up their abode therein, and the croft was always deemed by their respective cuddies a kind of birthright inheritance.

Many were the jokes and jibes passed on John Dinwoodie's goodnatured simplicity, for harbouring such swarms of unprofitable sojourn ers; but they stirred not his bristles against the houseless Gaberlunzie, nor soured his loving kindness in the smallest degree. On the contrary, he defended himself with an eloquence so peculiarly in unison with the character of his philanthropy, that I really cannot resist the temptation of presenting the following morsel by way of specimen :-" In a land where every man enjoys himself his own natural way, providing that way interfere not with the comfort and well-being of his neighbour, the poor soul, who struggles with hunger, and scorn, and nakedness, whether from choice or necessity, it matters not, may surely be allowed the like indulgence he shall never want a nook wherein to enjoy his morsel, so long as I have a barn to throw a sheaf in."The gudeman of Balachan certainly possessed a very large share of practical benevolence he was, moreover, prudently frugal and temperate in all his enjoyments; yet nevertheless, it is a matter of much surprise to me, how a family could possibly thrive with so many idlers living at free quarters; and there is a problem in rural economy, naturally arising therefrom, that has never yet been solved to my entire satisfaction.John Dinwoodie's farm produced finer and more luxuriant crops than any of his neighbours, though the soils were equally good; and Balachan cheese, wool, butter, and so forth, were noted far and wide. Yet in the cultivation of their fields, and in the management of their flocks and dairies, nothing in the semblance of superior judgment, &c. on the part of the Dinwoodies was ever observable. Whether the lands of Balachan were more favourably visited than those of the neighbouring tenantry, by the Hand that feeds the fowls of heaven, and provides for the beasts of the field, or merely bore testimony of the superior skill and industry of the gudeman and his family, I pretend

not to say. All I know of the matter is this, the Grange of Balachan was always deemed what we call a fou, substantial house.

But to resume our subject. Mrs Dinwoodie having disposed of her puddings in a manner that could not fail of commanding respectful attention, most willingly transferred her services to the baking department, and lent Aggie a helping hand to stow away her well-toasted farls, in a tastefully-carved girnal that flanked the meal-barrel. Harriet and her worthy preceptress cleared the decks of the finest specimens of pastry that perhaps ever felt the genial warmth of hot bricks; and when all and sundry, the offspring of their respective labours was fairly disposed of, the house set in order, and the hearth swept-never-failing symbol of good housewifery-in came the gudeman with a "Weel, Sirs, here's ae special day's wark aff our hands." "Troth, John Dinwoodie," quo' the gudewife, "it's the first day's wark o' the kind that ever came the gate o' our family, and right blithe am I to declare, that a single hand's turn hasna gane to Coupar this whole blessed day, nor can the bouk o' that (pointing to her thumb nail) look out o' the jawhole, and remind ane o' us o' the auld proverb, a willfu' waste makes a waefu' want. Wha's yon, think ye, coming owre the craft?

nae less than nine o' them?—My word, we'll hae a rare merry feetwashing."-And Mrs Dinwoodie was not far behind in her reckoning. Davie Morrison and Sarah Glendinning o' Kittlecannalie; Leesie Gillespie and Jenny Macmillan o' Midgieloan; auld Roger Lindsay o' Glenbuckie, and five more, male and female, whose names have really slipt my memory, passed the hallan in orderly succession, and introduced themselves with the salutation usual on such occasions, "Peace be i' the house, and luchters o' luck to the bride." "Come awa," quo' the gudeman, as he arose from his armchair, and shock Roger cordially by the hand; "blithe faces are ay as welcome to a blink o' our ingle as my ain twa shins; and truly, when a whiff o' luck comes in at the door, it's unco heartsome to see a fou langsettle. Such is my landart notion

o' a neighbourly fireside," continued the gudeman; "and, conscientiously speaking, if the lass may be deemed lucky wha meets wi' a douce, weelliving lad before the minister, I think we may safely say that our Aggie was born to fa" on her feet." Aye, aye," quo' Harmless Habbie, "she'll fa' cat-fashion, i'se warrant her, and light on a hearth-stane where lang Jock Johnston darna show his illfaur'd face." "Weel done, Habbie!" exclaimed Harriet Halliday; "my word, lad, thou hits a nail on the head wi' an auld-farrand hammerGawin himsel' coudna better the clink o't." "He has paid the Maister a weel-faur'd compliment indeed," observed Mrs Dinwoodie; "but, poor fallow, it's awittens him-he kensna the signification of his ain sayingsthey just come awa frae his lips like sweet sounds frae the thairms o' Hughie Paisley's fiddle." As Mrs Dinwoodie's conjecture may happen to be called in question by-and-by, I shall merely observe, for the reader's information, that Habbie's sally had the merit of wakening a certain species of rogueish wit, that scruples not at times to overleap the fences of moral discretion; and a very long and learned altercation ensued regarding the affinity of snoods and apronstrings, the which I certainly feel not inclined to put on record, though sanctioned by the smudging laugh of Mrs Dinwoodie herself.

