teel appearance in the world, I had very little money, and unfortunately my generosity and extravagance had expended all I had, save five shillings, which was the sum total of my riches, and was all I had to expect, until the following Monday should bring my weekly allowance from 66 my dear kind mother. Well," thought I, "now what am I to do?—to travel thirty miles, with only five shillings in the world, to board and lodge me too, when I return, until next Monday, which will be five days, is impossible." I took it out, and looked at it, when fortunately at that moment a waggon passed, and I, attracted by the merry tinkling of the bells, approached the window, and saw a sturdy, healthy-looking man walking and singing beside the waggon, apparently very happy. "And why cannot I walk?" I asked myself the next minute; am I not as strong as that man? and do I not often walk nearly as far for pleasure and amusement, when I go out shooting among the mountains; and cannot I now do it, when compelled by necessity? I must see my uncle; I have not the means for riding, therefore I must walk." Having settled this weighty affair, I retired to bed, and slept soundly. I arose early in the morning, and, after taking a good breakfast, set out from home; I was furnished with an oaken cudgel, which I deemed might, towards the latter end of my journey, be useful. On the end of it was slung some provisions, packed up in a handkerchief, and then hoisted over my left shoulder. A considerable quantity of rain had fallen in the night; it was, however, fair when I commenced my expedition, and I wished it to remain so; for it was no pleasure to anticipate a wet day, and a journey of thirty miles on foot before me. The morning was still and beautiful; it was at the early hour of four; I could not yet distinguish the sun, though I was sensible he had left his ocean bed, from the beautiful streaks of colouring in the eastern sky. To express the softness, mildness, and calmness of the scenery, at that hour, I cannot find adequate words; those only can conceive it who have witnessed the same. I had only proceeded two miles before a few drops alarmed me with the apprehensions of a soaking shower from a heavy black cloud that was slowly sailing over my head, and my fears were soon realised by a very thick descent that followed, on which I betook myself with all speed to a thatched cottage that I saw at some distance, for shelter. Its humble inhabitants were not yet risen, and the only shelter I could obtain was that which the eaves of the dark-brown thatch afforded. Partially screened, I there watched the progress of the shower, which alternately abated a little, then increased with redoubled fury, until the dense cloud totally diminished; its heavy, dark colour gradually changed to a livelier hue; the drops grew smaller, and fell at wider intervals; and the sun burst forth in all the glorious refulgence of unclouded splendour. I then pursued my journey; it was now lighter, and the feathered warblers were chanting melodiously among the dripping leaves and branches of the trees, and flitting from spray to spray, seemed to rejoice at the approach of morning. I now and then met a solitary countryman, just issuing from his cot, and hastening to his labour, which interrupted my meditations no longer than while I returned his friendly salutation. For two hours I proceeded in this manner, when, thinking it time for another breakfast, my appetite being sharpened by the "cooler air," I turned into a small publichouse, "kept by Maggy Donaldson." On entering, Patty, who had cleaned up the house, and who was now busy at the kirn, left her task, lowered the tone with which she was singing a song of Burns, to attend to me-though, while she placed an old three-legged worm-eaten oak table by the side of a settle on which I had placed myself, and furnished it with a foaming jug of nut-brown ale, I caught these words: "But warily tent, when ye come to court me, "At kirk, or at market, whene'er ye meet me, Old Maggy, who sat by the ingle with a pipe in her mouth, now accosted me with, "How far cum ye this morning, gude man?" When I had satisfied her in this particular, she inquired, "Where I was gaun ?" and when I told her I was |