HE subject of our portrait sketch this month will be recognised by many of our Railway friends throughout Great Britain. Those who have attended the May meetings, as delegates or visitors, will remember seeing and hearing our real and true friend, Mr. Denny. He has never been absent from our annual gatherings, and we hope never will, as long as spared to us below. The portrait of our President appears on the SHEET ALMANAC for this year, and it is

very heartily and gratefully how ready and generous a help our Vice-President has always been to us. Often in time of need we have gone to him and found a ready response, both in counsel and sympathy. In short, Mr. Denny, his brother, Mr. E. M. Denny, and our esteemed Treasurer, Mr. S. G. Sheppard, have been finan. cially the three chief supporters of the Mission for six years past; without their aid in its earlier days, this work, now so grand and noble, must have languished considerably.

therefore both befitting and pleasant that our first Vice-President should appear in the first issue of 1888. Others are to follow.

Mr. T. ANTHONY DENNY is well known and highly respected by almost every religious and philanthropic society, and has proved his love for his Master by helping with a liberal hand those efforts that are established to promote the salvation of souls and the common good of mankind. The conversion of men and women, especially of the working classes, has always had Mr. Denny's cordial support. He believes most thoroughly in the power and the necessity of the Holy Spirit for the regeneration of men, and wherever this is manifest he is ever ready to help.

It would be superfluous for us to mention the various benevolent works with which Mr. Denny is associated; they are so many. But we know this, that the Salvation Army and the Railway Mission both have a very warm place in his heart, and while we would not unduly eulogise any man while living, we cannot help expressing

We cannot close this brief notice without expressing our deep

sympathy with Mr. Denny in the loss he has recently sustained in the death of his beloved wife; and we are sure that all our friends will pray for him and his family. We come to each other to be loved and cared for, and are taken away to meet soon again, and that for ever. Jesus doeth all things well.

OUR NEW TEMPERANCE PLEDGE BOOK.

WE have had a special temperance pledge drawn for our Mission, in response to many urgent requests. It does not interfere with the societies on the different lines, but is a help to all, a special paragraph being on it, urging all who take the pledge at the Mission to attach themselves to their Company's Society. The price of the book of 100 pledges is 5s.

ANOTHER MILESTONE!

ANOTHER Milestone has been passed, and we have much to record of mercies bestowed, and many desires to express for the future. Satan has not had it all his own way during the year 1887, and he is not going to during 1883, neither on the line nor off it. Such a of grace has seldom been known, except when the great year revivals were here. Revivals, did we say? Yes; but, thank God, it has been a revival all along our lines ever since the Mission started, and to-day we call upon all our friends to join with us in an anthem of praise to God for all His great goodness and mercy. Many souls have been converted, and many backsliders restored, while not a few lukewarm Christians have been stirred up to greater diligence. Are you one of these, dear reader?

Like the children of Israel, we have not been this way heretofore. We have to tread a new path in many senses; but here we are again, on the threshold of another new year, from whence we send friendly greetings to all our readers, and every good wish for the spiritual and social prosperity of each one; and to the little ones we send a message of earnest wish that, by the pages of our paper, they, with father and mother, may be helped on the way heavenward.

It is always well as we pass our milestones to note two things— (1) How far we have come, and what sort of a road it has been; (2) How far we have yet to go, and what we may ordinarily expect to see on our journey. Respecting mileage journeys this can sometimes be done, especially if we have a good descriptive map of the country through which we travel. But respecting the journey the Christian is taking—as a Christian-he knows not what lies before him. He may have many a rough piece to pass over; there may be many a wood; thorns and briars may at times give him a scratch and remind him 'tis not all roses. For these things he must be prepared, and, remember, that above all the things that are against him, there is much more for him. God is on the side of the Christian; Jesus will never leave His disciples; the Spirit is the Comforter of all who are indwelt by Him; and all heaven, the Church, and the Book are the friends of the followers of the Lord. It is gloriously blessed to be a child of God, to be able to say our feet are firmly fixed on the "Rock of Ages." We need fear no evil. If the righteous man fall, God will raise him up again, and there need be no fear in the hearts of those who put their trust in Him. Glory be to God, we see Him not with the natural eyes, except in things temporal; but we see Him by the eye of faith, and can afford to walk with Him, though all may at the time seem dark to us. Let us then, Christian Railway-men, workers, and readers, exhort you to step boldly forward, and do the work that lies at our "God Himself is with us for our Captain." door from day to day. But you, dear, unsaved reader, will you not make a start for the kingdom? Will you begin a new year with Christ as your Saviour, and come to Him for pardon and peace? He waits to save you. His blood can and will cleanse you from all sin. Trust your soul to Jesus. Make Him your Friend, and, like thousands of your mates, you will bless God for ever for His salvation. We entreat you to delay not. Let this be the beginning of works to you, as it was with Israel when they took refuge under the blood of Christ, sheltered from the destroying angel, and safely THE EDITOR. kept by Jehovah's hand.

