ON THE COAST OF AEEAN 53 



whit too long, I listened to the whole. It was a 

 sweet and simple homily from an old Highland 

 preacher, whose mind seemed to be well in tune 

 with all the beauty around him. There was 

 edification even in looking at him. His face 

 had evidently been harsh once, but increasing 

 years appeared to have softened its expression, 

 as they had also probably relaxed the sterner 

 lines of his Scottish theology. I shall always 

 remember with pleasure how in artless phrases 

 he described us, the summer visitants, as chil- 

 dren sent forth for a space to play among the 

 hills, in the presence and under the approving 

 smile of the great Father. When he said this 

 I could not help reverting to that pleasant 

 picture with which the * The Ancient Mariner ' 

 closes, where all the people 



Walk together to the kirk, 



And all together pray, 



While each to his great Father bends, 



Old men, and babes, and loving friends, 



And youths and maidens gay ! 



