*

a

am no

below with her creel on her back, for- honest woman's back, ye little worth tunately for John, broke his fall

, and chield that ye are!" and she seized her he alighted safely in the said creel. empty skull,* and beat it unmercifully The woman, whom the addition of a about the head and shoulders of poor hundred-weightinthat situation would John.-" I'll let ye ken am nane o® not have very much incommoded, turn- your limmers !” said she, repeating her ed round at the shock of John's fall, blows; “ if it war nae the like o' you, and, under the idea that some mis- there wad na be sae mony ill folk ! chievous person had hurled a large but ye’se no get aff wi' baith ease and stone into her basket, out of mere honour!”. John was altogether too waggery, cried out, looking up to the much taken at unawares to be able to multitude on the top of the tent, speak for a moment, and had too much “Wha’s that clodding stanes intil ma masculine honour to return the blows creel?-ye had as gude gie ower, or of a woman. - Ca' canny! ca’ canny, de'il be on me but I'se gie ye some- gudewife !—I did na mean you wrang thing ye'll no soon forget !” A loud - I was driven aff the theeking o' the laugh and a huzza was returned from tent; and there's ane standing afore

all sides, to the good woman's serious ye will tell how it happened.” Sandy 8 amazement.- ." That pits me in mind by this time had descended from the

oʻGeordy Cranstoun,” said an elderly scaffolding to interfere for the protec

gentleman; “ he was aye ta’en hame tion of his friend, and the matter was es in a creel.” '-" Do ye sell men, wo- soon explained, apparently to mutual

man?” said a second.-Godsake! see satisfaction." If I hae wrang’d your till Tibby Podleyson wi' her joe on her basket, gudewife," said John,

back!" roared out a third, who also was unreasonable; and if I hae hurt you d a dealer in dulse and tangles.

by what could na be helpit, I'm sure Tibby had not time to make any I'm sorry mysel for't.” - Hurt me!” is answer before John, to support him- answered the virago, in a contemptuouş

self erect in his uncommon situation, tone; “na, na, its no come to that yet; and to aid his descent, clapped his - I can tak care o' mysel ; and it was hands round the Amazon's forehead. be time for me to gie ower gaun to the " Nane o your skits now !” cried market, gif I could na carry you, if ye Tibby, who supposed it to be some war my ain man, and ye war fou, sax friend attempting the vulgar joke of mile of gate on the tap o' my fish!"

o shutting her eyes;

nane o'your skits! “ I dinna think ony o'ye will be the 1.--I ken wha ye are ;-haud aff your waur of a dram, after this tuilzie,”

hands aff ma een!" and she raised her said Sandy; come in, honest woman, arms to remove the impediment.- intil this tent till the crowd gang awa, “Let me down, for gudesake, honest and I'll treat ye wi' half a mutchkin. woman |--I'll do ye nae ill;" and he The fish-woman at once consented to raised one leg from the intanglements this proposal, with “Fair fa' ye, ma of the creel, and was sounding for the bonny man! that's a gude motion-ye ground with it. Tibby's eyes being dinna want sense, for as young as ye now relieved, and seeing a leg with a Into the tent they went-the blue stocking and red garter projected crowd dispersed, and Tibby's compafrom her side, instantly became alarm- nion in trade likewise went away, muted, and pushing the belt which sup- tering in soliloquy, “Od, Tibby's neported the creel from her forehead, ver aff her road!—I'll gang lang about down rolled John on the sands, creel afore a man draps into .ma creel frae and all. - What's this, ye black- the lift, or get a dram without paying guard, ye hae been about?" said Tib- for’t !” by, as she saw the strange incum- My friends sat so long in the tent, that brance rising from the sandy beach; I grew tired of waiting for them, and

was ye gaun to rob me on the public walked away to attend the running of sands ?-or did ye mean waur-Od the second heat, the drum for the startl'se gie ye something for loupin on an ing of which had now beat. The same

are.

