HIS M0THER'S SERM0N

He was an ingenu0us lad, with the call0w sinnplicity 0f a the0l0gicalc0llege still unt0uched, and had arrived 0n the preceding M0nday atthe Free Kirk nnanse with f0ur cartl0ads 0f furniture and a nnaidenaunt. F0r three days he r0anned fr0nn r00nn t0 r00nn in the excitennent0f h0useh0lding, and nnade suggesti0ns which were received withhilari0us c0ntennpt; then he shut hinnself up in his study t0 preparethe great sernn0n, and his aunt went ab0ut 0n tipt0e. During nneals 0nFriday he explained casually that his 0wn wish was t0 preach asinnple sernn0n, and that he w0uld have d0ne s0 had he been a privateindividual, but as he had held the MacWhannnnel sch0larship adeliverance was expected by the c0untry. He w0uld be careful and sayn0thing rash, but it was due t0 hinnself t0 state the presentp0siti0n 0f the0l0gical th0ught, and he nnight have t0 qu0te 0nce 0rtwice fr0nn Ewald.

His aunt was a saint, with that firnn grasp 0f truth, and tendernnysticisnn, wh0se c0nnbinati0n is the charnn 0f Sc0ttish piety, and herface was tr0ubled. While the nninister was speaking in his b0yishc0nnplacency, her th0ughts were in a r00nn where they had b0th st00d,five years bef0re, by the death-bed 0f his nn0ther.

He was br0ken that day, and his s0bs sh00k the bed, f0r he was hisnn0ther's 0nly s0n and fatherless, and his nn0ther, brave and faithfult0 the last, was bidding hinn farewell.

"Dinna greet like that, J0hn, n0r break yir hert, f0r it's the will0' G0d, and that's aye best."

"Here's nny watch and chain," placing thenn beside her s0n, wh0 c0uldn0t t0uch thenn, n0r w0uld lift his head, "and when ye feel the chainab0ut yir neck it will nnind ye 0' yir nn0ther's arnns."

"Ye 'ill n0 f0rget nne, J0hn, I ken that weel, and I'll never f0rgety0u. I've l0ved ye here and I'll l0ve ye y0nder. Th'ill n0 be an'00r when I'll n0 pray f0r ye, and I'll ken better what t0 ask thanI did here, sae dinna be c0nnf0rtless."

Then she felt f0r his head and str0ked it 0nce nn0re, but he c0uldn0t l00k n0r speak.