This strain of high-kilted conviviality ceased not to tickle the risibility of all concerned, until the bride's brother, Adam by name, sported a point, the true intent of which may very well be gathered from the identical words he made use of, viz. "There's a wheen prime wind instruments among us, that wadna be a plack the waur o' weeting before they begin." "Troth, Adam Dinwoodie," quo' the gudewife, "ye ken the gate of the house unco weel-just slip awa to the awmrie, my man, and keep in mind the gude auld saying, blessed is he who can help himsel, for he'll ne'er be in want." Now, Adam was, from his youth, a most compliable lad, and exceedingly attentive to good counsel, particularly that of his mother, whose will and pleasure he consulted on every occasion. Nay, such was the filial deportment of this

most amiable young man, when a perfect child, that it actually became proverbial. Nothing was more common, in those days, than to behold the moody dames chacing their rebellious children, switch in hand, and bawling as loud as their tongues could clink, "O thou lang-legged ne'erdoweel-ae lith o' Adie Dinwoodie's wee finger's worth the whole o' thy scaw'd carcase." No wonder that a goodly bowl of honest half and half was speedily prepared by this most dutiful young man, a bowl that Belshazzar himself would never have budged from, so long as a ladleful remained therein; and a full quegh of its potent contents being handed about for the opinion of all whom it might concern, their verdict was such as the convivial punch-drinking reader will most assuredly approve of; unanimous in praise of its very superior accomplishments, both as to quality and zest. The remembrance of this famous beverage is cherished in Nithsdale even unto this day. No longer ago than last August, old Robin Lauder paid a very high compliment to its memory, when delivering his opinion of a bowl at Davie Flunkison's wedding: "Deed," quo' Robin, smacking his lips, and holding up a glass between his eye and the candle, "it's a sowp rare stuff, sure enough-the better o't hasna visited my interior since the night o' Aggie Dinwoodie's feet-washing." The reader will therefore not feel surprised when I assure him, that Adam's punch visited the life-springs of all present, and wakened a livelier strain of hilarity that evening than was ever known before at the Grange of Balachan, or indeed any where else." The bride-thumping luck, and fat bairns"-went round the hearth with a cordiality bordering on enthusiasm. "The bridegroom,' followed as a matter of course. "John Dinwoodie," and "Nanse," most respectfully took their circuit, and every individual of the family was honoured in the like neighbourly manner. Then it was that Roger forgot his locks were grey, and sang, "Tak' your auld clock about ye," in a strain of humour unknown to the classic stage, not forgetting to make his bow of perfect obedience to the bride, as he laid a peculiarly-expres

sive emphasis, strongly mingled with resignation, on these remarkable words:

"Nought's to be got at woman's hand, Unless ye gï'e her a' the plea."

Davie Morrison was equally at home in humouring the hairumskairum drollery of "Duncan Davison," and Sarah Glendinning's "Whistle and I'll come to thee, my joe," evinced at once a thorough knowledge of tryste-making, hallanhaunting, and oiling of locks and hinges, the more effectually to suppress all unpleasant sounds, that otherways might offend the ears of waukrife mammies. But the bay was reserved for Mrs Dinwoodie's brow. She instinctively pitched on the very key that opens "John Anderson, my joe," in the tenderest strain of harmony; and a twitter of delight, that fully divulged the'internal satisfaction of her audience, did ample justice to the fidelity of her feelings. But when the good old woman laid her palsied hand on John Dinwoodie's grey head, and sang the connubial benediction, "my blessings on that frosty pow," its endearing tenderness, in unison with the venerable tremor of her voice, for she was full three score, operated so powerfully on the sensibility of all, that the married men and their faithful dames exchanged looks of reciprocal affection, altogether untranslateable; and the young women's eyes met the corresponding glances of their sweethearts, as if by mutual agreement. All would most willingly have exchanged their lilies and roses for matron wrinkles, to partake of the fulness of Nanse Dinwoodie's joy. Such is the influence of language and harmony, when a-kin to each other. Indeed, I have it from very good authority, that all the young women then present had their lads before the minister in less than a twelvemonth.

To eulogize the many charming songs, both comic and sentimental, and tell one half of the queer stories that enlivened John Dinwoodie's fireside, would not only exceed the bounds of my foolscap, but also require the pen of a readier writer; I therefore decline saying one word more on the subject, and beg leave to

inform my fair readers, that Mrs Drummond brought in a pailful of callar Entire from Balachan burn, seated herself by the bride like an experienced dame accustomed to preside on such occasions, and immediately proceeded to business. Now, my dear young country women, have the goodness to picture unto yourselves a blooming damsel on the eve of marriage, seated amongst her kindred and acquaintance, and an elderly handmaid flyping off her stockings, and otherways officiating in the performance of a certain ceremony, that all of you, it is to be hoped, will sooner or later be called upon to undergo. Then draw the likeness of old Roger, groping for a favourite coin, whose singular character the facetious humourist thus delineated: "I'll back thee out against a' the white money i' the south o' Scotland for special gude luck. In mony a bridal pail has thou been since the year fifteen, when I faund thee under Jessy M'Culloch's muckle tae the very night before she was buckled to the young laird o' Glengaebar, and neither lad nor lass that clappit thumb on thee sinsyne at a feet-washing, ever lay their lane that time twelvemonth."