It is necessary to mention here that fishwomen have two skulls !_Gape with wonder, ye craniologists, at this !--but one of them is merely a light basket -so named. I the more' particularly notice this, as the French translator of the Magazine, from igno. rance of the circumstance, has, in the Number before the last, made me say the fisherwomen of Edinburgh butted like rams :--" Ils se doguent comme les beliers.” Vol. X.

3 D

a

horse which had gained the first also ket," said he, “ Í đinna believe you gained this, and the race was of course would like to meet me yoursel on the over. The Town-guard marched off, Gilmerton road. Gae, you trepannin

' ! the carriages and horsemen rapidly dis- scoundrel !" Touch a military man on appeared from the sands, and the pe- the head of cowardice, and he has no destrians, now that there was nothing choice; he must fight; the honour of more to be seen, adjourned to the tents, the cloth imperiously requires it; and for rest, conversation, or refreshment. it was particularly necessary in the The scene at this time along the line présent case, as the example might be of tents was very striking. Every one fatal to the after steadiness of their was full of inmates, engaged in the young recruits. “ Dem you," said the consumption of “ porter, ale, and Bri- corporal, “ if you speak another word, tish spirits,” and the recruiting parties fellow, Í shall give you a caning."were mixed with the throng, either “ Keh,” replied the coalman, in a marching along, or engaged in the lengthened tone, " lay awa your bag. tents, on the alert to pick up any strag- net, man, and I'll lik

ye

for a bottle o gler, whom inclination, liquor, or mis- yill.” The corporal instantly threw off fortunes, induced to become a soldier. his belt, the crowd formed a ring, and Often, on these occasions, have I seen the coalman, calling to a companion a country lad, with the cap or hat of to" haud his whup," prépared for ina serjeant, marching in front of the stant battle. The contest was, howparty brandishing a sword, full of the ever, but short. Except an inefficient idea of his own importance, and of the stroke at the commencement, the coalfuture prospects of one who had en- man never got a blow at his oppolisted to be an officer. Men were then nent. The cry of " Weel done, Tam! in much demand for the supply of the Stick till him, stick till him !" was of different corps, and many arts were no avail; for, in a close, the corporal employed by the recruiting serjeants got him round the neck with one to inveigle them into the service. hand, and fibbed him in the face with

While I was musing on the scene the other till he called for quarter. before me, and thinking whether or “ He's ruggin' ma hair!” cried Tam, not I should now retire, the noise of a while this was transacting; ruggin fight, and the cry, “A ring! Mak a hair's no fair play.” The corporal left ring! Gie them room !” attracted my him with a contusion on his eye, and attention. Every lover of the science, his nose bleeding; and, as he did not as it is emphatically called, feels him. seem to wish to renew the engagement, self drawn involuntarily towards any asked him if he is wanted another thing like an exhibition of strength or touch.”—

-"No, no!" said Tam’s comskill, and I hastened to the spot. The panions, “ we'll no let him fight ony combatants were a corporal of a re- mair; it's no fair play haddin arms and cruiting party and a Gilmerton coal- ruggin' hair.” The corporal moved of carter, and the cause of quarrel an at- in triumph with his party; while Tam, tempt, on the part of the former, to to the condolence which he received place a shilling, in tħe king's name, in from the bystanders on account of his the hand of the latter, for the purpose defeat, said, as he wiped the blood of having a legal claim to his services from his face, “ De’il thank him ! it's as a soldier, or to the guinea of smart his trade; but, go, I'll ca' a cart wi' money, which, on these occasions, was him ony day he likes.” paid by the unfortunate victim of I now left the scene, and my councrimping: The coalman, however, had try friends, not expecting ever to see suspected the intention of the corporal, them again, and went to dine with a and répulsed his proffered hand as if friend in Leith. After dinner, howhe had shook a reptile from his touch. ever, I was prevailed upon to go and “ Na, na, Billy, nae sae fast wi' me! see a play performed by a company of Dod, if ye come within ma reach again, strollers, who kept the inhabitants of I'll try whether my whup-shaft of Portobello, Musselburgh, and Leith,

