donal grant-第2章

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haena　you　an'　mysel'　tu　to　greit　for；　an'　that's　a　sair　comfort！
Lord；　I'll　clim'　to　thee；　an'　gaither　o'　the　healin'　'at　grows　for
the　nations　i'　thy　gairden。

〃I　see　the　thing　as　plain's　thing　can　be：　the　cure　o'　a'　ill　's　jist
mair　life！　　That's　it！　　Life　abune　an'　ayont　the　life　'at　took　the
stroke！　　An'　gien　throu'　this　hert…brak　I　come　by　mair　life；　it'll
be　jist　ane　o'　the　throes　o'　my　h'avenly　birthi'　the　whilk　the
bairn　has　as　mony　o'　the　pains　as　the　mither：　that's　maybe　a　differ
'atween　the　twathe　earthly　an'　the　h'avenly！

〃Sae　noo　I　hae　to　begin　fresh；　an'　lat　the　thing　'at's　past　an'　gane
slip　efter　ither　dreams。　　Eh；　but　it's　a　bonny　dream　yet！　　It　lies
close　'ahin'　me；　no　to　be　forgotten；　no　to　be　luikit　atlike　ane　o'
thae　dreams　o'　watter　an'　munelicht　'at　has　nae　wark　i'　them：　a　body
wadna　lie　a'　nicht　an'　a'　day　tu　in　a　dream　o'　the　sowl's　gloamin'！
Na；　Lord；　mak　o'　me　a　strong　man；　an'　syne　gie　me　as　muckle　o'　the
bonny　as　may　please　thee。　　Wha　am　I　to　lippen　til；　gien　no　to　thee；
my　ain　father　an'　mither　an'　gran'father　an'　a'　body　in　ane；　for
thoo　giedst　me　them　a'！

〃Noo　I'm　to　begin　againa　fresh　life　frae　this　minute！　　I'm　to　set
oot　frae　this　verra　p'int；　like　ane　o'　the　youngest　sons　i'　the
fairy　tales；　to　seek　my　portion；　an'　see　what's　comin'　to　meet　me　as
I　gang　to　meet　hit。　　The　warl'　afore　me's　my　story…buik。　　I　canna
see　ower　the　leaf　till　I　come　to　the　en'　o'　't。　　Whan　I　was　a　bairn；
jist　able；　wi'　sair　endeevour；　to　win　at　the　hert　o'　print；　I　never
wad　luik　on　afore！　　The　ae　time　I　did　it；　I　thoucht　I　had　dune　a
shamefu'　thing；　like　luikin'　in　at　a　keyholeas　I　did　jist　ance　tu；
whan　I　thank　God　my　mither　gae　me　sic　a　blessed　lickin'　'at　I　kent
it　maun　be　something　dreidfu'　I　had　dune。　　Sae　here's　for　what's
comin'！　　I　ken　whaur　it　maun　come　frae；　an'　I　s'　make　it　welcome。
My　mither　says　the　main　mischeef　i'　the　warl'　is；　'at　fowk　winna
lat　the　Lord　hae　his　ain　w'y；　an'　sae　he　has　jist　to　tak　it；　whilk
maks　it　a　sair　thing　for　them。〃

Therewith　he　rose　to　encounter　that　which　was　on　its　way　to　meet
him。　　He　is　a　fool　who　stands　and　lets　life　move　past　him　like　a
panorama。　　He　also　is　a　fool　who　would　lay　hands　on　its　motion；　and
change　its　pictures。　　He　can　but　distort　and　injure；　if　he　does　not
ruin　them；　and　come　upon　awful　shadows　behind　them。

And　lo！　as　he　glanced　around　him；　already　something　of　the　old
mysterious　loveliness；　now　for　so　long　vanished　from　the　face　of　the
visible　world；　had　returned　to　itnot　yet　as　it　was　before；　but
with　dawning　promise　of　a　new　creation；　a　fresh　beauty；　in　welcoming
which　he　was　not　turning　from　the　old；　but　receiving　the　new　that
God　sent　him。　　He　might　yet　be　many　a　time　sad；　but　to　lament　would
be　to　act　as　if　he　were　wrongedwould　be　at　best　weak　and　foolish！
He　would　look　the　new　life　in　the　face；　and　be　what　it　should
please　God　to　make　him。　　The　scents　the　wind　brought　him　from　field
and　garden　and　moor；　seemed　sweeter　than　ever　wind…borne　scents
before：　they　were　seeking　to　comfort　him！　　He　sighedbut　turned
from　the　sigh　to　God；　and　found　fresh　gladness　and　welcome。　　The
wind　hovered　about　him　as　if　it　would　fain　have　something　to　do　in
the　matter；　the　river　rippled　and　shone　as　if　it　knew　something
worth　knowing　as　yet　unrevealed。　　The　delight　of　creation　is　verily
in　secrets；　but　in　secrets　as　truths　on　the　way。　　All　secrets　are
embryo　revelations。　　On　the　far　horizon　heaven　and　earth　met　as　old
friends；　who；　though　never　parted；　were　ever　renewing　their
friendship。　　The　world；　like　the　angels；　was　rejoicingif　not　over
a　sinner　that　had　repented；　yet　over　a　man　that　had　passed　from　a
lower　to　a　higher　condition　of　lifeout　of　its　earth　into　its　air：
he　was　going　to　live　above；　and　look　down　on　the　inferior　world！
Ere　the　shades　of　evening　fell　that　day　around　Donal　Grant；　he　was
in　the　new　childhood　of　a　new　world。

