Запретный лес
IV. The Faithful Servant
Theconsequencewasthatthesnowwassweptbarefromtheknowes,butpiledintotwelve-footdriftsinthehollows.Itwasanilltimeforthesheepinthepaddocks,whichwereoftenonegiantdrift,wherethepresenceoftheflockcouldonlybedetectedbytheyellowishsteamingsnow.Chasehopelostascoreofewes,Mirehopehalfasmany,andNetherFennan,wherethedriftsweredeep,thebestpartofhisflock.ToDaviditseemedthatthefarmers’wayswereatemptingofProvidence.Hadthesheepbeenleftonthehilltheywouldhavecrowdedinthesnowtothebareplaces;hereintheconfinedpaddockstheywerecaughtinatrap.Moreover,onthehillinopenwinterweathertherewasabetterlivingtobepickedupthanthataffordedbythenarrowrationsofsourboghay.Butwhenhespokethushishearersplainlythoughthimmad.Sheepwouldneverfaceawinteronthehills--besides,thepresentpracticewasthe"auldway."
ThesnowlaytilltheNewYearwasaweekold,andwhenthethawcameandtheroadsraninicystreams,Davidtooktohisbedfortwodaysinutterexhaustion.Allthroughthestormhehadbeenonhislegs,forthereweresickfolkandoldfolkinWoodileewhowouldperishmiserablyifleftalone.Thefarm-townscouldlookafterthemselves,butinthescatteredcottagesofthekirktontherewasnoonetotakecommand,andneighbourlinesslanguishedwheneachhouseholdwaspreoccupiedwithitsowncares.PeterPennecuik,arulingelder,whosegiftofprayerhadbeencommendedbyMr.
