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The Foresters, by the Author of Lights and Shadows of Scottish Life
The Foresters by the Author of Lights and Shadows of Scottish Life Author:John Wilson General Books publication date: 2009 Original publication date: 1825 Notes: This is a black and white OCR reprint of the original. It has no illustrations and there may be typos or missing text. When you buy the General Books edition of this book you get free trial access to Million-Books.com where you can select from more than a million book... more »s for free. Excerpt: CHAPTER V. A Snow-storm had been blowing throughout the day from all points of the compass, and huge drifts blocked up almost all the roads and paths leading into the valley of the Esk. The family of Dovenest were sitting somewhat late on a January night round a blazing fire, nor did the secret, which their hearts had kept from the old man, painful as it was to think upon, prevent them from enjoying much happiness. Indeed, by their constant care to look cheerful at all times in his presence, they had often made themselves really so, when if left to themselves they could not but have been oppressed with anxiety and grief. Adam Forester had that night spoken frequently of Abel, and lamented that they did not know where he was; for, said he, " I wished to have sent him a New-Year's gift, which he, no doubt, must be sorely in need of -- the poor boy has not, I fear, such a comfortable house as we have over his head this wild night -- not such a fire as ours to sit by -- no -- no -- Why did he ever leave his father's house ?" Soon after these words, the old man fell asleep in hischair, and nothing more was said by anybody to disturb his slumber. Michael took his book, Agnes sat before him at her work, of a kind most affecting to the heart of a young wife, and Aunt Isobel, whom nobody ever saw idle, was moving about the room with noiseless steps, and getting ready the evening meal by the time the old man should awake, which he was sure to do when the clock gave warning before the hour of eight. Early hours, night and morning, were kept at Dovenest, with some variation, both in winter and summer, and from No...« less