THE APPRENTICE IN THE SUNSHINE. 43 



It was an unusual but happy coincidence that just when 

 our neglected scholar required assistance, there should have 

 been thus closely associated with him those possessing the 

 requisite education, intelligence, and kindliness, to give 

 the needed aid, with that womanly intuitive tact and per- 

 ception that saw more than appeared on the surface, in the 

 outwardly unattractive and absurdly shy young weaver. 

 From these good women, he got help in more than the mere 

 elements. From Mrs. Pirie, with whom he spent so much 

 time, he gained stores of information and an insight into 

 poetry, with an access to books, that must have broadened 

 and strengthened his growing intellect. From Mrs. Clark, 

 he obtained important religious instruction, for she was 

 devoted to such subjects ; while the motherly sympathy and 

 high character of both women would develop his better 

 nature, and greatly soothe him under other hardships. 

 Their whole relations to the lad afford a beautiful glimpse 

 of the genuine helpfulness and kindliness that not seldom 

 characterize the social life of our common people, a fact 

 which will be abundantly illustrated in the progress of our 

 story. All these good women have long since passed 

 away, but " this that they have done shall be told as a 

 memorial of them." 



After Mrs. Pirie died, and Mrs. Clark removed to her 

 grander house, John attended a night-school for five or six 

 weeks, to improve his scholastic attainments, now at a 

 stage for him to profit by a schoolmaster. This was 

 Robert Lindsay, a man in feeble health, who had a small 

 day side school in the village, and eked out his living by 

 teaching in the evenings. He had some reputation as an 

 instructor, especially in arithmetic, in which he was said to 