་་

IS IT WELL THIS CHRISTMAS-TIDE?

Is it well with thy soul this Christmas-tide?
Is it well for thy soul that Jesus has died?

That He left His throne, and came down from above,
To dwell on this earth, in His infinite love?
Is it well with thy soul this Christmas-tide?
Dost thou know the Lord who was crucified?
Is He who came down to this world of sin,
Lord of thy heart and all within?

Is it well with thy soul this Christmas-tide ?
Does the Lord of Glory in thee abide ?

Art thou looking for Him in the clouds to come,
To take thee away to His own bright home?

E. DALTON.

NEW YEAR'S THOUGHTS.

"A HAPPY NEW YEAR to you." How many will utter these words on this New Year's morning; but how many there are who know not what real happiness is, and who think not of it as they express this timeworn greeting to each other.

Another year has sped on into the past, gone beyond recall; and now, as we commence one more period of time, we cannot do better than take a retrospective glance and see how the Lord has led us in the past. Surely we can say He has not failed us in one thing, but how many have been our failures. Can we not look back upon lost opportunities, times when we might have spoken a word for Him, but have neglected to do so? How very feeble our service has been for Him, yet how gracious He has been to us. We cannot enumerate the countless blessings He has showered upon us; and how thankful we should be to Him for them. Then, dear brother in Christ, let us consecrate ourselves afresh to Him, ask Him to fill us with the Holy Spirit, and be ever looking to Him for aid and blessing in each undertaking. Let us just be the instruments in His hands to do His will, and to Him shall be the glory for each success.

Weary soul, hast thou sought long for happiness, and hast not found it? Listen, I will endeavour to show thee. There is but one place where thy thirst can be satisfied, that is at the Cross of Calvary. There is One who knoweth thy longing; He saw thee in thy sad state by nature, unable to help thyself, unable to do anything of thyself, and He came from the highest heavens to this earth, and died for thee, that thou, the guilty sinner, mightest live, if only thou wouldst trust thy all in Him. How wilt thou commence this New Year? Thou knowest how many golden opportunities were lost in the past year-moments when His Spirit was striving with thee, times when thou wast almost persuaded to be a Christian; but there was something which kept thee back, some darling sin, or perhaps some worldly companion. Friend, wilt thou allow that to damn thy soul? Surrender all to the Christ of God, He will give thee more by a hundredfold than thou wilt have to lose for His sake. Do not let this New Year be a sin-stained one like the past. Accept Him as thy Saviour now, and this indeed will be to thee "A Happy New Year." JOHN S. P. DENMHAD.

Yatton.

