rge family bible; behind it were a few books and a tea-caddy. In the
side of the wall opposite the window, was again a box-bed. To the eyes
of the shepherd-born lad, it looked the most desirable shelter he had
ever seen. He turned to his hostess and said,

"I'm feart it's ower guid for me. What could ye lat me hae't for by
the week? I wad fain bide wi' ye, but whaur an' whan I may get wark I
canna tell; sae I maunna tak it ony gait for mair nor a week."

"Mak yersel' at ease till the morn be by," said the old woman. "Ye
canna du naething till that be ower. Upo' the Mononday mornin' we s'
haud a cooncil thegither--you an' me an' my man: I can du naething
wantin' my man; we aye pu' thegither or no at a'."

Well content, and with hearty thanks, Donal committed his present fate
into the hands of the humble pair, his heaven-sent helpers; and after
much washing and brushing, all that was possible to him in the way of
dressing, reappeared in the kitchen. Their tea was ready, and the
cobbler seated in the window with a book in his hand, leaving for Donal
his easy chair.

"I canna tak yer ain cheir frae ye," said Donal.

"Hoots!" returned the cobbler, "what's onything oors for but to gie the
neeper 'at stan's i' need o' 't."

"But ye hae had a sair day's wark!"

"An' you a sair day's traivel!"

"But I'm yoong!"

"An' I'm auld, an' my labour the nearer ower."

"But I'm strong!"

"There's nane the less need ye sud be hauden sae. Sit ye doon, an'
wastena yer backbane. My business is to luik to the bodies o' men, an'
specially to their puir feet 'at has to bide the weicht, an' get sair
pressed therein. Life 's as hard upo' the feet o' a man as upo' ony
pairt o' 'm! Whan they gang wrang, there isna muckle to be dune till
they be set richt again. I'm sair honourt, I say to mysel' whiles, to
be set ower the feet o' men. It's a fine ministration!--full better
than bein' a door-keeper i' the hoose o' the Lord! For the feet 'at
gang oot an' in at it 's mair nor the door!"

"The Lord be praist!" said Donal to himself; "there's mair i' the warl'
like my father an' mither!"

He took the seat appointed him.

"Come to the table, Anerew," said the old woman, "gien sae be ye can
pairt wi' that buik o' yours, an' lat yer sowl gie place to yer boady's
richts.--I doobt, sir, gien he wad ait or drink gien I wasna at his
elbuck."

"Doory," returned her husband, "ye canna deny I gie ye a bit noo an'
than, specially wh