But, patience, Ralph, patience; mayhap we'll find a mither for ye yet.

Frae that sair day of grief and fear mither and wean grew better.

His blood was gude on both sides, frae his mither and frae me.

Before ever we reached the house, I heard the shrieks o' my puir mither.

Love is not a cheat; and did ever bairn love a mither as he loved me? or did ever mither love her bairn as I hae loved him?

My boy John was with me, then; he'd come there tae meet his mither and me.

' "'Troth, ma'am,' said I, 'and I'm sure I'll be very proud to ca' sic a sensible auld body mither!'

Live or dee he must stay wi' his mither!" He knelt down.

But she took that o' her mither; o' whom mair by-and-by.

'I wish to goodness I could.' 'Scoot hame an' tell yer mither,

When I speak of a mother's grief for her son that is gone, and her hope that he has not deed in vain, it is as one who has sought to comfort the mither of his ain son.

"Yes, lad," he said, "an' a guid mither she waur too.