THE above monogram is no doubt familiar to most Railway-men. Many are seen with it upon their uniform, and, thank God, many in the United Kingdom have it engraved upon "the fleshy tables of the heart." And shall not we, dear brothers in the Lord, knowing that it was by the shedding of His precious blood that Christ obtained for us the S.E.R. (Sinner's Eternal Redemption), so live before our fellows that all may see we are eternally redeemed-" always bearing about in our bodies the marks of the Lord Jesus"? Let us who bear His name enter more fully this New Year as heirs upon our inheritance, for in the gift of God's dear Son, the Father hath given unto us "all things." Let us claim as our own all the great and precious promises given us in His blessed Word. We are indeed brought into a good land, where we may draw continually from Him out of His fulness, seeking to know His blessed will, and to do it, however great the cost may appear to be, having this one object in view-that we do "always those things which please Him." Let us always have before us our R.M.C.A. motto: "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." Is He not indeed also our Righteousness? Yes, for "His righteousness is upon ALL THAT BELIEVE." And whether we realise it or not, we who are redeemed are arrayed in the pure and spotless robe of God's righteousness. Besides being our Wisdom and Righteousness, let us be sure He is our Sanctification, which is separation from sin and the world, with all its endless ambitions and attractions, consecrated wholly to Him realising that apart from Him we can do nothing. Let us go forward, confident of victory over every sin we fight against, walking in this world" blameless and sincere, the Sons of God without rebuke," and "examples of the believers in word, manner of life, in love, in purity." In thus bearing "the marks of our Lord Jesus," may we remember they are not seen by ourselves, but by the world around us, as "living epistles, known and read of all men."

In conclusion, I would briefly refer to Rev. xiv. 1-5, where we see a vast multitude of the redeemed, the followers of the Lamb, having His Father's name written in their foreheads, leading us to the thought that the one who bears the Father's name cannot see it himself. May the assurance invigorate us that very soon our dear Lord will come and take us to be for ever with Himself, and the little while we are each permitted to remain here may we live for Him alone, and then we shall experience the true S. E.R. Song of Solomon-viz., “Satisfaction," Enjoyment," "Rest," which are found in Christ alone. Tunbridge Wells, S.E.R.

A. J. R.

ANXIETY OF SOUL.-Any to whom the way of salvation is not clear, are invited to communicate, either personally or by letter, to W. S., care of Evangelistic Secretary, Exeter Hall, Strand, W.C.

CHILDREN'S SIGNAL
BIBLE CLASS.

MY DEAR YOUNG FRIENDS, How eagerly you will search THE SIGNAL this month, in order to find out who are the prizewinners. I much wish I could see the smile of gladness that will assuredly rest upon the faces of those who see their diligent search and careful papers have met with reward. But there are others, alas! who began so well, but who tired. I do trust they will do better another year. I am very sorr that it is not possible to reproduce an exact copy of some of the papers sent in, especially of those sent by a little girl, only twelve years old, which are patterns of neatness and style. I want to thank you all for your kind notes, and hearty Christmas wishes. May each one of you begin the New Year gladly, and make the words your daily prayer: "Shew me Thy ways, O Lord, teach me Thy paths." With much love, Ever your true friend, E. L.

A prize book will be sent to
the following, by January 10:-
Kate Andrews, Cambridge.
Isabella Bond, Milnthorpe.
W. Beeton, Ealing.

Annie Clarke, Sheffield.
E. Clayborn, Derby.

S. E. Copson, Nuneaton.

F. W. Dare, King's Cross.

F. V. Deeks, Bishop's Stortford. J. G. Grisdale, Broughton-inFurness.

W. Harms, Kilburn.

E. Hambrook, Hough Green.

A. Kneller, Battersea.

C. Lovatt, Burton-on-Trent.
G. Maddison, Handley.

T. Nation, Neath, Wales.

B. T. Porter, Natland.

S. Perry, Hackney.
L. Scott, Lawford,

J. Sharpe, Springburn, Glas

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A NEW MISSION FOR RICHMOND.

To inaugurate this branch of the Railway Mission, a substantial tea was provided by Miss Foster Newton, on the evening of Friday, November 25, at the Railway Mission hall, near the Wooden Bridge, when about 130 Railway-men and their wives evidenced their interest in the movement by being present.

The tea was followed by a meeting, presided over by S. Gurney Sheppard, Esq., Treasurer of the Mission. Mr. D. Spencer, General Secretary, Mr. A. A. Head, Mr. G. Gribble, Mr. Gent, and Mr. King (station-master of Richmond) gave short addresses.

Three or four Railway officials spoke on the benefits

:

of the various branches of the Railway Mission already started round about London. Mr. Suter, station-master at Kew, conducted the singing.

