diff options
Diffstat (limited to '23069.txt')
| -rw-r--r-- | 23069.txt | 3078 |
1 files changed, 3078 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/23069.txt b/23069.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..33467c3 --- /dev/null +++ b/23069.txt @@ -0,0 +1,3078 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Janet McLaren, by W.H.G. Kingston + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Janet McLaren + The Faithful Nurse + +Author: W.H.G. Kingston + +Release Date: October 17, 2007 [EBook #23069] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK JANET MCLAREN *** + + + + +Produced by Nick Hodson of London, England + + + + +Janet McLaren, The Faithful Nurse, by W.H.G. Kingston. + +________________________________________________________________________ + +The Morrison family lose both parents in an epidemic. One little girl, +Margaret, and two little boys, David and Donald are left. There is an +old woman who has been a nurse in the family. There appear to be no +resources, and after selling up what there is, all rather too well-used +to fetch much money, old Janet takes the children to a big town on the +East coast of Scotland, where she rents a single garret room, and +settles in. She can send the boys to school, where they do well, but +she wishes to do what she can, despite her own limited ability, for +Margaret, at home. + +The boys do extremely well in their classes, winning books as prizes. A +boy called Alec Galbraith beats Donald to first place, but David comes +top in his class. Margaret has an illness, and is recommended sea +bathing to help her recovery. She almost drowns, and is saved by a boy +whom few recognise, but who turns out to be Alec. + +Poor old Janet labours away to bring up these children. Alec, now grown +up, goes to Canada, and in due course the boys follow him. The rest of +the book deals with what happens there, and how they lose touch with one +another for a while, and then regain it under strange circumstances. + +All comes out more or less well in the end. A short book, but an easy +one to read or listen to. + +________________________________________________________________________ + +JANET MCLAREN, THE FAITHFUL NURSE, BY W.H.G. KINGSTON. + + + +CHAPTER ONE. + +DONALD MORRISON, WHOSE WIFE HAS LATELY BEEN CALLED AWAY, DYING IN HIS +HIGHLAND MANSE, HIS CHILDREN LEFT DESTITUTE, ARE TAKEN CARE OF BY THEIR +OLD NURSE.--SHE CONVEYS THEM TO A SEA-SIDE TOWN, WHERE SHE TAKES UP HER +ABODE WITH THEM IN A SMALL ATTIC, AND LABOURS FOR THEIR MAINTENANCE, +WHILE SHE PLACES THE TWO BOYS, DONALD AND DAVID, AT SCHOOL.--HER ANXIETY +ABOUT THE EDUCATION OF MARGARET. + +In his Highland manse, far away among the hills, where he had dwelt as +pastor for many years over a wayward flock, Donald Morrison lay on a +sick-bed. The same fever which had carried off his dear wife a few +weeks before, had now stricken him down. He knew that he was dying. As +far as he himself was concerned he was willing to yield up his spirit to +his Maker; but what would become of his motherless children, his sweet +young Margaret, and his two boys, Donald and David, their principles +unformed, and ignorant of the evils of the world? + +"Father in heaven protect them," he ejaculated. "Give me faith to know +that Thou wilt take care of them, teach them and guide them in their +course through life." But he felt that his mind was clouded, his spirit +was cast down, the disease was making rapid progress. It was hard to +think, hard even to pray, gloomy ideas, and doubts, and fears, such as +assail even true Christians, crowded on his mind. He forgot--it was but +for a time--the sincere faith which had animated him through life. The +victory was not to be with the Evil One. + +Soon there came hope, and joy, and confidence. "All will be well with +the righteous, those who put on Christ's righteousness," he mentally +exclaimed, and peace came back to his soul. + +As he gazed out through the window he could see, down away on the wild +hill side, his children at play, their young spirits too buoyant to be +long suppressed by the recollection of their late bereavement, and +unconscious that they were soon to be deprived of their remaining +parent. His eye for a moment rested on the familiar landscape, the blue +waters of the loch glittering in the sunshine, a bleak moorland +sprinkled here and there with white-fleeced sheep stretching away on one +side, and on the other a valley, down which flowed, with ceaseless +murmurings, a rapid stream, a steep hill covered with gorse and heather, +the summit crowned with a wood of dark pines rising beyond it. Just +above the manse could be seen the kirk, which, with a few cottages, +composed the village; while scattered far around were the huts in which +the larger part of the pastor's flock abode. As he gazed forth on the +scene he prayed--he knew it might be for the last time--that his +successor might be more honoured than he feared he had been in bringing +home those wandering sheep to the true fold. + +Once more his thoughts turned to his little ones. "Janet," he +whispered, as a woman of middle age, of spare form, with strongly marked +features, betokening firmness and good sense, and clothed in the +humblest style of attire, glided noiselessly into the room. "I feel +that I am going." He lifted up his pale and shrivelled hand, and +pointed to his children. "What is to become of them, it is hard to +leave them destitute, utterly destitute, not a friend in the world from +whom they may claim assistance." + +"Dinna talk so, minister," said the woman, approaching him, and placing +his arm beneath the bed-clothes. "Ye yoursel have often told us to put +faith in God, that He is the Father of the fatherless, and the husband +of the widow. The dear bairns will nay want while He looks after them. +I hanna dwelt forty years or more with the mistress that's gone, and her +sainted mother before her, to desert those she has left behind, while I +ha' finger to work with, and eyes to see. I'll never forget either to +impress on their minds all the lessons you have taught me. It would +have been little worth ganging to kirk if I had not remembered them too. +I am a poor weak body mysel, it will not be me but He who watches over +us will do it, let that comfort you, minister. The bairns will never be +so badly off as ye are thinking, now that fever has made body and soul +weak, but the soul will soon recover, and ye will rejoice with joy +unspeakable. I repeat but your ain words, minister, and I ken they are +true." + +"Ye are right, Janet. My soul is reviving," whispered the dying man. +"Call in the bairns. I would have them round me once more. The end is +near." + +Janet knew that her master spoke too truly; though it grieved her loving +heart to put a stop to the play of the happy young creatures, and to +bring them to a scene of sorrow and death. "But it maun be," she said +to herself, as she went to the door of the manse. "He who kens all +things kens what is best, and the minister is ganging away from his +toils and troubles here to that happy home up there, where he will meet +the dear mistress, and, better still, be with Him who loved him, and +shed His blood to redeem him, as he himsel has often and often told us +from the pulpit." + +She went some way down the hill, unwilling to utter her usual shrill +call to the young ones. "Ye maun come in now, bairns," she said, in a +gentle tone; when the children came running up on seeing her beckoning. +"The minister is sair ill, and ye'll be good and quiet, and listen to +what he says to you, he is ganging awa on a long long journey, and ye'll +promise to do what he'll tell you till ye are called to the same place +he'll reach ere lang." + +Something in her tone struck Margaret, who took her hand, and looking up +into her face burst into tears. She already knew what death was. +Donald, the eldest boy, had lingered a short distance behind. + +David, seeing Margaret's tears, with a startled, anxious look, took +Janet's other hand. "Is father ganging to heaven?" he asked, as they +got close to the house, showing how his mind had been occupied as they +came along. + +"I am sure of it, and it is a happy, happy place," was the answer. +"Ye'll speak gently, Donald," she said, turning round to the eldest boy, +who, ignorant of his father's state, might not, she feared, restrain his +exuberant spirits. + +There was no need of the caution, for the minister's altered look struck +even Donald with awe. Janet led the children up to the bedside. The +dying father stretched out his hands, and placed them on their heads, as +they clustered up to him, while his already dim eyes turned a fond +glance at their young fresh faces. "You will listen to Janet when I am +away, and pray God to help you to meet me in heaven. Make His word your +guide, and you cannot mistake the road." + +"I will try to mind that, and tell Donald and David, too," was all that +Margaret could answer. + +"Canna ye stay longer with us, father?" asked Donald, touching the +minister's hand, as he was wont to do when speaking to him. + +"He we should all obey has called me," said Mr Morrison. "May He bless +you, and guard and keep you. Bless you! bless you!" His voice was +becoming fainter and fainter, and so he died, with his hands on his +children's heads, his loving eyes on their cherub faces. + +"Blessed are they who die in the Lord," said Janet, as she observed the +smile which seemed to rest on the minister's features. Taking the +children, scarcely yet conscious of what had occurred, she led them from +the room, and then stepped back to close the eyes of the dead. + +Having put the sobbing orphans to bed, she hastened out to obtain the +assistance of a neighbour in preparing the body for burial. She +insisted on paying the woman for the office she had performed, +remarking, as she did so, "I have the charge of the manse and the bairns +till the minister's friends come to take them awa', and they would na' +wish to be beholden to any one, or to leave any of his lawful debts +unpaid." In the same way she took upon herself the arrangement and +expense of the funeral. She sold the goods and chattels, as her master +had directed her to do, for the benefit of his children; but they were +old and worn, and the purchasers were few and poor, so that the proceeds +placed but a very limited sum in Janet's hands for the maintenance of +the little ones. As she received them she observed, "It's as muckle as +I could ha' hoped for; but yet those who had benefited by his +ministrations might have shown their gratitude by geeing a trifle above +the value for the chattels." Human nature is much the same in an +Highland glen as it is in other parts of the world. + +The day arrived when Janet and her charges must quit the manse. She had +sent up to Jock McIntyre, the carrier, to call for the kist which +contained her's and the children's clothing, as he passed down the glen. +The most weighty article was the minister's Bible, with which, although +it might have brought more than anything else, she would not part. She +had reserved also a few other books for the children's instruction. + +Taking Margaret and David by the hand, Donald leading the way with a +bundle of small valuables over his shoulder, she set forth from the +house which had sheltered her for many long years, into the cold world. +Margaret's eyes were filled with tears, and David cast many a longing +glance behind him, while Donald, with his bundle, trudged steadily on +with his gaze ahead, as if he was eager to overtake something in the +distance. Whatever thoughts were passing in his mind he did not make +them known. + +Janet's head was bent slightly forward, her countenance calm, almost +stern. A difficult task was before her, and she meant, with God's +grace, to perform it. She had not told the children where she was +going, though she had made up her own mind on the subject. Several of +the cottagers came out to bid them farewell; but as she had made cronies +of none of them, there was little exhibition of feeling, and she had +taken good care that no one should be aware of the destitute condition +in which the orphans were left. Humble presents and offers of +assistance would undoubtedly have been made, but Janet shrunk from the +feeling that her charges should be commiserated by those among whom +their parents had lived, and she returned but brief thanks to the +farewells offered her. She would far rather have been left to pursue +her way without interruption. "Fare-ye-weel, neighbours, just tack Miss +Margaret's, and the laddies, and my ain thanks, but we canna delay, for +Jock will be spearing for us, and we ha' a lang journey to make before +nightfall," she said, bending her head towards one and the other as she +wended her way among them down the hill side. + +Janet had a horror of cities and towns, having been bred and lived all +her life in the Highlands, with the exception of a brief visit she once +paid, with Mrs Morrison's mother, to beautiful --, on the east coast. +It being the only town with which she was acquainted, she had made up +her mind to go there. + +She had heard also that there was a school in the place, and to that +school Donald and David must forthwith be sent. Without learning, she +was well aware, she could not expect them to get on in the world as she +wished. With regard to Margaret, the consideration of how she was to be +brought up in a way befitting a young lady, caused her more anxiety than +anything else. She might, indeed, teach her many useful things, but she +was herself incompetent, she felt, to train the little damsel's manners, +or to give her instruction from books. Still, "where there's a will +there's a way," she said to herself, "and I ha' a tongue in my head, and +that tongue I can wag whene'er it can do the bairns good." + +The journey was a long one, and though honest Jock charged but little +for their conveyance, a large hole was made in Janet's means before they +arrived at the end of it. + +The gaunt grave woman, with her three fresh blooming children, caused +some curiosity, as she went about looking for lodgings. A single upper +room was all she could venture to engage. Here she took up her quarters +with her young charges, and thanking her merciful Father who had brought +her thus far in safety, she felt like a hen which had safely gathered +her brood under her wings. She furnished her abode with two +truckle-beds, one for the boys, the other for Margaret and herself. She +procured also a small table and four three-legged stools, a similar +number of mugs and plates, and a few other inexpensive articles. + +That same evening, determined not to lose a moment of time, with well +used spinning-wheel set up, she began to spin away as if she had been +long settled, while the children played around her, glad once more to +find themselves alone, and free from the gaze of strangers. She waited +till they were asleep, and then set to work, to manufacture out of the +minister's best suit some fresh garments for the boys, such as she +considered befitting their condition. Her busy needle was going the +greater part of the night, still she was up betimes, and again at work. +She, however, allowed the children to sleep on as long as they would. +"They will weary up here in this sma' room, the poor bairns, instead of +running about on their aine free heathery hills, and I must na' spare +the time to take them out on the links just now till their clays are +ready, and I can send them to school." + +One of those admirable institutions in Scotland for the education of all +classes enabled Janet to carry out her project without difficulty. Mr +and Mrs Morrison had carefully taught their children, and the two boys +were well advanced for their age. The master of the school, on hearing +who they were, at once received the orphans, and promised, as far as he +could, to befriend them. "If you will be obedient boys, and try and say +your lessons well, you will get on," he observed. + +Donald looked him full in the face, and at once said he would try, and +he always meant what he said. David made no answer, but clung to +Janet's gown, as if unwilling to be left behind among so many strange +people. + +"Ye will be back in the afternoon, and we will be spearing for you, +bairns," she said. "They are precious, sir, very precious," she added, +turning to the master. "If they are shown the right way, as their +father showed it them, they will walk in it; but the deil's a cunning +deceiver, and ever ganging about to get hold of young souls as weel as +old ones. Ye'll doubtless warn them, and keep them out of bad company." + +"I'll do my best, my good woman," answered the master, struck at Janet's +earnestness for the interests of her charges; and having bid her +farewell, he led off Donald and David, while Janet, taking Margaret by +the hand, returned to her lodging to resume her daily labour, well +satisfied with the arrangements she had made for the education of the +two boys. + +Donald and David returned safe home in the evening from their first day +at school. Donald was full of all he had seen and done, and was +especially delighted at finding that he was superior to many boys of his +own age. Having made several friends, he said he thought school a very +fine place. He might have gone out to play a game of golf on the links, +and he would have done so had he not promised Janet to return at once, +but he hoped that she would let him go another day. David had not been +behind hand with his brother in his class, but he had not been so happy, +and the boys had asked him questions to which he had been unable to +frame replies, without betraying the truth, which Janet had especially +charged them not to do. + +"They wanted to ken all about us," exclaimed Donald, "and I told them +that they must just mind their ain business; my home might be a castle +in the Highlands some day, and whatever it might now be, I was contented +with it." + +"A very proper answer," exclaimed Janet, smiling for the first time for +many a long day. "Ye maunna be ashamed of your home, or those in it, +laddie; just gang on doing your duty, but dinna mind what young or old, +or rich or poor, think of ye." + +"But I said nothing, I would na answer them," said David, sobbing. + +"Ye did weel, too, laddie," observed Janet. "The wise man knows where +his strength lies, the weakest may thus come off the conqueror." + +She had now to make arrangements for Margaret's education. This was +more difficult than for that of the boys. She could not trust her +sweet, gentle, blue-eyed maid among girls who might be rough or +unmannerly, and yet she could not possibly afford to send her to one of +the upper class of schools. Margaret already read much better than she +did, for her own attainments extended no further than a limited amount +of reading and writing. The few books, besides the Bible, she had +brought away from the minister's library, were mostly on theological +subjects, somewhat, she felt sure, beyond Margaret's comprehension. She +lived on dry crusts for many a day to sanction her extravagance in +purchasing several books, one after the other, suited to the little +maiden's taste. Margaret was delighted to receive them, and while Janet +sat and span she read them aloud to her, and amply rewarded was the kind +nurse for her self-denial. Not dreaming that Margaret could possibly +educate herself, she still continued turning in her mind how that +desirable object should be accomplished. + +"Dinna ye think that if we ask God He will show us the way," said +Margaret, one day, looking up into the face of her nurse, who had made +some remark on the subject. + +"We will do as ye propose, my sweet bairn," answered Janet. "He is sure +to hear us," and, accordingly, when the chapter from the Bible had been +read, which Janet never omitted doing, she, with her young flock around +her, knelt in prayer, as had been the custom at the manse, and she did +not fail to ask for guidance and direction in the matter which had so +sorely perplexed her mind. + + + +CHAPTER TWO. + +THE BOYS OBTAIN PRIZES.