Janet McLaren | Page 3

article was the minister's Bible, with which, although
it might have brought more than anything else, she would not part. She
had reserved also a few other books for the children's instruction.
Taking Margaret and David by the hand, Donald leading the way with a
bundle of small valuables over his shoulder, she set forth from the
house which had sheltered her for many long years, into the cold world.
Margaret's eyes were filled with tears, and David cast many a longing
glance behind him, while Donald, with his bundle, trudged steadily on
with his gaze ahead, as if he was eager to overtake something in the
distance. Whatever thoughts were passing in his mind he did not make
them known.
Janet's head was bent slightly forward, her countenance calm, almost
stern. A difficult task was before her, and she meant, with God's grace,
to perform it. She had not told the children where she was going,
though she had made up her own mind on the subject. Several of the
cottagers came out to bid them farewell; but as she had made cronies of
none of them, there was little exhibition of feeling, and she had taken
good care that no one should be aware of the destitute condition in
which the orphans were left. Humble presents and offers of assistance
would undoubtedly have been made, but Janet shrunk from the feeling
that her charges should be commiserated by those among whom their
parents had lived, and she returned but brief thanks to the farewells

offered her. She would far rather have been left to pursue her way
without interruption. "Fare-ye-weel, neighbours, just tack Miss
Margaret's, and the laddies, and my ain thanks, but we canna delay, for
Jock will be spearing for us, and we ha' a lang journey to make before
nightfall," she said, bending her head towards one and the other as she
wended her way among them down the hill side.
Janet had a horror of cities and towns, having been bred and lived all
her life in the Highlands, with the exception of a brief visit she once
paid, with Mrs Morrison's mother, to beautiful --, on the east coast. It
being the only town with which she was acquainted, she had made up
her mind to go there.
She had heard also that there was a school in the place, and to that
school Donald and David must forthwith be sent. Without learning, she
was well aware, she could not expect them to get on in the world as she
wished. With regard to Margaret, the consideration of how she was to
be brought up in a way befitting a young lady, caused her more anxiety
than anything else. She might, indeed, teach her many useful things,
but she was herself incompetent, she felt, to train the little damsel's
manners, or to give her instruction from books. Still, "where there's a
will there's a way," she said to herself, "and I ha' a tongue in my head,
and that tongue I can wag whene'er it can do the bairns good."
The journey was a long one, and though honest Jock charged but little
for their conveyance, a large hole was made in Janet's means before
they arrived at the end of it.
The gaunt grave woman, with her three fresh blooming children,
caused some curiosity, as she went about looking for lodgings. A single
upper room was all she could venture to engage. Here she took up her
quarters with her young charges, and thanking her merciful Father who
had brought her thus far in safety, she felt like a hen which had safely
gathered her brood under her wings. She furnished her abode with two
truckle-beds, one for the boys, the other for Margaret and herself. She
procured also a small table and four three-legged stools, a similar
number of mugs and plates, and a few other inexpensive articles.

That same evening, determined not to lose a moment of time, with well
used spinning-wheel set up, she began to spin away as if she had been
long settled, while the children played around her, glad once more to
find themselves alone, and free from the gaze of strangers. She waited
till they were asleep, and then set to work, to manufacture out of the
minister's best suit some fresh garments for the boys, such as she
considered befitting their condition. Her busy needle was going the
greater part of the night, still she was up betimes, and again at work.
She, however, allowed the children to sleep on as long as they would.
"They will weary up here in this sma' room, the poor bairns, instead of
running about on their aine free heathery hills, and I must na' spare the
time to take