success of her plan, in getting her son to take such delight in fishing; (an amusement which she consideredas contributing greatly to health) flattered him daily upon the improvement of his looks; and so happy was she in the thoughts of it, that she could not refrain from speaking about it to every one. Indeed, the most part of her dis. course was always about George, for he was her only surviving child, and she loved him with the fondest affection.

It happened one day, that a little girl came down from one of the cottages for some butter-milk, and while the Lady was measuring it, she asked her if she had met the Laird fishing in the water?"No, me'm, said the girl, he was na fishin; he was gene in ere I cam away.' " "Oh! was he? was he? I'm glad to hear that, I never knew he had regarded his tenants in the least; I am very glad he is beginning to look after them;""I think he disna look muckle after them me'm, he's keener o' looking after some other thing;" "O ay the trouts, to be sure they have almost gone between him and his senses, for some time past, but he'll ay be seeing something of his land; my forcing of him to the fishing was a lucky hit." "I'm thinking he likes the miss as well as the hit, said the girl, but I'll no say nae mair about it, r else it will bring me in to speak nonsense ?" "I believe, answered the Lady, he does like almost as well to miss the trouts as hit them, he's so extremely tender hearted;""Aye, but there's mae tender hearted than him 'e;"" He will not, however learn any ill by calling at times upon Robin, honest man!" "Aye, but I dare say he never gaed into

Robin's house in his life; he wadna gang in there me'm, if it war raining auld wives and Jethart staves." Did not you say, Impudence, that he was gone in before you came away?" "Aye, but no into Robin's house me'm;"" Whase house then lass?" " Jeany's! Jeany's!" "What Jeany's?" "I dinnaken what they ca' her mair, little George's mither ye ken; that lives at the side o' the washin' green;""Little George's mither that lives at the side of the washing green! has she a husband?" "Na, na, meʼm, she's no sae fer forret yet; but ye ken mony a ane now a days gets a son or they get a husband;" "And does my son visit there?" "Indeed does he me'm, as duly as he rises out of his bed;" "Guid troth, my woman, that's a new way of fishing indeed!" "Na, it's no very new me'm; I dinna ken but it's aulder nor the tither way." The old Lady, though she pretended to smile, was nevertheless like one thunderstruck. She measured her milk into the cream pail; breathed as short as if in the heat of a fever; run out-came in again, and scolded the kitchen maid bitterly for a thing she knew nothing about; and after ordering the girl to send Robin down to her immediately, she took to her bed, and lay brooding over this great calamity, of her son's shameful attachment; for there was no temptation that she was more afraid of taking certain effect than that betwixt the youth of different sexes, nor any she hated more heartily; and before Robin came down, she had made out to herself a picture of as many disagreeable objects, as ever a distempered fancy conceived. Instead of a lovely wife of a respectable family; a kept mistress!

instead of a fine family of genteel children, an illegitimate and disgraceful offspring; in short, she could think of nothing else, and the more she thought of it, the worse did the consequences appear; so that by the time Robin arrived she had regularly determined on Jeany's immediate expulsion from her little cot and the neighbourhood.

We shall pass over a long conversation that took place betwixt the old lady and Robin, which was maintained with bitterness on the one hand, and servility on the other: but, the final resolution was, that Jeany should be ordered to depart that night, or early next morning; which, if she refused, Robin was to bribe her to a compliance, with any money, rather than that she should be suffered to remain any longer; for, as the lady observed," she might lead astray all the youth in the neighbourhood." But, by all means, their proceedings were to be kept a secret from George.

Robin went home, and waiting upon Jeany, told her abruptly, that she was to be no longer there; and that she must lay her account to depart immediately; that he would give her what wages she asked for the work she had done to him, and would be answerable for her furniture until she sent for it,

or disposed of it some other way; that she needed not to ask any questions as to his motives for proceeding in that manner, for the truth was, that he was fully determined she should not be there. She answered not a word, but with the tears in her eyes, and uttering many a short half-smothered sob, she packed up a small bundle of clothes, and taking that below her arm, and little George on her back, she went away; having locked the door and given the key to the farmer. "Farewell Robin," said she, "I know not whether you are to blame for this or not, but if you are, do not you think it is cruelty in the extreme, to turn that poor child and me out to the open fields? If I had known of a better home I would not have come to

your hut; what then do you think may be the consequences of this step you are taking so hastily? you will certainly repent it one day when you cannot help it. I have only had one comfort for a long season now, and that is one which I hope will never forsake me." Robin was affected, but he only said. simply, farewell, and kept an eye on the road she took, expecting she would go for Edinburgh, but was surprised to observe, that she took the contrary direction.

(To be continued.)

1811.

