in the channel. "^(sClpj^a ^'E^lirk is a mere hamlet ; but there 

 is a little inn at which the horses can rest if the party is 

 disposed for a walk in order to see the scene of Robert 

 Walker's life and labours. Ulpha Kirk itself is one of the 

 primitive places where the old manners of the district may- 

 yet be traced more clearly than in most road-side settlements. 

 The people still think it no sin to do their farm-work on 

 Sundays, when the weather, — so precarious in that dis- 

 trict, — is favourable ; and the familiar style of ' t' priest,' in 

 these parts, makes the transition from work to worship very 

 natural. Some time since there was a blind * priest ' settled 

 here. One Sunday morning, service began before the people 

 were all ready. Among them was the stoutest farmer in the 

 neighbourhood, who, detained by some cow, pig, or sheep, 

 entered the church last of all, * thunnerin' doon t' aisle.' 

 'Wha's comin, noo?' asked the blind priest. Being in- 

 formed that it was John T , he enquired further, — ' a-foot 



or a-horseback ? ' Odd sprinklings of learning are found in 

 these by-places, as theyarein Scotland. Some students staying 

 at this same little inn, and wanting to settle their account, 

 wrote a note in Latin to the landlord, asking for the bill, and 

 sent it by the girl who waited. Mr. Gunson immediately 

 sent in the bill in Greek. It was too much for the students, 

 who were obliged to ask to have it in English. There was also 

 a ^ heigh-larn'd ' woman, not far from hence, who married a 

 farmer on the moor. When everybody was lamenting the 

 hard times, she declared that, for her part, she would be 

 contented if she could obtain food and raiment ; whereupon 

 her husband rebuked her presumption. * Thoo fooel,' said 

 he :. ' thoo dusn't think thoo's to hev mear then udder folk ! 

 I'se content wi' mee-et and cleas.' 



^Ei^eh}EeltJ ©Tj^urc]^ is the place where Robert Walker, 

 called * the wonderful/ exercised his office for sixty years. 



