d be t' wesh my blaack faace, aw
didn't gi'e o'er rubbin' and scrubbin' till aw left thee little enoogh
sooap t' wesh thysen coom t' mornin', and t' floor 'lt ha' its turn t'
morrow."

"Lass, if 'at thee's been saayin' be true, then aw mun saay t' Looard,
aboot whom thee taalks so glib, 'll ha' His haands full to keeap thee
oot o' meescheef for a while; it's a seaght more nor aw could do," said
John, at length finding his voice.

"Thou'rt reaght enoogh, lad; but His hands are aye poowerful, so aw'm
toold. Maybe, thee 'ud goo ter t' chapel wi' me to-morrow neaght, and
hear t' preachin'; it's wonnerful and foine," and then Jane handed a
steaming cup of coffee to her husband, and waited his reply with some
trepidation, for, in her simple soul, there had already sprung up the
desire, sure proof of the reality of the Spirit's work in any heart
that another should partake of the new life that had come to her.

"See thee, lass; thee'lt just stop 'at koind o' taalk: aw'll not goo to
yond plaace coom a greeat while; thee'lt have ter show t' work's reeal
wi' thee, afore thee sees me walkin' oop t' hill aside o' thee; aw've no
drinkin', swearin' waays ter gi'e o'er, thee knows," said John.

"Ay, ay, John, 'at's true, and thou'st been paatient and forbearin' wi'
me, and wi' God's help, aw'll mak' thee a better woife in t' future, and
mebbe when thou see'st what religion's done for me, thou'lt tak' thy
waay wi' me oop to yond little room," hopefully replied Sarah.

Well might John Ibbetson pursue his way as in a dream, with such a new
experience of domestic comfort to engage his thoughts; yet, reaching the
farm on which he worked, he drew a deep sigh as he turned to his
ploughing, and muttered: "Ay, it proomises fair, but t' lass'll never
hoold oot aw'm feared."

"Lad," said his wife, as they sat at tea before the shining grate;
"thou'lt not saay aught agaainst me gooin' to t' meetin' to-noight; aw'm
but weeak, and t' seaght o' t' happy faaces oop yonder'll do me a power
o' good; aw'll settle doon to spend t'neaghts wi' thee, if thou wilt, by
and bye."

"Go where thou wilt, and welcoom, lass, if 'twill help thee to keeap
from t' alehouse," replied John, too wise to utter the surprise that
nearly overwhelmed him on hearing his hitherto unmanageable wife appeal
to him for permission to spend the evening away from her home, the
claims of which had been so completely disregarded by her in the past.

As the weeks went by John's