358 LADY LOVAT 



they have done their duty before they meet with their 

 eternal reward. 



Nor is it a matter for surprise that these dear friends 

 of mine should so die happily, when the wife and 

 mother, who guided their footsteps from childhood to 

 manhood, was the most perfect Christian lady I ever 

 knew. She, too, soon followed her husband, and I am 

 sure that nothing- would be more contrary to the wishes 

 of the Dowager Lady Lovat than that I should write 

 up her life as being anything more than quiet and 

 uneventful, and I must perforce respect her wishes. 

 Nothing I could say would adequately express how 

 great a loss her death occasioned the poor and numerous 

 friends whom she assisted. Their name is lesfion. 

 She was too well known for it to be necessary for me 

 to refresh minds which can never forget, so long as life 

 lasts, the perfect mother who brought up such sons as 

 Simon Lovat and Alastair Fraser. My object here is 

 to express gratitude and love for all that gentle lady 

 did for those with whom she came in contact. She 

 afforded us a priceless example. 



I have written the above lines out of affection and 

 respect for kind and valued friends ; but I thank God 

 that He was pleased to soften and hallow their last 

 moments, trusting that my own may be like theirs. 



Colonel Alastair Fraser was a notoriously fine shot, 

 but never cared for fresh-water angeling. He used to 

 say that it tried his temper more than any other sport, 

 and I certainly have often shared his opinion on hope- 

 less days, which try the temper of a fisherman sorely. 

 He loved danger, and his courage was well tested on 

 many occasions ; but his greatest trials were from fever. 



