sided in this city. Here he first entered upon the sacred office. Here his fine talents gradually developed their powers. Here his pulpit ministrations were first truly valued and admired, whilst his private walk and conversation powerfully illustrated the happy influence of the doctrine he so ably advocated. Although removed to another congregation, every work of this distinguished clergyman is an object of deep interest to his former friends; and we therefore consider ourselves happy in being able to present them with extracts from his work recently published.

The first sermon is from the words of 2d Thess. 2d chapter, 1st and 2d verses. It contains a masterly dissuasion from those fears which recent doctrines have excited, as to the day of Christ being at hand. He shows that such doctrines were first promulgated for selfish purposes, by designing men; and he then proceeds to the full discussion of the subject, under the following arrangement :

I. Although the prospect of death and judgment is fitted, for obvious reasons "to shake and trouble our minds;" yet, such an effect, for reasons equally obvious, could never be intended, as the final result of our anticipating those events, all serious as they

are.

II. The removal of distracting fear, is not to decline into insensibility.

III. The scheme of the gospel, by which the view of all that awaits us is made compatible with peace of mind.

Such an arrangement is well adapted for the discussion of the subject, and in its third division for an exposition of that mighty scheme which hath brought life and immortality to light. The following eloquent passage shows how happily Dr. M. has availed himself of his advantages:

"If we have received the salvation freely offered in the gospel, have we not committed ourselves to the care of an Almighty friend, who is willing to save to the uttermost, and who is able to keep what we have deposited under his trust? And why should we not anticipate the day of his coming, without the least movement of slavish dread? Nay, why should we not regard his approach with the calm satisfaction of those who thus hail it, "even so come Lord Jesus." The sting of death is the consciousness of But thou who pouredst out thy blood even for the chief of sinners, removest the sting by forgiving the guilt. Fear as it stretches beyond death, realises the judgment. But thou who makest intercession for sinners, will not impute iniquity to them that believe. We trust in thy mercy. We acquiesce in thy disposal. We wait for thy salvation. "Even so come, Lord Jesus!"

sin.

Of the second sermon, from Isaiah 1st chapter, 2d to 4th verses, we decline to say one word. But the third is superior to either the first or second, and contains many of the characteristic beauties of its author. It is an admirable discourse, on Isaiah xxvi. 20, and at once leads the mind from the scenes of a passing world, to the solitude of the Christian's chamber-to Fly from the world to haunts untrod, And hold communion there with God."

66

The subject, however, is introduced in a plain common sense manner, with which we think all but visionaries must be well pleased. It is asserted that the most spiritualized and holy minds are not independent of peculiar occasions for quickening their sensibilities, and increasing their purity in the religious life; and the author, after an eloquent introduction, proceeds to show

I. Religion does not prevent the natural feelings of sorrow. The prophet retired into the cave and the wilderness, to mourn for his dishonoured and troubled land, exclaiming ، ( ! that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people.” And, when to every other example, we add that of Jesus himself; when we are presented in the history of his life with the man of sorrow, when we see him at the grave of Lazarus; when we hear him bewailing the approaching desolation of Jesusalem; when we listen to the prayer and groan of his own agony, as he implores the passing from him of the bitter cup; what shall we say, but that it is proud and false wisdom indeed, which would condemn and repress the sensibility that is moved by affliction and melts under its influence. Yes, as the calamity passes, the rock is to be struck, and while the waters gush out, the griefs are thereby to be lessened in their violence.

II. The people of God enter into the religious meditations suited to the times of affliction.

These meditatations, open as it were a refuge amid trouble, and give comfort and encouragement, and even joy. Affliction prepares the bed in the dust, and makes the pillow of stone. But the vision presented to the Patriarch is heavenly. The ladder seen by him reaches to the very throne above. Angels descend and enlighten the darkness, and the prayer of hope and the song of praise are offered, where at first there was only sadness.

III. In the time of affliction, the people of God are resigned. Simply to know, that the divine hand is laid on the helm, is sufficient to tranquillize the mind as to the wisdom of the course that is steered.