--JANET DECLINES RECEIVING VISITS FROM ALEC +GALBRAITH, OR ANY OF THEIR SCHOOL-MATES.--MARGARET'S ILLNESS.--IS +ORDERED FRESH AIR AND SEA-BATHING.--CARRIED OFF BY A WAVE, AND SAVED BY +ALEC GALBRAITH.--MARGARET AND HER BROTHERS ARE INTRODUCED TO HIS MOTHER. + +It gave joy to the loving heart of Janet, when one day her two bairns +came home, each with a prize under his arm. + +"But mine is only the second in my form; David got the first prize in +his," said Donald, as they exhibited their books to the eager eyes of +their nurse and sister. + +"Weel, they are bonny--they are bonny," exclaimed Janet, as still +mechanically spinning away, she bent over the books which Margaret, with +sisterly eagerness, was examining. + +"I thought I should have had the first, but another fellow ran me hard +and gained it," said Donald. + +"Who was he?" asked Margaret, looking up, inclined to quarrel with the +boy who had deprived her brother of the honour which she thought ought +to have been his. + +"A very fine fellow--one Alec Galbraith--he beat me fairly; and there's +as much in him as any boy at school." Margaret felt that she had been +too hasty in her conclusions. "I intended to bring him here for you to +see, Margaret," continued Donald. "Though he lives in a fine house, and +has a father and mother, and several big brothers away in foreign parts, +I am not going to let him suppose that I am ashamed of my home. He has +often asked me, and I am determined to be able to say, `That's where I +live, and now what do you think of me?'" + +"Nay, nay, my bairn, dinna ye bring him here," exclaimed Janet. She +thought she knew more of the world than her young charge, and scarcely +comprehended his independent spirit, though her own in reality was very +similar. "He will just be laughing at you afterwards, and tell others +that ye live in an attic with a poor old woman." + +"He had better not," exclaimed Donald, in an angry tone. "But I ken he +will na do ony sic thing--he is an honest fellow, and if he likes me it +is for what I am, and not for where I live." + +"Dinna ask Galbraith to come here," put in David. "Though he may be the +same to you, he may be letting out to others, and maybe they will ne'er +he so kind in their remarks, and will be asking to come here +themselves." + +This last observation of David's decided Janet. "We will ne'er have +Alec Galbraith, nor any other of your school-mates, coming here, Donald, +so just tell them that Janet McLaren does not wish to receive visitors," +she exclaimed, in a more authoritative tone than she usually employed. +Donald promised to act as she desired, and Alec Galbraith continued to +be known only by name to her and Margaret. + +Although the two boys, in consequence of the active life they led going +to and from school, and playing on the open links, retained their +health, Margaret, unaccustomed to the confinement to which she was +subjected, began to grow thin and pale. Her cheeks lost their bloom, +her spirit, and the joyous elasticity of her step, were gone. Janet at +length perceived the change in the sweet child, and saw that something +must be done for her. She took her to a doctor, who advised fresh air, +with a romp every day on the links, and sea-bathing. The remedies were +cheap; but Janet could not think of allowing Margaret to go out without +her, and she could not afford the time unless she took out her +knitting-needles, which usually employed her fingers when her +spinning-wheel was laid aside. + +The next morning the old Highland woman was to be seen pacing the links, +knitting as she walked, while Margaret, delighted with her newly gained +freedom, went bounding away before her, only wishing that she had her +brothers to share her happiness. When they came home in the evening she +easily persuaded Janet to go out again; and as the three children set +off together, they felt as they had not since they left their Highland +home. Still, as the doctor had prescribed bathing, Janet, who had paid +for the advice, considered that it would be throwing away the siller if +it was not carried out. + +The maidens, of high and low degree, in that unpretending little town, +both then and long after, were accustomed to enjoy the salt water in a +primitive fashion. Neither tents nor bathing machines were thought of. +Each matron stood ready with a large sheet, under which her charge put +on her bathing-dress, and then ran off to frolic amid the waves, +resuming her wonted garments in the same way, after her bath. Margaret, +till now, had never seen the ocean. It inspired no fear--only delight +and pleasure--and she hurried into the water like a sea nymph, enjoying +its bracing freshness. For many successive mornings she went down, in +company with several other girls of various ages, to bathe and sport +with glee in the bright waters of a little bay, sheltered on either side +by high rocks from the gaze of passers by. + +One morning the sea, though still bright, came rolling in with greater +force than usual, dashing the sparkling spray high up against the dark +rocks. Several of the other girls exclaimed that they should enjoy a +delightful bath, and Janet, unaware of the treacherous character of the +ocean, did not hesitate to allow Margaret to join them. Now a wave came +rolling in, sweeping in a snowy sheet of foam high up the beach, now it +receded with a murmuring sound over the rounded pebbles. The girls, +taking each other's hands, ventured in as far as they were accustomed to +go, waiting till they saw a wave approaching, when they hurried back +again up the beach, where they could escape its force. Margaret, as the +last comer, was the outer one of the line. Not comprehending the +necessity of caution, she let go her companion's hand at the moment the +rest of the party were making their escape from the coming sea. In an +instant she felt herself lifted off her feet; she endeavoured to spring +forward, but the wave had her in its grasp, and, as with a loud roar it +receded, she was carried away towards the entrance of the bay. + +For the first moment Janet did not perceive the danger of her darling. +"Oh my bairn! my bairn!" she shrieked out, when she discovered what had +occurred, and throwing down the sheet she rushed into the water vainly +attempting to reach her. Several of the elder girls, horror-stricken, +held her back, scarcely conscious of what they were doing. Louder and +louder she raised her imploring cries for help, as she endeavoured to +break loose from the agitated group surrounding her. + +Margaret continued floating on the surface; but was every instant being +borne further away towards the white-topped waves which rose outside the +bay. At that instant a lad was seen to run along the top of the rocks +till he neared the end, when, without a moment's hesitation, he sprung +off into the water, and swam boldly towards the little girl. She had +not from the first struggled, and she lay perfectly quiet, while he +grasped her dress with one hand and struck out with the other towards +the beach. The danger of both was great. Now they appeared to have +made good progress, and now the sea carried them out again towards the +mouth of the bay; but the lad still swam on with undaunted courage +towards the eager arms which were stretched out to assist him in +landing. At length he succeeded in getting near enough to allow Janet +to grasp her charge, and once having her in her arms, she bore her away +up the beach to a warm nook under the rocks, while the lad, his task +accomplished, made good his footing, and then, without waiting to +receive the congratulations of the girls, and the thanks which Janet +would have poured out, hurried off towards his home to change his wet +clothing. + +Margaret, who had fainted, quickly returned to consciousness; and from +the remarks she made while Janet was putting on her dry clothing, she +seemed scarcely aware of what had occurred, nor till the other girls, +who had speedily dressed, gathered round her, did she understand the +danger in which she had been placed. + +"Who is he? Can ony o' ye tell me the brave laddie's name? that I may +thank him and love him for saving my bairn," asked Janet. Some of the +girls gave one name, some another. + +"Na, na, he is neither o' them," exclaimed one of the elder girls. "He +is young Alec Galbraith, whose father and mother live in the big house +over the links there. He gangs to the school, and my brothers ken him +weel." + +Taking her bairn in her arms, Janet hastened homewards. The boys had +already started for school, ignorant of the danger to which their sister +had been exposed. Janet placed her on the bed, and now, for the first +time, giving way to her feelings, burst into tears. "I'll ne'er again +trust you to that treacherous sea, my own sweet bairn," she exclaimed, +bending over her. "If it had taken you away, I could na have lived to +come home and see the poor boys breaking their hearts, and they would +have had no one left to care for them. But our God is kind and +merciful, and we maun lift up our hearts to Him in praise and +thanksgiving." + +"I will try to do so, dear Janet, though I feel that I cannot be +grateful enough to Him," said Margaret, in a faint voice, and +comprehending perhaps now far more than before, from the unusual +agitation of her nurse, the fearful peril through which she had been +preserved. "And, Janet," she added, in a whisper, "I should like to +thank, with my whole heart, the brave boy who swam out to me and brought +me safely on shore. I remember seeing him running along the rocks and +coming towards me, and then I felt sure I was safe." + +"Yes, we will thank him. If I had to live a hundred years, I would +thank him to the end of my days," exclaimed Janet. "But his parents are +rich people, and a poor body like me can give him ne'er more than empty +thanks." + +"But if they come from the bottom of our hearts he'll prize them," +observed Margaret. "And do ye ken who he is?" + +"Ay, that I do--he is Donald's class-mate, no other than Alec Galbraith, +your brother is always talking about." + +"Oh, I am so glad," exclaimed Margaret. "I can believe all Donald says +of him. I must go with you and thank him too, and I will never more be +jealous though he keeps at the head of the class, and Donald is only +second. He must be as brave as he is clever, or he would not have +risked his life to save that of a poor little stranger girl like me, and +then to have gone away without even stopping to be thanked." + +Janet guessed that young Galbraith was not likely at that time to be +found at his house, and indeed Margaret was not fit to go out again at +present. She therefore waited till the boys came home in the evening +from school. They had heard nothing of what had occurred. All they +knew was, that Alec Galbraith had come later than usual to school, that +the master had received his excuse's, and that he had performed his +tasks with even more than his ordinary ability. They listened with +panting breath to the account Janet gave of the occurrence. + +"Bless him," cried Donald, "I will never again try to take him down. I +would rather he had done it than any other fellow in the school." + +"I will give him all my prizes, and pray for him as long as I live," +exclaimed David. + +Janet thought Margaret sufficiently recovered in the evening to venture +out. "We must go with you," exclaimed Donald. "I want to take +Galbraith by the hand, and tell him all I feel." + +The party set off--Janet, as usual, taking her knitting as she quitted +her wheel, from which her active fingers had been spinning yarn even +while the conversation above described had been going on. Margaret was +rather pale, and somewhat weak, but her sturdy brothers supported her on +either side. Though she was eager to thank Alec Galbraith, she felt +somewhat timid at the thoughts of encountering him and his parents. + +"I know Alec well enough to be sure that he will make light of the +matter," observed Donald. "He will tell you that he ran no danger, and +enjoyed the swim. But that must not make us less grateful to him. I do +not know what sort of people his parents are--perhaps high and mighty, +and may be angry with you for placing their son in danger. However, I +don't care what they say; nothing shall make any difference in my +feelings towards Alec." + +"Nor in mine either," whispered Margaret. + +"Nor in mine," said David. "I only wish that I had more to offer him, +not that I can ever pay him, but just to show my love and gratitude." + +Would that people were as grateful to God for the benefits daily +received, and above all, to Jesus, for the great salvation He has +wrought for us, as these young people were to the brave boy who had +risked his life to save that of little Margaret. + +The above conversation took place as they approached the handsome +residence of Mr Galbraith. Alec had seen them. He ran out to meet his +friends. "I am so glad you have come, Donald. My mother wants to know +you--for I have often told her about you, and how hard you pressed me in +the class. And is this little girl your sister? Why!" and he looked up +from Margaret to Janet, and blushed, as if he had done something to be +ashamed of. "I do believe that I had the pleasure of towing you on +shore this morning; but don't talk about it--it was no trouble at all, +and I have often wetted these old clothes through and through before." + +"Oh, but I maun talk about it," exclaimed Janet, grasping his hands, and +pouring out her thanks with all the impetuosity which her grateful +feelings prompted. + +"I knew that was what you would say, Alec," exclaimed Donald. "But we +know better about the danger and trouble. You might have been carried +away by the sea, for I am very sure you would never have let go of +Maggie while you had life." + +Margaret tried to say something, but she could never exactly remember +what words she uttered. + +"If there was any danger, I am sure I did not think about it," said +Alec. "And I am very glad, for your sakes that we got safe to shore. +But now come in and see my mother, for I have often told her that as you +would not lot me go to pay you a visit, we must get you to come here." + +Mrs Galbraith, a very amiable and gentle looking woman, received her +visitors with the greatest kindness, and tried at once to make Janet at +home. The old nurse expressed to her the gratitude she felt to her +young son for the service he had rendered. + +"It is indeed a happiness to me to find that my boy has behaved rightly +and bravely," answered the lady. "It would have been a sad thing if the +life of that sweet little girl had been lost, and I can only rejoice +that my dear boy was the means of preserving it. I should like to +become better acquainted with her, and you will, I hope, allow her and +her brothers to remain here. I'll send them home at night, or perhaps +you would like to come for them." + +"I'll come for them, mem, and am grateful to you for your kindness," +said Janet, who dreaded any one visiting her humble abode, while, at the +same time her heart beat with satisfaction at the hope that at length +her dear little Margaret might obtain a friend who would give her that +assistance in her education which she herself was unable to afford. + +Leaving the children with their new friends, she cheerfully went to her +solitary home to sit and spin, and think over what might be their future +fate in life; and as she span many were the schemes she drew out in her +imagination of their destiny. The boys would do well she was sure, +though they might have a hard tussle with the world. Donald would do +battle bravely with any foes he might have to encounter, and David would +not be behind hand, although he might meet them in a more quiet manner. +Maybe he will wish to follow in the steps of his father, and become a +minister of the gospel, she thought. Weel, weel, its a true saying, +that "Man proposes, and God disposes." If we trust in Him all will be +for the best. + + + +CHAPTER THREE. + +MRS. GALBRAITH PROMISES TO BEFRIEND MARGARET.--ALEC'S FIRST VISIT TO +JANET'S ATTIC.--HER SCHEMES FOR CLOTHING AND SUPPORTING THE BOYS.-- +ASSISTED BY A KIND BANKER AND OTHERS.--THE BOYS MAKE GOOD PROGRESS AT +SCHOOL.