“Why, Dan, why? Nellie’s Saviour wishes you—yes, you—to get there, and the angels would sing a loud welcome over you; for as truly as you miss your Nancie, or we loved Nellie, as certainly as Burke likes you to make of him, so true is it that our Heavenly Father wants you to come to Him; just as you are—wild, careless, sinful, bad as you think your life has been. There’s a kind friend up there,” said Mr. Barrie, pointing upwards, “has commanded me to tell you this good news to-day. Believe it, Dan—believe it.”
Dan was unable to say more than, “Is that a fact? Sent you to tell me that? I can hardly think that can possibly be—an’ yet you’re a man o’ your word; but it’s no’ easy believin’t.”
On the floor of the dirty cottage the two knelt down, and so simple were Mr. Barrie’s words, and so single was his heart, that it may safely be said they prayed together.
Mr. Barrie handed Dan half a pound of tobacco, although he had very great difficulty in persuading him to accept it; Dan was almost stubborn in his refusal. Mr. Barrie, however, got him to take it, and just before leaving kindly advised him to pray for himself;—“just plain words—only say what you think, and ask whatever you feel you need, but be sure and do it at once.”
Dan said nothing,—it was all strange to him,—but when Mr. Barrie went away, he thought over it, and smoked over it, and ultimately resolved to have a crack with Bell about it, for she could understand him better. And many a chat they had, but Dan could not be persuaded to go to the Free Church.
“I micht try the ‘auld kirk,’ it was mair the puir folk’s kirk, for they tell me that they’re awfu’ folk for seekin’ siller in the Free Kirk; an’ I’ve kent Mr. Walker langest, an’ he’s a hamely kind o’ man—but we’ll see.”
So will we in an early chapter.
CHAPTER X.
INCIDENTS IN BLINKBONNY.
“Oh! many a shaft at random sent