IV. The people of God trust in him. "His tender mercies are great.' "He remembers that we are dust."

"He knoweth our frame." "He afflicts us for our proThese encouraging as

"He comforteth the mourners." fit." surances prompt the supplication of David, "let me fall into the hand of the Lord." But the deprecating of an opposite event is urged by reasons equally powerful, "let me not fall into the hand of man." The passions of man have deluged the earth with wars and fighting, and were the same war of human passions raised here, as has been elsewhere excited, were the churches in which you worship threatened with destruction, and the ministers of religion compelled to flee as outlaws from the houses where they have studied and prayed for you: were those beautiful and noble squares of your city of palaces, ransacked and laid in ruins, would you not own there exists in human nature, an agent of evil, which is far more to be feared, than any other which this earth knows of, whilst the wisdom of piety leads you to congratulate yourself, that you have not fallen into the hands of man.

V. The people of God enter into the prayers, and at the same time with the devisings suited to afflictive emergencies.

They desire the means of deliverance, and they implore the divine blessing on the use of them, which is just an extension of the privilege of prayer.

VI. The people of God enter into the practical wisdom of affliction.

Every portion of instruction and discipline, tendered in their season of fears and troubles is blessed to them. They are scholars in the school of God. He has opened their ears and heart. He has brought them into fellowship with himself, that thus they may the better know his will and do it. He has communicated to them the purity along with the peace of believing, and should it be His design, that they survive the shock of His "passing indignation," He sends them back to the activities of life, with an experience of sanctified affliction, which will cause them to say, "is is good for them that they were afflicted."

POETRY.

THE FRUITES OF A CLEERE CONSCIENCE.

From an old Manuscript in Stirling's Library. To shine in silk, and glister all in gold, To flow in wealth, and feed on dainty fare, To have thy houses stately to behold,

Thy prince's favour, and the people's care.

The groaning goute, the collick or the stone,
Will marre thy mirth, and turne it all to moan.

But be it, that thy body subject be

To no such sicknesse, or the like annoy; Yet, if thy conscience be not firme and free, Riches are trash, and honoures but a toy, This peace of conscience is the perfect joy, Wherewith God's children in the world be blest: Wanting the which, as good want all the rest. The want thereof made Adam hide his headThe want of this made Cain to waile and weepThis want (alas) makes many go to bedd, Where they (God wot) have little list to sleep, Strive O, then, strive, to entertain and keepe So rich a jewell, and so rare a guest, Which, being had, a rash for all the rest.

We have been accustomed to hear a great deal of the saucy or sulky demeanour of the attendants in the United States. Not a solitary instance of the kind occurred in my experience, and I found all my personal wants quite as regularly attended to as I could possibly desire, both in New York and elsewhere; with this essential improvement, that you are relieved of those vexatious extortions which assail you, as "riders to the bill," in every British hotel. The attendants, except in the slave states, are almost always free persons of colour, and I believe the repugnance felt to the designation of servant, arises from some latent ill-defined dread of being mistaken for slaves. -Fergusson's Notes on the United States in 1831.

RELIGIOUS NOVELTIES.

ILLUSTRATIONS of the Christian Faith, and Christian Virtues, drawn from the Bible, by M. S. Haynes, is in the press. Travels and Researches of Eminent English Missionaries, 2nd edition, will be brought out immediately.

CHURCH ANNOYANCES.

We present our readers with two epistles which we have received anent this important subject. They will speak for themselves:To the Editor of THE DAY.

SIR,-In addition to the many Church Annoyances that have been brought to "the light of Day," through the praiseworthy efforts of your correspondents, there are still others omitted by them, which, in my opinion, equally demand redress with those already pointed out; I allude to the movements of those persons, who, by their "late comings" and "early risings," are significantly denominated the lates and earlies.