--JANET'S HUMBLE FAITH REWARDED. + +The children had a great deal to tell of all they had seen at Mistress +Galbraith's when Janet came to take them home. + +"She is, indeed, a very kind lady," said Margaret. "She told me that +once she had a little daughter just like _me_, but God had taken her to +Himself, and asked me if I would like to come and see her very often; +but I said that I couldna leave you, Janet, all alone, when the boys +were at school, with no one to talk to you." + +"I can talk to myself, Margaret, ye ken," answered Janet. "I would na +hae ye say nae to the good lady, for I like her looks and her way of +speaking, and she may be a true friend to ye. And if she asks you again +ye will just say ye will do what she pleases, and that ye are obliged to +her. And what do you think of the big house and the great people?" she +asked, turning to Donald. + +"It's all very braw and fine; but I would rather hae a house of my ain, +and you in it, Janet," answered Donald. + +"May be you will get that, laddie, some day." + +"I hope I may; and then I'll ask Alec to come and stay with me, since +you will na let him come here," said Donald. + +"I could na deny him onything--so, if he wishes to come, he must come," +said Janet. + +"Then I will tell him," said Donald, "and I am sure he will not carry +tales to the other boys." + +The next morning Alec found out the house on his road to school, and +made his way up to Janet's attic. He tapped gently at the door. Donald +went out to meet him. + +"I told you we did not live in a fine house, and so you see," he +observed, pointing round the room. "But I am sure you do not think the +worse of us, or our good nurse. We should have been starving if it was +not for her--that's what I have got to tell you." + +"No, indeed, I do not think the worse of you or her," answered Alec. +"If I thought it would vex you I would not have come; and I promise you +that I will not say a word to others which you would not wish me to say. +But my mother desired me to call and invite your sister Margaret to +spend the day with her, if Mistress Janet will give her leave." + +"She will go, and gladly, as soon as the boys are off to school," said +Janet, answering at once for Margaret. + +"Come along then," exclaimed Alec to his companions. "My mother is +longing to see Miss Margaret again, and we will not delay her." + +As soon as the boys were away Janet set off with her charge. Mrs +Galbraith received her with the greatest kindness, and would have had +Janet to stay with her also. + +"Thank ye, Mistress Galbraith," answered Janet. "But I ha' my household +affairs to attend to, and they will na get on very weel unless I am +present." + +From that day forward Janet escorted Margaret to the house of her new +friend every morning at the same hour. + +Janet greatly missed her young companion, but she sat on in her solitude +rejoicing in the thought that Margaret was gaining the instruction she +so much desired her to obtain. As she span and span she turned in her +mind various plans for supporting the children and for ultimately +establishing them in life. + +"Their claithes will soon be worn out. Donald is already too big for +his, and though they may do for David for a few months longer, with +patching and mending, I would na' like to ha' the poor boys pointed out +by their school-mates as young gaberlunzies; and the siller I get for +the yarn will only just pay the rent and find porridge for the bairns," +she thought to herself. "The Bible says that it is the duty of +Christians to support the fatherless and widows. I would na' beg for +mysel' while I ha' got fingers to spin wee, but I maun nay let my pride +stand in the way o' the bairns. They maun be clothed and fed, so I need +find out those who ha' got the means, and gi'e them the privilege of +helping the young orphans. The good lady, Mistress Galbraith, will look +after Margaret, I ha' little fear o' that, but I canna let her ha' the +charge of the boys." + +Janet having made up her mind to act never lost time in setting about +it. As yet she was unacquainted with the names of any of the people in +the place, with the exception of Margaret's new friend. This knowledge +she had to gain; but, as she said to herself, "wi' a tongue in her +mouth, and lugs to listen wee, that was na' a difficult matter." + +She first visited the few shops at which she dealt, and getting into +conversation with the masters or mistresses, quickly gleaned from them +some of the desired information. Having, with much acuteness, made up +her mind as to those most likely to respond to her appeal, she went +forth the next morning, having deposited Margaret with Mrs Galbraith, +to commence the series of visits she proposed making. + +The first was to Mr McTavish, the banker, an elder in the church, and a +man much respected, she heard. He listened to her tale with his keen +eyes fixed on her countenance. "You speak the truth," he said at +length, putting his hand in his pocket and drawing out his purse. + +"Na, na, sir, I dinna want the siller," said Janet. "If you ha' a mind, +sir, to gie a jacket or a pair of breeks to the minister's son, or ony +other article of dress ye think fit, I'll be grateful, but I dinna come +to beg. It must be a free gift on your part. I dinna want any man's +siller." + +The banker, somewhat amused at the good woman's reply, promised to +supply Donald with a new suit; and writing an order to his clothier, +desired her to present it, and obtain what she wanted. Highly delighted +with her success she took Donald in the evening to be measured for a +suit, having first begged the master not to allow the boy to know how it +was obtained. + +"Its not that I would na' wish him to be thankful, but it would be bad +for him to feel that he is supported by charity. And I will pray for +blessings on the head of the good gentleman, and the day may come when +he is able to show that he is sensible of his kindness," she observed. + +The worthy clothier appreciated her motives. "You have another bairn, I +understand, to look after," he observed. "When he is in want of a suit +let me know, and I will try what I can do for him." + +Janet thanked him for his kindness, and promised not to forget his +offer. + +She was not always so successful as in these first instances. Some +people refused to believe her story, or declared that they had already +more people looking to them for assistance than they could support; +others again gave full credit to her tale, and admiring her faithfulness +and honesty, were glad of an opportunity of helping the destitute +orphans of whom she had nobly taken charge. Frequently she brought home +a supply of food, but not a particle of it would she touch herself. "It +was given for the fatherless bairns, and they alone have the right to +it," she would say, contenting herself with a bowl of brose, the usual +coarse fare on which she subsisted. + +The sale of her yarn enabled her to pay her rent, and to find food for +herself, and a portion for the children. Her own rough garments +appeared never to wear out, while the roof of a neighbouring house below +the window of her attic afforded her a drying ground on washing days. +Money she would never receive; but as the history of the orphans became +known, she was amply supplied with clothing for them of all +descriptions. + +Donald and David continued to make excellent progress at school, +obtaining the approbation of all their masters, and gaining, in addition +to Alec Galbraith, several friends among their school-mates. + +"Your boys, if they continue as they have began, are sure to do well, +Mrs McLaren," said the head-master, when she went to pay their school +fees. + +"Weel, sir, I am sure too o' that, for the prayers of the minister and +my dear mistress could na' have been offered in vain, and though I am +but an humble woman, it is the chief thing I ask o' God, and I ken He +will na' refuse my request." + +Margaret went daily to Mrs Galbraith, but that lady did not offer to +take her entirely under her charge. She had her reasons for this; her +own health was failing, and she felt that should she be taken away, and +the young girl be again thrown back on Janet's hands she would feel the +change more than if she continued to reside with her kind nurse. +Although she had never visited Janet, she guessed the limited +accommodation her attic must afford, and had, therefore, engaged, giving +Janet the money to pay the rent, another small chamber on the same +floor, which was devoted to the use of the two boys. Janet gladly +accepted the offer. She felt that as the children were growing up such +an arrangement was absolutely necessary for their comfort, though it +might have been beyond her means to supply it. + +When the days shortened the two boys might have been seen in their +little room, seated on their three-legged stools, with a table, +manufactured by themselves, between them, their heads bent down close +together over their books, to obtain as much light as the farthing +candle, placed in the most advantageous position, could afford. When +the cold of winter came on they were compelled to seek Janet's +fire-side, where she would sit silent as a mouse, watching them with +fond eyes, as they conned their tasks, while Margaret, on the other +side, actively plied her needle, either making her own clothes, or +performing some work for her kind patroness. Margaret had lost the +bloom of childhood, and though her features were not sufficiently +regular to allow her to be considered decidedly pretty, she had grown +into an interesting girl, with an amiable expression of countenance--a +faithful index of her mind. Donald had become a strong active fine +looking lad, with features which betokened firmness and decision of +character, while David, though not so robust as his brother, was +handsomer, and a stranger, seeing the two together, would at once have +pronounced him possessed of more mildness and gentleness than his elder +brother, and less able to buffet with the rude world. + + + +CHAPTER FOUR. + +DONALD HAVING RECEIVED AN OFFER FROM MR. TODD OF AN APPOINTMENT IN +CANADA, ACCEPTS IT, AND PREPARES FOR HIS DEPARTURE.--MRS. GALBRAITH'S +UNHAPPINESS ABOUT HER SON'S RELIGIOUS PRINCIPLES.--ALEC RECEIVING AN +APPOINTMENT IN CANADA, SAILS WITHOUT RETURNING HOME, TO HIS MOTHER'S AND +MARGARET'S GRIEF.--DONALD ALSO LEAVES HOME FOR HIS DESTINATION. + +Janet and David were the sole occupants of the attic. The lad was +seated at his little table with his hooks and papers before him, Janet +looking on wondering at the strange figures he rapidly formed as he +worked away at his mathematical studies. The weather was still cold, +and she had pressed him to keep her company, and enjoy the warmth of her +fire, which the early season rendered necessary. Not a word had she +uttered lest it might interrupt him, when, as she drew forth the thread +from her wheel, which had been idle but a few hours out of the +twenty-four, Sabbath days excepted, since her arrival at her present +abode, David looked up and inquired how many yards she could spin in a +minute. + +"I ne'er thought anent it," she answered. "But why do ye ask, my +bairn?" + +"Because I wish to calculate how many times the yarn you have spun since +we came here would encircle the globe," answered David. + +"Oh, but to be sure a puir body like o' me could na' do sic a thing as +that," she exclaimed, rather aghast at the very idea of such a +performance. David, however, marking the yarn with his pen, bade her +spin away while he counted sixty. + +He was engaged in his calculations when a quick eager step was heard on +the stair, and Donald, his countenance glowing with health and +animation, entered the room. + +"Janet, I have had an offer, a magnificent offer," he exclaimed, +breathless from some other cause beyond the mere effort of mounting the +stairs. "I would consult no one, and would tell no one till I had seen +you. I was playing at golf on the links, when, rushing along, I ran +right against a gentleman who was standing watching the game. I stopped +to beg his pardon, when, looking up in his face, I was sure he was Mr +Todd, he who was grieve o' the laird of Glenvarlock, and used to come +often to the manse and ha' a crack with our father. Many is the time he +has carried me in front of him on his horse, and lent me a pony to ride. +I asked him--I was right--I told him my name, and that I was at the +High School here, and Margaret and David and I were living with you. He +shook me warmly by the hand, and said he was very glad to meet with me, +inquiring what I thought of doing, and many other questions. He then +begged, as soon as the game was over, that I would accompany him to his +lodgings. `I have been thinking of something for you, Donald,' he said, +when I rejoined him. `I am preparing to start, as soon as the spring +commences, at the head of a party of emigrants to settle on a large +tract of land in Upper Canada, and I want the assistance of one or two +active young men, with heads on their shoulders, who have their way to +make in the world. I have been out there for two years, and know the +wants of the country. Active surveyors are especially required, and I +can assure you that you will be able to obtain a sufficient knowledge of +surveying, for all practical purposes, before we start. All your +expenses will be paid, and you will receive a small salary to commence +with. Say that you will accompany me, and I will not look elsewhere for +an assistant.' I told him I could not say yes till I had asked you, +Janet, and talked to Margaret and David. I do not like to leave you +all, but you see I may make my fortune, and have a home for you all to +come to some day; and if I stay in Scotland it may be long before I can +obtain a situation, and longer still before I can have a house of my +own." + +Janet remained silent for some minutes, gazing fondly at Donald, +revolving the matter in her mind, with her lips apart as if the +announcement had taken away her breath. David, with his pen still on +the paper, looked up eagerly at his brother, participating in his +feelings. A sigh which burst from Janet's bosom broke the silence. + +"Ye maun go my bairn, as it seems to me that the Lord in His goodness +points out the way. We will ask Him to guide and direct us. Ye should +not go forth into the world without feeling sure that ye are under His +protection, and that He will gie ye, my bairn, if ye ask Him with +faith." + +"I know He will, and may be it was He who sent Mr Todd on to the links +this afternoon to meet with me," answered Donald, who, in his eagerness, +was perfectly ready to agree with Janet. + +"He orders the steps aright of all who serve Him," observed Janet. + +"Janet speaks the truth," said David firmly. "I wish that I could go +with you." + +"Na! na! my bairn, you are not old eno' or hardy eno' to bear the rough +life which Donald will ha' to lead in that strange country," exclaimed +Janet, who was not prepared to lose both of her boys at once. "And oh, +it is that terrible sea you will ha' to cross which troubles me to think +of. Is there no other way of getting there?" + +"I should be sorry if there was, for I have often longed to sail over +the ocean, and I look forward to the voyage with delight," answered +Donald. "You must not think of the danger. Nothing worth having is to +be gained without that, in my opinion, and we shall be having you safe +on the other side of the ocean before long, I hope, Janet." + +"Na, na, my bairn, you maun come back to me, but that terrible ocean I +could ne'er cross." + +Donald no longer pressed that matter, and was content with the full +permission Janet gave him to accept Mr Todd's offer, provided Margaret, +on her return home, did not object. The young lady soon arrived, and, +to Janet's surprise, entered at once warmly into Donald's projects. + +That evening, as the family knelt down in prayer, Janet earnestly lifted +up her voice in a petition that her bairn might be directed aright, and +protected amid the dangers to which he would be exposed. + +The next day, before returning to Mr Todd, Donald consulted his kind +master, who advised him to accept the offer, and put him in the way of +obtaining the instruction he required. + +Janet, who had never allowed her charge to discover the means she +employed for obtaining their support, told him to set his mind at rest +about his outfit, which it had naturally occurred to him he should have +a difficulty in obtaining. She at once went to Mr McTavish, who had +continued her firm friend. "An excellent opening for the lad," he +answered. "I should be glad to help him, and let him come and shake me +by the hand before he starts." + +Margaret, who besides obtaining many other female accomplishments from +Mrs Galbraith, had learned to use her needle, had ample employment in +manufacturing various articles of dress from the cloth Janet from time +to time brought home with her. Mrs Galbraith, knowing how she was +occupied, begged her to return home each day at an early hour that she +might assist Janet, assuring her that she could readily spare her +services. How eagerly Janet and Margaret sat and stitched away, +allowing themselves but a short time for meals. They were determined to +save expense, by making all Donald's underclothing themselves. Mr +McTavish had desired Janet to let him order what outer clothing he +required at the tailors, with a promise that he would see to the +payment. + +Donald meantime attended assiduously to his studies to prepare himself +for the work he was expected to perform, so that he was longer absent +from home than usual every day. His studies were congenial to his +taste, and he entered into them with the more zeal that they were +preparing him for the real work of life in which he had so long wished +to engage. + +David was always studious; and now that he had less of Donald's society, +who was apt, when he could, to entice him out to join in the sports in +which he himself delighted, he had more time than ever to attend to his +books. Janet's great wish was that he should enter the ministry, but +she had not yet broached the subject to him. Observing, however, his +habits, she had little doubt that he would willingly agree to her +proposal whenever she might make it. + +"Surely the minister would like to have one of his bairns to follow in +his footsteps," she said to herself, "and though it may cost more siller +to prepare him for the work, I pray that what is needful may be +supplied, and my old fingers will na' fail me for many a year to come." + +The time was approaching for Donald to take his departure. Margaret +would have preferred consequently, as she had lately done, remaining +with Janet, but her kind friend, Mrs Galbraith, was ill, and much +required her services. Had Alec been at home, it is possible that she +might not have thought it wise to have had so attractive a girl +constantly with her, but Alec had been now for upwards of a year absent. + +He had obtained, through his father's interest, a good situation in a +mercantile house in London, and had latterly passed several months in +Germany, where he had been sent on business with one of the partners of +the firm. He frequently wrote home, giving a full account of himself +and his proceedings, as well as of the thoughts which occupied his mind. +Of late Mrs Galbraith had not been so well satisfied as formerly with +the tenor of his letters. His mind, she was afraid, had become +tinctured with that German philosophy which is so sadly opposed to all +true spiritual religion. Mr Galbraith, who was inclined to admire his +son's sayings and doings, told her not to fash herself on the subject, +and that he had no doubt Alec would remain faithful to the kirk, though +at his age it was but natural, mixing in the world, that he should +indulge in a few fancies not in accordance with her notions. The answer +did not satisfy the wise and affectionate mother. + +"Such fancies ruin souls," she observed. "While indulging in them he +may be called hence without faith and hope, what then must his fate be?" + +She wrote an earnest