Page:Tales of my landlord (Volume 1).djvu/161

 wars, and left me with six orphans around me, with scarce bread to eat, or a roof to cover us, I had strength,—not of mine own—but I had strength given me to say, The Lord's will be done! My son, our peaceful house was last night broken into by moss-troopers, armed and masked; they have taken and destroyed all, and carried off our dear Grace;—pray for strength to say, His will be done."

"Mother! mother! urge me not—I cannot—not now—I am a sinful man, and of a hardened race.—Masked—armed—Grace carried off! Gi'e me my sword, and my father's knapsack—I will have vengeance, if I should go to the pit of darkness to seek it!"

"O my bairn, my bairn! be patient under the rod. Who knows when he may lift his hand off from us? Young Earnscliff, Heaven bless him, has ta'en the chase, with Davie of Stenhouse, and the first comers. I cried to let house and plenishing burn, and follow the reivers to recover Grace, and Earnscliff and his men were ower the