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observing how far real good…breeding is independent of the forms and
refinements of what has assumed to itself the name of society。
Soon after supper was over； it was time for him to go； so； after
kind hand…shakings and good nights； David accompanied him to the
road； where he left him to find his way home by the star…light。 As
he went； he could not help pondering a little over the fact that a
labouring man had discovered a difficulty； perhaps a fault； in one
of his favourite poems； which had never suggested itself to him。 He
soon satisfied himself； however； by coming to the conclusion that
the poet had not cared about the matter at all； having had no
further intention in the poem than Hugh himself had found in it；
namely； witchery and loveliness。 But it seemed to the young student
a wonderful fact； that the intercourse which was denied him in the
laird's family； simply from their utter incapacity of yielding it；
should be afforded him in the family of a man who had followed the
plough himself once； perhaps did so still； having risen only to be
the overseer and superior assistant of labourers。 He certainly
felt； on his way home； much more reconciled to the prospect of his
sojourn at Turriepuffit； than he would have thought it possible he
ever should。
David lingered a few moments； looking up at the stars； before he
re…entered his cottage。 When he rejoined his wife and child； he
found the Bible already open on the table for their evening
devotions。 I will close this chapter； as I began the first； with
something like his prayer。 David's prayers were characteristic of
the whole man； but they also partook； in far more than ordinary； of
the mood of the moment。 His last occupation had been star…gazing：
〃O thou； wha keeps the stars alicht； an' our souls burnin' wi' a
licht aboon that o' the stars； grant that they may shine afore thee
as the stars for ever and ever。 An' as thou hauds the stars burnin'
a' the nicht； whan there's no man to see； so haud thou the licht
burnin' in our souls； whan we see neither thee nor it； but are
buried in the grave o' sleep an' forgetfu'ness。 Be thou by us； even
as a mother sits by the bedside o' her ailin' wean a' the lang
nicht； only be thou nearer to us； even in our verra souls； an' watch
ower the warl' o' dreams that they mak' for themsels。 Grant that
more an' more thochts o' thy thinkin' may come into our herts day by
day； till there shall be at last an open road atween thee an' us；
an' thy angels may ascend and descend upon us； so that we may be in
thy heaven； e'en while we are upo' thy earth： Amen。〃
CHAPTER V。
THE STUDENTS。
In wood and stone； not the softest； but hardest； be always aptest
for portraiture； both fairest for pleasure； and most durable for
profit。 Hard wits be hard to receive； but sure to keep； painful
without weariness； heedful without wavering； constant without
new…fangleness； bearing heavy things； though not lightly； yet
willingly； entering hard things； though not easily； yet deeply； and
so come to that perfectness of learning in the end； that quick wits
seem in hope but do not in deed； or else very seldom ever attain
unto。ROGER ASCHAM。The Schoolmaster。
Two or three very simple causes united to prevent Hugh from
repeating his visit to David so soon as he would otherwise have
done。 One was； that； the fine weather continuing； he was seized
with the desire of exploring the neighbourhood。 The spring； which
sets some wild animals to the construction of new dwellings； incites
man to the enlarging of his； making； as it were； by discovery； that
which lies around him his own。 So he spent the greater parts of
several evenings in wandering about the neighbourhood； till at
length the moonlight failed him。 Another cause was； that； in the
act of searching for some books for his boys； in an old garret of
the house； which was at once lumber room and library； he came upon
some stray volumes of the Waverley novels； with which he was as yet
only partially acquainted。 These absorbed many of his spare hours。
But one evening； while reading the Heart of Midlothian； the thought
struck himwhat a character David would have been for Sir Walter。
Whether he was right or not is a question； but the notion brought
David so vividly before him； that it roused the desire to see him。
He closed the book at once； and went to the cottage。
〃We're no lik'ly to ca' ye onything but a stranger yet； Maister
Sutherlan'；〃 said David； as he entered。
〃I've been busy since I saw you；〃 was all the excuse Hugh offered。
