ent, not the godfather of the
piece. Our facetious friend J. B. knows nought of such a
matter being _en train_, and never will know. I am delighted
to hear my windows are finished. Yours very truly,

Walter SCOTT.

[Footnote 88: Slightly altered from Dr. Johnson's
Prologue to the comedy of _A Word to the Wise_.]

TO MR. LAIDLAW, KAESIDE.

Wednesday. [February, 1818.]

DEAR WILLIE,--I am not desirous to buy more land at present,
unless I were to deal with Mr. Rutherford or Heiton, and I
would rather deal with them next year than this, when I
would have all my payments made for what I am now buying.
Three or four such years as the last would enable me with
prudence and propriety to ask Nicol[89] himself to flit and
remove.

[Footnote 89: Mr. Nicol Milne of Faldonside. This
gentleman's property is a valuable and extensive one,
situated immediately to the westward of Abbotsford; and
Scott continued, year after year, to dream of adding it
also to his own.]

I like the idea of the birch-hedge much, and if intermixed
with holly and thorns, I think it might make an impenetrable
thicket, having all the advantages of a hedge without the
formality. I fancy you will also need a great number of
(black) Italian poplars--which are among the most useful and
best growers, as well as most beautiful of plants which love
a wet soil.

I am glad the saws are going.[90] We may begin by and by
with wrights, but I cannot but think that a handy laborer
might be taught to work at them. I shall insist on Tom
learning the process perfectly himself.

[Footnote 90: A sawmill had just been erected at
Toftfield.]

As to the darkness of the garrets, they are intended for the
accommodation of travelling geniuses, poets, painters, and
so forth, and a little obscurity will refresh their
shattered brains. I dare say Lauchie[91] will _shave_
{p.220} his knoll, if it is required--it may to the
barber's with the Laird's hebdomadal beard--and Packwood
would have thought it the easier job of the two.

[Footnote 91: A cocklaird adjoining Abbotsford at the
eastern side. His fa