letter to Alec. The reply was in his usual +affectionate style; but the part touching the matter she considered of +most importance, was as utterly beyond her comprehension as she +suspected it was beyond that of the writer, lucid as he apparently +considered it. The replies to several letters she wrote in succession, +left matters much as they were at first, and she could only pray and +look forward to his return, when she trusted that her tender +exhortations would produce a beneficial effect upon his mind. + +"When he comes I must part with dear Margaret," she said to herself. +"It will not do to have the two together. Alec may possibly attempt to +impress his opinions on her mind, and may unsettle it should he fail to +do more permanent injury; or, even should he keep them to himself, her +sweet disposition, and other attractive qualities, may win his heart, +while she may give her's in return, and I am sure that his father would +never consent to his marrying a penniless orphan, and blame me for +throwing them together." + +These thoughts, however, she kept within her own breast. Once +entertained, they caused her much anxiety. While, on the one hand, she +earnestly wished to have Alec home that she might speak to him +personally; on the other, as her eyes fell on Margaret's sweet face, she +feared the effect that face might have on her son. She must let her +remain with Janet, that was settled; but Alec was sure to find his way +to Janet's humble abode, as he had been accustomed to do when a boy to +visit his schoolfellows, and he was very likely to suspect the cause of +Margaret's absence from his mother's house. + +Had she been able to look into the hearts of the young people, Mrs +Galbraith would have had considerable cause for anxiety on the score of +their meeting. Alec had had for many a day what might have been +considered a boyish fancy for Margaret, while she regarded him as a +brave, generous youth, who had saved her life, and her brother's best +friend; and though she had never examined her own feelings, she would +have acknowledged that she considered him superior to any one else in +the world. + +Mr Galbraith, who never having for a moment thought about the subject, +had no reason for speaking cautiously, came into the room one day while +Margaret was seated with his wife, and exclaimed-- + +"Alec writes word that he wishes if possible to come home and see us, as +he has had a fine offer made him which I have advised him to accept, and +which will keep him away from England for some years. He is doubtful, +however, whether he will be allowed time to come home, and if not we +must console ourselves with the thoughts of his bright prospects. I +should have been glad if you could have had a glimpse of him, but I +purpose myself going up to London to see him off." + +"Oh, do try and get him to come home, if only for a few days," exclaimed +Mrs Galbraith. "I could not bear the thoughts of his going away +without seeing him. But you have not said where he is going?" + +"I will tell him to come if he can," said Mr Galbraith, "he is not, +however, going to a distant country, but merely to Canada, where he is +to assist in forming a branch of the firm, either at Montreal or +Toronto, as the partners are anxious to commence without delay. I +consider the appointment a feather in the cap of so young a man." + +Margaret listened eagerly to all that was said. She was very certain +that Alec was fitted for any post which might be assigned to him. She +trusted, however, he would find time to get home and see them. + +"Donald and he will meet to a certainty; how delightful for both of +them, and we shall hear from each how the other is getting on, and they +will be of mutual assistance. Perhaps they will go out in the same +ship," she thought. + +Both Mrs Galbraith and Margaret were to be disappointed. A letter was +received from Alec two days later, saying that the vessel which was to +convey Mr Elliott, the principal of the firm, and himself, was to sail +immediately, and that no time could be allowed him to run down to +Scotland. Mrs Galbraith greatly felt this announcement, but this was +not the chief cause of her sorrow. She had long felt her health +failing, and knowing that her days were numbered, she feared that she +should never again see her son. All she could do was to commend him to +the protecting care of Heaven, and to pray, from the very depths of her +soul, that even though it might be through trials and troubles, he might +be brought to accept the truth as it is in Christ Jesus, and have a +living faith in His all-sufficient sacrifice. Would that all mothers +prayed thus for their absent sons exposed to the wiles of Satan and the +snares and temptations of the world. Such prayers would assuredly be +heard; how many wandering sheep would be brought into the fold of +Christ? + +Margaret felt very sad when she heard that Alec was not coming, but she +kept her feelings to her own bosom. She had to return home to assist +Janet in completing Donald's outfit. She and her old nurse worked +harder than ever, there still seemed so much to be done, and Mr Todd +had sent Donald word that he must hold himself in readiness to start at +a short notice. The expected order came. + +"Fare-ye-weel my bairn, fare-ye-weel, ne'er forget that the deil, like a +roaring lion, is ganging about to seek whom he may devour, and put your +trust in Him who is able and willing to save you out of all your +troubles. They maun come; dinna fancy all is sunshine in the world, but +He will be your shield and buckler in time of danger if you love and +serve Him." + +Janet, as she spoke, threw her arms round Donald's neck, and big tears +dropped from her eyes. Margaret clung to him, and kissed his cheek +again and again, till he had to tear himself away; when accompanied by +David, he went on board the vessel which was to convey him to Leith, +whence he was to proceed on to London. David remained with him till the +last, and then returned to Janet's humble abode to apply himself to his +books. + + + +CHAPTER FIVE. + +DONALD'S VOYAGE TO CANADA.--HE GAINS THE FRIENDSHIP OF MR. SKINNER.-- +REACHES QUEBEC.--VOYAGE UP THE ST LAWRENCE.--ARRIVAL AT THE NEW +TOWNSHIP.--DESCRIPTION OF THE SETTLEMENT.--MR. SKINNER PREACHES THE +GOSPEL, AND TAKES UP HIS RESIDENCE IN THE PLACE. + +Donald found himself in a new world on board the fine emigrant ship, +which was conveying him and nearly three hundred settlers to Canada. +They were of every rank, calling, and character, but one object seemed +to animate them all--an eager desire to establish themselves and obtain +wealth in the new country to which they were bound. Some talked loudly +of the honour and glory of subduing the wilderness, and creating an +inheritance for their children; though among them Donald observed many +whom he was sure would never do either the one or the other. + +Though frank and open-hearted, influenced by the usual caution of a +Scotchman, Donald did not feel disposed to form friendships with any of +his fellow-passengers until he had ascertained their characters. His +time, indeed, was fully occupied in pursuing the professional studies he +had commenced at home, and in doing work for Mr Todd. There was one +person on board, however, who excited his interest. He was a man of +middle age, and of mild and quiet manners, while the expression of his +eyes and mouth betokened firmness and determination. Donald could hear +nothing about him except that his name was Skinner, and that he was not +connected with any of the parties of settlers on board. His +conversation showed an enlightened mind, but he seemed at first rather +inclined to obtain information than to impart it. Perhaps he also +wished to gain an insight into the characters of his companions before +he allowed of any intimacy. Wherever he was, however he would allow of +no light or frivolous conversation, and he did not hesitate to rebuke +those who gave utterance to any profane or coarse expressions. Donald +had heard him spoken of as an over religious man. That he was a strict +one he had evidence, when one day, while several fellow-voyagers were +indulging in unseemly conversation, Mr Skinner approached them. + +"Will you allow me to ask you a question, and I trust you will not be +offended, are you Christians?" he asked. + +"Of course, Mr Skinner, of course we are," answered two or three of the +party, in the same breath. + +"Then you will desire to follow the example of the Master whose name you +bear," he replied. "And He has said, `Be ye holy for I am holy.' `By +their fruits shall ye know them.' Now the fruits of the lips which you +have been producing are directly opposed to His commands. Can you +suppose that He who hears all you utter will be otherwise than grieved +and offended with the words you have just been speaking? Out of the +mouth the heart speaketh. Let me entreat you to examine your hearts, +and judge what is within them, and then ask yourselves whether they have +been changed. Whether `you are holy as God is holy,' whether you are +real or only nominal Christians. You are voyaging together to a country +where you expect to prosper--to secure an independence, and to enjoy +happiness and contentment for the remainder of your lives; but, my +friends, would you not act wisely to look beyond all this? As our +voyage in this ship must come to an end, so must our voyage through +life, and what then? Again I repeat, that though by nature depraved, +prone to evil, full of sin, with hearts desperately wicked, God says to +all who desire to enter the kingdom of heaven, to become heirs of +eternal life, to be prepared to go and dwell with Him, to enjoy eternal +happiness instead of eternal misery, `Be ye holy as I am holy.' You +will ask me, how can that be? I reply, take God at His word. He would +not tell us to be what we cannot be. He does not mock us with His +commands. He has said, `Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt +be saved.' But He does not mean that your belief is to be merely +affirmative; it is not sufficient only to acknowledge that Christ lived +and died on the cross. All Scripture shows that you must have a living +active faith in the complete and finished work of Christ. You must look +to Him as _your_ Saviour; you must know that His blood was shed for _you +individually_, and acknowledge His great love for you, which brought Him +down from the glories of heaven to suffer on the cross, and that love +must create a love in your hearts, and make you desirous of imitating +Him and serving Him. You must turn from your sins and strive to hate +sin, and in this you will have the all-sufficient aid of His Holy +Spirit. Thus, though as I have said, in yourselves unrighteous, sinful, +impure and doing things that you would not, yet, washed in the blood of +Jesus, God no longer looks on your iniquities. He blots your sins out +of remembrance. He puts them away as far as the east is from the west +He imputes Christ's righteousness to you. He clothes you in Christ's +pure and spotless garments. He declares you to be `holy as He is +holy.'" + +Some of the young men he addressed hung down their heads, and others +tried to make their escape, but two or three fixed their eyes earnestly +on the speaker, whose manner was so kind and gentle that none could be +offended, however little they might have been disposed to agree with the +doctrine he enunciated. Among the latter was Donald Morrison. He had +heard many excellent sermons; he had listened respectfully to the +religious instruction which Janet, according to the light within her, +attempted to give him, but he had seldom heard the truth so plainly and +earnestly put before him, or at all events he had never so clearly +comprehended it. + +Finding several of the party inclined to listen, Mr Skinner continued +his address, urging his hearers at once to accept the merciful offers of +salvation so freely made. As is generally the case where the gospel is +preached, some were inclined to side with the preacher, while others +were stirred by the natural depravity of the human heart, instigated by +Satan to more determined opposition. + +Donald was induced from what he heard to examine his own heart. He had +not before been aware that it was depraved by nature and prone to evil; +that it must be renewed before he could love and truly serve Christ. He +had been trusting to his own good principles, to his desire to do right; +and he had been prepared to go forward and fight the battle of life, +relying on his own strength. Happy are those who make the important +discovery he did before the strife commences, before temptation comes in +their way, or an overthrow, often a fatal one, is certain. Donald had +believed that by living morally and honestly, and by labouring hard, he +should merit admission to that heaven where Christ would reign as king; +but he had never truly comprehended the necessity of the atonement--that +sins must remain registered against the sinner unless washed away by the +blood of Jesus, and that His blood can alone be applied through the +simple faith of the sinner. + +From that day forward Donald sought every opportunity of conversing with +Mr Skinner, who was never weary of answering his questions and solving +his doubts. Mr Todd expressed some fears that his young friend would +become so engrossed with religious subjects, that he would neglect his +professional duties, and yet Mr Todd held religion in great respect, +and believed that he made the Bible his guide in life. + +"I am very sure, my dear sir, that no man who truly loves and obeys the +Saviour will, in consequence, become a worse citizen, or be less +attentive to his worldly duties," answered Mr Skinner, to whom the +remark was made. "And I trust you will find Donald Morrison no +exception to the rule." + +Donald spent a portion of each day with Mr Skinner, sometimes reading +with him, at others walking the deck, as the ship glided smoothly over +the ocean. + +Their passage was somewhat long, for calms prevailed, but it was +prosperous, and at length the emigrant ship entered the waters of the +magnificent St Lawrence, and finally came to an anchor before the +renowned city of Quebec, which looked down smiling on the voyagers from +its rocky heights. + +There was eager hurry and bustle on board, for the emigrants were +anxious to land, while on shore a general activity prevailed, as it was +the busy time of the year, when merchantmen, long barred by the ice +which bound up the river during winter, were daily arriving, and the +huge timber ships were receiving their cargoes of logs, brought down +through innumerable streams and lakes which intersect the country, +hundreds of miles from the far-off interior. + +The emigrants now separated, some to go to the eastern townships or +other parts of the Lower Province, but the greater number to proceed up +the St Lawrence, and across Lake Ontario to the magnificent district +then being opened up, bounded west and south by Lakes Ontario, St Clare, +and Erie. + +Donald found, to his satisfaction, that Mr Skinner was going in the +same direction. Donald knew no more than at first who Mr Skinner was; +he was satisfied, however, that he was a true man, with a single eye to +God's service. + +"I may possibly settle among you," said his new friend. "Wherever human +beings are collected together, there I find my work." + +"Are you a minister then?" asked Donald. + +"Are not all Christ's faithful servants His ministers?" asked Mr +Skinner, "called on by Him to make known His great love to perishing +sinners; to tell them the only way by which they can be saved? In that +sense I reply yes to your question. My young friend I desire not to eat +the bread of idleness, nor to take aught from other men's hands." + +Donald felt that he ought not to press his question further. + +The party ascended the river in a sailing vessel to Montreal, and from +thence Kingston was reached by stage waggons, which conveyed them along +the banks of the river where the navigation was impeded by rapids, +though the greater part of the journey was performed in large boats up +the St Lawrence and through the beautiful lake of the "Thousand +Islands." + +"I wish Margaret and David could have a sight of this lovely scenery," +said Donald to his friend, as they glided by numberless islets in +succession, covered with rich and varied foliage. + +"Their steps may some day be directed hither," answered Mr Skinner, who +was even a warmer admirer of the beauties of nature than his young +companion. + +At Kingston they embarked on board a large schooner. Next morning, when +Donald came on deck, his surprise was great to find the vessel out of +sight of land. The water was perfectly smooth; a thin mist hung over +it, which probably concealed the nearer northern shore, for as the sun +rose, he could distinguish in that direction a long low line of coast, +fringed with the trees of the primeval forest. Here and there, as they +sailed along, small openings could be perceived, where settlements had +lately been formed, and the giants of the forest had fallen beneath the +woodman's axe. + +The voyage terminated at Toronto, till lately called Little York, on the +western shore of the lake, but a long journey had yet to be performed +across the peninsula to the district Mr Todd had undertaken to settle. +Waggons and drays were put in requisition to convey the party and their +goods through the forest, while the leader and his staff, with other +gentlemen, rode on ahead to prepare for their reception. Donald +wondered how vehicles with wheels could make their way amid the stumps +of trees, along the track which then formed the only road to the +settlement. Here and there were swamps, which were made passable by +huge trunks of trees laid across the track, and bridges of timber, of a +primitive, though of a strong character, had already been thrown across +the streams. + +"You see pioneers have been before us," observed Mr Todd to Donald. +"Settlers direct from the old country would have been appalled with the +difficulties the well-trained backwoodsmen have overcome." + +Here and there were small clearings, in the centre of which log-houses +had been put up, to serve as wayside inns. At one of these Mr Todd and +his party halted as evening closed in. The accommodation was scanty, +though an ample meal of eggs and bacon and corn cakes, was served on a +long table which stood in the middle of the public room. Upon it, +beneath, and on the benches at the sides, the guests, wrapped in their +cloaks, with their saddles for pillow's, passed the night. Donald, +before lying down, went out to take a turn in front of the hut. As he +looked along the cutting towards the west, a bright glare met his eyes. +It at once struck him that the forest must be on fire, and