MAY, 1882. 167 



the way, the consolation remains with us that the hills 

 are not to be levelled, and that the heart strengthens as 

 the knee-joints stiffen, and the mountains in all ages are 

 justified of their children. 



The bushy-tailed collies, with the easy step and 

 graceful carriage bred of the hills, are skirting the slopes 

 and scouring the corries ; and there, although it is so far 

 away, you can see the expression of delinquency on that 

 lowered countenance, as with depressed tail it skulks 

 down the bottom of the ravine. Have you been on the 

 rampage, you rascal, or have you been sent home in dis- 

 grace for incompetence ? There it goes at a hard gallop, 

 leaving its master standing a solitary figure on the distant 

 hill ! Every hundred yards of those apparently barren 

 hills is a picture, every hut and homestead a living novel 

 of intense interest ; and we pass them all with a yawn of 

 ennui at the lagging train, and with the nerves of the 

 brain made callous by custom, the sensitive plates 

 spoiled by exposure, and the photographic " artist " 

 there are no photographers nowadays dozing under his 

 black hood inside, and incapable of taking cognisance of 

 the myriad-minded creation, telling its complicated story, 

 with its ever-varying features. 



MAY, 1882. 



The cuckoo was calling bravely this day week as we 

 passed southward ; and still more willingly should it call 

 to-day, with Loch Etive a sheet of silver, and the splen- 

 dour of sunlight over all not hazy, but crisp, bright, 

 life-stirring sunlight, such as we have not seen for a 



