Page:Dreams and apparitions (1).pdf/7

7 sant diversity in a farmer,s monotonous life. With this laudable prospect, when the Candlemas fair came round again, he hired Tibby to remain another year, still on the former high conditions, and moreover he said to her; "I wish your grandmother and grand-aunt would take my pleasant cottage of Know-Back. They should have it for a mere trifle, a week's shearing or so, as long as you remain in my service; and as it is likely to be a long while before you and I part, if I get my will, it would be better to have them near you, that you might see them often, and attend to their wants. I could give them plenty of work through the whole year, on the best conditions. What think you of this proposel, Rosy?" a famaliar name he often called her by.

"O, I'm sure sir, I think ye are the kindest man that ever the Almighty made. What a blessing it is when riches open up the heart to acts of charity an' benevolence! My poor auld mither and aunty will be blithe to grip at the kind offer, for they sit under a hard master yonder, and the Almighty will bestow a blessing on you for this, sir; and they will gie you their blessing, an' I sall bestow my poor blessing on you too, sir."

"Well, I'll rather have that than all the rest. Come, bestow it, then. Nay, I see I must take it, after all."