he was +hastening back to warn his companions, when he met Mr Skinner. + +"There is no danger," observed the latter. "We will proceed along the +road, and you will see the cause." + +The light from the fire enabled them to find their way among the stumps, +and they soon saw before them an opening in the forest, in the centre of +which blazed a huge pile of vast trunks of trees, surrounded by men, +who, with long pitchforks, were throwing faggots under the trunks to +assist in consuming them. + +"Although these trees would be worth many pounds by the water-edge, here +they are valueless and in the way, and no other mode has been discovered +of disposing of them," observed Mr Skinner to Donald. "Yet I always +regret to see the destruction of those magnificent productions with +which God has clothed the earth, but thousands and tens of thousands of +those monarchs of the forest are destined ere long to fall to make way +for the habitation of man. Yet one living soul is of more value than +them all, and we may hope that many a voice may be raised to Him in +hymns of praise amid this region, hitherto a wilderness, and which has +resounded only with the howl of the savage wolf, or the fierce war songs +of the long benighted inhabitants of the land." + +A busy scene presented itself as the cavalcade at length reached the new +settlement. Here and there, amid the stumps of trees, were scattered +tents, shanties, and log-huts, either finished or in the course of +erection. Women were cooking over fires in front of their rude +dwellings, while their children played around. Oxen, urged on by the +cries of their drivers, were dragging up huge logs to form the walls of +the huts. Drays were conveying sawn timber from the banks of the broad +stream which flowed by on one side--a saw-mill, turned by its water, +being already busily at work. A little way off, the tall trees were +falling with loud crashes before the woodmen's axes, engaged in +enlarging the borders of the settlement. While here and there arose +edifices of greater pretensions than their neighbours, with +weather-boarded sides and roofs. Several broad roads intersected the +projected town at right angles, from which, however, no attempt had as +yet been made to remove the stumps of the trees; while all around arose +the dark wall formed by the forest, closely hemming in the clearing, +with the exception of the single opening through which the travellers +had made their way. + +"This is a wild place, indeed," said Donald, as he surveyed the scene. + +"It was wilder a few months ago," answered Mr Todd. "It is our task to +reduce it into order, and ere long we shall see handsome houses, gaily +painted cottages, blooming orchards, green pastures, and fields waving +with rich corn, in lieu of the scene which now meets our eyes. But we +have no time to lose. We must select a spot by the river for the new +settlers to camp on, obtain a supply of wood for their fires, and get +some shanties put up for the women and children and old people." + +Mr Todd and his attendants dismounted at the door of the chief inn. It +was also a store, at which every iron article, from a plough to a +needle, all sorts of haberdashery and clothing, groceries, stationery, +drugs and beer, wines and spirits, could be procured, as the proprietor, +who shook hands with the new arrivals, informed them. + +Donald was soon actively engaged under Mr Todd in the duties of his +office, and from that day forward till the close of the summer he had +very few minutes he could call his own, with the exception of those +granted during the blessed day of rest. He now learned to value the +Sabbath more than ever, when he could rest from the toils of the week, +and leave his surveying staff and chains, his axe and note-book, and +turn with earnest faith to God's Word. No chapel or church had as yet +arisen, and the gospel would not have been proclaimed had not Mr +Skinner invited the inhabitants to meet him beneath the shade of the +lofty trees, where, with his own hands, he had cleared away the +brushwood. Here he proclaimed the glad tidings of salvation by the +blood of the Lamb, to many who had never before heard the glorious news. +Many assembled gladly, especially the settlers from bonnie Scotland; +some came from curiosity, or to pass away the time; and a few to mock at +the unauthorised preacher, who, in his ordinary dress, ventured, as they +asserted, to set himself up among his fellows. Provided souls were won, +the stranger cared nothing for the remarks which might be made. + +He had purchased a plot of ground on the banks of the stream, some way +removed from the township, and here, with the aid of three or four hired +labourers, he had made a clearing and erected a log-hut, at which Donald +was always a welcome guest, with several others who came to hear God's +Word explained. + +The winter came on, and snow covered the ground, but the axemen went on +with their labours, and the tall trunks they felled could now with +greater ease be dragged either to the saw-mill, to the spots where +log-huts were to be erected, to form snake fencing, or to the great +heaps prepared for burning. Donald was surprised to find how rapidly +the months went by, and how soon the period of the year at which he had +arrived in Canada had returned. + + + +CHAPTER SIX. + +LETTERS FROM HOME.--MARGARET LOSES HER FRIEND.--UNSATISFACTORY REPORT OF +ALEC.--DAVID RESOLVES TO GO OUT.--DONALD URGES HIS SISTER AND JANET TO +COME ALSO, AND PREPARES FOR THEIR RECEPTION.--NO TIDINGS CAN BE OBTAINED +OF ALEC.--DAVID'S ARRIVAL.--MR. SKINNER EXPLAINS TO HIM IMPORTANT GOSPEL +TRUTHS. + +Donald had frequently written home, and had heard from Margaret and +David in return. Every word from them was of interest to him, and all +kind Janet's sayings and doings were faithfully recorded. She seemed to +work even harder than ever; but as Margaret remarked:-- + +"She manages to make her purchases at a cheapness that surprises me, and +I often cannot account for the number of articles she brings home for +the money she has to expend. Perhaps she gets more for her yarn than +formerly, or has a hoard with which we are unacquainted. Mrs Galbraith +is as kind as ever, and gives me a number of things which assist me +greatly. Her health is, I fear, however, failing rapidly, and if she is +taken away I shall lose the best friend I ever expect to have, next to +Janet. She hears occasionally from Alec, who is at Montreal, which is, +I suppose, a long way from you, or you would have mentioned him. Mr +Galbraith has much altered; he looks grave and anxious, and is often +irritable with his dear wife. I pray that she may be spared, but I am +very very anxious about her." + +The next letter to this acknowledged with pleasure and gratitude the +receipt of the first sum of money Donald was able to send home. +Margaret wrote:--"It has made us rich beyond our most sanguine hope; but +Janet seems unwilling to spend any of it, and says she does not like to +deprive you of your siller; so pray do not send any more unless we +really require it. Mrs Galbraith is kinder than ever, and insists on +giving me everything I can possibly want, saying that I am of so much +service to her that I ought to receive a salary in addition. I, of +course, only do what I can to show my gratitude for her kindness to me +since I was a little girl." + +Another letter came from Margaret some months after this, when Donald +had been in the colony upwards of a couple of years. Her kind friend, +Mrs Galbraith, had been taken away, and though she had died with the +hope that Alec would be brought to know the truth, she had been for the +last few months of her life so deeply anxious about his spiritual +welfare, that she could not help speaking on the subject to Margaret, +who had hitherto not been aware of the dangerous notions he had imbibed. +Margaret expressed herself deeply grieved with what she heard, and +promised to unite her prayers with those of her friend for Alec's +conversion. + +A few months later Donald again heard from Margaret. Mr Galbraith had +followed his wife to the grave. Her exhortations to him had not been in +vain, and having accepted the truth himself, he was as anxious about his +son as she had been. "I visited him frequently during his illness, as +Mrs Galbraith had entreated me to do," said Margaret, "and though he +was undoubtedly most anxious about Alec's spiritual state, he also, from +what he said, seemed to fear that his worldly prospects were very +different from what he had hoped. The mercantile house with which he is +connected has failed, and I fear that the greater part--if not all--of +Mr Galbraith's property has been lost also, so that Alec will be left +without support unless he can obtain another situation. I need not +suggest to you, my dear brother, to write to your old friend, and +ascertain his position, and if he requires it give him a helping hand. +I must now tell you the determination to which David has come, though he +will write to you himself on the subject. We were not till lately aware +of the assistance we have received from dear Mrs Galbraith and other +friends, from whom we have discovered our kind Janet has been in the +habit of demanding whatever she considered necessary for us. I am sure +that she would not have begged a sixpence for her own support. I am now +thrown more completely than ever on her hands, and though I am anxious +to do anything I can to maintain myself she will not hear of my leaving +her. I would take a situation as a child's governess, or as a companion +to a lady, such as I have been to Mrs Galbraith, or go into service, +but she insists that I must bide at home with her, as she could not +trust me out of her sight, but that I am welcome to ply my needle as +much as I please, and that she doubts not she shall find work for me if +I follow her wishes, which David is anxious that I should do. He cannot +bring himself to draw on her resources, so as to continue his studies +till he can become a minister, which will not be for some years yet. He +has often talked of going out to join you in Canada, and his heart is, I +am sure, set on so doing. He has his doubts as to his fitness for the +ministry, and says that head-learning and book-learning are not +sufficient, and that he is conscious of being destitute of all other +qualifications. He declares he should sink down with nervousness +directly he enters a pulpit, that his voice and memory would fail him, +and that he does not possess that love of souls and desire to win them +to Christ, which he considers the chief qualification for the preacher +of the gospel. I agreed with him when he made the last remark; but +still I trust that he is mistaken about his qualifications. Nothing I +have urged has had any effect in inducing him to alter his +determination. Though he studies as hard as ever, he almost starves +himself in his anxiety not to be a burden to Janet, he will not buy any +fresh books, or spend more money than he can possibly help; indeed, I +must own to you that she would have great difficulty in giving him any, +though she tries to make him believe, as usual, that she has as much as +he can require. I begged you before not to send us home any of your +earnings; but I do not hesitate now to ask you to remit as much as will +be sufficient for David's voyage, if you approve of his going out to +join you." + +"The very thing of all others I have been longing for," exclaimed +Donald, as he finished Margaret's letter. "I have ample to enable him +to come out, and I am sure Mr Todd will find employment for him. But +Margaret and Janet must not remain with straitened means; I wish they +would come out also. I will send home sufficient for their voyage, and +use every argument to induce them to come. If they will not they must +spend the money on their own support at home. Margaret will, I am sure, +be perfectly happy out here, though Janet would find the country rather +strange, yet neither of them would mind the rough life they would be +compelled to live, any more than others do, many of whom have been far +more accustomed than they are to the luxuries and refinements of the old +country." + +Thus Donald meditated till he persuaded himself that in a few months he +should see his sister and brother and their faithful nurse arrive to +take possession of the log-hut he proposed building for them. He lost +no time in writing a letter, and in arranging with Mr Todd to send home +a considerable portion of the salary due to him. He insisted that +Margaret should receive whatever David did not require for his +passage-money and journey to the township, and should spend it on the +support of Janet and herself, should they decline accompanying David. +He thought it impossible that they could refuse, and forthwith set to +work to build a substantial log-hut on a plot of ground which, by Mr +Todd's advice and assistance, he had purchased not far from Mr +Skinner's location. + +Mr Skinner had made inquiries about his family when he heard of his +hopes of being joined by his brother and sister and old nurse. He at +once begged that he would apply to him for whatever he might require for +their comfort and convenience. + +"I am a bachelor, and as my personal expenses are trifling, I shall +consider it a privilege to be allowed to be of use to those who are so +well deserving of assistance," he observed. "That old nurse of yours +has excited my warm admiration. Her knowledge may be limited, but from +your account she has lived a practical Christian life, and though you +may justly desire to be independent, and to support yourself by your own +labour, you cannot wish her and your sister to decline whatever aid God +puts it into the hearts of others to offer to them." + +Donald warmly thanked his friend; and seeing the justness of his +remarks, without hesitation accepted his offer. His mind was thereby +greatly relieved from any anxiety he might have felt in supporting those +who had become dependent upon him, till he himself should be able to +gain sufficient for the purpose. + +He wrote immediately to Alec Galbraith, but some time passed, and no +answer was received to his letter. He then got Mr Todd to make +inquiries of some acquaintances at Montreal, and through them he at last +heard that after the house in which Alec had been engaged had broken up, +the young man having vainly attempted to find employment in other firms, +had left the place without letting anyone know in what direction he had +gone. He had created many enemies by the opinions he publicly expressed +on religious and political subjects, and was looked upon as a disloyal +and dangerous person. + +This account greatly grieved Donald, who had not supposed it possible +that the fine manly and talented friend of his youth would be otherwise +than liked, and succeed wherever he might go. "What can possibly have +changed Alec so much?" he asked himself more than once. + +Donald mentioned the subject to Mr Skinner. + +"What was the foundation of his good qualities?" inquired his friend. +"Were they built on the rock which, when the floods of trial and +temptation came would stand firm, or on the sandy soil, whence they were +sure to be washed away." + +Donald considered. "He resided in Germany for some time, and I know +that his religious opinions underwent a change for the worse, and from +some remarks Margaret let drop, that his mother was very anxious about +him." + +"That is a sufficient explanation," observed Mr Skinner, with a sigh. +"We must pray that like the prodigal son he may find that he has husks +alone to eat, and be brought back to the loving Father, who, with open +arms, is ever ready to receive those who, having made that important +discovery, return to Him." + +The two Christian friends knelt down and offered up their petitions that +the wanderer might be found out and restored. + +Few people in the settlement were more busy than Donald Morrison. +Besides building his log house, at which he worked with his own hands, +and superintending the clearing of the ground, he had his official +duties to attend to, which he in no way neglected; and, as the +settlement increased, they became more onerous than at first. "If David +were with me he would find plenty to do," he said, over and over again. +"I wish that he were coming, and I have no doubt Mr Todd would obtain +for him a situation under me." + +When Donald wrote home he had begged his brother and sister not to wait +till they could write and announce their intended coming, but if they +could persuade Janet to accompany them, to set off immediately. As each +party of settlers arrived he looked out eagerly, hoping to find those so +dear to him among them. He was destined frequently to be disappointed. + +At last, one evening he was seated in his new house, now nearly +completed, busily employed on some plans which he had taken home from +Mr Todd's office, when he was aroused by a knock at the door. On +opening it he saw standing before him a tall slight young man, whom he +knew by his bonnet and tartan coat to be Scotch, "Does one Donald +Morrison live here?" asked the stranger, gazing eagerly at his face. +The moment he spoke Donald knew the voice; it was David's, and the +brothers' hands were clasped together. + +"I should not have known you," exclaimed David, scanning Donald's +sunburnt countenance, and sturdy strongly built figure. + +"Nor I you, till I heard you speak," answered Donald. "But have you not +brought Margaret and Janet?" + +"I am sorry to say no. Janet would not venture across the salt ocean, +and Margaret would not quit her. Janet, indeed, did her utmost to +dissuade me from coming to this land of impenetrable forests, fierce red +men, savage wolves, roaring cataracts, and numberless other dangers, +such as she believes it is, and her dread of exposing Margaret to them, +I suspect, made her more determined to stay at home than had she herself +alone been asked to come, as for our sakes I believe she would have +risked all could she have been satisfied that Margaret would have been +in safety. Finding all my arguments useless, I set off as you wished +me." + +"She is a good faithful creature, and we must still hope to overcome her +fears for our dear sister's safety," said Donald. "However, I am +thankful you have come, and I am sure that you will not be +disappointed." + +Donald lost no time in placing an abundant supply of bachelor's fare, +prepared by his own hands, on the table. As may be supposed, the +brothers sat up the greater part of the night, talking over the past as +well as their future prospects. + +Donald was not disappointed in his hopes of obtaining employment for +David, Mr Todd being glad at once, on his brother's recommendation, to +secure his services. David gave his mind to the work he had