94 THE BANK ACCOUNTANT. 



whom Miller had been ardently attached. Seventeen 

 years hcd passed away since he left Cromarty, and it does 

 not appear that any tidings of him had reached Hugh 

 in the interval. One day, however, he was surprised 

 by the arrival of a letter dated Spanish Town, Jamaica, 

 signed by the hand of Finlay. He had often, he said, 

 thought of writing, but he had fancied that Miller had 

 left Scotland, being convinced that, had he remained in 

 his native country, he must have distinguished himself. 

 ' Often/ he proceeds, ' have I looked into the advertising 

 columns of BlacJcwood, Fraser, and Tait, to see the 

 announcement of a volume of poetry, tales, or something 

 to show that genius was not confined to the south, and 

 at length I was yesterday gratified by seeing your name 

 in a stray number of Chambers' Journal for last year 

 as the author of the Traditionary History of Cromarty. 

 You have no idea, my dear fellow, how my heart glowed 

 when I read your praises ; and with the whole Scotsman 

 running riot in my veins, have I revelled in the story of 

 Sandy Wright (there is some of it like my own, entre 

 nous), so like the benevolent heart of my ain Hugh 

 Miller/ 



This was a great occasion for Miller. The image of 

 his boy-friend lay in his heart like a coin of pure gold 

 committed to a delicate casket, and when he looked upon 

 it after seventeen years the likeness was bright as on 

 the morning when he bade Einlay adieu. He seized his 

 pen and wrote as follows. As we read this letter can 

 we help loving Hugh Miller ? 



' Cromarty, Oct. 15, 1836. 



6 MY OWN DEAR FINLAY, 



' Yes, the wise old king was quite in the right. 

 " As cold waters to the thirsty soul, so is good news 

 from a far country/' My very hopes regarding the 