or

, your head's hardest.” The coalman in theatrical amusements; and I was had some companions with him, and the more inclined to this, from the he felt, of course, his bravery augment- dramatis persone in the bill seeming ed so far as repeatedly to insult the mi- to be chiefly composed of individual litary man before his fellow-soldiers of the same name, and said to be of and recruits. " For a' your red jace the same family. Two fiddles and

a

a

one

1

i bass formed the orchestra ; but the said, “ Ladies and gentlemen, it is

apartment was not large, and the mų, scarcely necessary for me to say, that Fasic was enough for the size of the room. we cannot get on with the business'

I do not now recollect the play, butą of the evening, if these interruptions di circumstance occurred towards the cons are to be continued. If the gentleman bol clusion of the first act, which will long be not satisfied with our exertions, the

imprint the idea of the Leith theatre door-keeper will return his money; on my memory, There were, however, for we cannot at this time alter the a lover and a lady, and the lady liked play."-" Aweel, aweel, it's a bargain.

. one person, and her father wished her I'll gang out wi' a' my heart. I never to marry another, as happens in all was in a playhouse before, and if it's

plays. After a dialogue, in which the a' lies ye gang on wi' here, the sooner El lady and her lover had exchanged I'm out o' your place the better.-

vows of eternal attachment and invio- Ye’se ne'er get my siller again for sic lable secrecy, and had arranged mats a purpose; nor sail a bawbee o' mine ters so as they were to live and die for e'er gang to the support of the Father

e another, the parties were alarmed of Lies. Ye're far waur than the by a third person's entering. This tumblers and fools ;-—they risk the was the father of the lady. The lover body, but you ruin the soul.” So say, of course made his exit; and the old ing, John and Sandy, who seemed gentleman took his daughter roundly confounded at his friend's conduct, to task for keeping up a correspond- took their leave; and, as I had seen ence with the offensive lover. The enough of Leith Theatre for one night, change of scene in a play often stands I followed their example. to the spectator for an interval of When the two friends got to the months or years in the story, and the street, Sandy attacked bis companion young lady denied she had lately seen for his unruly behaviour in interruptor spoken to the prohibited personage. ing the performance,

- Lordsake, “Ah, you lien little cutty,” roared out John, man, what for did ye cry out in a voice from the third row of seats, yon fashion? Do ye no ken that it's “ how can ye stand up there and tell a representation and similitude theyour father sic a downright falsehood? gither? The folk ye saw yonder are

Dinna believe her, honest gentle, no gentles, but just players, dressed map. ;

-dinna believe ae word she up like lords and ladies; and a play says, for it's no a minute since the is just a novell, spoken by folk in the fallow left her: I saw him mysel'- dresses o' what ye would suppose real ke just gaed out at the tae side as you in life; and there's aye some good cam in at the tither."

moral lesson to be learned at the end." This strange interruption to the I ken naething about your plays, formance made the actors look cons and as little about your novells, as ye founded ; and the audience testified ca them; and learned folk may draw their approbation by clapping and good out o' them, as bumbees suck huzzas. All eyes were now turned to honey out o' nettles, ---but sic as you my friend John, (for it was actually and me are mair ready to get our be,) who stood up in triumph, as the hands stinged.”—“Hoots, John, ye’rę expressions, “ Well done !--capital !" rinnin' awa wi the tether a'thegithers struck his ears from all sides. The There's mony o'thae play-books have disturbance, however, subsided, and things in them just like a minister's the dialogue began as before. John sermon, -as gude every bit."-" It had no patience, when he heard asse- may be sae,” replied John, “but am verations so contrary to fact again feart it's an unco round about way o repeated.

