Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1891-08-06

"a mantle for me! His mantle for
mer' Donald said, in grieving wonder.
''He had no MANTLE
But the old Highland pastor enlight-
! ened him as to his fathers meaning
you've to take his place, my lad, " he
said; Ito be the man of the house, 10
| let your fathers mantle fall upon you.
He was good man, godly man, a man
who'll be sorelY missed. Put on his
mantle, Donald - I, you cant do better
than that
Donald listened while he wept. and
/ then when the old pastor had gone he
stole softly out Of the little cottage on
the moor to think il out" alone. The
swallows We're twittering, the larks
caroliDg away above him, seemingly
hidden in the snowy, fieecy clouds in
the bright blue sky. The peaceful wa
ters of the loch shone like silver wave
lets moved gently by the soft wind.
The fragrant breath of the heather
famed his cheeks. He sat down under
a young larch, and while his hands
were absently pluclSing punches of wild
thyme, his eyes were watching the
suns bright rays over the Highlands.
Fathers mantle, he said. Il don't
want it. I ,cdnt him And his glance
over the Highlands was piercing one,
as If he would look into Heaven, which
abode seemed to him must be in that
direction.
Do not think that Donald was a cow
ard, but he was human, and naturally
shrank from assuming the care of
large family. He was only thirteen,
and there were SIX children younger
than himself.
His mother was weary and worn; the
long sickness of the father added to her
many family cares, had proved too
much for her. Her pale cheeks and
tired fearful eyes shone before Donald
as he sat thinking under the larch.
For nearly an hour the battle kept up;
then, suddenly he sprang to his feet.
The victory was won. He had PIT on
tie mantle. I'm not lad he ex-
claimed. I'm the man of the house"
and in a few moments he was back in
the cottage on the moor.
On an old lounge, whose great square
calico-covered pillows he could remem-
Der as far back as his remembrance
reached, lay his mother. Her head was
bandaged, her eyes heavy. He knew
she was su ffering. He knelt down be-
side her and took her hard-worn hands
tenderly "Mither," he whispered,
Its hard to have father gang AVA,
but if he were here when trouble come
he'd say: Ills the Lords will. Wadna
he, mither?"
yes, lad, she answered, sobbing.
'Mither." very tenderly pressing her
hands to his rudy young cheek, since
he's gang ava | want you to lean on
me-your own laddie mither dear"
And although the bereaved woman
could not answer then because of her
tears, she leaned on her ''laddie" from
that moment The following morning
she took down the big Bible which
Donald's father had read aloud regular
ly before his sickness, and looked to-
ward the son appealingly.
Eyes, mither," he said, in answer to
the look, Pm ready" and read aloud
the selected passage-the sisters
watching him wonderingly. Then he
offered a prayer-a short and broken
one, but it answered the purpose, for it
pleased his Father in Heaven and com
forted his sorrowing mother.
When prayers" were over, the eldest
daughter, girl of eleven, asked Are
you going to do just as father did,
Donald?"
Just as near as can, " he answered,
and his mother, catching his look, grew
hopeful.
Days passed on. AS soon as the little
cottage was arranged comfortably-for
it had been disorderly during the long
sickness Donald found plenty of re-
munerative work to do outside. The
owner of pine plantation kept him
busy for two long months Sundays
were the only days that he had any rest
all of the others were filed from
morning until night. But he slept at
home that was in the agreement, it
was necessary for the man of the
house to sleep near the dear ones over
whom he was watching. Morning and
| evening there were chores 10 do for
"mither. Then, when there was no
more work for Donald on the pine
| plantation, it was time for grouse shoot
/
earnestness. Accompanied by his two
dogs Scotia and Torquay. he almost
flew over the moor and up the hillside
his bag for grouse hanging over his
shoulders, his fowling- piece grasped
tightly in his hands, All. there is a
covey of birds A report is heard, and
10. there so some grouse into Donald:
bag. All day long the sport continues
Uphill and down again, racing Over
the heather, climbing up some high
ridge. peering out from some steer
peak lie did not go home to dinner
being too far away, but he ate {
lunch which he had tucked into the
pocket of his blouse 4 little rest a.
noon, and then at work again. At las
the sun is setting and Donald with ,
bag SO heavy that he can hardly drag i
along is homeward bound, Scotia anC
Torquay at his heels. over boulde
and peat-bogs, over the heather