Chapter I: Front Matter

_Frontispiece._]

FROM PLOUGHSHARE TO PULPIT

A Tale of the Battle of Life

BY

GORDON STABLES, M.D., C.M.

(_Surgeon Royal Navy_)

AUTHOR OF “THE CRUISE OF THE SNOWBIRD,” “JUST LIKE JACK,”
“CHILDREN OF THE MOUNTAIN,” ETC. ETC.

“Who walked in glory and in pride,
Following his plough along the mountain-side”

_SECOND EDITION._

London

JAMES NISBET & CO.

21 BERNERS STREET

_Printed by_ BALLANTYNE, HANSON & CO
_At the Ballantyne Press_

TO

MY OLD PROFESSOR

_SIR WM. D. GEDDES_

PRINCIPAL OF ABERDEEN UNIVERSITY

This Book is Dedicated

WITH SUNNY MEMORIES OF AULD LANG SYNE

BY

THE AUTHOR

CONTENTS

BOOK I.

_THE STUDENT AT HOME._

CHAP. PAGE

I. A DEATH THE MOST DREADFUL LOOMED BEFORE HIM 3

II. AT THE OLD FARM OF KILBUIE 11

III. THE PLOUGHMAN-STUDENT AT HOME 21

IV. AN IDYLLIC LIFE 30

V. SORROW NEVER COMES SINGLY--CHRIST-LIKE CHRISTIANITY 39

VI. SMASHING A BULLY--GENTLE WILLIE MUNRO 49

VII. THE LOVE-DARG--THE BALL AT KILBUIE 61

VIII. THE STORM--SNOWSHOES--A SLEIGH-RIDE 70

IX. THE ADVENTURE AT BRUCE’S CAVERN 81

BOOK II.

_UPS AND DOWNS OF UNIVERSITY LIFE._

I. THE GREAT COMPETITION 93

II. VICTORY--POOR HERBERT GRANT 104

III. HARD WORK AND EARNEST STRUGGLES 114

IV. A STRANGE DUEL--BAD BOYS’ PRANKS 126

V. AMONG THE WHITE HARES--HOGMANAY NIGHT 137

VI. IN SNOW-TIME--A TOWN AND GOWN 147

VII. THE INSTALLATION RIOT 158

VIII. BACK AT THE DEAR OLD FARM 168

IX. WISE WEE JOHN AND WITTY EPPIE 178

X. LIFE AT JOHN’S COTTAGE--THE FISHING 185

XI. SINKS BEFORE THE VERY EYES OF THOSE ON SHORE 195

XII. A STRANGE TERROR CREEPS OVER SANDIE’S HEART 205

BOOK III.

_FAR, FAR AT SEA._

I. “NAE POSSIBLE!” SAID TIBBIE 217

II. “REMEMBER, REMEMBER THIS FIFTH OF NOVEMBER” 227

III. “WE HAVE BEEN AS BROTHERS: WE ARE BROTHERS STILL” 237

IV. THE DANGER AND DIFFICULTY WAS TO COME 247

V. FIGHTING THE FIRELANDERS 257

VI. THE LAST OF THE BRAVE BARQUE “BOO-BOO-BOO” 267

VII. AFLOAT ON A DERELICT SHIP 273

VIII. CRUSOES--PREPARED FOR ANYTHING 281

IX. “O MY POOR, DEAR FATHER!” CRIED SANDIE 291

X. HOW IT ALL ENDED 302