" I tell ye, man, ye're seeking good to look for it in sic books. dochter's no speakin' true :-It's a We hae the written word, and mony falsehood every word o't ;--- I'm a fac avolumeo’godly sermons, where we hae ther mysel, and I winna see you impo- our duty set down at ance, and have sed on. Just

gang till the other side o na the trouble o looking for’t like a the screen gif ye winna believe me, and needle in a bottle oʻstrae.” 3 ye'll catch the fallow ;= he canna be ye're wrang,” said Sandy ;

far awa." The laughing and applausę say the minister himsel' reads Shake redoubled at this ebullition ; and the speare's play-books, and the Tales o manager, seeing no likelihood of get- my Landlord, and other novells ; and ting on smoothly, came forward and ye ken he wadna for the world do it

66

per

6 John, « for they

if it wasna allowable.”_" I ken nae- gart him think mair unfavourably of the by mag
thing about your Shakespeare, I tell their conduct. Na, na, Sandy, that's mi-sad i
you; but to ca’ the true tales about nae novell, I'll answer for every word aan edule
the Covenanters a novell, yemayas weel o't; ay, and the story o’ Jock Porteous
ca' the Solemn League and Covenant to the bargain. od, man, our auld Paet ।
a ballant, and say at arice that Mr laird has telld my ain father, that this
Peden's prophecies are no true. My' that night he had on his leddy's claes,
grandfather, and my wife's grandfa- and keepit sentry at the Wast Port
ther, and auld uncle Thamas, that's yett a' the time.”
buried in the neuk o' the kirkyard, I had now reached the bottom of the
was among these persecuted people; Leith-Walk, listening to the preceding 2,20
and mony a tale did they tell my fa- dialogue, when it came on to rain
ther o' that Satan's limb Claver'se, and violently; and not thinking the con-
the bloody Dalyell. I've often heard versation, (which I perceived verging
the haill story, and muckle mair; and to a point upon which a Scottish pea-
if the schoolmaster that put out the sant can speak for ever,) worthy of be-
book had come to me, I aiblins wading ducked to the skin for, I passed on
hae tell’a him something anent thae before, and was soon at home.
bloody persecutors, that would hae

CHAPTER XVII.
Christopher Columbus is disturbed by a Ghost !
Ham. Did you not speak to it ?

Hor. My lord, I did :
But answer made it none ; yet once, methought,
It lifted up its head, and did address
Itself to motion, like as it would speak :
But even then the morning cock crew loud ;
And at the sound it shrunk in haste away,
And vanish'd from our sight.

SHAKESPEARE.

..Hamlet. The belief in a future -state, and of appearance of the spirits of the departthe existence of disembodied spirits, ed, is not confirmed by human expeis one of the most universally received rience, or by human history. Though articles of faith among the human race. unwilling to believe in the majority of No nation, however civilized,- instances of apparitions which have ly any tribe, however savage, but has been related ; yet as the thing is quite its joys or its fears increased by the possible, by the permission of that contemplation of the life to come, Great Being, whom we are taught to when, after the frail tenement is laid consider as the “Father of our Spirits," in its earthy bed, the immaterial and as well as the “ Former of our Bodies," immortal part begins a new stage of I think it neither unchristian nor una existence, either inconceivably happy, philosophical, to entertain a qualified or beyond conception miserable, ac- belief in the occasional appearance of cording as, in their state of probation, beings from the invisible world. their lives have been virtuous, or the With this belief, and these

“ Millions of spiritual creatures walk the

earth, ideas, which mingle in every view we Unseen, both when we wake, and when we take of futurity; and with that know;

sleep.” ledge of the uncertainty of life which daily experience is calculated to de- The sylphs and genii of other counmonstrate, it is not wonderful that tries, and of other times, and the every fancied appearance of a being brownies and fairies of our own, are from the world of spirits should strike much too great favourites, to allow with alarm, and inspire with undis- them to be annihilated at the dictum guisable terror. It is possible that the of a sceptical and cold blooded philogreater part of these appearances may sophy, even if that philosophy were be merely the delusions of the senses, true; but while men exist, the same or unreal images, conjured up by an feelings and the same belief will conexcited inagination ; but the sceptical tinue; and spectres will still hallow assertion of the non-existence and non- the repose of the dead ; ---fairies still

scarce

reverse.

