The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1893-08-11

days were to be few. It was the year my
father died and left Harry and me by our
lane.
"He left no siller to speak of, just
plenty to lay him decently in the kirk
yard among his forebears. had been
year at the Divinity hall then and was
going up to put in my discourses for the
next session. had been troubled with
my breast for some time and so called
one day at the infrmary to get word
with Sir James. He was very busy
when l went in and never noticed me
ill the boast took me. Then on sud-
len he looked up from his papers and
1uietly said, Come into my room, lad
dieP Aye, he was good man and a
faithful, Sir James, if ever there was
one. He told me that with care l might
live five or six years, but it would need
great care. Then a strange, prickly
GOODNESS came over me, and seemed to
walk light headed in an atmosphere sud-
denly rarefed, think know now how
the mouse feels under the air pump.
I whats that" queried Saunders.
"a cruel ploy not worth speaking Of"
continued the stickit minister. "Well,
1 found something in my throat when l
tried to thank him. But 1 came my
ways home to the Dullarg, and night
and day 1 considered what was to be
done, with so much to do and so little
time to do it. 1t was clear that both
Harry and me could not go through the
college ON the little my father had left.
So late one night l saw my way clear to
what l should do. Harry must go;
must stay. l must come home to the
farm and be my own man, then could
send Harry to the college to be doctor.
for he had no call to the ministry as
once thought had. More than that,
it was laid on me to tell Jessie Loudon
that Robert Fraser was no better than
machine set to go five years.
"Now all these things l did, Saun-
ders, but there's no use telling you what
they cost in The doing. They were right
to do, and they were done. l do not re-
pent any of them. would do them all
over again were they to do, but it's been
bitterer than l thought"
The stickit minister took his head off
his hand and leaned back in his chair.
1.-THE story went over the country that
had failed in my examinations, and ]
never said that l had not. But there
were some that knew better who might
have contradicted the report if they had
liked. l settled down to the farm, and /
put Harry through the college, sending
all but bare living to him in Edinburgh.
worked the work Of the farm, rain or
shine, ever since and have been for
these six years the 'stickit minister that
all the world kens the day. Whites
Harry did not think that he got enough.
He was always writing for more and
not SO very pleased when he did not get
it. He was aye different to me, we ken,
Saunders, and he Gamma be judged by
the same standard as you and me-"
II KEN" said Saunders M'Quhirr, a
spark of light lying in the quiet of his
eyes.
"Well," continued Robert Fraser,
lightened by Saunders apparent agree
ment, "the time came when he was clear
from the college and wanted practice.
He had been i'll advised that he had not
got his share of the farm, and he wanted
it selled to share and share alike.
"Now kenned and you ken, Saun-
ders, that it's no worth much in one
share, let alone two. So got the place
quietly bonded and bought him old DIR.
Athens practice in Cairn Edward with
the money. / have tried to do my best
for the lad, for it was laid on me to be
my brothers keeper. He doesna come
here much" continued Robert, "but 1
think he's not so i'll against me as he
was. Saunders, he waved his hand to
me when he was gaun by the dayp
"That was kind of him." said Saun-
ders M'Quhirr.
"Aye, was it moi" said the stickit
minister eagerly, with soft look in his
eyes as he glanced up at his brothers
portrait in cap and gown which hung
over the china dogs on the mantelpiece.
81 got my notice this morning that the
bond is to be called up in November,
said Robert, $50 I'll be obliged to fit"
Saunders M'Quhirr started to his feet
in moment. Never" he said, with
the spark of fire alive now in his eyes,
"never as lang as there's beast on
Drumquhat, or poun in Cairn Edward
bank" bringing down his clinched fist
upon the Milton on the table.
NO.. Saunders, no." said the stickit
minister very gently. II thank you
kindly, but I'll be fitted before that
Montreal Star.