It is hoped that the movement at the Richmond Branch will include Bible and singing-classes, evangelistio services, temperance work, lectures, a lending library, &c. Mr. Gurney Sheppard, Rev. E. H. Hopkins (Vicar of Holy Trinity, Richmond), and Miss Foster Newton are the trustees of the hall; and Miss Newton has undertaken to organise and manage the details of the work.

As honorary treasurer and secretary of this branch, she will most gratefully receive and acknowledge financial help from any who, constantly using our lines, may feel that the Railway officials and their families have a claim upon their sympathies.

THE time spent in prayer never hinders, but prospers and furthers a man's journey and haste be never so great and thy business; therefore, though thy business never so urgent, yet go not about it nor out thy doors till thou hast prayed.

I KNOW no obligation the saints have to this world, seeing we fare but upon the smoke of it. On! then let us pull up the stakes of our tent, and be moving towards our true home, for here we have no continuing city! Only let us not grow weary; the miles to that land every day grow fewer and

shorter.

21

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Coming Events Cast their Shadows Before.

A SCOTCH CHRISTMAS STORY.

BY DAN SNOWDON.

BRIGHT, cosy drawing-room, with a glowing fire reflecting itself in dancing lights in the sides of polished steel. - a soft, shiny, black hearthrug, thereon a sleek, shiny, black cat and a fluffy white dog, stretching themselves with the easy assured air of spoiled and pampered pets—a davenport, wheeled into convenient range of heat and light, with a gentleeyed, quiet-looking lady bending over it, writing-as comfortable an interior as you could find were you to search all Scotland through.

But Miss Grahame-for that is the quiet lady's name-looks up from the letter in which she has been absorbed. Surely that was a knock at the door; but no-none of the servants were so shy as to knock in that tremulous way. She must have been mistaken—it could only have been Carlo's tail, the fluffy dog's, vibrating against the fender as he turned the side that was fairly baked hastily from the fire with a most unceremonious lunge.

Again the little tremulous sound! It must be a knock. Miss Grahame called, "Come in!" and a comely young woman, with brown hair braided smoothly under the neatest of white caps, and with rather a confused look in a rarely honest pair of brown eyes, slowly approached from the back of the large crimson draught-screen, twitching the corner of her apron nervously in her fingers.

Miss Grahame lifted the glass which she had just laid down to her eyes, and said in a surprised tone

"You, Jane ? What has happened to make you come in that timid way? Tell me at once what is wrong. Have you broken the Bohemian glass I brought from Carlsbad, or a cup of the Crown Derby china? You know I forgive at once if I am told the whole truth."

With a little hysterical gulp which could not be choked down the young woman thus addressed twisted the apron hem still tighter round her fingers, saying, "Oh, please, mum, no, naething like that ava; far waur, I mean-beg pardon, mum, for the Scotch, it wud come oot-much worse, mum.'

"Worse, Jane!" and Miss Grahame jumped up. "Oh, nothing is wrong with Mrs. Lamb, I trust ?"

"No, no, mum, the hoosekeeper's fine; it's far waur," and with a little laugh that sounded very close to a sob, and with another desperate gulp, Jane added, "I maun leave the place."

Leave the place-leave at the Martinmas term-in three weeks? I thought you were quite satisfied with the situation."

"Satisfied, mum! satisfied's no the word. It's been a rale haven o' rest aifter my Glesgay place; but, mum, I've promised Chairlie Beattie tae mairry him on the 14th of November, so I maun e'en go."

"Oh! if it is to go to a home of your own, Jane, that is quite another matter. I shall be sorry to part with you; but I can only wish you well." Here the conversation was interrupted by the advent of another lady, who was singing, “Oh, whistle an' I'll come tae ye, my lad,” as she came up stairs.

Seeing Jane's confusion as she entered the room, she stopped singing. and exclaimed, "What has Jane been after, Cousin Madge? You look as if you were holding a court martial, and were going to sentence the poor girl to be shot within an hour. Speak up, Jane, and I'll be your advocate. Have you choked Osman Digna by gorging him with the remains of the grouse? But, no! There lies the sated monster. I can never distinguish him from the rug till his green eyes glare upon me." "As Jane would say, Lizzie, it's far waur than that; she is going to be married in a month, and had just begun to tell me about it," said Miss Grahame.

