to land caused a serious deduction from the prosperity of the country, and indirectly involved a great injury and wron% to the laboilrcr [or crofter] employed on the soil."—Joseph Chamberlain.