〃Weel； ye'r welcome noo； and ye've jist come in time after a'； for
it's no that mony hours sin' I fand it oot awthegither to my ain
settisfaction。〃
〃Found out what？〃 said Hugh； for he had forgotten all about the
perplexity in which he had left David； and which had been occupying
his thoughts ever since their last interview。
〃Aboot the cross…bow an' the birdie； ye ken；〃 answered David； in a
tone of surprise。
〃Yes； to be sure。 How stupid of me！〃 said Hugh。
〃Weel； ye see； the meanin' o' the haill ballant is no that ill to
win at； seein' the poet himsel' tells us that。 It's jist no to be
proud or ill…natured to oor neebours； the beasts and birds； for God
made ane an' a' o's。 But there's harder things in't nor that； and
yon's the hardest。 But ye see it was jist an unlucky thochtless
deed o' the puir auld sailor's； an' I'm thinkin' he was sair
reprocht in's hert the minit he did it。 His mates was fell angry at
him； no for killin' the puir innocent craytur； but for fear o' ill
luck in consequence。 Syne when nane followed； they turned richt
roun'； an' took awa' the character o' the puir beastie efter 'twas
deid。 They appruved o' the verra thing 'at he was nae doot sorry
for。But onything to haud aff o' themsels！ Nae suner cam the calm；
than roun' they gaed again like the weathercock； an' naething wad
content them bit hingin' the deid craytur about the auld man's
craig； an' abusin' him forby。 Sae ye see hoo they war a wheen
selfish crayturs； an' a hantle waur nor the man 'at was led astray
into an ill deed。 But still he maun rue't。 Sae Death got them； an'
a kin' o' leevin' Death； a she Death as 'twar； an' in some respecks
may be waur than the ither； got grips o' him； puir auld body！ It's
a' fair and richt to the backbane o' the ballant； Maister
Sutherlan'； an' that I'se uphaud。〃
Hugh could not help feeling considerably astonished to hear this
criticism from the lips of one whom he considered an uneducated man。
For he did not know that there are many other educations besides a
college one； some of them tending far more than that to develope the
common…sense； or faculty of judging of things by their nature。 Life
intelligently met and honestly passed； is the best education of all；
except that higher one to which it is intended to lead； and to which
it had led David。 Both these educations； however； were nearly
unknown to the student of books。 But he was still more astonished
to hear from the lips of Margaret； who was sitting by：
〃That's it； father； that's it！ I was jist ettlin' efter that same
thing mysel； or something like it； but ye put it in the richt words
exackly。〃
The sound of her voice drew Hugh's eyes upon her： he was astonished
at the alteration in her countenance。 While she spoke it was
absolutely beautiful。 As soon as she ceased speaking； it settled
back into its former shadowless calm。 Her father gave her one
approving glance and nod； expressive of no surprise at her having
approached the same discovery as himself； but testifying pleasure at
the coincidence of their opinions。 Nothing was left for Hugh but to
express his satisfaction with the interpretation of the difficulty；
and to add； that the poem would henceforth possess fresh interest
for him。
After this； his visits became more frequent； and at length David
made a request which led to their greater frequency still。 It was
to this effect：
〃Do ye think； Mr。 Sutherlan'； I could do onything at my age at the
mathematics？ I unnerstan' weel eneuch hoo to measur' lan'； an' that
kin' o' thing。 I jist follow the rule。 But the rule itsel's a
puzzler to me。 I dinna understan' it by half。 Noo it seems to me
that the best o' a rule is； no to mak ye able to do a thing； but to
lead ye to what maks the rule richtto the prenciple o' the thing。
It's no 'at I'm misbelievin' the rule； but I want to see the richts
o't。〃
〃I've no doubt you could learn fast enough；〃 replied Hugh。 〃I shall
be very happy to help you with it。〃
〃Na； na； I'm no gaein to trouble you。 Ye hae eneuch to do in that
way。 But if ye could jist spare me ane or twa o' yer beuks
whilesony o' them 'at ye think proper； I sud be muckle obleeged te
ye。〃
Hugh promised and fulfilled； but the result was； that； before long；
both the father and the daughter were seated at the kitchen…table；
every evening； busy with Euclid and Algebra； and that； on most
evenings； Hugh was present as their instructor。 It was quite a new
pleasure to him。 Few delights surpass those of imparting knowledge
to the eager recipient。 What made Hugh's tutor…life irksome； was
partly the excess of his desire to communicate； over t