I very well remember a conversation I once had at Mosgiel with old Jeanie McNab. Jeanie subsisted on a mixed diet of smiles and songs.
'But, supposing, Jeanie----' I began one day.
'Now don't you have anything to do with supposings,' she exclaimed. 'I know them all. "Suppose I should lose my money!" "Suppose I should lose my health!" And all the rest. When those supposings come knocking at your heart, you just slam the door, and bolt it, and don't let any of them in!'
It was excellent advice; yet the prophet acted on a diametrically opposite principle. When the supposings came knocking at his door, he cried 'Come in!' and in they came!
'Suppose the figs are barren!'
'Suppose the vines wither!'
'Suppose the olive fail!'
'Suppose the corn perish!'
'Suppose the sheep starve!'