There are some people, forsooth, whose ostentaion is gratified by making themselves a gazing-stock, and what better opportunity have they of accomplishing this desire than the entering a church when the majority are already congregated! I know several families as well as individual members of families, who make a regular practice of entering the church when the psalms are well through, others again not till they are finished; some again defer their entreé till the prayer is commenced, and others till it is concluded. I would seriously ask each individual if the House of God is thus to be sacrilegiously converted into a ball-room! or are they not at all aware, in whose presence they are when such vanities are practised! I implore them to "learn and be wise!" So much for the lates, now for the earlies. There are other individuals, who, with a greater zeal for their temporal comforts than for their spiritual necessities, become quite figetty least the family meal should spoil, or themselves be too late for a share of it. Such persons forget that they cannot serve both God and Mammon, and it is the sheerest self-deception for them to think, they can, in this way, make a compromise between them. They fancy that if they attend to a part of the service, their domestic duties will warrant them departing before the whole is concluded; and so off they scamper before the concluding prayer or hymn, the benefit and pleasure of which they lose. Besides this, that they leave the House of God without having "a blessing" invoked on their partial service; and what without a blessing are all the services in which sinful men can engage? "He that hath ears to hear let him hear."-I have the honour to remain, Sir, your's sincerely, J. T.

Glasgow, 28th Feburary, 1832.

To the Editor of THE DAY.

SIR, I am glad to observe that the columns of your useful periodical are open to the exposure of personal annoyances, and particularly of the annoyances which many give to their neighbours in places of public worship.

There is one which has not as yet been noticed, and which is as productive of discomfort to both pastor and people as any hitherto mentioned; and that is, the too prevalent practice of some who come into the church after the solemn services have commenced.

This annoyance can as easily be obviated, if not more so, than any of those already complained of: and, though those guilty of such a bad habit have no regard to the feelings and comfort of their minister and fellow-worshippers—yet, they ought to reflect that their conduct is an insult to that Holy Being whose presence fills all space; but who, we believe at that moment, is more immediately in communion with His People, and therefore all intrusion ought to be scrupulously avoided.—I am, your humble servant, A. M.

THE CHILDREN OF LIGHT AND DARKNESS.

To the Editor of THE DAY. SIR,-The following observations were suggested by a glance at your title. Surely the things which relate to the peculiar exercises of the best of all the Days will not be entirely overlooked.

Few will be disposed to deny, that differences of moral character exist among men; but perhaps it is not so generally acknowledged, that, however indistinctly the line of demarcation may be drawn betwixt them, there are in reality only two descriptions of character, which are not merely dissimilar, but are totally opposed to each other.

The one class are in Scripture described as being Children of the Day, or of the Light, the other as Children of the Night. We are taught by the frequent use of these striking metaphors, to believe, that these natural periods of time are not more opposed in appearance to each other, than are the characters of these two classes of the sons of men.

The children of the day, are they who have come to the light of the sun of righteousness, who in that light have discerned their utter destitution of any moral worth; and who, attracted by the beauty

of holiness, as displayed in the character of Him who is the light and the life of the world, are willing to submit themselves to his purifying and animating influence. The children of the night, are they who reject the light, because they hate its influence; they come not to the light, lest their deeds should be manifested and reproved.

There is a conformity established in the Divine procedure, between the present and eternal prospects of these respective characters. The children of the day are heirs of light, they of the night shall inherit darkness.

If these things be true, and they claim to be the sayings of Him, who alone is faithful and true, how false the charge brought against christianity, as a system which casts a gloom over the condition of man, aud how false the flattery which would persuade men that the course of the world is productive only of pleasure? Wherein really rests the gloom? Is it not upon him, whose soul discerns neither the horrors of his lost condition, nor the beauty of that holiness, which he is invited to pursue; whose feet stumble upon the dark mountains of wordly vanity; and whom no bright hopes for the future, support or cheer under the present gloom? Is he sometimes merry? His laughter is short-lived as the blaze of thorns: it is the mirth of a madman, dancing upon the brink of a precipiece. Where rests the gloom? Not upon the christian · his soul rejoices in the light of the Lord, the word of God is a lamp to his feet, his path is that of the shining light, which shines more and more until the perfect day. Is he sometimes sad? He is comforted with the hope of a time when all tears shall for ever be wiped away from his eyes.

