Page:Martha Spreull by Zachary Fleming.pdf/14

Rh my mither's mind when it took place. I recollect her words fine.

"Martha," says she, "aye try and do what's richt; dinna forget to read yer Bible, and when ye gang near the college efter gleamin', if onybody tries to put a plaister on yer mouth, cry a' yer pith; for it's borne in on me, and I canna help sayin 't, that, whaever leeves to see it, ye 'll be a credit to us yet." Weel, ye wud think from the opinions o' the Press that this prophecy had come true. It's wonnerfu' what your critic can see in a book efter he has set himsel' deliberately doon to mak' discoveries. Some o' them ha'e laucht oot richt heartily; some ha'e sat doon and grat their fill; while ithers, again, are filled wi' emotion by the moral and philosophic wisdom they have discovered in a story that wis meant to be a simple and ootspoken narrative o' passages in the life o' a single wumman. A few sharp hands, hooever, endowed wi' great penetration, have found out the serious character o' the book, and have kindly recommended it to the consideration o' students, ministers, and earnest-minded folk inclined to found bursaries. On the whole, I am glad I havena made a fule o' mysel'. Whether I have been understood or misunderstood, the critics have been generous and my worthy friends, the publishers, are pleased, inasmuch as they have sold out the first issue while there is yet a demand for more. Now, I havena a