The Path of Duty, and Other Stories eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 310 pages of information about The Path of Duty, and Other Stories.

The Path of Duty, and Other Stories eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 310 pages of information about The Path of Duty, and Other Stories.
industry; and although his home was for some years two miles from any neighbour, it soon wore a pleasing appearance.  The most pleasing feature in the scene was the beautiful stream of water which ran near his dwelling, and after which he named his farm.  In five years from the time when he first settled in the bush, he exchanged his rude log house for a comfortable and convenient framed dwelling, with a well-kept garden in front, and near his house were left standing some fine shade-trees which added much to the beauty of the place.  In process of time, the excellent quality of the soil in that range of lots attracted others to locate themselves in the vicinity; and Hazel-Brook farm soon formed the centre of a fast growing neighbourhood.  Two sons and another daughter had been added to Mr. Ainslie’s family during this time; and the birth of the little girl was an occasion of much joy to all the family.  They had never forgotten “wee Susie,” and all the love which they bore to her memory was lavished upon this second daughter in the family.  The elder brothers were anxious to bestow the name of their lost favourite upon their infant sister, but the parents objected, having rather a dislike to the practice, so common, of bestowing upon a child a name that had belonged to the dead; and so the little girl was named Jennette, after her grandmother, Mrs. Miller.  About this time old Mr. Miller died.  He was an old man, “full of days,” having seen nearly eighty years of life.  He had ever been a man of strong constitution and robust health, and his last illness was very short; and from the first he was confident that he should never recover.  When he first addressed his family upon the subject they were overwhelmed with grief.  “Dinna greet for me,” said he in a calm and hopeful voice, “I ha’e already leeved ayont the period allotted to the life o’ man.  I ha’e striven in my ain imperfect way to do my duty in this life, an’ I am thankfu’ that I am able to say that I dinna fear death; and I feel that when I dee I shall gang hame to the house o’ a mercifu’ Father.”  So peaceful was his departure, that, although surrounded by his mourning friends, they were unable to tell the exact moment of his death.  Like a wearied child that sleeps, he quietly passed away.  They had no burial ground in the settlement, and he was laid to rest several miles from his home.  His family, with the exception of one son, had all married and removed to homes of their own some time previous to his death; and to this son was assigned the happy task of watching over the declining years of his widowed mother.  Mr. Miller, as a dying injunction, charged this son never to neglect his mother in her old age, and most sacredly did he observe the dying wishes of his father.  Mrs. Miller was also of advanced age.  For three years longer she lingered, and was then laid to rest beside her departed husband.

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The Path of Duty, and Other Stories from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.