Compared with the future state of the sinner, the present time is that when the light shineth, "Now is the accepted time, now is the day of salvation.” While on the other hand, to the christian the present is the night, compared to the glory that awaits him, the night is far spent but the day is at hand, a day, which once dawned, shall never decline, while even the lamp of the wicked shall be put out. "To him that hath, more shall be given, but from him who hath not, even that which he hath, shall be taken away."

MISCELLANEA.

E. W.

How many volumes have been written about angels, about immaculate conception, and about original sin, when that all that is solid reason or clear revealation, in all these three articles may be reasonably enough comprised in forty lines? And in these trifles and impertinencies men are curiously busy, while they neglect those glorious precepts of christianity and holy life, which are the glories of our religion, and would entitle us to a happy eternity. Jeremy Taylor.

But, while we fondly cherish the memory of the polite and ingenious Athenians, how mortifying is it to reflect, that when Paul visited their city, it was "wholly given to idolatry," and the melancholy conviction is forced upon us, that the highest cultivation of reason, unassisted by divine revelation, is insufficient to preserve us from the utmost extravagance and folly in religion.— Rev. Dr. Dick.

MEMOIRS OF A PAISLEY BAILLIE.

"Printed books he contemnes as a novelty of this latter age, but a manuscript he pores in everlastingly, if the cover be all moth eaten, and the dust make a parenthesis between every syllable." Miscrosmographie, or a Piece of the World Discovered.

MORE ANENT ME AND THE ANTIQUARY. WEEL, as I was saying, this figure of a man cam saunteren up the street at his ain leisure, and my curiosity was naturally roused to an uncommon degree, to get an inkling of what he was, what he wanted, and where he came frae. It was clear and manifest in the licht of my understanding, that he was not a buyer of muslins or shawls, nor a seller of silks or cottons, from the way in which my friends, sae soon as they spoke to him, snooled into their warehouses with their tails atween their feet, and their hands in their pouches, as if they had strampit on a taed or mistane a docken for a daisy, whilk would be foolish eneuch even tho they had been born stane blin, or had lost their precious eesight blastin rocks in a quarry, or by ony sic pitiful accident.

Seeing him bent upon making good his passage thro the Causeyside, whether for profit or for pleasure it was hard to say from his manner, I determined to keep a sickar look out on his motions, and if possible to discover what his motives were in coming to pry into the iniquities and abominations of the land. Of course, I continued to stand fornent the Cumberland Well, keeping the tail of my ae ee upon him, while with the other I was pretending to overlook the erection of a new sign that some painter lads were fixing aboon á spirit chop that had opened there the day before, and whilk, as ye may weel jalouse, was very conveniently situated for the commodity of water, the pump well being just at the step of the door, and quite as handy as the bool of the pint stoup on the compter. Standing in this easy-osy way, and giving my stick a bit authoritative flourish noos and tans, who should mak straucht up to me but the very individnal that I was quietly watching, who enquired very politely if I would have the goodness to inform him whereabouts in the city Mr. Pirnie resided.

Hearing my ain name mentioned, I felt a bit flitter at my heart, but, as he was a ceevil spoken, and in the quality of his cleading as weel put on as mysel, I immediately replied, that there were twa or three of that name in our gate end, but if he would condescend on the business or profession of his freend, I thocht it might probably be within the compass of my power and ability, to put him upon the right scent, and thereby keep him frae ony mair bell-wavering or wandering up and down the streets. And with that, I gied my watch seals a bit jingle, satisfied that it was not very likely that ony ither of the Pirnies of our town was ever kent in far-awa' pairts sae weel as mysel.

Of Mr. Pirnie's profession or business, says the stranger gentleman, in a very solemn and discreet tone, I am profoundly ignorant; but the gentleman from whom I received a letter of introduction, to Mr. Pirnie informed me, that he was the Lord Provost, head baillie, or some such other municipal dignitary, and an individual of great respectability and notoriety in this city-and indeed the only gentleman who could be of service to me in my peculiar pursuits, connected as these are, at the present moment, with Local History and Antiquities.