undertaken, +and soon became a very efficient assistant to Donald. Though he looked +pale and delicate when he first arrived, and was unable to go through +the physical exertion required of him without fatigue, he rapidly gained +strength, and in a short time became strong and hardy. + +Shortly after his arrival Donald took him to call on Mr Skinner, who +welcomed him kindly, and led him to enter freely into conversation, that +he might, as Donald suspected, ascertain his opinions. Donald, when +speaking of his brother, had merely stated that he declined entering the +ministry, and preferred coming out to join him as a settler. Mr +Skinner allowed several days to pass, during which they frequently met, +before he offered any remarks to David on the choice he had made. + +"You have abandoned the most important of callings, my young friend, for +one which, though honourable and useful, and which may obtain to you +worldly advantages, is not, in the nature of things, likely to render +spiritual service to your fellow-creatures," he observed. + +"Several reasons prompted me to take the course I have pursued," +answered David. "The principle one, however, was, that I felt myself +unfitted for the ministry, and had a strong desire to come out and join +my brother. I had no spiritual life in myself, and could not impart it +to others." + +"Certainly you could not impart to others what you did not possess +yourself," observed Mr Skinner. "But, my dear friend, are you content +to remain without that spiritual life? It is required, not only for +those engaged in the ministry, but for all who rightly bear the name of +Christ, for all who desire to be His subjects, to enter into the kingdom +of heaven. The Holy Spirit alone can impart it to you or to others, but +having it, whether set apart or not for Christ's service, you may be +made the instrument by which many of your fellow-creatures may obtain it +likewise. It should be the object of all Christ's subjects to win souls +for Him. When Christ spoke to Nicodemus and told him that he must be +born again, He addressed a learned man, an expounder of the law of +Moses. If a physician, a merchant, or person of any other calling, had +come to Him He would have said the same. And now I entreat you to ask +yourself the question, which Christ would have put had you gone to Him. +He would have said, as He said to Nicodemus, `Ye must be born again.' +He would not have first inquired whether or not you were intended for +the ministry. He would have said, as He does to all human beings, high +and low, rich and poor, men and women, boys and girls, who desire to +live with Him in heaven for ever and ever. You may be very industrious, +and energetic, and honest, and moral, and well conducted in your secular +calling, but that will not stand you instead of what Christ requires. +The old man must be put off, the new nature be received. I repeat, `You +must be born again.'" + +"And how can that be brought about?" exclaimed Donald, much perturbed in +mind. + +"Christ says, `the wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the +sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh and whither it goeth, +so is everyone that is born of the Spirit.' Christ did not leave +Nicodemus with this answer, which might well have perplexed him, as it +has those who have turned aside from it as incomprehensible; but He +shows how man must do his part to bring about that new birth. It is by +_simple faith, by taking God at His word_, by looking to Christ and +trusting to His blood as all-sufficient to wash away sin, to His +sacrifice as being accepted in lieu of our punishment. He explains it +in those most blessed words--that most perfect of all similes--`As Moses +lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be +lifted up, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have +eternal life.' Know and feel that you are bitten by sin, dying +eternally from its rank poison, and then look to Jesus as the certain, +the only cure, just as the Israelites, bitten by the fiery serpents, +were commanded to look at the brazen serpent, held up by Moses in the +wilderness, as the only way by which they could be cured. Thus, through +simple faith, is the necessary change brought about. All God demands +from us is faith. He, through the Holy Spirit, does the rest. My dear +young friend read that all-important portion of God's Word with earnest +prayer for enlightenment, and you will understand the simple plan of +salvation, which His loving mercy has formed, far more clearly than you +can by any words I may use. The question is, Do you believe that the +Bible is God's Word, that Jesus Christ, His Son, came into the world to +suffer, the just for the unjust--that the world, through Him, might be +saved? If you do, then hear His words,--`He that believeth on me is not +condemned.' If you do believe, then you are born again, for all who are +not born again remain under condemnation. What you require, what we all +require, is more grace, more faith, more love, more trust. For all +those things we can pray, and wrestle, and strive, and God will not +allow us to pray in vain. Faith may be a strong rope or a thin rope, so +thin that we dread its giving way; but God _forms_ it, _God holds it +fast_. In His hands it will not break. Let us then trust in Him, and +ever seek the aid of the Holy Spirit to hold us up, and we shall find +the thin line increasing in size till it becomes a stout cable, capable +of, ay certain of, holding our wave-tossed bark amid the fiercest +tempest which can break around us." + +David returned home rejoicing. He did not regret abandoning his former +intention and coming out to Canada; but he resolved to give himself up +to the study of the Bible, and while following his secular calling, to +assist his friend in spreading the truths of the gospel among the +surrounding population. + + + +CHAPTER SEVEN. + +DONALD'S EXPEDITION THROUGH THE FOREST.--ATTACKED BY WOLVES.--RELIEVED +FROM THEM BY A HURRICANE, AND NARROWLY ESCAPES BEING CRUSHED BY FALLING +TREES. + +Donald having David now to attend to his office work, frequently made +expeditions to long distances where it was proposed to establish fresh +townships. These were performed on foot, and he had become so expert a +backwood's man, that he had no hesitation in trusting himself without a +guide. He, however, carried his gun, and in summer a fishing rod, that +he might supply himself with provisions by the way. His gun also he +required for defence against any wolves or bears he might encounter, +both of which were at that time common in the country, though long since +driven off to the wilder regions of the far west and north. + +He was returning from one of these expeditions in the early spring, when +night approaching, as he was making his way through the forest, he +prepared to encamp. His axe quickly enabled him to cut some sticks for +his shanty, for which a quantity of large pieces of birch bark scattered +about served as a covering. The tops of some young spruce firs strewed +on the ground made a luxurious couch, while there was no lack of dry +broken branches to furnish a supply of firewood. He quickly formed his +hunter's camp, and commenced cooking a couple of fish he had caught in a +stream he had shortly before forded, and a bird he had shot during the +day. This, with a handful of Indian meal made into porridge, gave him a +sumptuous repast. After reading God's Word by the light of his blazing +fire, he commended himself to His merciful care, and having renewed his +fire, lay down within his hut fearless of danger. + +His journey had been long and fatiguing, which made him sleep soundly. +He was at length awakened by a long low howl. He opened his eyes and +discovered that his fire had gone out, but he was still too much +oppressed by sleep to rise. He was under the impression that he had +merely dreamed of the noise he had heard. It shortly came again, +however, and this time he was aware that it was a reality. Mixed with +the howl were the sounds of savage barks and yelps. He knew them to be +the voices of wolves, disputing, probably, over the body of some deer +they had pulled down, or found dead after it had escaped from the +hunter's rifle. Their repast finished, they might come in the direction +of his camp. Starting up he prepared to relight his fire, and drawing +the wood together, which he had kept for the purpose, he quickly +produced a flame, and then looked to the priming of his gun to be ready +in case of an attack. To sleep longer was out of the question; he +therefore sat up, listening to the appalling sounds which ever and anon +echoed through the forest. He had hitherto in his journeys never fallen +in with a pack of wolves, though he had frequently met solitary +individuals, whose savage jaws had shown what fearful foes, a number +combined together, would prove. His stout Highland heart was not, +however, inclined to give way to fear; besides which, his faith was +firm, and he knew in whom he trusted. At the same time, not being a +mere enthusiast, he felt that it was his duty to consider what were the +best means of preserving his life by his own exertions, should the +wolves discover him, and venture on an attack. He first collected all +the fuel he could find near at hand, and made his fire blaze up +brightly. As, however, it might not last till the morning, it occurred +to him that it would be wise to examine the neighbouring trees, and to +select one up which he might climb, should the savage creatures come +round him. The larger trees were inaccessible; but he found one near at +hand, the lower branches of which he might reach, could he manage to +drive a few pegs into the trunk. With his axe he at once cut some holes +as high as he could reach, and then sharpening several pieces of wood, +hardening them in the fire. The trunk was soft, and to his satisfaction +he found that he could make a ladder, by which he could reach the lowest +branches, and thence gain a part of the tree which would afford him a +secure seat, and enable him to fire down upon his assailants, and, as he +hoped, drive them away. + +The night wind blowing keenly, he had no wish to take his seat on the +tree till compelled by necessity. Having therefore made his +arrangements he again threw fuel on the fire, and sat down within the +shelter of his hut, with his gun by his side. The howling of the wolves +had ceased, and he hoped that they had turned away from him, and that he +should not be troubled by a visit. A feeling of security stole over +him, and fatigue overcoming his prudence, he again dropped off to sleep. + +How long he had thus sat with his eyes closed he could not tell, when he +was awakened by hearing the savage howls of the wolves close to him. +Starting up he caught sight of numberless dark forms, with glaring eyes, +making a circle round the fire, which they were evidently unwilling to +approach, eager as they were to seize their prey. The fire had burnt +somewhat low, and he feared that should the flames cease to ascend they +might make a dash across the embers, and rush upon him. + +The tree he had selected was at hand, and he now regretted that he had +not ascended it at first. A few dry sticks were still within his reach. +Springing out of his hut he seized them, and threw them on the fire. +At that moment a savage wolf, either one of the leaders of the pack, or +more hungry than its companions, made a rush at him from one side. +Happily he was prepared, and firing, the creature rolled over. The +instant it was dead the rest of the animals sprang on the body, tearing +it to pieces. Donald on this, after re-loading his gun, having stirred +up the fire so as to make it burn more brightly, ran towards the tree, +up which he began to climb. The short delay of loading his gun might +have proved fatal, for part of the pack perceiving him, came yelping on +furiously, and he had scarcely got his feet out of the reach of their +fangs before the whole pack had collected round him. His gun, which he +had slung at his back, being rather weighty, he was afraid that the pegs +would give way, and that he should fall among the ravenous jaws below +him, but he succeeded at length in reaching a firm branch, and he drew +himself up on to it, and thence climbed to the point he had selected. + +Here he sat securely. Though he had escaped from the wolves they showed +no signs of quitting him; the light of the fire, which still blazed up +brightly, exhibiting their savage forms, as they stood howling beneath +the tree, or circled round and round, looking up with eager eyes towards +him. He refrained from firing, believing that they were more likely to +go away when they found that they could not reach him, than if he should +kill some of their number, when the pack would remain to devour the +carcases of their companions. At last, when morning dawned, and they +still continued round the tree, he began to lose patience, and to fear +that they would carry on the siege till they had starved him out. + +"I cannot kill the whole pack," he said to himself, "but I may knock +over so many that the others may at length take warning and make their +escape." + +He had no difficulty in firing, and as a branch offered him a good rest +for his gun, he was able to take steady aim, and never missed a shot. + +He had killed half a dozen or more, still the wolves continued round the +tree. It was in a dense part of the forest, through which the beams of +the sun did not penetrate, or the creatures, disliking the bright light +of day, would probably have retreated to their fastness. Hour after +hour passed by, the air became unusually sultry and hot, even in the +forest. Donald was growing, at the same time, very hungry, and though, +as yet, he had rather enjoyed the adventure, he now began to feel +seriously anxious about his safety. He had but a few bullets remaining, +and the small shot in his pouch would produce but little effect on the +heads of the wolves, and only render them more savage. He waited for +some time, and then again began to fire, hoping that the sound of his +piece might be heard by any party of Indians or travellers in the +forest, who would come to his assistance, for he knew that the wolves, +cowardly though savage, will seldom venture to attack several people +together. He had expended his bullets. He felt more and more sensible +of the increased heat, and on looking upwards through the branches he +observed an unusual appearance in the sky. The wolves, at the same +instant, became silent, and then seized, so it seemed, by a panic, the +whole pack set off at full speed amid the trees, and were lost to sight. + +The heat grew more intense than ever, not a breath of wind was stirring, +the thunder roared in the distance, gradually the sky, as he could see +it through the branches, became of an inky blackness, till a dark pall +collected overhead, then the clouds appeared to break up, and whirled +round and round each other in a state of dreadful commotion, forked +lightening darted from the heavens, and the thunder, in rapid heavy +peals, roared and rattled again and again till the very trees of the +forest seemed to shake with the concussion. Far away out of the forest +arose a black cone-shaped column, which soon joined itself to the mass +of clouds overhead, the lightening flashing with greater vividness and +rapidity, the thunder becoming more deafening than ever. The sound +increased to a dreadful roar, coming nearer and nearer. He had no doubt +that it was indeed a whirlwind sweeping through the forest, he could +hear the tree tops dashed together, the rending branches, the crashing +of falling trees, as the stout branches were twisted round and round, +torn up by the roots, or snapped off as if they had been mere saplings. +Should the devastating tempest pass across where he stood, he could +scarcely hope to avoid being crushed by the falling trees. + +He now remembered an open space a short distance off, which, had the +ground not been swampy, he would have selected for his camp. He hurried +towards it. As he made his way through the forest he could hear behind +him those dreadful sounds which betokened the rapid approach of the +hurricane. Already the tree tops were waving furiously above his head, +as he sprang out into the open space, towards which he was directing his +steps. In an instant after the tall trees came crashing down, and +almost lifted off his feet, he found himself encircled by masses of +leaves and boughs torn off and whirled through the air. On he sped till +he gained the centre of the meadow, when, on looking back, a wide +opening appeared in the part of the forest through which he had lately +passed. An avenue had been formed nearly two hundred yards in width, in +which not a tree remained standing, while it seemed to extend far away +into the depths of the forest. + +As he was anxious to continue his journey, as soon as all was quiet, he +set off in the direction taken by the newly formed avenue. He had to +proceed a considerable distance towards the track which led to the +township, and he kept as near it as the fallen trees would allow, that +he might observe the havoc which had been produced. He calculated, as +he walked along, that upwards of three miles of forest had been levelled +of the width already mentioned, and that many thousand trees had, in a +few seconds, been destroyed. + + + +CHAPTER EIGHT. + +DONALD RESUMING HIS JOURNEY, HEARS A CRY OF DISTRESS.--FINDS A MAN UNDER +A FALLEN TREE, WHO, AFTER CARRYING HIM SOME DISTANCE, HE DISCOVERS TO BE +ALEC GALBRAITH.