HOME-COMING OF SHANTYMEN
have brought you back your son, and God is my witness, I would his place were mine this night."
"Bring him in, Mr. Macdonald," replied the father, gravely and steadily. "Bring him in. It is the Lord; let Him do what seemeth Him good."
Then six of the Macdonald men came forward from the darkness, Curly and Yankee leading the way, and lifted the coffin from Farquhar's wagon, and reverently, with heads uncovered, they followed the torches to the door. There they stopped suddenly, for as they reached the threshold, there arose a low, long, heart-smiting cry from within. At the sound of that cry Ranald staggered as if struck by a blow, and let his torch fall to the ground. The bearers waited, looking at each other in fear.
"Whisht, Janet, woman! "said Long John, gravely. "Your son is at the door."
"Ah, indeed, that he is, that he is! My son! My son!
She stood in the doorway with hands uplifted and with tears streaming down her face, "Come in, Malcolm; come in, my boy. Your mother is waiting for you.
Then they carried him in and laid him in the "room," and retiring to the kitchen, sat down to watch the night.
In half an hour the father came out and found them there.
"You have done what you could, Mr. Macdonald," he said, addressing him for all, "and I will not be unmindful of your kindness. But now you can do no
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