or leaden skies, shone and
sparkled under sunshine so warm and bright, that David thought the day
as fine as a day could be, and gave no regrets to the faded glories of
summer. They set out early, for though the day was fine, the roads were
not, and even with the best of roads, old Don took his frequent journeys
in a leisurely and dignified manner, which neither the minister nor
David cared to interfere with unless they were pressed for time.

They were not to go to the house where old Tim had died, for that was on
another road, and farther away than the red school-house where the
funeral services were to be held, but the school-house was full seven
miles from home, and they would need nearly two full hours for the
journey.

David soon found that these hours must be passed in silence. His father
was occupied with his own thoughts, and by many signs which his son had
learned to interpret, it was evident that he was thinking over what he
was going to say to the people that day, and not a word was spoken till
they came in sight of the school-house. On both sides of the road along
the fences, many horses and wagons were fastened, and a great many
people were standing in groups about the door.

"There will be a great crowd to hear you to-day, papa," said David, as
they drew near.

"Yes," said his father. "God give me a word to speak to some poor soul
to-day."

He went in and the people flocked in after him, and when David, having
tied old Don to his place by the fence, went in also, it was all that he
could do to find standing-room for a while, there were so many there.
The plain coffin, without pall or covering, was placed before the desk
upon a table, and seated near to it were the few relatives of the dead.
Next to them were a number of very old people some of whom could look
back over all old Tim's life, then the friends and neighbours generally,
all very grave and attentive as Mr Inglis rose to speak. There were
some there who probably had not heard the Gospel preached for years,
some who, except on such an occasion, had not for all that time, heard
the Bible read or a prayer offered.

"No wonder that papa wishes to have just the right word to say to them,"
thought David, as he looked round on them all.

And he had just the right word for them, and for David, too, and for all
the world. For he set before them "The glorious Gospel of the blessed
God." He said little of the dead, only that he was a sinner