woman, she had many a time very little to give them. They were,
however, wonderful well-bred things, and took with thankfulness
whatever she set before them; for they knew that their father, the
breadwinner, was away, and that she had to work sore for their bit
and drap. I dare say, the only vexation that ever she had from any
of them, on their own account, was when Charlie, the eldest laddie,
had won fourpence at pitch-and-toss at the school, which he brought
home with a proud heart to his mother. I happened to be daunrin' by
at the time, and just looked in at the door to say gude-night: it
was a sad sight. There was she sitting with the silent tear on her
cheek, and Charlie greeting as if he had done a great fault, and the
other four looking on with sorrowful faces. Never, I am sure, did
Charlie Malcolm gamble after that night.

I often wondered what brought Mrs Malcolm to our clachan, instead of
going to a populous town, where she might have taken up a huxtry-
shop, as she was but of a silly constitution, the which would have
been better for her than spinning from morning to far in the night,
as if she was in verity drawing the thread of life. But it was, no
doubt, from an honest pride to hide her poverty; for when her
daughter Effie was ill with the measles--the poor lassie was very
ill--nobody thought she could come through, and when she did get the
turn, she was for many a day a heavy handful;--our session being
rich, and nobody on it but cripple Tammy Daidles, that was at that
time known through all the country side for begging on a horse, I
thought it my duty to call upon Mrs Malcolm in a sympathising way,
and offer her some assistance, but she refused it.

"No, sir," said she, "I canna take help from the poor's-box,
although it's very true that I am in great need; for it might