seriously, and from which he might have suffered, but which yielded
under the influence of her smiles and soft words, or disappeared in the
presence of her indifference or her anger, as the case might be.

She had slow, dull natures to stir up, and natures hard and crabbed to
soften and soothe, and in numberless other ways to hold up her husband's
hands, and maintain his honour in the little community to which he stood
as God's overseer.

There were "puir bodies" in every street, into whose dim little rooms
the face of the minister's wife came like sunshine. She was a kind of
Providence to some of them, having made herself responsible to them for
cups of tea, or basins of soup, or jugs of milk in their time of need.
And for better help still. To the suffering and sorrowful she came with
words of comfort and consolation, and with words of chiding or of cheer
to the "thraward" and the erring, who had helped to make their own
trouble. She was mindful of all and kind to all as they had need and
she had power.

She had other uses for her time also, duties and pleasures which she
could not neglect. A new book found its way to the manse sometimes, and
she had the _Evangelical Magazine_ to read--it would be thought dry
reading nowadays--and the weekly paper as well, for great interest was
taken in public affairs at that time. These books and papers were to be
thought over, and considered, and then discussed with her husband, and
sometimes with the two or three hard-handed farmers or artisans of their
flock, who had, under their teaching, learned to care for books, and
even for "poyms," and for all that the great world in the distance was
trying to say and to do.

It was well for her that she had learned to do two things at once, or
even three,--that she could enjoy her book quite as well with her
knitting-needles glancing busily in her skilful fingers, and her foot on
her boy's cradle, and withal never forget to meet and answer the smile
of her patient little daughter, or by glance or word or touch to keep
her restless lads in order.

Her brown eyes seldom looked troubled or weary, and her voice, though at
times imperative enough, never grew sharp or fretful. Her steps went
lightly up and down the stair, and through the streets of the town, and
her smile was like sunshine at home and abroad.

And the help that Allison's willing and efficient service was to her
mistress cannot be told. It would have helped her more