En dance by moonlight on the haunted ly (though at distance indescribable)

knoll;—and the unsophisticated sa- with the wonder-working Lord of #vage, and unlearned peasant, will still All." Whether, therefore, "Margaret's

recognize in the appearances of nature, grimly ghost,” (the most interesting er the agency of a Being inconceivably female spirit with which I am acthe powerful and infinitely good. quainted,) appears to her lover with

But even allowing the existence countenance il and appearance of ghosts, spirits, and fairies of every description to be ques

.66 like an April morn

Clad in a wintry cloud ;”. et tionable, their use in Poetry and Roby mance, and their higher moral purpose whether the spirit of the waters howls 1 in deterring from crime those who are the approaching storm; or the ghost Er not to be restrained by other consic of the murdered signs the murderer to Er derations, render a belief in their the bar of retribution ;-whether the

agency a desirable part of the code of wraiths of acquaintance glide past in

faith among civilized nations. Many immaterial shadow before my eyes, or I a one to whom legal and corporal pu- my dreams are haunted by appearances

nishment has no terrors, have, there of friends long since departed, I reis no doubt, been prevented from add- joice in the connexion between this ing, murder to robbery, by the ap- world and another, which is thus kept prehension of a bleeding spectre dis- up, and endeavour to act as becomes a turbing their midnight and solitary being who, when“ all this fair creahours with the horrors of crimes dis- tion” sinks to insignificance, shall rise played, and of a world to come; and « Unhurt amidst the war of elements, although the belief in an All-seeing The wreck of matter, and the crash of Being, to whom our every action is

worlds." exposed, even in its naked motives, should have the same effect, yet I

But I forget that I am yet a travelknow not how it is, but thousands ler on the earth's surface, and that my who disregard the one, would shrink kind friends are all this while waiting at the most distant idea of the

for the continuance of my adventures.

appearance of the other ;-and those who

Well, then, as I was sitting in my daily brave the threatenings of the little parlour one evening, the children Most High, would be thawed to im- all. to bed, and the house perfectly becility, by the apparition of an inju- quiet, I heard a bell ring, and Betty red fellow creature from the world of appeared immediately after, and openspirits,

ed the door, saying, “ Sir! was you

ringing ?"2" No, Betty, I was not “ And each particular hair would stand on ringing now; perhaps it was the door

end, Like quills upon the fretful porcupine.”.

bell." Betty asserted it was not the

door-bell, “ for she had been ower lang There is another consideration which in the house no to ken a' the bells may be mentioned as an analogical ar. in't.” However, it was possible it gument for the existence of classes of might be the door-bell, and she acintellectual beings different from man, cordingly went to see if any person was which may have some weight with those there. There was nobody. “ There's to whom the Scriptures are no autho- naebody at the door, sir! I was sure rity; and that is, that in Nature there it wasna the door-bell, for I looked up are no breaks, no saltus, no leaps from when it rang, and saw the parlourextreme to extreme -- but all is con- bell wagging. L“ I assure you, Betty, nected by the most wonderful and in- that I did not ring,” replied I; but sensible gradations. Stones are found you have been sleeping, and dreamt of verging to the forms and qualities of bells, of it may have been from some plants ; ---some vegetables appear to of the rooms up stairs."~" I was as possess habits almost animal ;-and, waking as I am just now, but I'll gang among the brute creation, Instinct and see,” said Betty; and up she went. often reaches to the intelligence of In a few moments she returned with Reason. May not there, then, be ex- theintelligence that all the family, ouristences superior to man; classes of selves excepted, were asleep." That beings which unite him with intelli, is very strange," said I, “for I heard gences free from the stains of moral the ringing myself; and it must either error, and connect him more near- be some person in the house, or a

a