the children — free for all scholars, but 6 pence for parents and outsiders.

Donations had previously been asked for from the pulpit and there was always

a liberal response. The minister also asked the farmers for a horse and cart

each and usually we had six or seven all dressed up for the occasion. Some

of the ploughmen made a special effort of this dressing and the minister gave

a prize for the best-dressed horse and cart.

‘We had flags for the occasion and there was a great amount of excitement.

If the morning was dull we had a walk up to David Mitchell’s at the back of

the Pleasance Row as he had a barometer in his passage which we thought had

some control over the weather.

‘We all gathered at the church with our mugs and got into the carts along

with urns, eatables and prizes, and set off cheering through the village with

everyone out to see us off to some place about five or six miles away.... On

arrival we had a cup of milk and a bun, the milk very often being provided by

the farm near at hand. Then we had games and races with prizes followed by

the tea, each class sitting in rows on the grass and there was plenty to eat. This

was a great day and we usually arrived home tired but happy, all the village

being out again to welcome us home.~.

‘Following the trip each year was the flower service on the Sunday

afternoon, when every scholar took a large bunch of flowers.

‘These were arranged on the table inside the choir seats and made a grand

show. The prize books were arranged along thp top of the organ and there

was a short service with a special address from the minister. Then we each

marched out for our prizes and finally the minister announced that the Sunday

School would commence again in seven weeks’ time. The flowers were sent

to St. Andrews and Dundee hospitals.

‘On the first Sunday of the New Year we again had another service and

we always had a special New Year Hymn. This was especially printed on a

New Year Card, and we each got one to keep. There was another address by

the minister. These two services were the only break in the Sunday School

routine.’

Another account of the Sabbath School Excursion and Flower Service in

the October, 1893 edition of the Strathkinness Parish Magazine which was a

supplement to Life and Work is also worth recording as it is a description of

a particular occasion:

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