Scotland/Scots > Reminiscences of a Highland parish

mary Campbell’s marriage.
2!5
gone long before he could be cross-questioned.
Mary heard the news, and though scorning the lie,
as she said it was, she never alluded to the fearful
story. Still the secret wound was evidently in¬
juring her health ; her cheek became paler, her
“ natural force abated” while at her work, and
Kate Kitchen had on more than one occasion
discovered tears dropping on the little girl’s face,
as her mother combed her hair, or laid her down
to sleep.
There was not a person in the house who did
not carry poor Mary’s burden, and treat her with
the utmost delicacy. Many an expression, cal¬
culated to strengthen her faith in God, and to
comfort her, was uttered at family prayers, which
she always attended. Yet she never complained,
never asked any sympathy; she was quiet, meek,
and most unselfish, like one who tried to bear
alone her own sorrow, without troubling others.
She worked diligently, but never joined in the
chorus song which often cheered the hours of
labour. She clung much to Hugh M'Allister,
who, like a shield, cast aside from her the cruel
darts which were shot in the parish by insinua-