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Donal Grant
by George MacDonald
CHAPTER I。
FOOT…FARING。
It was a lovely morning in the first of summer。 Donal Grant was
descending a path on a hillside to the valley belowa sheep…track
of which he knew every winding as well as any boy his half…mile to
and from school。 But he had never before gone down the hill with
the feeling that he was not about to go up again。 He was on his way
to pastures very new； and in the distance only negatively inviting。
But his heart was too full to be troublednor was his a heart to
harbour a care； the next thing to an evil spirit； though not quite
so bad； for one care may drive out another； while one devil is sure
to bring in another。
A great billowy waste of mountains lay beyond him； amongst which
played the shadow at their games of hide and seekgraciously merry
in the eyes of the happy man； but sadly solemn in the eyes of him in
whose heart the dreary thoughts of the past are at a like game。
Behind Donal lay a world of dreams into which he dared not turn and
look； yet from which he could scarce avert his eyes。
He was nearing the foot of the hill when he stumbled and almost
fell； but recovered himself with the agility of a mountaineer； and
the unpleasant knowledge that the sole of one of his shoes was all
but off。 Never had he left home for college that his father had not
made personal inspection of his shoes to see that they were fit for
the journey； but on this departure they had been forgotten。 He sat
down and took off the failing equipment。 It was too far gone to do
anything temporary with it； and of discomforts a loose sole to one's
shoe in walking is of the worst。 The only thing was to take off the
other shoe and both stockings and go barefoot。 He tied all together
with a piece of string； made them fast to his deerskin knapsack； and
resumed his walk。 The thing did not trouble him much。 To have what
we want is riches； but to be able to do without is power。 To have
shoes is a good thing； to be able to walk without them is a better。
But it was long since Donal had walked barefoot； and he found his
feet like his shoe； weaker in the sole than was pleasant。
〃It's time；〃 he said to himself； when he found he was stepping
gingerly； 〃I ga'e my feet a turn at the auld accomplishment。 It's a
pity to grow nae so fit for onything suner nor ye need。 I wad like
to lie doon at last wi' hard soles！〃
In every stream he came to he bathed his feet； and often on the way
rested them； when otherwise able enough to go on。 He had no certain
goal； though he knew his direction； and was in no haste。 He had
confidence in God and in his own powers as the gift of God； and knew
that wherever he went he needed not be hungry long； even should the
little money in his pocket be spent。 It is better to trust in work
than in money： God never buys anything； and is for ever at work； but
if any one trust in work； he has to learn that he must trust in
nothing but strengththe self…existent； original strength only； and
Donal Grant had long begun to learn that。 The man has begun to be
strong who knows that； separated from life essential； he is weakness
itself； that； one with his origin； he will be of strength
inexhaustible。 Donal was now descending the heights of youth to
walk along the king's highroad of manhood： happy he who； as his sun
is going down behind the western； is himself ascending the eastern
hill； returning through old age to the second and better childhood
which shall not be taken from him！ He who turns his back on the
setting sun goes to meet the rising sun； he who loses his life shall
find it。 Donal had lost his pastbut not so as to be ashamed。
There are many ways of losing！ His past had but crept； like the
dead； back to God who gave it； in better shape it would be his by
and by！ Already he had begun to foreshadow this truth： God would
keep it for him。
He had set out before the sun was up； for he would not be met by
friends or acquaintances。 Avoiding the well…known farmhouses and
occasional village； he took his way up the river； and about noon
came to a hamlet where no one knew hima cluster of straw…roofed
cottages； low and white； with two little windows each。 He walked
straight through it not meaning to stop； but； spying in front of the
last cottage a rough stone seat under a low； widespreading elder
tree； was tempted to sit down and rest a little。 The day was now
hot； and the shadow of the tree inviting。
He had but seated himself when a woman came to the door of the
