Author Description

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1862 edition. Excerpt:... shining, "I do not fear anything," he said, "which would give Mr. Elphinstone the satisfaction of finding that his kindness has not been thrown away." "Truly," said I, "Mr. Allan has a most open heart." "It is not only in what is usually called kindness," said the young man, with a flush upon his face; "it is not merely because he provided for me, Miss Maitland--because he promises to enable me in future to provide for myself--but because he drew away the darkness that was closing around me; because he ministered to the mind diseased--it is for that I have to thank Mr. Elphinstone--that I did not die like Chatterton,--that I may live, perhaps, to tell the world what noblenesS lives in its quiet corners--I have to thank him for it all." Truly, it works in a most strange manner the light that the Almighty puts, here and there, in such a vessel as that lad Dunbar. To look upon the two with the outward eye, Mr. Allan was a gentleman gifted with much riches and lands, and this was but a poor lad, with an inheritance of puirtith, and toil, and tribulation. But for all that (although he was a lad shy in demeanour, and in no manner of a boastful spirit), there was a sure feeling within him, that his name would win high, and live long, in the remembrance of the world, when Mr. Allan's should have past away. And therefore was thereUilytheness and exultation within his spirit, in the thought of bringing honour on the one man, that had been a friend to him. It is not like that I should mind all that was spoken in our converse that day, but it seemed to me that the heart of the lad was opened towards me, so that he told me his tribulations, in the which I comforted him as I could. Also he telled me...