olluted by the groans of starving millions. A
land which opens her fostering arms to receive and restore to his long
lost birthright, the trampled and abused child of poverty: to bid him
stand up a free inheritor of a free soil, who so long laboured for a
scanty pittance of bread, as an ignorant and degraded slave, in the
country to which you now cling with such passionate fondness, and leave
with such heart-breaking regret."

When Flora returned from an extensive ramble through all her favourite
walks, she was agreeably surprised to find her husband conversing with
Mrs. W---- in the parlour. The unexpected sight of her husband, who had
returned to cheer her some days sooner than the one he had named in his
letters, soon restored Flora's spirits, and the sorrows of the future
were forgotten in the joy of the present.

Lyndsay had a thousand little incidents and anecdotes to relate of his
visit to the great metropolis; to which Flora was an eager and delighted
listener. He told her that he had satisfactorily arranged all his
pecuniary matters; and without sacrificing his half-pay, was able to
take out about three hundred pounds sterling, which he thought,
prudently managed, would enable him to make a tolerably comfortable
settlement in Canada,--particularly, as he would not be obliged to
purchase a farm, being entitled to a grant of four hundred acres of wild
land.

He had engaged a passage in a fine vessel that was to sail from Leith,
at the latter end of the week.

"I found, that in going from Scotland," said Lyndsay, "we could be as
well accommodated for nearly half price; and it would give you the
opportunity of seeing Edinburgh, and me the melancholy satisfaction of
taking a last look at the land of my birth."

"One of the London steamers will call for us to-morrow morning, on her
way to Scotland, and I must hire a boat to-night, and get our luggage
prepared for a start. A short notice, dear Flora, to a sad but
inevitable necessity, I thought better for a person of your temperament,
than a long and tedious anticipation of evil. Now all is prepared for
the voyage, delay is not only useless, but dangerous. So cheer up,
darling, and be as happy and cheerful as you can. Let us spend the last
night at home pleasantly together." He kissed Flora so affectionately,
as he ceased speaking, that she not only promised obedience, but
contrived to smile through her tears.

It was necessary for them to return instantly to t