cottage； looked at him for a moment； and probably thinking him； from
his bare feet； poorer than he was； said
〃Wad ye like a drink？〃
〃Ay； wad I；〃 answered Donal； 〃a drink o' watter； gien ye please。〃
〃What for no milk？〃 asked the woman。
〃'Cause I'm able to pey for 't；〃 answered Donal。
〃I want nae peyment；〃 she rejoined； perceiving his drift as little
as probably my reader。
〃An' I want nae milk；〃 returned Donal。
〃Weel； ye may pey for 't gien ye like；〃 she rejoined。
〃But I dinna like；〃 replied Donal。
〃Weel； ye're a some queer customer！〃 she remarked。
〃I thank ye； but I'm nae customer； 'cep' for a drink o' watter；〃 he
persisted； looking in her face with a smile； 〃an' watter has aye
been gr鈚is sin' the days o' Adam'cep' maybe i' toons i' the het
pairts o' the warl'。〃
The woman turned into the cottage； and came out again presently with
a delft basin； holding about a pint； full of milk； yellow and rich。
〃There！〃 she said； 〃drink an' be thankfu'。〃
〃I'll be thankfu' ohn drunken；〃 said Donal。 〃I thank ye wi' a' my
heart。 But I canna bide to tak for naething what I can pey for； an'
I dinna like to lay oot my siller upon a luxury I can weel eneuch du
wantin'； for I haena muckle。 I wadna be shabby nor yet greedy。〃
〃Drink for the love o' God；〃 said the woman。
Donal took the bowl from her hand； and drank till all was gone。
〃Wull ye hae a drap mair？〃 she asked。
〃Na； no a drap；〃 answered Donal。 〃I'll gang i' the stren'th o' that
ye hae gi'en memaybe no jist forty days； gudewife； but mair nor
forty minutes； an' that's a gude pairt o' a day。 I thank ye
hertily。 Yon was the milk o' human kin'ness； gien ever was ony。〃
As he spoke he rose； and stood up refreshed for his journey。
〃I hae a sodger laddie awa' i' the het pairts ye spak o'；〃 said the
woman： 〃gien ye hadna ta'en the milk； ye wad hae gi'en me a sair
hert。〃
〃Eh； gudewife； it wad hae gi'en me ane to think I had！〃 returned
Donal。 〃The Lord gie ye back yer sodger laddie safe an' soon'！
Maybe I'll hae to gang efter 'im； sodger mysel'。〃
〃Na； na； that wadna do。 Ye're a scholarthat's easy to see； for a'
ye're sae plain spoken。 It dis a body's hert guid to hear a man 'at
un'erstan's things say them plain oot i' the tongue his mither
taucht him。 Sic a ane 'ill gang straucht till's makker； an' fin'
a'thing there hame…like。 Lord； I wuss minnisters wad speyk like
ither fowk！〃
〃Ye wad sair please my mither sayin' that；〃 remarked Donal。 〃Ye maun
be jist sic anither as her！〃
〃Weel； come in； an' sit ye doon oot o' the sin； an' hae something to
ait。〃
〃Na； I'll tak nae mair frae ye the day； an' I thank ye；〃 replied
Donal； 〃I canna weel bide。〃
〃What for no？〃
〃It's no sae muckle 'at I'm in a hurry as 'at I maun be duin'。〃
〃Whaur are ye b'un' for； gien a body may speir？〃
〃I'm gaein' to seekno my fortin； but my daily breid。 Gien I spak
as a richt man； I wad say I was gaein' to luik for the wark set me。
I'm feart to say that straucht oot； I haena won sae far as that
yet。 I winna du naething though 'at he wadna hae me du。 I daur to
say thatsae be I un'erstan'。 My mither says the day 'ill come
whan I'll care for naething but his wull。〃
〃Yer mither 'ill be Janet Grant； I'm thinkin'！ There canna be twa
sic in ae country…side！〃
〃Ye're i' the richt；〃 answered Donal。 〃Ken ye my mither？〃
〃I hae seen her； an' to see her 's to ken her。〃
〃Ay； gien wha sees her be sic like 's hersel'。〃
〃I canna preten' to that； but she's weel kent throu' a' the country
for a God…fearin' wuman。An' whaur 'll ye be for the noo？〃
〃I'm jist upo' the tramp； luikin' for wark。〃
〃An' what may ye be pleast to ca' wark？〃
〃Ow； jist the communication o' what I hae the un'erstan'in' o'。〃
〃Aweel； gien ye'll condescen' to advice frae an auld wife； I'll gie
ye a bit wi' ye： tak na ilka lass ye see for a born angel。 Misdoobt
her a wee to begin wi'。 Hing up yer jeedgment o' her a wee。 Luik
to the moo' an' the e'en o' her。〃
〃I thank ye；〃 said Donal； with a smile； in which the woman spied the
sadness； 〃I'm no like to need the advice。〃
She looked at him pitifully； and paused。
〃Gien ye come this gait again；〃 she said； 〃ye'll no gang by my
door？〃
〃I wull no；〃 replied Donal； and wishing her good…bye with a grateful
heart； betook himself to his journey。
He had not gone far when he found himself on a wide moor。 He sat
down on a big stone； and began to turn things over in his mind。
This is how his thoughts went：
〃I can never be the man I was！ The thoucht o' my heart 's ta'en
frae me！ I canna think aboot things as I used。 There's naething
sae bonny as afore。 Whan the life slips frae him；