she exclaimed, ’can it be you are the child of my old school companion?  Have you any brothers or sisters?’ No, I have nobody in the world.  ‘Did your mother leave you nothing?’ In my simplicity, not understanding she meant worldly gear, I untied my bundle, uncovered the cloth I had wrapped round it to keep it dry, and handed her the bible.  She looked at the writing.  ’I remember when she got it, as a prize for repeating the 119th psalm without missing a word.’  Putting her arms round my neck she kissed me and holding me to the light she said ’You have your mother’s eyes and mouth.’

The boy and girl took me to the fire, and, when grannie was got to understand who I was, she bustled round to heat over some of the broth left from dinner and while it was warming the little girl forced her piece into my mouth.  The other boy came to me full of curiosity.  Feeling my legs he whispered, You’re starvit.  By-and-by a cart drove into the yard.  It was the master with his hired man.  When he was told who I was, he called me to him and patted me on the head.  That night I slept with Allan, the name of the older boy.  His brother’s name was Bob, and the girl’s Alice.  The baby had not been christened.  The name of the master of the house was Andrew Anderson.

CHAPTER II.

Hating to be a burden on the family I was eager to work.  Too weak for farm duties, I helped about the house and came, in course of time, to earn a good word from grannie.  Tho of the same age, there was a great difference between Allan and myself.  He could lift weights I could not move, did not get tired as I did, and as the stronger took care of me We were all happy and getting-on well when trouble came from an unlooked for quarter.  The master got notice from the factor that, on his lease running out the following year, the rent would be raised.  He did not look for this.  During his lease he had made many improvements at his own cost and thought they would more than count against any rise in the value of farm lands.  He remonstrated with the factor, who said he could do nothing, his lordship wanted more revenue from his estate and there was a man ready to take the farm at the advanced rent.  He was sorry, but the master had to pay the rent asked or leave the place.  If I go, what will be allowed me for the improvements I have made?  Not a shilling; he had gone on making them without the landlord’s consent.  You saw me making them and encouraged me, said the master, and I made them in the belief I would be given another tack to get some of the profit out of them.  The factor replied, Tut, tut, that’s not the law of Scotland.  The master felt very sore at the injustice done him.  On his lordship’s arrival from London, accompanied by a party of his English friends, for the shooting, the master resolved to see him.  On the morning he left to interview him we wished him good luck, confident the landlord would not uphold the factor, and we wearied for his