tastes and habits were all modest;
and when he looked forward to spending the remainder of what had not
hitherto been a successful life, under the shadow of the genius that
he had worshipped almost from boyhood, his gentle heart was all
happiness. He surveyed with glistening eyes the humble cottage in
which his friend proposed to lodge him, his wife, and his little ones,
and said to himself that he should write no more sad songs on _Forest
Flittings_.[62]

[Footnote 62: Mr. Laidlaw has not published many verses;
but his song of _Lucy's Flitting_--a simple and pathetic
picture of a poor Ettrick maiden's feelings in leaving a
service where she had been happy--has long been, and
must ever be, a favorite with all who understand the
delicacies of the Scottish dialect, and the manners of
the district in which the scene is laid.]

{p.157} Scott's notes to him at this time afford a truly charming
picture of thoughtful and respectful delicacy on both sides. Mr.
Laidlaw, for example, appears to have hinted that he feared his
friend, in making the proposal as to the house at Kaeside, might have
perhaps in some degree overlooked the feelings of "Laird Moss," who,
having sold his land several months before, had as yet continued to
occupy his old homestead. Scott answers:--

TO MR. W. LAIDLAW.

EDINBURGH, April 5, 1817.

MY DEAR SIR,--Nothing can give me more pleasure than the
prospect of your making yourself comfortable at Kaeside till
some good thing casts up. I have not put Mr. Moss to any
inconvenience, for I only requested an answer, giving him
leave to sit if he had a mind--and of free will he leaves my
premises void and redd at Whitsunday. I suspect the house is
not in good order, but we shall get it brushed up a little.
Without affectation I consider myself the obliged party in
this matter--or at any rate it is a mutual benefit, and you
shall have grass for a cow, and so forth--whatever you want.
I am sure when you are so near I shall find some literary
labor for you that will make ends meet. Yours, in haste,

W. SCOTT.

He had before this time made considerable progress in another
historical sketch (that of the year 1815) for the Edinburgh Annual
Register; and the first litera