As

THE COUNTRY LAIRD

(Continued.)

s soon as she got out of sight of her late dwelling, she sat down by a little rivulet and gave free vent to her tears. "My poor child said she what will become of you and me now! here we are turned out on the wide world, and have neither house nor home to cover

our heads; we have no bed now George but the cold earth, and no covering but the sky, and the hazel bush." " O! no geet, no geet, mammy; vely wae fol you mammy;" said little George, while his heart was like to burst from its casement. "No, my dear, for your sake I will not greet; therefore cheer up thy kind little heart; for we will be provided for some way or other; that kind beneficent Being, who regards the sufferings of the very meanest of his creatures, will not leave two poor help less inexperienced beings, like you and me, to perish for want; and while I have health I will work for you and inyself, for you have no body else that cares for you, and Heaven knows how inadequate I am to the task of bringing you up." "But no geet mammy, George wulk too," "Yes, you will perhaps work for me when I cannot for myself my little man :" here their tender prattle was interrupted by James, who was close at their side before they observed him. He was one of Robin's

No. XXV.

servants, and herded a few young sheep at the back of the hill where Jeany was

sitting. He was fifteen years of age;

tall, thin, had fine features, but somewhat pitted by the small-pox; he had. an inexhaustible fund of drollery and mirth, and kept the rest of the servants constantly laughing at him. The most of them believed him to be a fool, but he was far from that; though a few peculiarities in his character might perhaps with many have justified the supposition. He never mended his clothes like the rest of the servant lads, but let them fall into as many holes as they pleased; he said he liked them no the

worse for two or three holes; and that. his clothes commonly served him as long after they were done as they did before. His hat was very broad brimmed and supple, and hung so far over his eyes,

that when he looked any person in the face, he had to take the same position as if looking at a vertical star; this induced him often, when he wanted to see fairly about him, to fold in the fore part of the brim within the crown, which gave it the appearance of half a hat; and in this way was he equipped when he joined Jeany and little George. They had wrought at the peats for a week together, and James had the sagacity to discover, that there was something about Jeany greatly superior to the rest of the servant girls. "What ails you Jeany?" said he, "I thought I

heard you greeting?" "No, no, James, I do not ail anything; I was not greeting." "Why woman you're greeting yet; what ails you; or where are ye gaun this way "I'm going far away James," "I fear ye're gaun away a' thegither Jeany; have ye been obliged to leave your ain little house for want o' meat?" "I had plenty of meat James, but your master would not let me stay any longer; he has turned me adrift this night, and I know of no place where I can go?" "O! the auld hard hearted loun!" said James;" "if I had a home Jeany ye sude be welcome to it, even though I sude seek a bed for myself. If I had ye at

my father's house I could ensure ye of a week or a month's lodging; but it is far away amang the hills of Tweeddale. I have an aunt, indeed, about two miles distant, but she's no muckle to lippen to; if you like I'll go there with you, and try if she will let you stay a while till we see what casts up. You are as good a worker as is in the country, and she's very fond of wark; I have seen her gar me work till my back was like to brik." Jeany was so much confused in her mind, she could scarcely think, or plan for herself; so rising, and fol lowing her young ragged conductor, they arrived before sun-set at his aunt's ⚫ house. My dear aunt said James, here is a young, sweet creature, turned away from her home for-for-for Lord knows what! and has no place to go to; if will be so kind as let her stay a you week or two, I will do as muckle for you some other time." My faith man, said she; ye're soon begun to a fine trade! How can ye hae the face ye raskal, to come rinnen to me we' a hizzy at your tail, an' desire me to keep

her for ye? I'll sooner see you an' her, an' that little deil's limb a' three hang'd, than I'll do ony sic thing: gang about your business ye base wanwordy raskal.” "O dear aunt returned James, see how lovely a young creature she is, and how unable to bear the bitter blasts o' adversity; consider how ye would do yoursel if turned out to the field wantin' siller, and a bairn on your back." "Ye impudent skoonrell that ye are! I tell ye to gang about your business this moment, else I'll brik baith your heads."

"Aaah ye're an auld

said James, crying, and cursing her in the bitterness of his heart. "What must you and my master have to answer for! O! if I had the owrance o' the warld, I wad do for some fock! I wad gar them cringe and glowr, and " passion and tears now choaked his utterance; and distressed and ashamed as Jeany was, she was forced to smile at his extravagance. "Its an unco thing, continued he, that a body canna tak' ony interest in a fellow creature's misfortunes, but the fock hereaway maun ay look on't as takin' rise frae vile selfish motives. Come away Jeany, come

to

away. "Where would you have me go to now James ?" "Out bye aff that auld witch at ony rate; od I wadna care to turn back and thresh her skin yet." "Let me beseech you to return your flock James, and trouble yourself about me no farther; you are getting yourself vexed for no purpose; heaven will take care of us." "It disna look very like it just now Jeany; ye are very right to trust in heaven, but we maunna trust a' to't neither. If we dinna use the means, heaven's no obliged to work miracles for us; it is hard