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Fountainhall's DECISIONS； vol。 i。 pp。 56； 132； 186； 204； 368。… ＇R。 L。 S。＇
（3） IBID。 pp。 158； 299。 … ＇R。 L。 S。＇ （4） Working farmer： Fr。
LABOUREUR。
‘I was made to take joyfully the spoiling of my goods； and with
pleasure for His name's sake wandered in deserts and in mountains； in
dens and caves of the earth。 I lay four months in the coldest season of
the year in a haystack in my father's garden； and a whole February in the
open fields not far from Camragen； and this I did without the least
prejudice from the night air； one night； when lying in the fields near to the
Carrick…Miln； I was all covered with snow in the morning。 Many nights
have I lain with pleasure in the churchyard of Old Daily； and made a grave
my pillow； frequently have I resorted to the old walls about the glen； near
to Camragen； and there sweetly rested。' The visible band of God
protected and directed him。 Dragoons were turned aside from the
bramble…bush where he lay hidden。 Miracles were performed for his
behoof。 ‘I got a horse and a woman to carry the child； and came to the
same mountain； where I wandered by the mist before； it is commonly
known by the name of Kellsrhins： when we came to go up the mountain；
there came on a great rain； which we thought was the occasion of the
child's weeping； and she wept so bitterly； that all we could do could not
divert her from it； so that she was ready to burst。 When we got to the top
of the mountain； where the Lord had been formerly kind to my soul in
prayer； I looked round me for a stone； and espying one； I went and brought
it。 When the woman with me saw me set down the stone； she smiled； and
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RECORDS OF A FAMILY OF ENGINEERS
asked what I was going to do with it。 I told her I was going to set it up as
my Ebenezer； because hitherto； and in that place； the Lord had formerly
helped； and I hoped would yet help。 The rain still continuing； the child
weeping bitterly； I went to prayer； and no sooner did I cry to God； but the
child gave over weeping； and when we got up from prayer； the rain was
pouring down on every side； but in the way where we were to go there fell
not one drop； the place not rained on was as big as an ordinary avenue。'
And so great a saint was the natural butt of Satan's persecutions。 ‘I
retired to the fields for secret prayer about mid…night。 When I went to
pray I was much straitened； and could not get one request； but 〃Lord pity；〃
〃Lord help〃； this I came over frequently； at length the terror of Satan fell
on me in a high degree； and all I could say even then was … 〃Lord help。〃
I continued in the duty for some time； notwithstanding of this terror。 At
length I got up to my feet； and the terror still increased； then the enemy
took me by the arm…pits； and seemed to lift me up by my arms。 I saw a
loch just before me； and I concluded he designed to throw me there by
force； and had he got leave to do so； it might have brought a great
reproach upon religion。 （1） But it was otherwise ordered； and the cause
of piety escaped that danger。 （2）
（1） This John Stevenson was not the only ‘witness' of the name； other
Stevensons were actually killed during the persecutions； in the Glen of
Trool； on Pentland； etc。； and it is very possible that the author's own
ancestor was one of the mounted party embodied by Muir of Caldwell；
only a day too late for Pentland。 （2） Wodrow Society's SELECT
BIOGRAPHIES； vol。 ii。… ＇R。 L。 S。＇
On the whole； the Stevensons may be described as decent； reputable
folk； following honest trades … millers； maltsters； and doctors； playing the
character parts in the Waverley Novels with propriety； if without
distinction； and to an orphan looking about him in the world for a potential
ancestry； offering a plain and quite unadorned refuge； equally free from
shame and glory。 John； the land…labourer； is the one living and
memorable figure； and he； alas！ cannot possibly be more near than a
collateral。 It was on August 12； 1678； that he heard Mr。 John Welsh on
the Craigdowhill； and ‘took the heavens； earth； and sun in the firmament
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that was shining on us； as also the ambassador who made the offer； and
THE CLERK WHO RAISED THE PSALMS； to witness that I did give
myself away to the Lord in a personal and perpetual covenant never to be
forgotten'； and already； in 1675； the birth of my direct ascendant was
registered in Glasgow。 So that I have been pursuing ancestors too far
down； and John the land…labourer is debarred me； and I must relinquish
from the trophies of my house his RARE SOUL…STRENGTHENING
AND COMFORTING CORDIAL。 It is the same case with the
Edinburgh bailie and the miller of the Canonmills； worthy man！ and with
that public character； Hugh the Under…Clerk； and； more than all； with Sir
Archibald； the physician； who recorded arms。 And I am reduced to a
family of inconspicuous maltsters in what was then the clean and
handsome little city on the Clyde。
The name has a certain air of being Norse。 But the story of Scottish
nomenclature is confounded by a continual process of translation and half…
translation from the Gaelic which in olden days may have been sometimes
reversed。 Roy becomes Reid； Gow； Smith。 A great Highland clan uses
the name of Robertson； a sept in Appin that of Livingstone； Maclean in
Glencoe answers to Johnstone at Lockerby。 And we find such hybrids as
Macalexander for Macallister。 There is but one rule to be deduced： that
however uncompromisingly Saxon a name may appear； you can never be
sure it does not designate a Celt。 My great…grandfather wrote the name
STEVENSON but pronounced it STEENSON； after the fashion of the
immortal minstrel in REDGAUNTLET； and this elision of a medial
consonant appears a Gaelic process； and； curious