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 strength--the 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 past--but 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