1813-36.] EARLY YEARS. 7 



ankles ; but David Hunter used to say he had no feeling 

 of cold that day. He married Janet Moffat, and lived at 

 first in comfortable circumstances at Airdrie, where he 

 owned a cottage and a croft. Mrs. Hunter died, when 

 her daughter Agnes, afterwards Mrs. Neil Livingstone, 

 was but fifteen. Agnes was her mother's only nurse 

 during a long illness, and attended so carefully to her 

 wants that the minister of the family laid his hand on 

 her head and said, "A blessing will follow you, my 

 lassie, for your duty to your mother." Soon after Mrs. 

 Hunter's death a reverse of fortune overtook her husband, 

 who had been too good-natured in accommodating his 

 neighbours. He removed to Elan tyre, where he worked 

 as a tailor. Neil Livingstone was apprenticed to him by 

 his father, much against his will ; but it was by this 

 means that he became acquainted with Agnes Hunter, 

 his future wife. David Hunter, whose devout and in- 

 telligent character procured for him great respect, died 

 at Blantyre in 1834, at the age of eighty-seven. He 

 was a great favourite with his grandchildren, to whom he 

 was always kind, and whom he allowed to rummage 

 freely among his books, of which he had a considerable 

 collection, chiefly theological. 



Neil Livingstone and Agnes Hunter were married 

 in 1810, and took up house at first in Glasgow. The 

 furnishing of their house indicated the frugal character 

 and self-respect of the occupants ; it included a handsome 

 chest of drawers, and other traditional marks of respect- 

 ability. Not liking Glasgow, they returned to Blantyre. 

 In a humble home there, five sons and two daughters 

 were born. Two of the sons died in infancy, to the great 

 sorrow of the parents. Mrs. Livingstone's family spoke 

 and speak of her as a very loving mother, one who con- 

 tributed to their home a remarkable element of bright- 

 ness and serenity. Active, orderly, and of thorough 

 cleanliness, she trained her family in the same virtues, 