--THEY CAMP FOR THE NIGHT. + +Donald was about to leave the scene of havoc caused by the whirlwind, +when a groan, as if from a person in pain, reached his ears. It was +repeated with a faint cry of "Help! help!" He made his way among the +fallen branches in the direction from whence the sound came. At length +he saw, beneath a fallen tree, a man of strong frame, so pressed down by +a bough that he could not extricate himself. + +"Get me out of this, for I can endure the agony no longer," cried the +man. + +Donald hastened up to him. "I'll do my best to release you, my friend; +but let me see how I can best manage it," he said. At first he thought +of chopping away the bough, but then he saw that the man would suffer by +the blows. He soon, on examination, determined how alone it could be +done. With his axe he cut two pieces of wood, one of which would serve +as a crowbar, the other thicker and shorter, to place under the bough +after he had raised it. It was a work of time, and his heart was +grieved at the pain which the poor man was enduring during the +operation. + +At length, by great exertion, he raised the bough sufficiently off the +crushed limb to enable him to drag out the sufferer. + +"Water! water!" were the only words the latter could utter. Donald had +a small quantity in a flask, with which he moistened his lips. It +somewhat revived the man; but how, in his crippled state, he could be +conveyed to the township, was now the question. The stranger was +strongly built and heavy, and Donald felt that, sturdy as he himself +was, he could scarcely hope to carry him along the uneven track so great +a distance. Still, to leave him in his present exhausted condition was +not to be thought of; the wolves, too, from which he had escaped, might +come back before he could possibly return with assistance. + +"I must take you on my back, my friend," he said to the stranger, who +appeared to have recovered sufficiently to understand him. "I see no +other way of preserving your life. Trust to me. I can at all events +carry you some distance before nightfall, we will then encamp, and +continue our journey to-morrow." + +"I am not worth the exertion and trouble it must cause you," said the +man, gloomily. "The pain overcame me, and I would that the trunk itself +had fallen on me, and put me out of existence altogether." + +"Nay, nay, my friend," answered Donald. "You should rather be thankful +to the merciful God who, though He has allowed you to suffer injury, has +preserved your life, that you may yet have an opportunity of devoting it +to His service." + +"I do not comprehend your philosophy. I know that I have been suffering +unspeakable agony. I have nothing to be thankful for on that account," +answered the man. + +"We will not dispute the point now, my friend," said Donald. "But let +us make the best of our way to the township. This stout stick, which I +used as crowbar, will serve to support me as I walk. Now let me lift +you on my shoulders, and we will proceed on our journey." + +Donald, on this, stooped down, and placed himself so that the stranger +could cling to his back, and with his heavy weight he made his way +through the forest. + +He had not gone far, however, before he began to fear that he should +make but slow progress, even should he not be compelled to abandon his +intentions altogether, and to leave the unhappy sufferer by himself in +the forest. He staggered on till he reached a small stream, where he +could obtain water to quench the sufferer's burning thirst. He examined +also the injured limb--the bone did not appear to be broken, although +the flesh was fearfully bruised and discoloured. + +The clay was already far advanced, and when in a short time he began to +feel the strain which had been put on his own muscles, he came to the +resolution of encamping where they were, and should no one appear, to +continue the journey the next day. + +Having first bathed the sufferer's leg in the cold waters of the stream, +and bound it up as he best could, he commenced making preparations for +encamping, by cutting some spruce fir tops for a bed, collecting stakes +and slabs of birch bark to form a hut, and dry branches for a fire. +This did not take him long. He hurried through the work, for he wished +to shoot some birds or catch some fish for supper. Having lighted a +fire, he left his patient, suffering less apparently than before, and +went off up the stream hoping to find the necessary provisions. + +He was more successful even than he expected, and returned with an ample +supply of fish and fowl. Hitherto the stranger had been in too much +pain to speak more than a few words. The food greatly revived him; and +as he sat up, leaning against the side of the hut, Donald observed that +his eyes were fixed on him with an inquiring look. Donald had spoken +several times in broad Scotch. + +"It must be so," exclaimed the stranger at length, "though I am not +surprised, Donald Morrison, that you do not know me." + +Donald gazed eagerly at the stranger's countenance, then leaning +forward, grasped his hand. + +"Yes, I know you now, Alec Galbraith, my dear friend," he exclaimed, +"though till this moment I had no suspicion who you were. How thankful +I am that I should have been sent to your help." + +Donald then told Alec how anxiously he had been inquiring for him, and +how sorry he had been at being unable to discover where he was. "I +don't like to make you talk now, though," he added. "You must tell me +all about yourself by-and-by." + +"That would not take long, Donald," answered Alec. "Though, as the +subject is not a pleasant one, I will gladly defer it. Just before I +had discovered who you were I had been intending to insist on your +leaving me till you could send some one back from the township to bring +me in, if any one could be found to perform so thankless an office for a +wretched pauper like me. I had been counting on my strong arm and +resolution to make my way in the backwoods, as many another determined +fellow has done, and now I find myself suddenly brought down, and for +what I can tell to the contrary, a helpless cripple for life." + +"You are right in supposing that I would not leave you, my dear Alec," +answered Donald gently. "Indeed, I would not have done so had you been +a stranger. Trust to God's loving mercy for the future. Your leg is +not, I hope, materially injured, and on your recovery you may be able to +carry out the plan you proposed, for I feel sure you will find +employment for your head as well as your arm, and the two together, in +this magnificent country, will secure you all you can require. But oh, +Alec, if you would but put faith in the love of God and His protecting +care you would no longer be in dread of the future." + +Alec sat silent for some minutes. "If God is such as I was always +taught to suppose Him, He can only visit with His vengeance a being like +myself, who has dared His power, and done numberless things which He is +said to prohibit. No, I feel that I am a wretched outcast sinner in His +sight, worthy only of punishment. He has for some time past been +pursuing me with His vengeance, and I see no reason why He should stop +till He has crushed me quite." + +"Of course, my dear Alec, you are perfectly right in your estimation of +yourself, and right, too, with regard to God, if you judge Him as man +judges. His justice demands your punishment, but His love and mercy +would preserve you if you would accept the plan He has formed for saving +you and restoring you to that favour which you have justly lost. He +asks you to do what you have just done, to acknowledge yourself a +sinner, and now do what He demands besides, and throw yourself +unreservedly upon Him." + +"Your system is a beautiful one, Donald, but I confess that I cannot +comprehend it," said Alec, with a groan, produced by the pain he was +suffering, then he added, in his old careless and somewhat sarcastic +tone, "Tell me, old fellow, is it thoroughly orthodox." + +"It is according to God's word, and that I dare not dispute," answered +Donald. "And I will pray that His Holy Spirit will make it as clear to +your mind, and bring it home to your soul, as He has to mine. We will +not, however, talk further now, as it is important that you should get +some sleep. I will watch over you, and keep the fire burning, and I +hope that to-morrow we shall be able to resume our journey. Before you +sleep, dear friend, we will offer up a prayer for God's direction and +assistance." + +"As you think fit," answered Alec, expressing no satisfaction at the +proposal. + +Donald knelt and prayed, and then read a portion of God's Word. Alec +sat listening, but made no remark, though he pressed his friend's hand +when he had finished, and then lying down closed his eyes. + +As Donald sat by the side of his friend he observed that though his +slumbers were troubled he appeared to sleep soundly. He had resolved to +carry him till he could get help, though he felt that the task was +almost beyond his strength; but he did not despair. He prayed for that +aid he so much needed, and felt sure that it would be sent in the way +God might judge best. + +The faithful believer does not expect a miracle to be wrought in his +favour, but he knows that the Most High, who allows not a sparrow to +fall to the ground without knowing it, so orders and arranges all the +movements of His creatures, that He accomplishes, by apparently ordinary +means, whatever He desires to bring about. Thus when the believer prays +he is sure that his prayer will be answered, though it may not be in the +way he, in his finite judgment would desire. Resting securely on God's +love and mercy, he is sure that all will be ordered aright. + + + +CHAPTER NINE. + +WHEN ENCAMPED, DONALD IS VISITED BY AN INDIAN, WHO ASSISTS IN CARRYING +ALEC TO THE TOWNSHIP--INFLUENCED BY THE CONDUCT OF THE CHRISTIAN INDIANS +AND THE EXHORTATIONS OF HIS FRIENDS, ALEC IS BROUGHT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE +TRUTH.--HIS BROTHER REQUIRES HIS PRESENCE IN ENGLAND, TO RECOVER HIS +FATHER'S PROPERTY, AND HE SETS OFF. + +Donald was still reading from his pocket Bible, but had begun to feel +somewhat drowsy, when he was fully aroused by seeing a tall figure +moving through the forest towards him. As the stranger approached, the +light of the fire exhibited a person of a dark countenance, with black +hair, in which were stuck a few tall feathers, while his coat and +leggings, ornamented with fringe, were of untanned leather. Donald at +once knew him to be one of the natives of the land. The Indian +approached fearlessly, and sat down beside him. + +"I see your fire from my camp," he said, in tolerable English. "I white +man's friend. Where you go?" + +Donald, who knew that the natives in that district were on friendly +terms with the settlers, at once told him who he was, and the difficulty +in which he was placed. + +"I help you," said the Indian. "We not far from river. Canoe take up +your friend to township." + +The assistance offered was just what Donald had been praying for. + +"God has sent you to my help, my friend," he said to the Indian, "and I +gratefully accept your offer." + +"You know God and His Son Jesus Christ?" asked the Indian. + +"I do, my friend, praise His name that He has made Himself known to me." + +"I know and love Him too," said the Indian. "He good Master; I wish all +my people knew Him and served Him, then they not drink the fire-water, +and vanish out of the land, as they are doing." + +Donald grasped the Indian's hand. "I do, indeed, wish that not only +your people, but mine also, were subjects of the Lord," he said. "Let +us pray that we may have grace to make His name known among them." + +The white man and the red knelt as brothers, side by side, and together +offered up their prayers for the conversion of their countrymen. + +"Please read God's Word to me," said the Indian. "I love to hear it." + +Donald gladly did as he was requested, his companion occasionally asking +him questions. It was nearly midnight before the Indian rose to return +to his own camp, promising to come back in the morning with some of his +people to convey Alec to the river. + +Soon after daybreak, he appeared with a litter, which he had had +constructed, and a supply of food, in case, as he said, his white +brother might require it. Alec had been for some time awake. He did +not appear surprised when the Indians arrived. + +"I heard you reading to the stranger," he said, "but I was too weary to +speak." + +As soon as breakfast was over, Alec was placed on the litter, and the +Indians bore him along lightly and easily through the forest. It was +past noon before the bank of the stream was reached. Here they launched +two of their canoes, which together were sufficient to convey the whole +party. Alec was placed in one, under charge of the chief, and Donald +took his seat in the other. At night they camped on shore, when Donald +read the Bible to his redskin friends, Alec being apparently an +attentive listener. + +"It is strange," he afterwards remarked to Alec, "that that book should +have such a power over the men of the wilderness as apparently to change +their savage natures." + +"God's Holy Spirit is the power applied to those who accept His offer +made to them by means of the book," continued Donald. "You, my dear +Alec, will experience the same change if you will but take God at His +word and trust Him, although you, from having had these offers often +made and rejected, may have to pass through many troubled waters, such +as these children of the desert have not experienced. But remember His +words, `Seek and ye shall find, knock and it shall be opened unto you.' +`What encouragement does that promise afford sinners, conscious that +they are such, and tossed about with doubts and fears.'" + +Alec made no reply. Donald, however, felt sure that the conduct and +conversation of his Indian friends had had a great effect on his mind. + +On the evening of the second day, the party reached the township, when +the Indians conveyed Alec to Donald's house. The sincerity of the chief +was proved, when he refused to receive any reward for the service he had +rendered. + +"No, no, my friend," he answered. "I rejoice to help brother +Christians, for I remember the Lord's words, `I was hungred, and ye gave +me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye +took me in: naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I +was in prison, and ye came unto me.'" + +Alec, who had been laid on Donald's bed, desired to bid farewell to the +Indians before they took their departure, and to thank them for the +service they had rendered him. + +"Do not speak of it, friend," answered the Indian. "Jesus, our Master, +went about doing good. I only try to be like Him, and I very, very far +away from that." + +"It is wonderful, very wonderful," murmured Alec, after the Indians had +left him. "I do not think my philosophy could have changed them as +their faith in the Bible appears to have done." + +Notwithstanding this, it was long before Donald perceived the desired +change in his friend's heart. + +The surprise of David may be supposed, when, on his arrival from the +office, he found a stranger in the house, and discovered who he was, and +though he grieved to see him in so sad a condition, yet he was thankful +that he had thus been placed under his and his brother's care. Like +brothers, indeed, they watched over him, assisted by Mr Skinner, who, +as they had to be constantly absent, proposed taking up his abode with +them till Alec's recovery. + +"I shall make a capital nurse," he said, "and may be able to minister to +a mind diseased." + +Donald had also obtained the assistance of a surgeon, who at first +seemed very doubtful whether Alec would ever recover the use of his +limb, and expressed himself somewhat carelessly to that effect in the +hearing of his patient. Alec groaned. + +"To be a miserable cripple and a friendless beggar for the rest of my +life," he muttered. + +"No, no, dear Alec, you will not be either friendless or a beggar," said +David, who sat by his side. "While Donald and I live you will find +means of employment, even if you lose the use of your leg; and I am sure +you know enough of us to feel that we can only rejoice to have you +beneath our roof." + +For many days Alec continued ill and feverish, and seemed to pay but +little attention to what Mr Skinner from time to time said to him, +although his kind friend spoke most judiciously, and always sought the +right season for speaking. He did not always, indeed, address him +directly. + +"It seems surprising to me," he observed, one day, "that anyone should +fail to acknowledge that man is composed of two parts, the physical and +spiritual, and that God, his maker, who has so amply provided for his +physical wants, and formed this world so beautifully and so perfect, +should have neglected supplying the wants of his spiritual part--by far +the most important--with what it so greatly requires, guidance and +direction; and above all things, what it so yearns after, a knowledge of +Him who formed it. Now those who really study the book (which professes +to be given by God) according to the way He in it points out,--namely, +in a humble spirit,--with prayer for enlightenment--invariably find that +want fully supplied; and making due allowance for the various +constitutions of the human mind, they are entirely agreed on all +cardinal points regarding the Bible, while its opponents, who profess to +be guided by the light of reason alone, differ in every possible way, +their theories being almost countless; while they agree only in denying +the authority of a book, of the Divine nature of which they have no +experimental knowledge, declining, in their pride, to follow the +directions it gives them for obtaining that knowledge. Then, when we +take a glance round the heathen world, past and present, we find men +following courses, with habits and customs destructive to human +happiness, and abhorrent to the conscience which God has given man when +uncontaminated by them. Contrast the result which the theories of +philosophers and the heathen systems produced, with that which the mild +loving faith Christ taught, if universally adopted, would bring about in +the world, and who would hesitate between the two? And then when, in +addition, we remember that Christ ensures to His followers eternal +happiness, greater even than the mind of man can comprehend, what +madness is it in those who hesitate to accept His offers! True, there +are mysteries which even the Bible does not explain, such as the +existence of Satan; but it does explain why Satan has power over man, +and why sin and misery and death came into the world. This was the +reason that man was disobedient, that man refused to trust to his Maker +and listened to Satan. Man, in the pride of youth, health, and +strength, and mental powers, may look with contempt on the Gospel, but +God, in His loving mercy brings down those He loves, by poverty, +suffering, and loss of friends, and then they feel their weakness and +the vanity of all human systems, and are led to turn to Him who alone +can lift them up and give them comfort, and a promise of a better life. +How plain and easy are the demands He makes; how full of mercy; how +simple is the plan He has arranged." + +Alec, as usual, had had been listening attentively to all Mr Skinner +had said. He never attempted to argue with him. He had long lost all +confidence in the correctness of the notions he had held. Tears filled +his eyes. "I believe, help Thou my unbelief," he ejaculated, in a +broken voice. + +His health and strength had been rapidly improving. Through the +assistance of his friends, when perfectly recovered, he obtained +employment, and was soon able to lay by money, and to feel himself +independent. Notwithstanding this, by his life and conversation, he +showed that the good seed had taken root; the only companionship he +sought was that of Donald and David, and Mr Skinner, and other true +Christians whom he could meet with in the neighbourhood. He had +followed his friends' example, and purchased a piece of land, which he +had commenced cultivating, and on which he told them he hoped soon to +put up a substantial log-house. + +"You will not like to live a solitary life," said Donald. "You will +want a companion. I did not get on half as well as I do now before +David came out." + +"Perhaps I may some day find one," answered Alec, smiling. "I shall +live on in hopes that one of congenial tastes to my own may be sent me." + +"Till you find him you must promise to remain on with us," said Donald. +"We cannot part with you, and I suspect that we should be jealous of any +one whom you might select." + +A short time after this Alec received a letter from one of his long +absent brothers, who had returned to England. He wrote saying that he +had looked into their father's affairs, and found that there was yet +some property which might be recovered, but that it would require his +presence and that of the rest of the family, to settle the matter. A +remittance, to enable him, without inconvenience, to pay his passage +home, was enclosed in the letter. Donald and David were truly glad to +hear of this. + +"You must not be persuaded, Alec, however, to stay away," they +exclaimed. "You must promise to come back as soon as your affairs are +arranged. You are wanted in this country." + +Mr Skinner, while he congratulated his young friend on the brightening +of his worldly prospects, cautioned him affectionately against the +temptations to which he might be exposed. + +"I know that I am very weak," answered Alec, humbly. "But I go forth, +not in my own strength but seeking the aid and direction of God's Holy +Spirit." + +"While that is sought, and it will never be denied, you will be strong, +and I have no fear of the result," was the answer. + +The Morrisons and Mr Skinner undertook to look after Alec's property +during his absence, and he set off on his journey to England. + + + +CHAPTER TEN. + +A LETTER FROM MARGARET.