Page:The Cottagers of Glenburnie - Hamilton (1808).djvu/266

 his father's funeral, was freely descanted on, and the young man either blamed or pitied according to the light in which his conduct happened to be viewed. Various reports concerning him were whispered through the throng; but of his actual situation, all were evidently ignorant. Amid rumours so various and contradictory, none knew what to believe: all, however, agreed in lamenting, that so respectable a man as the farmer, having two sons grown up to manhood, should nevertheless have his head laid in the grave by a little boy. The poor child, on whom the office of chief mourner thus devolved, looked grave and sad; but he was rather bewildered than sorrowful; and in the midst of the tears which he shed, felt an emotion of pleasure from the novelty of the scene.

At length Mr Gourlay rose, and all was hushed in silence. Every heart joined in the solemn prayer, in which the widow and the orphans were recommended to the throne of grace. The bier was then lifted.