A UTHORS RECOLLECTIONS. 489 



Hugh Miller. The spell of his personality fell upon me * 

 at once. The large shaggy head, the massive bust, the 

 modest grandeur of demeanour, the unmistakable im- 

 press of power on calm lip and in steadfast eye, the look 

 of originality and rugged strength about the whole man, 

 arrested and enchained me. There breathed around him, 

 also, a certain indefinable influence of gentleness and 

 noble affection. You felt that he was honest and good. 

 The mood of admiring indifference with which I had re- 

 garded him gave place to ardent interest. His language, 

 clear, idiomatic, melodious, derived zest from his pro- 

 vincial accent, and I shall never forget the moment 

 when he concluded a classically picturesque and beauti- 

 ful passage, descriptive of an ancient Scottish forest, 

 with the words, ' the exe hed been buzzy in its gleds,' 

 i. e. the axe had been busy in its glades. I now lost no 

 time in becoming personally acquainted with Hugh 

 Miller. My welcome was cordial ; I soon felt myself at 

 home in his society and household ; and would look in 

 not unfrequently of an evening, taking part in his 

 favourite meal, supper, and engaging with him in free 

 and varied conversation. 



One of the first things I noted in the domestic 

 circle to which I had been introduced was the harmoni- 

 ous and seemly relation subsisting between husband 

 and wife. There was no trace of intellectual dictator- 

 ship on his part ; he carefully considered and highly 

 valued every remark of Mrs Miller's. On her side 

 there was reverence for his mental power, without 

 the slightest sacrifice of independent judgment, and 

 with an obvious and lively delight in argumentative con- 

 versation. At times, in the friendliest tone, she would 

 hint to him that some part of his dress might be improved, 

 and pleasant little banterings 'netted sunbeams' on 