"Out with it, Jane. Madge! I will bet you five shillings that the happy man is either blind, or lame, or else, what is far waur,' a widower with a small, young family, for I know pity will come in Jane's heart as the first awakening of love;" and, opening a purse, Miss King put down five shillings on the davenport, saying, "Table your stake, Madge!"

"Oh, Lizzie, don't be so silly; betting is both wicked and vulgar!" "No, not in this innocent way; for, if I win, I shall give the five shillings to buy a poodle and a tin plate, if he is blind; a strong stick, if he is lame; and, if it is the crowning evil of a sma' young family, a Christmas treat for the bairns."

Miss Grahame smiled sweetly, and put down the five shillings, saying, "Let us both give the little gift in any case, Liz.; but don't confuse Jane, I am sure she will only marry a good, sober young man, for she is a kind, intelligent, good girl.”

"Now. Jane, I am not going to be set down like that. Which of the three afflictions has moved your heart, first to compassion and then to love?"

"Don't despise my powers of character-reading after this demonstration of them, my dear Madge!"

Miss Grahame, looking kindly at her blushing maid, said, “I am sorry to let you go, Jane; but I shall speak to you again on the subject."

But Jane did not move, and, twisting her apron still more nervously, said: "Please, mum, Chairlie's waiting doon the stair. Wud ye come an' speak tae him? He's gaun tae speir somethin' frae ye."

"Oh, please, Madge, let him come up instead. I want to see him, too, and I shall miss all the fun if you go to interview him downstairs in Mrs. Lamb's room."

"Fetch him up, then, Jane," said Miss Grahame.

A heavy foot was soon heard on the stairs, beside Jane's light tripping step, and, with a knock much less timid than the preceding ones, Jane entered, ushering in a very handsome man, neatly attired in the uniform of the North British Railway. He seemed to be about 36 years of age; he had a rather military look, with his neatly cropped brown hair brushed back in front, a heavy moustache, and pointed beard of a lighter shade than his hair, blue eyes and fair complexion. Jane seemed to gain confidence as she stood beside him, and took one shy, proud look at his stalwart form. Miss Grahame said, "I am sorry to part with Jane, Mr. Beattie; it is quite a surprise, too, but I am glad to see for myself that her future husband looks all that I could wish for her. I know what a fine set of men our Railway officials are. What is your post?

"Signalman, please, mum, at the Dremman Junction."

"The Dremman Junction? Oh, that is the level crossing near the Gardenston Wood, is it not? That is a lonely place. But where do you live? For I don't suppose they give those posts with a house by the crossings to any but old and disabled men, and it is a specially pretty cottage at Dremman-I have often noticed it in driving past."

"Yon's the very hoose I bides in, mum. It's the auld man, Sandy Roy, my faither-in-law, as has the crossin'. Ye see, mum, my first wife wis my ain cousin, Maggie Roy, an' as yon's a big hoose by ordinar', we jist bided on wi' the auld folk, and we had the ae half and them the tither. Noo, the guid mither's deid, and we twa men bodies are rale onhandy wi' the bairns."

I

"How long is it since your wife died?" asked Miss Grahame kindly. "Three year past in May, mum, jist when wee Jenny wis born. never thocht o' mairryin' again till I seen Jeanie here, but the sicht o' her canty face, and kindly bit wyes, jist sot me on thinkin' and thinkin', but I was feared to ask her, I thocht the weans micht seem an awfu' handfu' to her. Syne my cousin that's mairrit in Glesgay brocht her to see the bairns ae day, an' she wis sae ta'en up wi' them, and they wi' her, that I pit a stoot hairt tae't, an' thocht I wad speir at her an' ken the warst. She kin' a half said 'Ay,' but she wadna' be very sure, an' I had tae prig an' prig maist awfu'. Now she says she wull.' gin I ask ae thing frae you, mum, for her. She canna dae't hersel', an' she canna leave wi'oot it, I dinna like tae mak' sae free, but railly, mum, I'd raither stan' afore a loadit cannon than no get Jeanie noo!"

