ersities of condition, the varieties of fortune to which
man is exposed, while climbing the hill of probationary difficulty. And
how sublimely applicable are the words of Job, expatiating on the
uncertainty of human existence: "Man dieth and wasteth away; yea, man
giveth up the ghost, and where is he? As the waters fail from the sea,
and the flood decayeth and drieth up; so man lieth down and riseth not
till the heavens be no more."

While standing on the same spot, where of yore the boyish multitude
congregated in pursuit of their eager sports, a silent awe steals over
the bosom, and the heart desponds at the thought, that all these once
smiling faces are scattered now! Some, mayhap, tossing on the waste and
perilous seas; some the merchants of distant lands; some fighting the
battles of their country; others dead--inhabitants of the dark and narrow
house, and hearing no more the billows of life, that thunder and break
above their low and lonely dwelling-place!

* * * * *

Nanse, who was sitting by the table, knitting a pair of light-blue
worsted stockings for Benjie, and myself, who was sewing on the buttons
of a velveteen jacket for a country lad, were, I must say, not a little
delighted, not only with the way in which the Welshman's late master had
spoken of his school-fellows, but with the manner in which James Batter,
with his specs on, had read it over to us. Upon my word--and that of an
elder--I do not believe that even Mr Wiggie himself could have done the
thing greater justice. It was just as if he had been a play-actor man,
spouting Douglas's tragedy.

Having folded up that paper, and turned over not a few others, the
docketings of which he read out to us, James at last says, "Ou ay, here
it is. I think I can now prove to ye, that the gentlemen's sweetheart
died abroad; and that, likely from her name--for it is here
mentioned--she must have been a Portugee or Spaniard."

"Ay, let us hear it," cried Nanse. "Do, like a man, let us hear it,
James; for I delight above a' things to hear about love-stories. Do ye
mind, Maister," she said, "when ye was so deep in love aince yoursell?"

"Foolish woman," I said, giving her a kind of severe look; "is that all
your manners to interrupt Mr Batter? If ye'll just keep a calm sough,
ye'll hear the long and the short o't, in good time."

By this, James, who did not relish interruption, and was a thought
fidgety in his natural t