uncut at one end, making a poke or cul de sac). "Tak' yer lamb," said she, laughing at the contrivance, and so the Pet was first well happit up, and then put, laughing silently, into the plaid-neuk, and the shepherd strode off with his lamb, Maida gambolling through the snow, and running races in his mirth. Didn't he face “the angry airt,” and make her bield his bosom, and into his own room with her, and lock the door, and out with the warm, rosy, little wifie, who took it all with great composure! There the two remained for three or more hours, making the house ring with their laughter; you can fancy the big man's and Maidie's laugh. Having made the fire cheery, he set her down in his ample chair, and standing sheepishly before her, began to say his lesson, which happened to be "Ziccoty, diccoty, dock, the mouse ran up the clock, the clock struck wan, down the mouse ran, ziccoty, diccoty, dock." This done repeatedly till she was pleased, she gave him his new lesson, gravely and slowly, timing it upon her small fingers He pretended to great difficulty, and she rebuked him with most comical gravity, treating him as a child. He used to say that when he came to Alibi Crackaby he broke down, and Pin-Pan, Musky-Dan, Tweedle-um Twoddle-um made him roar with laughter. He said Musky-Dan especially was beyond endurance, bringing up an Irishman and his hat fresh from the Spice Islands and odoriferous Ind; she getting quite bitter in her displeasure at his ill behaviour and stupidness. Then he would read ballads to her in his own glorious way, the two getting wild with excitement over Gil Morrice or the Baron of Smailholm; and he would take her on his knee, and make her repeat Constance's speeches in King John, till he swayed to and fro sobbing. his fill. Fancy the gifted little creature, like one possessed, repeating— "For I am sick, and capable of fears, Oppressed with wrong, and therefore full of fears; "If thou that bidst me be content, wert grim, Ugly and slanderous to thy mother's womb, Lame, foolish, crooked, swart, prodigious.” Or, drawing herself up "to the height of her great argument" "I will instruct my sorrows to be proud, For grief is proud, and makes his owner stout. Here I and sorrow sit." Scott used to say that he was amazed at her power over him, saying to Mrs. Keith, "She's the most extraordinary creature I ever met with, and her repeating of Shakespeare overpowers me as nothing else does." And we can imagine Scott, when holding his warm plump little playfellow in his arms, repeating that stately friend's [Wordsworth's] lines: "Loving she is, and tractable, though wild, Of trespasses, affected to provoke Mock chastisement and partnership in play. And as a fagot sparkles on the hearth, Not less if unattended and alone, Than when both young and old sit gathered round, And take delight in its activity, Even so this happy creature of herself Is all-sufficient; solitude to her Is blithe society; she fills the air With gladness and involuntary songs." But we will let her disclose herself. "The Here are bits from her Diary at Braehead: day of my existence here has been delightful and enchanting. On Saturday I expected no less than three well made Bucks the names of whom is here advertised. Mr. Geo. Crakey (Craigie), and Wm. Keith and Jn. Keith—the first is the funniest of every one of them. Mr. Crakey and I walked to Crakyhall (Craigiehall) hand in hand in Innocence and matitation (meditation) sweet thinking on the kind love which flows in our tender hearted mind which is overflowing with majestic pleasure no one was ever so polite to me in the hole state of my existence. Mr. Craky you must know is a great Buck and pretty good-looking. "I am at Ravelston enjoying nature's fresh air. The birds are singing sweetly-the calf doth frisk and nature shows her glorious face." "Yesterday I behaved extremely ill in God's most holy church for I would never attend myself nor let Isabella attend which was a great crime for she often often tells me that when to or three are geathered together God is in the midst of them, and it was the very same Divil that tempted Job that tempted me I am sure; but he resisted Satan though he had boils and many many other misfortunes which I have escaped. . . . I am now going to tell you the horible and wretched plaege (plague) that my multiplication gives me you can't conceive it the most Devilish thing is 8 times 8 and 7 times 7 it is what nature itself cant endure." 66 My religion is greatly falling off because I dont pray with so much attention when I am saying my prayers, and my charecter is lost among the Braehead people. I hope I will be religious again—but as for regaining my charecter I despare for it.” ... Poor dear little sinner!- Here comes the world again : "In my travels I met with a handsome lad named Charles Balfour Esq., and from him I got ofers of marage - offers of marage, did I say? Nay plenty heard me.” A fine scent for "breach of promise!" . . "A The Newgate Calender is very instructive" (!) sailor called here to say farewell; it must be dreadful to leave his native country when he might get a wife; or perhaps me, for I love him very much. But O I forgot, Isabella forbid me to speak about love." Dr. John Brown II VIRGINAL Ianthe ROM you, Ianthe, little troubles pass FROM Like little ripples down a sunny river. W. S. Landor Lucy THERE HERE are two passages of that poet who is distinguished, it seems to me, from all others not by power, but by exquisite rightness - which point you to the source, and describe to you, in a few syllables, the completion of womanly beauty. I will read the introductory stanzas, but the last is the one I wish you specially to notice : "Three years she grew in sun and shower, On earth was never sown. This child I to myself will take; She shall be mine, and I will make A lady of my own. |