Mrs. Veitch turned on her pillow like a tired child.
"I'll need a lang, lang rest, an' a lang drink o' the Water of Life."
"Oh! Mother!" said Kate. "You're no' going to leave me."
Elizabeth laid her hand on her arm. "Don't vex her, Kate. She's nearly through with this tough world."
The doctor was heard at the door.
"I'll go now, and Father will come down this evening. Oh! poor Kate, don't cry. It is so well with her."
That night, between the hours of twelve and one, at the turning of the tide, the undaunted soul of the old country-woman forded the River, and who shall say that the trumpets did not sound for her on the other side!
CHAPTER XVII
"He was the Interpreter to untrustful souls
The weary feet he led into the cool
Soft plains called Ease; he gave the faint to drink:
Dull hearts he brought to the House Beautiful.
The timorous knew his heartening on the brink
Where the dark River rolls.
He drew men from the town of Vanity,
Past Demas' mine and Castle Doubting's towers,
To the green hills where the wise shepherds be,
And Zion's songs are crooned among the flowers."
J.B.
The winter days slipped past. Christmas came, bringing with it to Buff the usual frantic anticipations, and consequent flatness when it was borne in on him that he had not done so well in the way of presents and treats as he felt he deserved.