The door, however, is sacred to the memory of a white-haired old lady who, not so long ago, used to march out of the kirk and remain on the pavement until the psalm which had just been given out was sung.

Of Thrums's pavement it may here be said that when you come, even to this day, to a level slab you feel reluctant to leave it.

The old lady was Mistress (which is Miss) Tibbie McQuhatty, and she nearly split the Auld Licht kirk over "run line." This conspicuous innovation was introduced by Mr.Dishart, the minister, when he was young and audacious.

The old, reverent custom in the kirk was for the precentor to read out the psalm a line at a time.

Having then sung that line he read out the next one, led the singing of it, and so worked his way on to line three.