As soon as ever Alexander Graham, the polished thinker and sweet-mannered gentleman, opened his mouth concerning the things he loved best, that moment the most poetic forms came pouring out in the most rugged speech.
“I reckon, sir,” said Sheltie, “Jacob hadna fouchten oot his battle.”
“That’s jist it, my boy. And because he wouldna get up and fecht manfully, God had to tak him in han’. Ye’ve heard tell o’ generals, whan their troops war rinnin’ awa’, haein’ to cut this man doon, shute that ane, and lick anither, till he turned them a’ richt face aboot and drave them on to the foe like a spate! And the trouble God took wi’ Jacob wasna lost upon him at last.”
“An’ what cam o’ Esau, sir?” asked a pale-faced maiden with blue eyes. “He wasna an ill kin’ o’ a chield—was he, sir?”
“No, Mappy,” answered the master; “he was a fine chield, as you say; but he nott (needed) mair time and gentler treatment to mak onything o’ him. Ye see he had a guid hert, but was a duller kin’ o’ cratur a’thegither, and cared for naething he could na see or hanle. He never thoucht muckle aboot God at a’. Jacob was anither sort—a poet kin’ o’ a man, but a sneck-drawin’ cratur for a’ that. It was easier, hooever, to get the slyness oot o’ Jacob, than the dulness oot o’ Esau. Punishment tellt upo’ Jacob like upon a thin-skinned horse, whauras Esau was mair like the minister’s powny, that can hardly be made to unnerstan’ that ye want him to gang on. But o’ the ither han’, dullness is a thing that can be borne wi’: there’s nay hurry aboot that; but the deceitfu’ tricks o’ Jacob war na to be endured, and sae the tawse (leather-strap) cam doon upo’ him.”
“An’ what for didna God mak Esau as clever as Jacob?” asked a wizened-faced boy near the top of the class.
“Ah, my Peery!” said Mr Graham, “I canna tell ye that. A’ that I can tell is, that God hadna dune makin’ at him, an’ some kin’ o’ fowk tak langer to mak oot than ithers. An’ ye canna tell what they’re to be till they’re made oot. But whether what I tell ye be richt or no, God maun hae the verra best o’ rizzons for ’t, ower guid maybe for us to unnerstan’—-the best o’ rizzons for Esau himsel’, I mean, for the Creator luiks efter his cratur first ava’ (of all). —And now,” concluded Mr Graham, resuming his English, “go to your lessons; and be diligent, that God may think it worth while to get on faster with the making of you.”
In a moment the class was dispersed and all were seated. In another, the sound of scuffling arose, and fists were seen storming across a desk.
“Andrew Jamieson and Poochy, come up here,” said the master in a loud voice.
“He hittit me first,” cried Andrew, the moment they were within a respectful distance of the master, whereupon Mr Graham turned to the other with inquiry in his eyes.