The Highland monthly - National Library of Scotland

76 The Highland Monthly.
I liked Willie's independence, but stoutly contended
that his mother was right, and that he must cease to
struggle in the toils, and obey good advice for the sake of
his friends. When I urged the latter consideration pretty
strongly, Willie bent down his head, and two large tears
fell on the pages of " Justinian." He was yielding, and I
changed the subject. I cannot very well describe the con-
versation that followed, but it must have been of a cheerful
nature, for I remember that Willie laughed, that his mother
smiled to see him laughs and that among the amusements
of the evening, were a song volunteered by Kate, a droll
story of an outwitted fox, told by George, and an
unmeasured quantity of cheerful nonsense contributed by
myself " A pretty account indeed," says the reader, " of a
* sticket minister's ' idea
of the proper conduct of Christians
towards a sick or perhaps dying person." Well, I do not
think it was according to rule, but I feel pretty certain that
if it had been my last night with Willie, it would not have
been ill spent. For is there aught derogatory to Christian
faith and humble trust in strewing the path to the grave
with flowers, and in making the most of the last ray of
sunshine. Ladies and gentlemen, criticise as you like, but
really I could not help feeling an expansion of heart that
despised rules and formulas, when I found my young
friend living and apparently in the wa}^ to recovery ; and
besides, I have already let drop a hint or two to let you
know that he did recover.
It was late before I thought of going back to the inn,
and, when I offered to depart, the mother, with the old-
fashioned hospitality which still lingers in some outlandish
corners, pressed me to stay in the cottage. George
assured me that there was their grand red bed free to me,
and Kate also added her wishes in a very energetic manner.
I stayed because I had a request to make, which it seemed
would be listened to with more respect if I accepted their
hospitality. Well, I slept in a little neat room in the grand
red bed, which was evidently a relic of manse life, bought