Oor ain folk times

EVENINGS AT HOME 237
Ah me ! I have often thought since of the deep
pathos in those homely, simple words. I have thought
of the worn fingers and weary eyes engaged far into the
night many and many a time when all the restless chil-
dren had been hushed in sleep, busily stitching at the
sadly-torn ' claes ' which were so hard to get, and so
little valued when got by the careless, thoughtless
' laddies.' Ah! many a prayer went up, as the midnight
mending went on, that the boys might grow up to be
God-fearing men ; and it is some satisfaction to think
that the gallant, brave old mother's last days were
cheered by the evidences of her lads' well-doing, and
that she knew that, so far at least as this world is con-
cerned, her prayers on their behalf had been answered.