Ye're a sma' thocht wrang freend says I, but I'm thinking the person ye want is now standing bodily present afore your een. Whenever I had said this, the thin chafted and thochtful looking gentleman brichtened up wonderfully, and, after blessing his stars, that he had met with me so readily, he claps a letter intil my loof, written by my Embro man of business, which begged me to pay all the attention in my power to the very learned Reginald Roustythrappil, Esquire, of Deafnut Hall, he having come to Paisley for the purpose of making some antiquarian researches into the nature of its pearl fisheries and shipping during th the time of the Romans, forbye a hundred other odds and ends that were set furth in such lang nebbit words that I really found it diffeecult to spell them, let alane understand them.

However, I shook hands quite frankly with Mr. Roustythrappil, and said I was glad for to see him in Paisley, and that I was sure he would get muckle and no little to please him in looking at the Abbey Kirk, the Sounding Aisle, the Grave Stanes in the Quier, the Roman Camps at the Bouling green, Castlehead and Woodside, and concluded by declaring, that in my humble opingyon, there could not be a better bonnyfeedy panorama, than frae the buttlins of the Hie Kirk to tak a vizy of the hail town, including the suburbs, sic as the Corslatts, Douzland, Charleston, Maxwelltoun, Ferguslie and the new houses bigging or to be bigged on the Arinthrow, the Greenock, or the Nethercommon road. And here I just had mind of twa or three lines by Sandy Tait, touching the Hie Kirk, quhilk I repeated as follows:

Paisley High Kirk's like a temple,
Craigans, Duchal, Castlesemple;
So tightly co'ert wi' slate,
The Abbey Kirk sounds like a horn;
There bury'd is Lord Abercorn ;
Embalın'd be lies in state.

Ods, my life! it was diverting to hear what a keckle of a laugh Mr. Roustythrappil set up when I had finished, and then with water gushing frae his e'e, as if he had squeezed an ingan peeling intil't, he complimented me in the maist condign terms for my uncommon delicate taste in poetical description. This naturally led me to explain to him how I liked to read every thing that clinked harmoniously, as weel as had a curn of good rough and round common sense in it. And, as was to be expeckit, my new friend said the same, or as our Town clerk used to say at the tail of a deposition when it jumped till a hair with the ane before it, he concurred idem in omnibus with the preceding deponent.

Folks may say what they like anent not giving way to first impressions when they get a visy of the pheesug of a stranger; but I will be caution, that let a man of understanding do all he can to resist these impressions, they nevertheless, exert a great influence over his mind in forming its judgments. For my pairt, I will candidly admit, that the first sicht of a man's face and figure, decides for him or against him in my affections. The harmonies and sympathies, the discords and antipathies of nature, are as apparent in the moral, as they are in the physical world. draws to like, as the Deil to the fail dyke,” and aiblins it was for this reason, that me and Mr. Roustythrappil cottened sae well frae the first even until the last of our learned correspondence. We hadna exchanged

"Like,

twa words-we hadna heard the sound of ilk other's tongue and seen the twinkle of our e'en, and the smile about the lip, till a mutual liking began. Considering the manifest oddity of his look and manner, this was mair remarkable on my pairt; for it is the effeck of all departures from established modes in dress, to engender repugnancy in the minds of those who hold by the orthodox fashions of the day.

My new freend and acquaintance, the laird of Deafnit Ha' was a tall, thin, wiry man, standing on his stocking soles I would guess about 5 feet 11, or 5 feet 113. His complexion was a sort of iron-grey, shaded off with a clearish yellow about the chafts. In the matter of a nose he was like mysell, ordinar weel gifted, but his was a scent langer, as weel as heicher in the brig, and not sae braid in the neb as mine. His forehead was heich and cone shaped, and, I may add, that though he had a gay tate of hair on his e'ebrow, his locks were thin about the haffets. From his looks I would have guessed him to be about forty, mair or less, but ane can never guess within aucht or ten years, the real age of bany and skranky bodies. Anent his cleading, I will say this for him, that in the quality of the claith it was good eneuch, for I got an opportunity of drawing my finger over his coat sleeve quietly and unnoticed, and it was the best superfine black, 36s. or 40s. at the least, per yard. But it was apparent to any one that had the sense of a sooking turkey, and kent what was what, that the adorning of the outward man didna form ilka morn, after leaving his nest, an essential part of his moral duty. There is an observe in an auld writer anent the wearing of our garments, which is worth rehearsing for its excellence :"Two things in my apparel I will onely aim at, commodiousness, decency; beyond these I know not how ought may be commendable; yet I hate an effeminate sprucenesse as much as a phantasticke disorder. A neglective comeliness is a man's ornament." Now, the neglective comeliness was carried rather to an extreme, and his coat pouches were sair bumphlet out with books and papers and ither trashery. Every bit queer thing that came first to his hand plump it went into the pouch, and in this way it led nae better a life than a Gaberlunzie's meal pock, or a Tinkler's budget. One of the pouches was sae stuffed and panged, that to secure it the flap was steeked down with a fardin prin, that really, I must confess, didna look very becoming in the coat of a landed gentleman, and I almost brocht myself to believe, that at the douner end of the pouch, claith and canvass were made sure in the same way. This I thocht at the time when he was speeling up the ladder before me in the Hie Kirk steeple; but good breeding, at that particular time, keeped me from taking ony correck view of how things stood in that quarter.

