THE BOATMAN'S TALE. 155 



' And lovely was the smile that dwelt 



On Walter's placid face ; 

 'Twas but 'twere vain to strive to tell, 



For words can ne'er express 

 The beauty of that sinless smile 

 Of perfect happiness.' 



On the subject of the demons which had appeared to 

 him when on earth, the ghost becomes homiletic. 



' Thou sure hast read in Heaven's own book 



(Oh, search that volume well !) 

 How that of old the seraph tribes 



Grew proud and did rebel ; 

 And how that from the height of heaven 



To deepest woe they fell. 

 ' Of these the band whose dark presage 



Did sore my heart dismay ; 

 Yet harmless in the lonely wood 



And in the storm are they. 

 But ah ! right fearful, though scarce feared, 



When in man's heart they stay. 

 * dread them when the wanton smiles, 



And when the bowl is set ; 

 dread them when thy heart is glad, 

 And when thy cheeks are wet. 

 # # # # 



' But if on Heaven thy trust be laid, 



To fear thou dost not well, 

 For stronger is one Christian man 

 Than all the fiends of hell.' 



The two last lines really do credit to the mason lad. 

 One can imagine him giving a vigorous stroke or two 

 with his mallet as he ' crooned ' them out. 



The influence of Coleridge's Ancient Mariner and 

 of Hogg's Queens Wake are traceable in the Boatman 's 

 Tale. 



After working two seasons at Niddrie, Miller re- 

 turned to Cromarty. The voyage was long, and in its 

 course he composed the verses which are quoted in the 

 autobiography as Written at Sea. His uncles, his 

 cousin George, and other friends and relatives, welcomed 

 him on the beach. 



