VISITS TO ABERDEEN FRIENDSHIP. 359 



the banks of the sillar burnies, pregnant even yet wi' monie 

 lovely thochts, and furnishing me still wi' monie lo'esome 

 themes." 



As a letter writer, James is picturesque, pithy, and 

 entertaining, and he became a pleasant medium of com- 

 munication between John and Charles, to both of whom 

 the use of the pen was always more or less a piece of task- 

 work, making their personal communication by post com- 

 paratively rare, though pretty regular. 



When John came to town, he of course donned his best 

 suit. If his attire was odd in the country, in the town it 

 was simply outrf, especially during his latter days, drawing 

 all eyes even in the city crowd, and frequently causing em- 

 barrassment to his friends when in his company. Certainly, 

 as James says, his like was seldom or never ' seen in Aber- 

 deen in recent years, with the quaint dress already de- 

 scribed his home-made, home-cut ancient coat, with high 

 neck and brass buttons, latterly well-nigh fifty years old ; 

 his trousers, short at best, rolled up half-way to the knee ; 

 his great heavy tacketed boots ; his very tall dress hat, older 

 than the rest and worn with use, set sloping on the back 

 of his head ; his " Sarah Gamp " blue umbrella under one 

 arm, and a large bundle under the other, and generally 

 with a collection of plants otherwise disposed. The whole 

 formed a tout ensemble of an uncommon kind. It was 

 certainly no small trial for any one to accompany its 

 wearer, especially if he were at all sensitive to the ogling 

 glances, constant stares, and mirthful faces encountered all 

 along the street. As for the man himself, he seemed 

 quite unconscious of his own appearance, and moved along 

 the peopled pavement with as glorious obliviousness as 



