NORMAN was a soldier and served his king and country abroad. While in Egypt, where he lived a profligate and drunken life, he lost his sight and was discharged from the army with a pension. On returning to his native parish, Norman observed that an extraordinary change had come over the people. “I found the Bible of God.” he says, “of which I was totally ignorant, among my friends; and schools amongst them for teaching the knowledge of that blessed Book.” It was in one of these schools that the Bible spoke to Norman and “opened an eye,” to quote his own quaint words, “that sin had ever kept
*The story of Blind Norman is told by Rev. Alexander Macleod, Uig, afterwards Free Church minister, Rogart, whose preaching was so abundantly blessed to the people of Uig and other places.—Editor.
sealed; it read to me my deeds, it led me to trace my former ways: yea, times, places, and deeds that were quite banished from my memory, were recalled into full view. It recorded a black catalogue against me, and seemed to fix my portion amongst the damned. I thought my case altogether a hopeless one, but the same Bible brought to my ears tidings of unutterable worth—salvation through a crucified Saviour.” Norman, after this great change, considered it his duty to do a little to help the Gaelic schools of the Society for the Propagation of Christian Knowledge. At first he thought he would pray that the Lord would open the sporanan (purses) of the people, but on further consideration he decided to contribute two shillings himself—a much larger sum than it is to-day. Next year when a collection was announced, Norman was tossed hither and thither as to the amount he should give. “I think,” he said to himself, “I shall give this year four shillings.” But he had no sooner come to this decision than something within him said: “Give what you gave last year, two shillings.” A debate now went on in his heart—sometimes the decision to give a smaller amount and sometimes a larger amount gaining the day. At times it would be four shillings, then five, ten, then back to five again. This was a real conflict to Norman and as he thought of Ananias and Sapphira (Acts, v. 1-11) he dared not go back. Then he was assailed by the inward voice that pled for the small offering as it said to him: “Ah, Norman, what are you about? you are now going crazy altogether? you are a poor blind man, you cannot work, you have a family of seven to support, and the money God gave you as a provision for your family, you should apply it to the object for which it was given, which will be most acceptable to Him.” “Then I began to think,” said Norman, “that my opposition was due to Satan and on reflecting on this for a time I was at last convinced it was. I started to my feet and said: ‘Ah! Satan, I will give a pound note every year I live, so the further you shall follow me the more you shall lose.’” It was after this manner and in this battle fought out at Uig that Norman gained his victory over the devil.