1793' a farmer. 109 



paroxysm of rage and vexation, went to consult my laird, 

 who is a kind master, and a humane protector of the poor, 

 to see if no legal redrefs could be obtained for such an 

 injury. My good master, who listened patiently to the 

 whole of my tale, having a large family of his own, may 

 God blefs and long preserve them I — Calmly answered, 

 " Indeed, John, the injury you have sustained is such as 

 might ruffle the temper of any man a little, but while -we 

 are in this world, we must be perpetually exposed to lof- 

 ses and disasters j nor can we hope to get full redrefs in 

 many cases. I am afraid you have, yourself, been some- 

 what to blame. Why did you not look into that mat- 

 ter sooner ; and, before it was too late, either insist with 

 your son's master to put him to that part of the busiuefs 

 for which he was bound, or take him away before the 

 time was elapsed in which he ought to have been learning 

 something else ?" * Blefs your honour, said I, how could 

 I conceive that it would be pofsible for a gentleman who 

 promised so fair to me at the time of my son's engagement, 

 and who spoke so favourably of my son every time I saw 

 him, praising him for his talents and attention \ how could I 

 suppose it pofsible that such a man was imposing upon me 

 all the time I Besides, 1 was not so entirely inattentive as 

 you seem to imagine. 1 frequently alked my son how 

 he liked his master, and how he came on with his busi- 

 nefs ; and though there were some little jarrings, yet upon 

 the whole he spoke very highly of his master j and I, in 

 general, recommended attention to him, and submifiion to 

 the orders of his master 5 for this I thought it my duty 

 to do. When I inquired as to his knowledge of the 

 higher department, he did not explain himself so fully as 

 to make it clear to me he was absolutely precluded from 

 it J and when I heard of his labouring in the other depart- 

 ments, I thought there was np harm is his knowing the 



