Carlyle and Black. 247 



poverty and neglect, of course he is twisted and 

 " thrawn " ; but a grand, tough oak for all that, as 

 sound, stanch timber as ever grew, and Scotch to the 

 core. Did any one take you, Thomas Carlyle, for a fine, 

 symmetrical sycamore, or a graceful clinging vine? I 

 think the " Reminiscences," upon the whole, a valuable 

 contribution to literature. Nor has Carlyle suffered in 

 my estimation from knowing so much of what one 

 might have expected. But will these critics of a grand 

 individuality be kind enough to tell us when we shall 

 look upon his like again, or where another Jenny Car- 

 lyle is to come from ? She is splendid ! The little 

 tot who " bluided a laddie's nose " with her closed fist 

 and conquered " the bubbley jock." This was in her 

 early childhood's days, and look at her woman's work 

 for Carlyle if you want a pattern for wives, my young 

 lady friends, at least as a bachelor pictures wifehood at 

 its best. The story told of Mr. Black's meeting with 

 Carlyle should be true, if it be not. '' Oh, Mr. Black," 

 exclaimed Carlyle, " I'm glad to see ye, man. I've read 

 some of yer books ; they're vera amusin' ; ye ken Scotch 

 scenery well ; but when are yer goin' to do some wark, 

 man ? " Great work did the old man do in his day, no 

 doubt ; but they also work who plant the roses, Thomas, 

 else were we little better than the beasts of the field. 

 Carlyle did not see this. Black is doing his appointed 

 work and doing it well too, and Scotland is proud of 

 her gifted son. 



