The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1870-01-08

Sequestered, and even dismal: no tree
could be discovered in any direction Their
were no out-houses attached to the dwelling
and no residences to be seen. The hous'
stood alone, big, gaunt, cold, and comfort
less, in the midst u bare hills, exposed t.
the bitter winds that careered through the
valleys and ravines. Nor, as approached
did discover any signs of domestic stir Of
comfort. Several of the windows were
closed up-the under part Of the house on
ly, being, apparently, occupied by the in
mates, who showed no anxiety to ascertain
by looking out who it was that had accom-
plished the task of getting to this barrenl and
sequestered place.
On knocking at the door, it was opened
by young woman about eighteen years Of
age. She appeared to be delicate-being
thin in person, pale in her complexion, and
of an irritable temperament, for she started
when she saw me. An expression Of me-
lancholy pervaded features not unhandsome,
and attracted particularly my attention, by
almost instantly exciting my sympathy.
asked her if George B .Ias in the
house. She answered that her father, for
such be was, had gone to bed, having been
for some time ailing. toId her that it was
upon that account | wanted to see him. She
seemed then to know who was, and thank
ed me for my attention. / stepped in, and,
as followed the young woman through e
long passage to the room occupied by her
father, she told me that her mother had died
about year before, and that there was no
other individual living in the house but
her remaining parent.
A gloomy, unhappy pair thought [, as
I looked upon her sOmbre face, and heard
the wind moaning through the big open
house.
On entering the room, which was cold
and poorly furnished, l observed George B.
sitting up in his bed reading book,
which l discovered to be large Bible.
He had napkin bound round his temples.
His face exhibited the true melancholic hue,
being of swarthy yellow his eyes wore
the heaviness generally found in people of
that tendency the muscles were firmly
bound down by the rigid, severe, and des-
ponding expression of detection, generally
found associated with these other character
stics and throughout his face and manner
there was exhibited an indifference Of sur
rounding objects, which was only very par
italy relaxed by his recognition Of me as |
entered. There was. however, nothing of
the look of diseased man about him; for
his face was full and Aeshy, bis eye steady
and unclouded, and his voice, as he vel
coined me in, strong, and even rough and
burly. His face resembled very much the
ideal Of that Of the old Covenanters; and
the large bible he held in his hands aided
the conception, and increased the picturesque
effect of the whole aspect Of the man.
He knew, or took it for granted, that |
was the surgeon he had sent for, pointed to
a chair, that might sit down, and beckon-
ed to his daughter Margaret, as be called
her, to leave the room. The young woman
retired slowly, and | observed, as she pro-
ceeded towards the door, she threw back
two or three nervous looks, which thought
indicated strong feeling Of apprehension,
mixed with her flial sympathy. As the
door shut, it sounded as if it had lost the
catch the father caught the sound, appear
ed angry, and requested me to rise and shut
it effectually, and, as he added carefully.
| complied, and he seemed to listen for some
time, as if to try to ascertain whether his
daughter had proceeded along the passage
to the kitchen. He was uncertain, and lis
tened again, but was still unresolved; at
last, be said be was sorrv to give me 50
much trouble, but be felt be could not en-
ter upon the subject about which be wished
to consult me until he was satisfied, beyond
the possibility Of doubt, that Margaret was
not listening. / rose and went to the door.
On opening it, l saw the young woman
standing behind it. On perceiving me she
retreated precipitately and fearfully along
the dark passage l shut the door and,
being unwilling, in my ignorance Of the
cause Of all this mysterious secresy and sus
picion, to betray the poor girl, who had per-
haps some good legitimate object in sOlici-
tude, said simply that there was now no
body there. He was satisfied and l again
sat down.
| then asked him what was the particular
complaint about which he wished to consult
me.
"That is precisely what l wish know"
he replied. 81 hae nae complaint aboot my
body, which, God be thanked is Just as
strong as it used to be. But there is a
change in my mind, different frae the healthy
griefs, and sorrows, and pains O. mortals
My wife, the best O. women, died a year
ago. In short time after, lost the greater
number O my sheep in storm, which pre-
vented me frae payin my Candlemas rent.
But mony a man loses his wife, and mony a
shepherd bis sheep. without tellin a doctor
o their loss. l laid my account WI suffer
in grief as heavy as mortal ever suffered !;
and in this house, in this bed, on these bills,
in the kirk, and at our cattle trysts, | hae
struggled wi my sorrow. But, sir" lean
ing bis head towards me, and speaking low,
''it GCinna a. do"
He paused, and, as be fixed his eye upon
me, drew deep sigh, as if he had already
broached a subject that was fearful to him.
self
"What mean you % said I.
81 mean, that I Gamma Eve % he replied,
ergetically, seizing the bible with seasmO
die grasp-closing it - throwing it tc
the back of the bed-then falling in
an instant into a state of real detection,
with bis arms folded over bis breast, and
his eyes cast down.
"Grief often produces these gloomy
thoughts" said l ''but they are the mere
fancies Of a sick mind-generated in sorrow
and dying with the time-subdued cause tina
Or duces them. There is not a bereaveC
husband, wife, parent or child in the land
that does not, in the first struggle with