FAME, PAUPERISM AND WEAKNESS. 409 



but smiling to church, where he arrived almost restored to 

 wonted vigour. 



He sat out the long service of the day, comforted and 

 strengthened by the good words he heard from the cheer- 

 ing text, strangely appropriate to his circumstances " As 

 for God, his way is perfect : the word of the Lord is tried : 

 he is a buckler to all those that trust in him " (Psa. xviii. 30). 

 His friends had crowded round him both before and after 

 service, inquiring anxiously and kindly how he felt after 

 his " drow." * But he would not complain, and, according 

 to his wont, he tried to make light of the matter ; for to 

 a nature like his, public sympathy at such times is pure 

 pain. But as old Mr. Williams said, on returning home 

 that day, " I knew quite weel that he was waur than he 

 wu'd allow. Peer breet,f I doo't he'll never come to the 

 kirk ony mair." 



After service, he was refreshed by kindliness and food, 

 and by a sympathetic and helpful gift from the good 

 minister, and, declining all offered conveyance and accom- 

 panied by friendly feet, he walked homewards down the hill 

 to the familiar cottage. 



That was John's last visit to church, and his first 

 decided warning of the coming end. His stout heart, 

 "which had for more than fourscore years done its work so 

 well, was at length beginning to fail, and, for the first time 

 in their long journey together, had ceased its vital offices 

 still willing and able, however, to continue them for a 

 period ; only now, like a prophetic friend, giving due 



* A fainting fit ; a word from the Anglo-Saxon, 

 f " Poor brute," a curious term of endearment, used there and 

 -elsewhere in Scotland. 



