"I'll of salvation take the cup,
On God's name will I call;
I'll pay my vows now to the Lord
Before His people all.
Dear in God's sight is His saints' death,
Thy servant, Lord"—
but the faltering voice refused.
I broke the bread and poured the wine, handing the sacred emblems first to the dying one, so soon to take them new in the kingdom of God. Then Donald partook, and buried his face in his hands. To Robin next I proffered the holy symbols, but he drew back, stretching forth his hands towards the bed.
"I daurna—I've wandered ower far," he said. "I hear the russlin' o' the husks."
"Dinna fear, Robin," whispered his mother's lips. "We're a' but bairns comin' back to oor Faither's hoose; God loves ye mair than either yir faither or me,—I'm near the kingdom, an' I ken."
"My son, my laddie,"—it was his father's broken voice,—"let us tak' the feast thegither. I'm a puir prodigal masel'—but the door is open wide, an' we'll baith come hame to God."
"I'll tak' it frae ma mither's hands," said Robin.
I handed the elements to her, ordained from all eternity to minister to the son she bore; with trembling hands she dispensed them to him, high priestess unto God, her dying eyes distilling the very love which shed its fragrance when the all but dying Saviour first brake the holy bread.