At this point Miss King interposed, "Well, you have proved the truth of the axiom, Faint heart never won fair lady,' but if you were to prove your devotion by standing before a charged cannon, I fear you wouldn't have much chance of getting your true love after all. But I shall help you by guessing what it is Jane can't go without and beg it for you. Is it not Osman Digna?"

"Ay, ay, mum, ye're a rale witch for guessin'; beggin' yer pardin for makin' that free wi' a leddy. It's a rale queer thing for Jeanie tae be that sot on a black cat; but leave wi'oot it she winna."

Miss Grahame said, "Is it true, Jane, that you are so bent on having Osman? I scarcely like to part with him, poor fellow!"

64

Oh, yes, mum, please. Since yon time he got lost, and the keepers said he had been huntin' the birds in the Earl's groonds, an' I bribed them wi' half-croons no tae shoot him, and gaed every nicht ca'in' an' ca'in' him, an' at last got him cooerin' under a stack o' wood, I've been that fond o' the bit beast, that I canna, canna pairt wi' him. It seems awful cool, mum, to ask ye. I couldna hae begun it mysel'; but Chairlie up like a man, an' said he wad dae't tae pleesure me."

There, Madge, you have a golden opportunity of making many people happy at a very cheap rate. By giving away a cat black enough and green-eyed enough to be a witch's familiar, you make Jane happy, and you give this deserving fellow a good wife, for you hear the getting of Osman is the condition of acceptance; you give the motherless children the kindest mother they could get, and last, not least, you save your cousin Lizzie many a nervous quake, for I am always in danger of stumbling over the creature on the rug, or, still worse, of sitting down squash upon him in the high-backed arm-chair in the dining-room, like the miller in Dalkeith, who plumped down on Mansie Waugh's cat, and rose to find it a shapeless mass."

"Well, Jane, do as you like. You are welcome to Osman, if that is to add to your happiness, but take your friend downstairs now, and give him some supper, for Miss King makes such fun of everything that I must talk over your going at another time."

When Jane had retired with her Railway-man, the cousins looked at each other and smiled. "Surely, Jane's love of animals is almost a monomania, Madge. Imagine her making that the condition of her 'yes' or

no.

"Yes, indeed, Lizzie. But she is quite a character in other ways, and so kind and conscientious that I am really vexed about her leaving just now, when Reggie Palmer will be arriving about Christmas time, I suppose. I have just been writing to Beatrice, telling her that one of my maids was the very best creature in the world for helping the ayah with Reggie, and I meant to put another girl in Jane's place as housemaid, and let her be free to wait on him.

"How will Reggie and the ayah manage to get to Edinburgh? Will you go to London to fetch them, Madge?"

"No, they are coming under the care of Major and Mrs. Horton. If they do not bring them right through to Edinburgh, they will put them under charge of the guard at King's Cross; they will wire to me when they start, and I shall be waiting for them at the Waverley Station."

"It will be cold travelling in December for Reggie and his nurse, I fear, Madge. I am quite anxious to see your little Indian nephew. I wonder whether he is like Beatrice or Colonel Palmer ?"

sunshine, looked bare and cold too. But that was only on the outside. Inside all was warmth, glow, and comfort.

Miss Grahame's Jane, now Mrs. Charles Beattie, was there, presiding in all her new matronly dignity, over her ready-made family. There was "Gut cher," as Chairlie and his bairns called him, the level crossingman, seated in his big cushioned chair, with the high back and straight arms, Jane beside him on a low chair, making paper hats for the weans' Hogmanay frolics-and there was Chairlie's family. Donald the eldest, a sturdy little fellow of six, with black hair and eyes then four-year-old Menie, with the roundest of faces, out of which looked a very wide-awake pair of very round, light blue eyes, and wee Jenny, everybody's pet, just turned three, with large wistful grey eyes, a tiny rosebud mouth, and soft yellow hair falling over her forehead. The bairns had been running about playing at ball, to the evident discomfort of Osman Digna, who, with the air of a prince in exile, had curled himself up on the skirt of

