midnight
-- an ' am ill qualified to gie comfort , when my own heart is like a furnace ! But , oh ! let us try and remember the blessed portion , ` Whom the LORD loveth HE chasteneth , ' an ' inwardly pray for strength to say , ` His will be done ! ' '' Time stole on towards midnight , and one by one the unsuccessful party returned . As foot after foot approached , every breath was held to listen . `` No , no , no ! '' cried the mother again and again , with increasing anguish , `` it 's no the foot o ' my ain bairn ; '' while her keen gaze still remained riveted upon the door , and was not withdrawn , nor the hope of despair relinquished , till the individual entered , and , with a silent and ominous shake of his head , betokened his fruitless efforts .