RAB AND HIS FRIENDS.

James did everything, was everywhere—
never in the way, never out of it; Rab
subsided under the table into a dark place,
and was motionless, all but his eye, which
followed every one. Ailie got worse; be-
gan to wander in her mind, gently ; was
more demonstrative in her ways to James,
rapid in her questions, and sharp at times.
He was vexed, and said, “She was never
that way afore; no, never.” For a time
she knew her head was wrong, and was
always asking our pardon—the dear, gen-
tle old woman—then delirium set in strong,
without pause. Her brain gave way, and
then came that terrible spectacle,

‘« The intellectual power, through words and things,
Went sounding on its dim and perilous way ;”’

she sang bits of old songs and Psalms,
stopping suddenly, mingling the Psalms of
David, and the diviner words of his Son
and Lord, with homely odds and ends and
scraps of ballads.

3°