But  better  things  were  in  store  for  the  bereaved  and
desolate  sufferer  :  her  deep  afflictions  melted  the  heart  of
a  pious  minister,  who  had  brought  into  a  strange  land  all
the  devoted  ardour  of  a  Scottish  Covenanter.  He,  too,
had  his  tale  of  wrongs  and  domestic  anguish  to  tell ;  and
having  thus  engaged  her  sympathy,  he  turned  to  the  best
and  holiest  of  purposes  the  advantage  gained.  Before  his
white  hairs  descended  to  a  peaceful  grave,  the  widow  of
M'Alister  was  enabled  to  cheer  his  dying  pillow  with
those  sweet  words  of  gospel  promise  which  had  sounded
strangely  to  her  ear  when  fii*st  brought  under  his  teacli-
ing :  and  the  boy,  so  early  dedicated  to  the  work  of  un-
hallowed wrath,  was  trained,  and  lived,  and  died,  a  meek
follower  of  his  compassionate  Saviour.