--JANET'S ILLNESS.--ANXIETY ABOUT ALEC'S +RETURN.--A DELIGHTFUL SURPRISE.--ARRIVAL OF ALEC AND MARGARET WITH +JANET.--MARGARET HAS BECOME ALEC'S WIFE. CONDUCTED BY THE BROTHERS TO +THEIR NEW HOUSE.--ARRIVAL OF MR. SKINNER'S SISTER, MRS. RAMSDEN AND HER +DAUGHTERS, WHO, AS MIGHT POSSIBLY BE EXPECTED, BECOME THE WIVES OF +DONALD AND DAVID JANET CONTINUING TO LIVE WITH MARGARET, PAYS FREQUENT +VISITS TO HER OTHER BAIRNS, AND IS EVER WELCOMED BY THEM, AND THE +NUMEROUS WEE BAIRNS WHO SPRING UP IN THEIR MIDST.--CONCLUSION. + +In those days, when no magnificent ocean steamers, with rapid speed, +crossed weekly the Atlantic, the settlers in Canada, whose friends had +returned to the old country, had often to wait three or four months +before they could hear of their safe arrival. + +Some time after Alec had gone a letter was received from Margaret, +written in a less happy strain than was usual to her. Janet had been +suffering from rheumatism, and found it impossible to spin as much as +she had been accustomed to do. The state of her health made her feel an +unwonted anxiety about the future prospects of her beloved charge. "I +know, however, that all will be well," wrote Margaret, "so I do my best +to keep up her spirits, by reminding her of God's loving kindness, in +which she has hitherto so firmly confided. Were it not, however, for +the assistance you have given us, my dear brothers, I confess that we +should have a great difficulty in supporting ourselves. I do all I can +to repay our kind and loving friend for the years of tender care she has +bestowed on us. What would have become of us all had it not been for +her?" + +Donald and David had a short time before this sent home a larger sum +than usual, which they hoped would have been received soon after the +letter was written, and they trusted that it would assist to restore +Janet's spirits, and convince her that as long as they lived Margaret +would not be left destitute. + +Weeks and weeks passed by, and no acknowledgment of the sum was +received, and no other letter came to hand. + +As they hoped that Alec Galbraith would not be long absent, wishing to +give him a pleasant surprise, they had gone on with the erection of his +house, and completed it, declaring that as their reward they would sell +their property, for which they had had several advantageous offers, and +go and live with him till they should fix on another location further +off in the wilderness, to bring under cultivation. + +"He must have been at home several weeks, and had plenty of time to +arrange his affairs with his brothers," observed David. + +"I wonder he has not written to us. Perhaps the letter, or the vessel +herself bringing it, may have been lost," observed Donald. "That has +been the fate of several of Margaret's letters. Depend upon it we shall +hear from him or our sister before long, and he is sure to pay her a +visit before he comes back, that he may bring us news of her and Janet." + +They were seated together one evening in their log-house, their meal +just placed on the table. "I fancy I heard footsteps," said David. +"Yes, some one hails." + +It was Alec Galbraith's voice. Donald and David rushed out. There +stood Margaret and Alec Galbraith, while dear old Janet followed with +eager looks close behind them. Donald, seizing his sister's hands, drew +her to him, while David grasped those of Alec, till his brother could +relinquish Margaret to him, and then land Janet, rushing forward, threw +her arms around both the brother's necks, and sobbed out, "My bairns, my +bairns, though I feared the salt sea I would have gone over more than +twice the distance to hold ye thus agen!" + +The new arrivals were soon seated at the already spread board. As +Margaret happened to place her hand on the table Donald observed a plain +gold ring on her finger. + +"What!" he exclaimed, turning quickly to Alec. "Is it really so?" + +"I thought we should surprise you," he answered, laughing. "But I would +not come away without her, and as she knew that you would mourn my +absence, she at last consented to return with me as my wife, provided +Janet would come also. It was a hard matter, however, I can assure you, +to persuade her to venture across the ocean." + +"Indeed, my dear Donald," said Margaret, when she and her brother were +shortly afterwards together, and her husband was absent, "much as I +found I loved him, and had loved him since I was a girl, I would not +have consented to be his wife had I not been convinced that he had +abandoned those infidel principles which had caused his poor mother so +much grief, and had also become a faithful follower of the Lord. I was +at first delighted to see him, and then my heart sank within me for fear +that he was unchanged. He did not leave me long in doubt on the +subject. I knew by his gentle and subdued manners, by the unmistakable +expressions he used, and then by the deep sorrow that he expressed, that +the opinions he once held had grieved his poor mother, that he no longer +adhered to the vain philosophy in which he had formerly gloried. I soon +discovered that he loved me, and then I had no hesitation in giving him +my heart in return." + +"You acted wisely and rightly, dear Margaret and David and I are truly +glad to welcome him as a brother, whom we have long looked upon as the +most intimate of our friends." + +The next day, Alec and Margaret, accompanied by Janet, were conducted in +due form by Donald and David to the house which they had but lately +finished on Alec's property. The surprise was indeed a great and +delightful one. As it did not take long to get in as much furniture as +was required at that season of the year, Margaret and her husband, with +her faithful nurse, in a few days took up their abode there. + +Alec's worldly circumstances had greatly improved, for much more of his +father's property had been recovered than he expected, so that his share +was considerable, and with the experience he had gained, he was able to +employ his capital in farming, with great advantage. + +"What will you two poor bachelors do by yourselves," said Margaret. +"Could you not manage to come and live with us in this house as you +purposed doing had Alec returned alone?" + +"We have work enough in drawing our plans, and other business of our +office to employ nearly every hour of the day," answered Donald. "And +besides, we are anxious to assist Mr Skinner, who wishes to enlarge his +house as soon as possible, as he expects a widowed sister and her family +to join him shortly, and he does not consider the accommodation he can +now offer them, sufficient." + +"Oh, I suppose he wishes to have a nursery built where the children may +be out of hearing," said Margaret, laughing. + +"He has not mentioned the ages of his nieces, or how many there are of +them," said David, "but I should think, from a remark he made, that they +cannot be little children." + +The young men made no inquiry of their friend about the more juvenile +portion of the family of his expected relatives. As he had himself now +been some time absent from England, he might have been able to give them +very little information. David, however, confessed to Margaret that he +felt somewhat curious on the subject. This was increased when the new +part of the house having been finished, Mr Skinner fitted up one +chamber which he said was for his sister, and two other pretty little +rooms for his elder nieces, and certainly the furniture, which he put in +to them, was scarcely such as he would have chosen for young children. + +Just at the time Mr Skinner was expecting the arrival of his sister, +Mrs Ramsden and her family, Donald and David had to leave home to visit +some distant township on business. Mr Skinner had, before this asked +the assistance of Margaret and Janet in fitting up his house. Janet, +with her usual kindness of heart, offered to remain for a day or two to +receive the new comers, whom she understood had no servant with them. + +"The poor lady may be tired, and the bairns will ha' na one to gie them +their supper, and put them to bed, and it will be just like old times +coming back, and be a muckle pleasure to me," she observed, to Margaret. +Mr Skinner was very glad to accept her services, feeling sure that she +would be of much assistance, although he might not have supposed that +his nieces would require the attendance of a nurse. + +Janet was to bring word to Margaret when Mrs Ramsden would be able to +see her, and she proposed then walking over with Alec to visit her. + +She had numberless occupations which kept her and Janet fully employed; +for though her husband had engaged a sturdy Scotch girl to milk the +cows, and perform some of the rougher work of the farm, the damsel +herself required her constant superintendence. There were poultry of +several varieties, as well as pigs, to be fed; the flower and kitchen +garden to be cultivated, and numerous household duties to be attended +to, Alec himself being constantly engaged in clearing fresh ground, and +in the more laborious work about the farm. + +Margaret had greatly missed Janet the days she had been absent, and with +much satisfaction, therefore, she saw her with her knitting in hand-- +without which, even in Canada, she never moved abroad--approaching the +house. + +"Oh yes, they are come, my bairn," she said, to Margaret's inquiry. +"Mistress Ramsden herself is a brave lady, and seldom have my eyes +rested on twa mair bonny lassies than her daughters, na pride, na +nonsense about the young leddies, Mistress Mary and Emily Ramsden, and +just as gentle, and loving, and kind as lambs to the younger children. +They thanked me for my help; but they put their hands to everything +themselves, and would nae let me do half as much as I wished. I'll tell +you what, Margaret, I have set my heart on having them for my twa +bairns. They would make them bonny wives, indeed, but don't ye gang and +tell your brothers, for there is that obstinacy in human nature that +they might back, and kick, and run off into the woods rather than do +what, if left alone, they would be eager after." + +Margaret promised to be discreet, and allow her brothers to judge for +themselves, without praising the Misses Ramsden, should her opinion of +them, as she had little doubt it would agree with that formed by Janet. +Next morning she and Alec paid their promised visit, and she was fully +as much disposed as Janet to admire the Misses Ramsden and their mother. +The more she saw of them the more pleased she was, not only with their +appearance, but with their earnest piety, their simple unassuming +manners, and their apparent energy and determination, and their evident +readiness to submit to all the inconveniences to which settlers in a new +country must, of necessity, be subjected. + +A few days after this Donald and David returned, and called on Margaret +on their way home. They naturally inquired whether Mrs Ramsden and her +family had arrived. She wisely said but little about the young ladies, +and Janet was equally discreet. They, however, managed to find their +way that evening to Mr Skinner's. + +They were always glad to pay their kind friend a visit; but from their +sister's and Janet's discreet silence, they suspected that the change in +the character of his establishment would be a drawback to the pleasure +of their previous intercourse. Not, however, till a much later hour +than usual on the evening in question did they discover that it was high +time to take up their hats and wish Mr Skinner and his sister and her +daughters good-bye. + +As they walked homewards, Donald, after a long silence, burst out +laughing, exclaiming, "Weel, I expected to see a number of bairns in +pinafores, but eh! she's a braw lassie." + +"She is the sweetest young creature I have ever had the happiness of +meeting," said David. + +"But I am talking of the elder sister," exclaimed Donald. + +"And I speak of the younger," observed David. "But they are both very +nice girls--there is no doubt as to that--no nonsense about them--so +full of spirits and fun, and yet so lady-like and quite, and I heard +Emily's voice, when joining in the prayer, it was so true and earnest." + +"I was nearest Mary, and was struck by the genuine tone of her's," +observed Donald. + +"Do you know, David, that I had made up my mind to follow the example of +Mr Skinner, and to live a bachelor for ten years to come at least, and +then, perhaps, to go back to the old country to look out for a wife. +But eh! that looking out for a wife must be unsatisfactory work at best. +How can a man possibly discover the real character and disposition of a +lady when the object he has in view is suspected, if not well known." + +"We may be sure we shall be guided aright if we seek guidance in that as +in all other matters," answered David. "But I cannot help hoping that +neither you nor I need be compelled to make the expedition you suggest. +I have sought guidance, and I am sure that in God's good time we shall +be directed aright." + +Day after day, when their work was over, they had some cogent reason for +calling at their friend's house; and when Margaret next met them, Donald +confessed that if he ever could venture to marry he should be thankful +to make Mary Ramsden his wife, while David made the same acknowledgment +with regard to her younger sister. + +Happily, in a prosperous country like Canada, to steady and industrious +men like the young Morrisons, the impediments were not insuperable, nor, +indeed, did they take long to overcome. + +Faithful Janet was overjoyed when she heard that the lassies she so much +admired had promised to become the wives of her twa bairns, with a full +approval of their mother and uncle. As they agreed that their old house +might not always be sufficiently large to hold them both, they moved +further off to the west, where they were enabled to purchase, by the +sale of their already well cultivated farm, two good sized allotments of +land, on each of which they reared a comfortable log-house, where, +shortly afterwards, they and their brides took up their abode. + +"My work is among my fellow-creatures," observed Mr Skinner, "or I +should be much inclined, my dear nephews, to follow your example, and +move nearer you." + +He therefore remained at the now well advanced township, though before +long, to their great satisfaction, the Galbraiths became their near +neighbours, Alec having purchased a property a little beyond theirs. + +The Morrisons gratefully remembered the kindness they had received from +Mr McTavish and other friends in the old country. To many young men +who came out with introductions from them they gave a hearty welcome, +extending a helping hand to those who required assistance, while they +rendered a still greater service to not a few whom they saw falling into +evil ways, by perseveringly, though gently and lovingly, warning and +exhorting them--not leaving them in spite of ingratitude and opposition, +till they had been the means of bringing them back into the right path. + +In the latter respect especially, Alec followed their example. He +remembered into what a depth of sin he had sunk, and that it was through +the love of Jesus, and by no merit of his own, he was drawn out of it. +His sin he knew was washed away. Gratitude to that loving Saviour urged +him to try and call those sheep who were wandering away along the thorny +paths he had followed into the true fold, where they might rest secure +under charge of the faithful Shepherd who never forsakes those who seek +Him. + +Janet, though continuing to live with Margaret, paid frequent visits to +the other houses of the family, at which her coming was always hailed +with delight by the numerous wee bairns, who, in the course of time, +made their appearance among them, as she was also warmly welcomed by +Donald and David, who, though they felt that to Mr Skinner they were, +humanly speaking, indebted for the spiritual life they enjoyed, could +never forget how devotedly she had watched over their infancy and youth, +and that it was mainly to her training and instruction their present +prosperity was owing. + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Janet McLaren, by W.H.G. Kingston + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK JANET MCLAREN *** + +***** This file should be named 23069.txt or 23069.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/3/0/6/23069/ + +Produced by Nick Hodson of London, England + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +http://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at http://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit http://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. +To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. |