airns to yon
savage place! What could ail him at Mr Ross's offer? My patience! but
folk whiles stand in their ain light."

"Mr Ross is not a God-fearing man," replied Janet, solemnly. "It's no'
what their mother would have wished to have her bairns brought up by
him. The minister kenned her wishes well on that point, you may be
sure. And besides, he could never cross the sea and leave any of them
behind."

"But what need to cross the sea?" cried Mrs Smith; "It's a pity but
folk should ken when they're weel aff. What could the like o' him do in
a country he kens nothing about, and with so many bairns?"

"It's for the bairns' sake he's thinking of it. They say there's fine
land there for the working, and no such a thing as payin' rent, but
every man farming his own land, with none to say him nay. And there's
room for all, and meat and clothes, and to spare. I'm no' sure but it's
just the best thing the minister can do. They had near made up their
minds afore, ye ken."

"Hoot, woman, speak sense," entreated her friend. "Is the minister to
sell rusty knives and glass beads to the Indians? That's what they do
in yon country, as I've read in a book myself. Whatna like way is that
to bring up a family?"

"Losh, woman, there's other folk there beside red Indians; folk that
dinna scruple to even themselves with the best in Britain, no' less.
You should read the newspapers, woman. There's one John Caldwell there,
a friend o' the minister's, that's something in a college, and he's aye
writing him to come. He says it's a wonderful country for progress; and
they hae things there they ca' institutions, that he seems to think
muckle o', though what _they_ may be I couldna weel make out. The
minister read a bit out o' a letter the ither night to Miss Graeme and
me."

"Janet," said her friend, "say the truth at once. The minister is bent
on this fule's errand, and you're encouraging in it."

"Na, na! He needs na encouragement from the like o' me. I would gie
muckle, that hasna muckle to spare, gin he were content to bide where he
is, though it's easy seen he'll hae ill enough bringing up a family
here, and these laddies needing more ilka year that goes o'er their
heads. And they say yon's a grand country, and fine eddication to be
got in it for next to nothing. I'm no sure but the best thing he can do
is to take them there. I ken the mistress was weel pleased with the
thought," and Janet tried with all her