Anither thing I observed with the tail of my e'e, for the whilk I was sorry, as it looked liker the fantastic disorder, than the neglective comeliness mentioned above, and that was that, in his hurry in the mornin, he had forgot to shave ae side of his cheek, and the black stibble left didna look weel, considering that the ither chaft was as bare as the how of my loof and just a pleasure to look upon : it was so uncommon weel scrapit that auld Peter Gordon, though he was as sober as ajudge, couldna have made a better job. But all these wee overlooks were, doubtless, occasioned by him living a single life. Had he been a married man, his better half would have naturally tane a pride and a pleasure in snoddin and toshin him up in the morning, and setting him furth to business nicely brushed frae head to foot, and as clean as a new prin, all which is a part of an affectionate wife's duty, the mair especially

We wish our friend the Baillie, when he quotes his old authors, would tell us their names. It cost us some hours' labour to discover, that his reference here is to a passage in the "Resolves, Moral and Political, of Owen Feltham," a quaint and epigrammatic writer of great esteem in his own Day as we hope to be in ours.-ED. DAY.

if her marrow be of a thochtful turn and careless anent the vanities and pernickities of dress. To conclude my description of the laird of Deaf-nit-ha', I have just to observe, that his e'en were grey, and, at times, unco heavy, drumly and dreamy like, but when he was struck suddenly with any special, sensible remark of mine, up they lichted with a desperate flashiness, and gade bleeze awa like a pluff of gunpouther, and then gradually sunk doun into more than ordinar dullness. A man like me that notes every thing, be it great or small, soon perceived that my Antiquarian friend was a wee thocht short sichted, as will be explained hereafter, when we were copying Abbot Shaw's inscription at the Walneuk, and nae wonder, for it maun have worn out the very strongest and best e'en that ever were set in man's pow, had they been stented as my Embro man of business alleged, to look for pearl mussells amang sand, and mud, frae the time of the Romans till the present day. Howsumever, I fund this to be a mistake, for my agent didna ken the main object of Mr. Roustythrappil's visit to the West country; for it referred allenarly to ancient evidents anent Kirk property in Papistical times, the deciphering of auld inscriptions up and doun the country, visying of dilapidated Kirks sic as our Abbey, and taking draughts with his keelavyne of monumental crosses and siclike eemages erecked in the Heathen times of darkness and sinfulness.

All this I discovered in due course of post, as a body might say, and that was just after denner, when we twa got upon the crack about auld-fashioned ferlies, and occasionally dipped intil poetry, music, and pearlfishing in the Cart, upon the which last I was quite a Don, and shewed him that there was life in a mussell yet, having picked up mony a thumpin horse mussell, with my ain hands, when a haflins callant I used to gang a-fishing for brazes, flukes, flounders and eels, and such like inhabiters of the great deep, alang_the towing path; and who that has done that, said I to Mr. Roustythrappil, must ken that there is a desperate big bed of pearl mussels near the place that was called the Wee Island, but is now nae mair an island than a tea-pot, since the recent improvements were executed on our river, for the purpose of rendering it navigable to veshells of 300 or 400 tons burden, or even ships of war, as was the case, no doubt, in the time of the Romans and the Pechts.

