o have thus imperfectly
expressed their anguish on the tomb; it would appear hard that their
delight, their solace, the object of their daily care, of their waking
thoughts, of their last imperfect recollections as they sank into sleep,
of their only dreams, should thus have been taken from them; yet did I
know them, and Heaven was just and merciful. The child had weaned them
from their God; they lived but in him; they were without God in the
world. The child alone had their affections, and they had been lost had
not He in His mercy removed it. Come this way, Jacob." I followed the
Dominie till he stood before another tombstone in the corner of the
churchyard. "This stone, Jacob, marks the spot where lies the remains
of one who was my earliest and dearest friend--for in my youth I had
friends, because I had anticipations, and little thought that it would
have pleased God that I should do my duty in that station to which I
have been called. He had one fault, which proved a source of misery
through life, and was the cause of an untimely death. He was of a
revengeful disposition. He never forgave an injury, forgetting, poor,
sinful mortal, for how much he had need to be forgiven. He quarrelled
with his relations; he was shot in a duel with his friend! I mention
this, Jacob, as a lesson to thee; not that I feel myself worthy to be
thy preceptor, for I am humbled, but out of kindness and love towards
thee, that I might persuade thee to correct that fault in thy
disposition."

"I have already made friends with Mr Drummond, sir," answered I; "but
still your admonition shall not be thrown away."

"Hast thou, Jacob? then is my mind much relieved. I trust thou wilt no
longer stand in thine own light, but accept the offers which, in the
fulness of his heart to make redress, he may make unto thee."

"Nay, sir, I cannot promise that; I wish to be independent and earn my
own livelihood."

"Then hear me, Jacob, for the spirit of prophecy is on me; the time will
come when thou shalt bitterly repent. Thou hast received an education
by my unworthy endeavours, and hast been blessed by Providence with
talents far above the situation in life to which thou wouldst so
tenaciously adhere; the time will come when thou wilt repent, yea,
bitterly repent. Look at that marble monument with the arms so lavishly
emblazoned upon it. That, Jacob, is the tomb of a proud man, whose
career is well known to me. He was in straitened circu