braced and kissed his sisters and grandmother a hundred times, while the whole party half-laughed, half-cried, in the extremity of their joy. "I am the happiest man," said Hobbie, throwing himself down on a seat, almost exhausted,—"I am the happiest man in the world."
"Then, O my dear bairn," said the good old dame, who lost no opportunity of teaching her lesson of religion at those moments when the heart was best opened to receive it,—"Then, O my son, give praise to Him that brings smiles out o' tears and joy out o' grief, as he brought light out o' darkness and the world out o' naething. Was it not my word, that, if ye could say His will be done, ye might hae cause to say His name be praised?"
"It was—it was your word, grannie; and I do praise Him for his mercy, and for leaving me a good parent when my ain were gane," said honest Hobbie, taking her hand," that puts me in mind to think of Him, baith in happiness and distress."
There was a solemn pause of one or two
