y tale; first in Carolina, next in Darien. I want also--I
am the daughter of the horseleech truly--"Black's new large map of
Scotland," sheets 3, 4, and 5, a 7s. 6d. touch. I believe, if you can
get the

_Caldwell Papers_,

they had better come also; and if there be any reasonable work--but no,
I must call a halt....

I fear the song looks doubtful, but I'll consider of it, and I can
promise you some reminiscences which it will amuse me to write, whether
or not it will amuse the public to read of them. But it's an unco
business to supply deid-heid coapy.

TO J. M. BARRIE

_Vailima, Samoa, December 7th, 1893._

MY DEAR BARRIE,--I have received duly the _magnum opus_, and it really
is a _magnum opus_.[72] It is a beautiful specimen of Clark's printing,
paper sufficient, and the illustrations all my fancy painted. But the
particular flower of the flock to whom I have hopelessly lost my heart
is Tibby Birse. I must have known Tibby Birse when she was a servant's
mantua-maker in Edinburgh and answered to the name of Miss _Broddie_.
She used to come and sew with my nurse, sitting with her legs crossed in
a masculine manner; and swinging her foot emphatically, she used to pour
forth a perfectly unbroken stream of gossip. I didn't hear it, I was
immersed in far more important business with a box of bricks, but the
recollection of that thin, perpetual, shrill sound of a voice has echoed
in my ears sinsyne. I am bound to say she was younger than Tibbie, but
there is no mistaking that and the indescribable and eminently Scottish
expression.

I have been very much prevented of late, having carried out thoroughly
to my own satisfaction two considerable illnesses, had a birthday, and
visited Honolulu, where politics are (if possible) a shade more
exasperating than they are with us. I am told that it was just when I
was on the point of leaving that I received your superlative epistle
about the cricket eleven. In that case it is impossible I should have
answered it, which is inconsistent with my own recollection of the
fact. What _I_ remember is, that I sat down under your immediate
inspiration and wrote an answer in every way worthy. If I didn't, as it
seems proved that I couldn't, it will never be done now. However, I did
the next best thing, I equipped my cousin Graham Balfour with a letter
of introduction, and from him, if you know how--for he is rather of the
Scottish character--you may elicit all the infor