Jane's dress, looking at her with an occasional, reproachful glint of his green eyes, as much as to say, "See to what you have brought me!" Now, Donald and Menie had settled down a little, and to please Jenny they had changed the game. Interlacing their little fat hands to form a saddle, they had got the little one well seated, with an arm tightly clutched around the neck of brother and sister, and they were marching up and down with her, and crooning in a low voice"Gie's a preen tae stick in oor thoomb, Tae cairry oor leddy to Lunnon toon. Lunnon toon's a bonnie place,

It's a' cled owre wi' goud an' lace."

"Ae! that's a' they kens aboot it, puir things," said Jane to the old man. "I'm thinkin' it's mair like tae be a' cled owre wi' fog as yella as pease soup, the noo, frae what I've heerd tell. Miss Grahame's wee neffy frae the Indies 'ull be there aboot this time. Wae's me fur the bairn, if he gets a day like this to come North tae his aunty, an' naebody but a haythin black wumman tae tak' tent o' him."

The snow, which had ceased falling for some time, now began to beat against the window in a sharp shower.

"I wad fain hope that we're no gaun tae hae a winter like the last ane," said the old man. "I was byena' froze watchin' at the crossin' some o' thae frosty days."

I'm thinkin' Chairlie 'ull be feelin't cauld enough in the signal-box the noo, an' be maun bide on fur some 'oors yet. I'll mak' the tea sune, an' rin alang wi' a cup tae him in a pitcher, tae cheer him up like. Ye winna need tae gang oot for a while noo, Gutcher; an' ye can min' the bairns an' Osman; he's no like a common cat, he micht get the cauld gin he gaed oot the nicht."

"Ye're clean daft aboot that baste, my wumman! There's nae fears o' it; I winna be far awa', though I maun whiles gae tae the gates. But the Lunnon express winna be here till half seven; ye ken it's due at the Waverley at seven, an' it disna stop atween Berwick an' Edinbro'."

"I hae jist minded," said Jane, "that I maun gae tae Fishcross afore the shops shut, so that'll tak' me a hantle langer oot; the road 'ull be that ill to get owre wi' the snaw."

Jane bustled about, got the tea ready, took a hasty cup herself, saw the old man and children comfortable, and, puting on her warm shawl, and tying a crimson cloud over her hat, she poured Charlie's tea into a tin pitcher carefully heated, and set out for the signal-box with the intention of going into the neighbouring town before her return.

About six o'clock the snow ceased falling; a keen frost had set in, and the moon piercing a path for herself through the clouds was making a radiance over the wood, and a quivering, broken ladder of light over the leaden sea.

The Scotch express was up to time at Berwick. The guard had looked into a first-class compartment containing three Occupants-an elderly lady, muffled up in one corner, an Indian ayah with a thick shawl gathered tightly around her white garments, and a little boy in a furlined coat, with a sealskin cap pulled well down over his ears. "You'll soon be in Edinburgh now, little master; curl yourself up in the corner and go to sleep." Then to the ayah: "Keep your mind easy now, old lady, and take a snooze; you're near the end of this trouble." The English lady at the far end of the carriage, opening her eyes, said in a muffled voice, as if she were afraid to let the cold get into her mouth, "Is this Berwick, guard?"

Yes, ma'am; last stop, ma'am; Edinburgh in three quarters." The sleepy lady drew her fur hood still closer, and fitting her head comfortably into her corner, closed her eyes again and was soon oblivious to all around her. The ayah, too, overpowered by the cold and fatigue, tucked her little charge more securely into his rug, and, leaning back after the pattern of the lady opposite, was ere long overcome by the sleep which nervous dread had kept back during the day.

But the little boy could not close his eyes; he tried to shut down the lids with his fingers, but they would open, right away; and his busy brain kept framing pictures of his mother's Scottish home, of which she had told him many a tale, when, wearied out in the burning heat, he had come to lay his head on her knee in that far away Indian bungalow.