In the handling of these divers subjects, ilka ane was mair deep than his neibour: and, as we sat comfortably over our glass of port wine, the langer we drank, the deeper, of course, grew our observes. The fack of the matter is this the Antiquary saw that I was a perfect dungeon of knowledge, and, to do him justice, I will be candid eneuch to say, that I dinna think he was far ahint me in some points. He might, I make no doubt, have a little mair book lair nor me, as weel as understand mair languages, which is a wonderful help to a person of but ordinar gumption; but, on the other hand, I had a natural far-sightedness and practical wisdom, worldly experience and observation anent things in general, that enabled me to whummle him ower upon his hinder end in argument, in a way that was perfectly surprising. It's no to be concealed, that Mr. Roustythrappil learned a lesson frae me that he'll no forget in a hurry. He tell't me that philosophy was learned amang the shepherds on the hills, as Cervantes says in his excellent history of the Laird of La Mancha, Mr. Don Quixote; but I let him ken on the deafest side of his head, that the marrow of common sense and philosophy could be obtained just as weel in a twahanded crack with a Paisley Baillie; and, no to "blink the question," as Dr. Chalmers says, that was my ain individual self. Egotism is disagreeable; but truth is a pearl to be prized, though found in a grumphie's snout.

All this took place, however, after dinner. Indeed, through the hail of the forenoon, I could only play second fiddle to my learned friend, he speerit sic a

number of questions at me anent places I had never heard wit of before; and besides, there was anither thing I sall explain presently, that hung heavy on my heart, and keeped me frae wagging my tongue sae glibly as I would, in other circumstances, have done. But, man is born to sorrow; and there is often much to pine the heart, that the tongue daurna weel tell, even amang them that, in the world's e'e, have least to fash thein. Naething is a greater pain than to be obleeged to feign happiness, and to wear a sweet and contented face, when the heart is just torn to rags with consuming passion, or is the prey of moody thocht, despondency, or stark despair. To ordinar minds, it would seem perfect nonsense that I should be noyed as I was, when squiring Mr. Roustythrapple through the toun, and pointing out to him all its ferlies; but, to a sensitive man like me as sma' matters will occasionally look as big as mountains. The sum total of my vexation rested in the fack that, I coudna invite the friend that was commended to my care and hospitality till dinner at my ain house, on account of our gudewife's big washing; and how to get aff from the suspicion of being inhospitable, without frankly telling the hail outs and ins of the story, was what I could not bring my mind to. With an auld freend it was naething; but, to a distinguished man of letters, a stranger and an estated country gentleman, it was out of the question. Weel, I was just worrying mysell to death with the thochts of this dilemma, and the day was drawing nearer and nearer the dinner hour, and, what with walking backwards and forwards, I was getting quite clung, and as yaup as a greyhound, that I determined to run all risks, and tak my chance of Mr. Roustythrappil having a prior engagement on his hands. Never venture, never win, thinks I; so, out I whups my goud watch, (a very nice jewelled and capped concern it is, as weel as being correck as a dial. necessar to mention that I coft it frae Mr. Rait, that has a fine jewellery chop in Argyle Street, Glasgow, and who is a very tasty, pleesant and genteel man as ever I did business with; and a gay bit clatch o' my sillar he has gotten, one way and anither, for toddy laddles, silver forks, silver spoons, forbye the grand silver tea equipage that I got the year I was made a Baillie,) and twirling the chain and seals round my finger, says quite easily, as it were, I'm thinking, Mr. Roustythrapple, it's drawing near dinner time; sae, I hope ye'll find it convenient to take a step down our length, and tak a bite of what's gaun. No expecking company, ye maun content yoursell with pat luck. It'll be quite a family party I'se assure you.

It's un

"How unfortunate, that I precipitated myself into an engagement," exclaimed Mr. Roustythrapple; "I really must "

Na, Sir, I can tak nae excuse, quoth I, getting as brisk as a bee; I maun positively insist on your dining with me. Denials are out of the question. It's no every day the like of us twa foregather; and, forbye, I have a claim upon you-a warrant for your appre hension-whupping out my Embro' augent Sandy Seisin's letter of introduction.

