52 ORMISTOUN'S LETTERS 



a Country place, a thing one of a small stock ^ can't bear. I 

 believe John won't be pleased if he hears of William's not 

 being sent off to fend for himself, and made go and work 

 or want. He will be uneasy ^ if he is about your father at any 

 rate I am sure a good hired Serv^ under your Eye will do better 

 for your father and his Ground and Garden, and the true way 

 to bring Will"^ to himself is to let shift for himself and feel 

 his own weight. If he does well possibly John upon finding 

 that may help him but I believe in no other shape will he 

 manage him. We had a thick mist yesterday and the wind 

 for some time S. West, but it came north and then east 

 towards night and froze a little. This day the Wind East 

 but clear and Sun shine. 



Saturday, 23 feby. 17ft. 



XVI 



No date. Charles, — The large prickly Cucumber from Archie Pringle 



came just as the last post went. I send you some and shall 

 find the rest. I had no letter from you on Saturday as I 

 formerly used to have every Saturday's Post. If I don't know 

 what is doing I can't direct. You may possibly do really 

 better than if I did, but there is something in having a little 

 of my own fancy. 



As I frequently meet with Interruptions when I delay 

 writing till the morning of the post going, I write when I can 

 so I begin this. Upon Saturday after Dinner and Company 

 came in, so I begin again this morning, Sunday, tho' I 

 expect to be interrupted soon by the Company that came 

 last night steping in to Breakfast.^ Last evening we had the 

 finest soft shower could be and this a fine sunshine morning. 

 It actually has made a great change upon the colours of the 

 fields already and it now gives me great pain only to be 

 able to see the fields and the changes every day will make, 

 from my Windows. If this weather holds the Spring will 



^ Of crofter or plebeian origin. 

 2 Unsteady, not a diligent worker. 



^ Interesting note of the social customs of the time. Breakfast was some- 

 thing like the modern luncheon. Cf. Fr. dijeuner. 