I　do　not　mean　such　thoughts　had　never　been　present　to　him　before；
but　to　think　a　thing　is　only　to　look　at　it　in　a　glass；　to　know　it　as
God　would　have　us　know　it；　and　as　we　must　know　it　to　live；　is　to　see
it　as　we　see　love　in　a　friend's　eyesto　have　it　as　the　love　the
friend　sees　in　ours。　　To　make　things　real　to　us；　is　the　end　and　the
battle…cause　of　life。　　We　often　think　we　believe　what　we　are　only
presenting　to　our　imaginations。　　The　least　thing　can　overthrow　that
kind　of　faith。　　The　imagination　is　an　endless　help　towards　faith；
but　it　is　no　more　faith　than　a　dream　of　food　will　make　us　strong　for
the　next　day's　work。　　To　know　God　as　the　beginning　and　end；　the　root
and　cause；　the　giver；　the　enabler；　the　love　and　joy　and　perfect
good；　the　present　one　existence　in　all　things　and　degrees　and
conditions；　is　life；　and　faith；　in　its　simplest；　truest；　mightiest
form　isto　do　his　will。

Donal　was　making　his　way　towards　the　eastern　coast；　in　the　certain
hope　of　finding　work　of　one　kind　or　another。　　He　could　have　been
well　content　to　pass　his　life　as　a　shepherd　like　his　father　but　for
two　things：　he　knew　what　it　would　be　well　for　others　to　know；　and　he
had　a　hunger　after　the　society　of　books。　　A　man　must　be　able　to　do
without　whatever　is　denied　him；　but　when　his　heart　is　hungry　for　an
honest　thing；　he　may　use　honest　endeavour　to　obtain　it。　　Donal
desired　to　be　useful　and　live　for　his　generation；　also　to　be　with
books。　　To　be　where　was　a　good　library　would　suit　him　better　than
buying　books；　for　without　a　place　in　which　to　keep　them；　they　are
among　the　impedimenta　of　life。　　And　Donal　knew　that　in　regard　to
books　he　was　in　danger　of　loving　after　the　fashion　of　this　world：
books　he　had　a　strong　inclination　to　accumulate　and　hoard；　therefore
the　use　of　a　library　was　better　than　the　means　of　buying　them。
Books　as　possessions　are　also　of　the　things　that　pass　and
perishas　surely　as　any　other　form　of　earthly　having；　they　are　of
the　playthings　God　lets　men　have　that　they　may　learn　to　distinguish
between　apparent　and　real　possession：　if　having　will　not　teach　them；
loss　may。

But　who　would　have　thought；　meeting　the　youth　as　he　walked　the　road
with　shoeless　feet；　that　he　sought　the　harbour　of　a　great　library　in
some　old　house；　so　as　day　after　day　to　feast　on　the　thoughts　of　men
who　had　gone　before　him！　　For　his　was　no　antiquarian　soul；　it　was　a
soul　hungry　after　life；　not　after　the　mummy　cloths　enwrapping　the
dead。




CHAPTER　II。

A　SPIRITUAL　FOOT…PAD。

He　was　now　walking　southward；　but　would　soon；　when　the　mountains
were　well　behind　him；　turn　toward　the　east。　　He　carried　a　small
wallet；　filled　chiefly　with　oatcake　and　hard　skim…milk　cheese：　about
two　o'clock　he　sat　down　on　a　stone；　and　proceeded　to　make　a　meal。　　A
brook　from　the　hills　ran　near：　for　that　he　had　chosen　the　spot；　his
fare　being　dry。　　He　seldom　took　any　other　drink　than　water：　he　had
learned　that　strong　drink　at　best　but　discounted　to　him　his　own　at　a
high　rate。

He　drew　from　his　pocket　a　small　thick　volume　he　had　brought　as　the
companion　of　his　journey；　and　read　as　he　ate。　　His　seat　was　on　the
last　slope　of　a　grassy　hill；　where　many　huge　stones　rose　out　of　the
grass。　　A　few　yards　beneath　was　a　country　road；　and　on　the　other
side　of　the　road　a　small　stream；　in　which　the　brook　that　ran　swiftly
past；　almost　within　reach　of　his　hand；　eagerly　lost　itself。　　On　the
further　bank　of　the　stream；　perfuming　the　air；　grew　many　bushes　of
meadow…sweet；　or　queen…of…the…meadow；　as　it　is　called　in　Scotland；
and　beyond　lay　a　lovely　stretch　of　nearly　level　pasture。　　Farther
eastward　all　was　a　plain；　full　of　farms。　　Behind　him　rose　the　hill；
shutting　out　his　past；　before　him　lay　the　plain；　open　to　his　eyes
and　feet。　　God　had　walled　up　his　past；　and　was　disclosing　his
future。

