Page:Life of the martyr, John Brown, of Priesthill, in the parish of Muirkirk, Ayrshire (3).pdf/8

8 lay at full length at the other, started up, and ran to the door, barking at the approach of a stranger. Isabell thought it would be her husband returned, and was about to rise to meet him. Janet and the herd were almost as soon at the door as the dog, and calling to him, “ Whisht, Collie, whisht, ye mu’na speak to the unco man.” The herd caught the dog in his arms, and returned with him into the house, while Janet followed, leading a stranger, first looking to her mother for encouragement, and then to her guest. She led him to her father’s chair with a courtesy that seemed to give rise to strong emotions in his heart. The stranger was young in years, of a little stature, and fine fair countenance, but he was pale with fatigue and sickness. His shoes were worn out; a shepherd’s plaid hung round him, seemingly for disguise, for by his dress and speech he seemed of a superiour rank. The gudewife did not know whether she should welcome him as a sufferer, or consider him as a spy ; so she lulled her boy to sleep, by singing a verse of an old song. While the gudewife sang, the stranger's face brightened up, and he more cheerfully accepted the child’s endearing attentions, who placed him in the warmest corner, helped him off with his dreeping plaid, imitating all the kind offices she had seen her mother perform to her father, to the no small amusement of the rest of the family. On the stranger it had a different effect. He burst into tears, and cried, “ May the blessing of him that is ready to perish rest upon you, my dear bairn. Surely God has heard my cry, and provided me a place to rest my head for a night. O that I had in the wilderness a lodging-place of wayfaring men, that I might leave my people and go from them ; for they be an assembly of treacherous men. ’ Just as he had finished, John Brown entered. He gazed at him, and with great deference bade him