FROM

CHAPTER XI.

DUNDEE AND BACK.

AN UNLOOKED FOR REWARD.

coming upon

THE first of their reverses was not long in them. After their marriage they opened a new business in the drug line in Broughty Ferry-a bathing-place about four miles east of Dundee. At the beginning, and for some time after, they seemed bound to prosper. The happy pair, with their affectionate niece, Aggie, were much beloved by all who made their acquaintance, especially the poor. And yet a large portion of the time spent there-though far from being an entire blank-is deeply tinged with melancholy reflection. They suffered severely, and one of the causes was, they would not swerve from that rectitude which stamps the life of the upright-their "being true as well as faithful to the erring."

In these last nine words there is the essence of much that might be valuable to the novelist and exciting to the reader; but we prefer to pass on to one of those happy incidents on which Mr Hillocks loves to dwell. From the first they tried to be useful, and it was not long before they saw that the power of strong drink was too much for many here; and hence to try to meet the increasing evil results, they took the lead in the re-organisation of the Total Abstinence Society, and succeeded. But this is not the effort to which we refer as bringing "the unlooked for reward." Among their first efforts to 98

help others was gratis teaching. Mr Hillocks says:-" Of those who were the first to come for medicine was a young man called Robert. He was a shoemaker's apprentice, and had suffered much pain in the chest ever since he had taken to the awl. It was clear his trade was against him, and I told him so. He could read and write but badly, and he knew nothing of casting accounts. This he told me in confidence, seeing I felt for him. I offered to help him. In time he soon improved so that he was able take a porter's situation, which was much more favourable to his health than any medicine I could give him.

"Years after, I was benighted in the country, in the midst of a great storm. The thunder roared, the lightning flashed, the rain fell in torrents, and the roads seemed to be one sheet of water. Having emerged from between the two woods which had been named to me as a guide to the first steps toward the village to which I was bound, a rise on the road enabled me to see the cross roads. But there I stood, not knowing which way to go. I saw a light in the distance, and thinking it was a light in some window for me, my first im-¦ pulse was to make for it; but, on second thoughts, and while praying for guidance, I stood still. At last it appeared as if drawing nearer to where I was; and perceiving distinctly, I asked myself, who may these be? Are they likely to help or destroy? Hearing the sound of voices in conversation, I spoke, asking my way, even before I could well see who were approaching.

"I can tell you the way, Mr Hillocks, but you cannot go there to-night,' said one of the two men.

"I thought I knew the voice, but could not remember the name of the speaker. It proved to be no other than Robert, who now held a responsible appointment at the very railway station I had lately left. He and another servant were on their way home to a hamlet not far from where I had been waiting.

"You'll have my best room, a good supper, and a better breakfast, my friend,' said Robert, as he shook my hand most heartily, and then told his companion how and where we first met, and how God had blessed to him the lessons and kindness he received at Broughty Ferry.

"All this and more of the same kind he repeated to his tidy wife who had been anxiously waiting his return-all the more anxious because of the dreadful thunder-storm which yet raged. I do not know for which I was most thankful to God -the welcome shelter, or the sympathising heart which led us to help Robert to open this door of refuge in the night of trouble.

"With God, nothing is lost,' said I to myself, as I retired to rest that night, weeping for joy—a joy in which my beloved help-meet shared as I next day related the incident to her."

AT GAULSWELL SCHOOL.

Our friends wisely resolve to leave Broughty Ferry, the scene of their first sorrows. He accepted a very timely invitation to become the teacher of Gaulswell school, connected with Banff estate, near Alyth, and then under the kindly patronage of the late Sir James Ramsay. This happy change was a great improvement. The teacher was once more restored to his proper element, and his devoted partner in life manifested her readiness to assist him in his duties in making the best of their altered circumstances. But it was some time before they could forget the ills through which they had passed. This is evident in a letter written some time after to their friend, the late Alexander Laing, the author of "Wayside Flowers." After detailing the distressing causes and the penniless condition into which they had been suddenly thrown, Mr Hillocks says: "Even yet the agony and anguish of the past make me shudder. Words cannot describe the dark

1 shades of grief and sadness caused by our sudden transition from prosperity to adversity. We are still suffering from its direful effects, but we are thankful to God and happy in each other. The country air and kindly feeling which we so much. enjoy at our new home will, no doubt, soon restore us to health and strength, giving back our former natural cheerfulness and helping us to laugh to scorn the ills of life."

The school-house was small, but the garden was large. The income was not much, but the wants were few, and those who were able were kind, glad to see their children so happy, and anxious to have their "lessons all right."

A Sunday-school was also opened, and well encouraged, some coming from a long distance. "A mutual loan library," was also established, and popular lectures were occasionally given. And in all this Sir James took an active interest, speaking highly of the teacher, while increasing his facilities to usefulness. The late Professor Ramsay also called and congratulated all concerned-not forgetting Mrs Hillocks' "little palace," nor the jug at the well, placed there by her that the wayfarer might drink of the pure spring and be refreshed.

Here, in the "little palace," a boy was born, and was named after the editor of these chapters. But the joy that such an event was almost certain to cause became soon overshadowed by sorrowful intelligence from Dundee, summoning them there to witness the approaching death of Mr Hillocks' father. The Sailor-weaver had something to say to his son and daughter. He was also anxious to see their baby-boy before he left "this vale of tears."

"I am happy in Jesus," said the old tar, anxious to console the weeping ones now gathered around him.

"That is right and joyous, father," said the son, gently patting the cold cheek of his dying sire, aged by poverty more than by years.

"Yes, yes," said the young mother, still weak, but anxious

to do her duty to one who loved her.

"There, now, father,

that's much better," she added, having smoothed the pillow and laid the aching head gently down.

"All right, I'll soon be aloft. I am happy. God bless you both, and your dear boy. May he be as great a blessing to you

as you have been to me."

The old man would have said more, but he and all around 1 were overcome. He died in a few days after this interview. Our friend adds: "We were thankful I was able to do a son's part to a suffering father-suffering from honest poverty, for his was never self-inflicted. I thought and there was something

akin to bitterness in the thought-how such as my poor father, who had fought our nation's battles and won our national victories were left to starve, while others who did no more, perhaps not so much, knew not how to waste the wealth thrust upon them. But then the gall in this strain of thought was partly extracted by the remembrance of the efforts which my father made to give me a few weeks' schooling, and how that God in His providence so blessed that effort that it became the means of helping me to gratify his last wish on earth."

BACK TO HIS OLD HAUNT.

His special efforts on the Banff Estate attracted the attention of some of the correspondents to the neighbouring newspapers. This, in turn, called the attention of committees and others interested in schools to Mr Hillocks, leading to a correspondence, and latterly to an engagement on his part to become the teacher of another school. Perhaps this was an error, but it was done for the best. His aspiration formed motives which were ever commendable, but the steps which they urged were not always wise-looking at the matter from a merely money-making point of view. In this case, he thought he was so much stronger that he could carry on a larger school, which was likely to give