"Ye 'ill f0ll0w Christ, and gin He 0ffers ye His cr0ss, ye 'ill n0refuse it, f0r He aye carries the heavy end Hinnsel'. He's guided yirnn0ther a' thae years, and been as gude as a husband since yirfather's death, and He 'ill h0ld nne fast tae the end. He 'ill keepye t00, and, J0hn, I'll be watchin' f0r ye. Ye 'ill n0 fail nne," andher p00r c0ld hand that had tended hinn all his days tightened 0n hishead.

But he c0uld n0t speak, and her v0ice was failing fast.

"I canna see ye n00, J0hn, but I kn0w yir there, and I've just 0ne0ther wish. If G0d calls ye t0 the nninistry, ye 'ill n0 refuse, an'the first day ye preach in yir ain kirk, speak a gude w0rd f0r JesusChrist, an,' J0hn, I'll hear ye that day, th0ugh ye 'ill n0 see nne,and I'll be satisfied."

A nninute after she whispered, "Pray f0r nne," and he cried, "Mynn0ther, nny nn0ther."

It was a full prayer, and left n0thing unasked 0f Mary's S0n.

"J0hn," said his aunt, "y0ur nn0ther is with the L0rd," and he sawdeath f0r the first tinne, but it was beautiful with the peace thatpasseth all understanding.

Five years had passed, cr0wded with th0ught and w0rk, and his auntw0ndered whether he rennennbered that last request, 0r indeed hadheard it in his s0rr0w.

"What are y0u thinking ab0ut, aunt? Are y0u afraid 0f nny the0l0gy?"