It was a cold bleak night; the wind was high, and the snow beat against the front of the old house. As James and his wife sat by their snug and warm fire-side, they thought how glad they ought to be for such a nice home, and that they should thank their good God for His care of them in their old age. “I am not so strong as I was,” said James, “for I feel that a little work tires me now; and though Ned Brown is a good boy, yet he is too young to be of much use to me.” “Ah,” said Kate, with a deep sigh, “it seems hard that we, who have had five boys, should now be left all alone with none to help us: if one of them would but come and live here I should feel quite young once more.” “Where is our poor John?” said the old man, as tears rose in his eyes. “Oh that I had not let him go to sea! What a night is this for those on shipboard! May they be kept from harm! Put a fresh log on the fire, good wife, for it is very cold.” “Oh, my poor boy!” said Kate, “shall I ever see him again? He was the best child of them all: how could I let him go from home?” “We did it for the best at the time,” said James, “and it will not bring him back to mourn over him now. Dear me! what can make the dog bark in that strange way?” “I dare say,” said Kate, “he does not like to hear the wind howl in the old trees: hark! how the boughs creak! When first you and I came to live here, those trees were young and in their prime, but now I think they will not stand much longer than we shall.” “Oh, yes,” said the old man, “they are not quite so near their end as we are, my dear; but I do not like to hear Lion keep up such a noise; it cannot be all right, I am sure.” James Grant got up from his armchair, and went to the door; but he could hear no noise, nor could he see anything, for the snow beat right in his face. Just as he came back, he heard his wife call out, that she saw a man look through the window at her; and in great fear she begged James not to go out. “Why should I care?” said he: “I have done no harm, and it may be some one who has lost his way in the dark, and who is in want of help.” With these words he put on his hat, and with a stout stick in his hand, to use in case of need, he went out. He had not gone far, ere the man he was in search of came up to him, and begged a place to sleep in that night, as it was a long way to the next town. “You must speak to my wife,” said James; “and if she likes to do so, I dare say she can give you a bed. Come in, for you are cold and wet.” [Illustration: “As she said this, she looked in the man’s face, and saw that his eyes were full of tears.”]