JOHN RETURNS TO THE GADIE. 243 



the strongest anodynes can only partially relieve. It was 

 a delightful nest for any one to retreat to, after the chilling 

 toils of a winter day, with its far-projecting fireplace, 

 great open-armed chimney inviting to kindly warmth, and 

 the luxurious nook beside it with its comfortable seat ; while 

 the crusie, pendant from a cord above, mingled its light 

 with the ruddy gleam of the fire and brightened the cheerful 

 room, which was adorned with shining plates and well- 

 burnished pans, and was redolent of peat reek one of 

 those interiors that charm the heart of a painter. 



There in the cosy corner by the blazing hearth, John 

 used to sit of an evening, pleasantly chatting to the 

 kindly inmates, or reading, in his broken but expressive 

 style, from the newspapers or from some of his numerous 

 books. He was also accustomed to bring his gatherings 

 of plants to arrange and press them, and tell about them 

 and his wanderings for them to willing auditors for there, 

 as in Mrs. Emslie's, the man was appreciated and his 

 learning admired. On Sunday nights, after returning from 

 church, often at a very long distance during those stirring 

 ecclesiastical times, he would come to Leezie Lindsay's 

 to read his well-worn Bible, explain its contents, or give 

 extracts from the numerous commentaries and dictionaries 

 which helped him to understand its difficulties. Stretched 

 from side to side of the projecting chimney still hangs 

 a cord plaited and tied by him thirty years ago to hold 

 the crusie, preserved, no doubt, by the protecting creosote 

 of the peat smoke ; and there, inside the ample chimney, 

 still rested, at my visit, the crusie itself which used to 

 illumine the pages of the studious weaver. 



There also he kept many of his better books, for more 