When　he　had　eaten　his　dinner；　its　dryness　forgotten　in　the　condiment
his　book　supplied；　he　rose；　and　taking　his　cap　from　his　head；　filled
it　from　the　stream；　and　drank　heartily；　then　emptied　it；　shook　the
last　drops　from　it；　and　put　it　again　upon　his　head。

〃Ho；　ho；　young　man！〃　cried　a　voice。

Donal　looked；　and　saw　a　man　in　the　garb　of　a　clergyman　regarding　him
from　the　road；　and　wiping　his　face　with　his　sleeve。

〃You　should　mind；〃　he　continued；　〃how　you　scatter　your　favours。〃

〃I　beg　your　pardon；　sir；〃　said　Donal；　taking　off　his　cap　again；　〃I
hadna　a　notion　there　was　leevin'　cratur　near　me。〃

〃It's　a　fine　day！〃　said　the　minister。

〃It　is　that；　sir！〃　answered　Donal。

〃Which　way　are　you　going？〃　asked　the　minister；　adding；　as　if　in
apology　for　his　seeming　curiosity；　〃You're　a　scholar；　I
see！〃with　a　glance　towards　the　book　he　had　left　open　on　his　stone。

〃Nae　sae　muckle　as　I　wad　fain　be；　sir；〃　answered　Donalthen　called
to　mind　a　resolve　he　had　made　to　speak　English　for　the　future。

〃A　modest　youth；　I　see！〃　returned　the　clergyman；　but　Donal　hardly
liked　the　tone　in　which　he　said　it。

〃That　depends　on　what　you　mean　by　a　scholar；〃　he　said。

〃Oh！〃　answered　the　minister；　not　thinking　much　about　his　reply；　but
in　a　bantering　humour　willing　to　draw　the　lad　out；　〃the　learned　man
modestly　calls　himself　a　scholar。〃

〃Then　there　was　no　modesty　in　saying　I　was　not　so　much　of　a　scholar
as　I　should　like　to　be；　every　scholar　would　say　the　same。〃

〃A　very　good　answer！〃　said　the　clergyman　patronizingly；　〃You'll　be　a
learned　man　some　day！〃　　And　he　smiled　as　he　said　it。

〃When　would　you　call　a　man　learned？〃　asked　Donal。

〃That　is　hard　to　determine；　seeing　those　that　claim　to　be　contradict
each　other　so。〃

〃What　good　then　can　there　be　in　wanting　to　be　learned？〃

〃You　get　the　mental　discipline　of　study。〃

〃It　seems　to　me；〃　said　Donal；　〃a　pity　to　get　a　body's　discipline　on
what　may　be　worthless。　　It's　just　as　good　discipline　to　my　teeth　to
dine　on　bread　and　cheese；　as　it　would　be　to　exercise　them　on　sheep's
grass。〃

〃I've　got　hold　of　a　humorist！〃　said　the　clergyman　to　himself。

Donal　picked　up　his　wallet　and　his　book；　and　came　down　to　the　road。
Then　first　the　clergyman　saw　that　he　was　barefooted。　　In　his
childhood　he　had　himself　often　gone　without　shoes　and　stockings；　yet
the　youth's　lack　of　them　prejudiced　him　against　him。

〃It　must　be　the　fellow's　own　fault！〃　he　said　to　himself。　〃He　shan't
catch　me　with　his　chaff！〃

Donal　would　rather　have　forded　the　river；　and　gone　to　inquire　his
way　at　the　nearest　farm…house；　but　he　thought　it　polite　to　walk　a
little　way　with　the　clergyman。

〃How　far　are　you　going？〃　asked　the　minister　at　length。

〃As　far　as　I　can；〃　replied　Donal。

〃Where　do　you　mean　to　pass　the　night？〃

〃In　some　barn　perhaps；　or　on　some　hill…side。〃

〃I　am　sorry　to　hear　you　can　do　no　better。〃

〃You　don't　think；　sir；　what　a　decent　bed　costs；　and　a　barn　is
generally；　a　hill…side　always　clean。　　In　fact　the　hill…side　's　the
best。　　Many's　the　time　I　have　slept　on　one。　　It's　a　strange　notion
some　people　have；　that　it's　more　respectable　to　sleep　under　man's
roof　than　God's。〃

〃To　have　no　settled　abode；〃　said　the　clergyman；　and　paused。

〃Like　Abraham？〃　suggested　Donal　with　a　smile。　〃An　abiding　city　seems
hardly　necessary　to　pilgrims　and　strangers！　　I　fell　asleep　once　on
the　top　of　Glashgar：　when　I　woke　the　sun　was　looking　over　the　edge
of　the　horizon。　　I　rose　and　gazed　about　me　as　if　I　were　but　that
moment　created。　　If　God　had　called　me；　I　should　hardly　have　been