"I hae often heard tell o' that famous antique o' thine," quo' the gudeman of Balachan; “will ye favour a body wi' a glimpse o't?" "Deed will I," replied the kindly carl, in his usual tone of neighbourly civility, and accordingly produced a small silver piece of the gude King Robert, in a fine state of preservation. John Dinwoodie wiped his spectacles, adjusted them on his temples, and examined Roger's coin with great attention. "It's a Royal Robin, sure enough," quo' the gudeman of Balachan; "the best and bonniest likeness o' Bruce I ever beheld. Thou was a bauld fallow," continued he, looking stedfastly at the profile, " and mony a bauld billie has stood at thy back; but thou hast fought the gude fight, and the reward o' the brave and the righteous is thine." A fine eulogy, in all probability, would have been delivered to the memory of our great and good king, but for a trifling incident that marred the gudeman's grateful flow of feelings.

gould i' the kist neuk; it wad do ony young lad's heart gude to look at it twa kye on the craft, a score o' gimmers on the hill, and nane to stand in her shoon when she slips out o' the gate, but bonnie Jenny Macmillan. Besides a' that, Habbie,

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"Dinna believe a word the braggart says," quo' Leesie Gillespie; my word, her aunty's a feerie auld dame; there's anither bee bizzing in her lug, than leaving gowpins o' gould, and scores o' gimmers, to bonnie Jenny Macmillan, as she ca's hersel. If I rightly understand the glint o' aunty's e'e, when Johnny Crummie, the Kirkmahoe elder, comes owre the bent, he has little else to do, honest man, but just go through the ceremony o' speering her price. But come awa hame wi' me, Habbie; I'm an only dochter, ye ken; and tho' I shoudna say't before every body, there's a peg for thy bonnet, and a stool for thy latter-end, in the coziest neuk o' a fou hauddin."

"Laying joking aside athegither," observed Roger Lindsay, "I'll lay a grey groat on Habbie's head that he makes sure o' some honest man's bairn before Beltan,"-a saying that added not a little to the mirth of his audience. But notwithstanding the great good humour that prevailed, our younkers were secretly nettled at the idea of a daft man falling in with such luck, for the fame of Roger's Royal Robin, as a sure foreteller of matrimonial alliance, was well established; and a few loose hints to that effect, thrown out in a manner that apparently stung Habbie's pride-and he at times was somewhat ticklish to deal with-induced him to sue for leave of absence in his usual brief manner, "it's wearing late, gudewife;" the sum total of Halbert's oration, when he felt an inclination for the barn. Adam Dinwoodie put his stable lanthron in a state of requisition, the bride slipped on her shoon, and away they went, arm-in arm, with Harmless Habbie, to his apartment. I believe nothing further, worthy of particular remark,

occurred at the Grange on Monday evening, until the party broke up, and left the gudeman and his family in quiet possession of their own fireside.

P.S. Should the foregoing specimen of Uncle's literary skill find faby return of post, and the residue vour in your sight, please to say so will be forwarded to Edinburgh without delay; for I am determined, Mr Editor, not to suffer his light to remain under a bushel.

Adieu.

S. K.

FLIGHT OF MIGRATORY BIRDS, ATTRACTED BY THE SCOTTISH LIGHT-HOUSES.

DURING the late stormy weather, damage to an almost unexampled extent has been done to the shipping on our coasts. The feathered tribe has also suffered in a peculiar manner, if we may judge from the observation of the keepers at the Bell Rock and other Northern Light-house stations. It may be mentioned, that scarcely a season passes in which flocks of foreign, or migratory birds, while fluttering round the Light-houses, during severe gales of wind, particularly from the north-east, are not seen and caught, when they are driven in flocks from the coast of Norway; but it is seldom that the glass of the light-rooms is broken by their striking against it. In the course of the last month, however, a woodcock came with such force against the glass at the Bell Rock, that the bird went through it like a shot, and the pieces of broken glass did considerable damage to the fine polished surface of three or four of the reflectors. The glass is very thick and strong, and the poor bird was found lying quite dead in one of the reflectors. This happened about three o'clock in the morning, when the lightkeeper on watch was panic-struck with the noise of broken glass, which showered down upon him in such a manner, that he imagined the whole house was breaking up. The force with which this bird darted upon the