"Nothing do I regret more, than my inability to avail myself of your kindness and hospitality; but, indeed, I am pre-ingaged to another friend, or rather, we agreed to dine together in a tavern, before I had the happiness of falling into your delightful society-I must throw myself on your mercy-you must excuse me."

Weel, weel, says I, that is too bad. I am sure ye would have been as welcome as flowers in May, to my house; and the fack is, Mr. Roustythrapple, as ye are an antiquary, I was gaun to gust your gab with some particular good auld wine, that I never sport, except on occasions, when ane is needcessitated to give a grand spread to the Town's Council, or when, as now, I fall in with a real friend, and have resolved to be happy "for ae nicht in our life."

Poor Mr. Roustythrapple looked quite dumfounder

ed and vexed, for the mair he pled his engagement, the mair I insisted that he should come, and even hinted (but that was certainly taking a step beyond common prudence,) that his freend would be as welcome as himsell. This argle-bargling lasted for sometime, at last, I thocht it wudna be safe to prolong it much farther, sae winded up the concern, by remarking that since I couldna enjoy the pleasure of his company to dinner, I hoped he would look in upon me in the evening, and enjoy a bit claver ower a cup a tea.

66

Here there was a shade cam ower Mr. Roustythrappil's brow, and, with some hesitation he at length said, My dear Baillie, it is really taking too much liberty with you; but, can you not make it convenient to dine with my friend and me to-day. You'll like his company much he is an old acquaintance." Pleased with the blateness of my freend, and seeing that he evidently manifested, from his manner, that he kent it was doing him a favour for me to comply, I tell't him I would put mysell aff my ordinar to obleege him, whilk was a bit white lie, by the way, but it disna signify. And with that, seeing a laddie gaun by that kent our house, I gies him a penny, desiring him to rin every fit of the road, and tell Mrs. Pirnie that the Baillie wudna be hame to dinner, and that she needna expeck him afore the ringing of the ten hours bell.

This arrangement relieved Mr. Roustythrapple, as well as it did me, and awa we gade, antiquity-hunting brisker than ever. In the way I cuitlit up things, I am thinking I preserved baith the good character of the town, as well my ain for kindness and hospitality. A Baillie learns lots of policy in the course of his official duties, and he would need; for let an ill-speaking public say what it likes against Close corporations, Self-election, and Town Councils, I will maintain my threep that their pains owergang their profits, and, that the wearing of a cockit hat and a gowd chain for the uphalding of dignity and order in a community, is at best, an honour barren of all praise in a thankless and wilful age. Nobody envies the King upon the throne; for the crown he wears is but a circle, and significant of never-ending cares; and as little need they envy a Baillie; for his cockit hat is but a type of toil and tribulation, and the chain about his neck, though it be of gowd, is still the symbol of bondage, the fetter that binds him hand and foot to the oar of public duty.

But talking of these magisterial cares, aye makes me sad, and unfit for writing in my usual lively strain, so I must postpone till anither day, my confab with Mr. Reginald Roustythrapple in the "Three Tuns," at the end of the Auld Brig, where we dined together with his friend, after seeing the feck of the auld ferlies that our town presents to the curiosity of intelligent travellers and antiquaries.

ORIGINAL POETRY.

LOVE'S DIET.

TELL me, fair maid, tell me truly,
How should infant love be fed;
If with dew drops, shed so newly
On the bright green clover blade;
Or, with roses plucked in July,
And with honey liquored?

Oh, no! oh, no!

Let roses blow,

And dew stars to green blade cling:
Other fare,

More light and rare,
Befits that gentlest nursling.

Feed him with the sigh that rushes
'Twixt sweet lips, whose muteness speaks;
With the eloquence that flushes

All a heart's wealth o'er soft cheeks;
Feed him with a world of blushes,
And the glance that shuns, yet seeks :
For, 'tis with food,
So light and good,
That the Spirit child is fed;
And with the tear
Of joyous fear
That the small Elf's liquored.