320 THE JOURNEYMAN. 



and mountains, when a light refreshing breeze, ladei 

 with the scents of the wild flowers, has come sweeping 

 over me, or a sudden gush of melody has burst from j 

 neighbouring thicket, I have deemed myself the happies 

 of all mechanics. But mark the contrast : winte 

 comes, and then Mr Strahan's profession proves th< 

 better of the two. The thicket has still its music, fo: 

 the blast howls through it, loud and continuous as th( 

 roar of the ocean ; shower after shower comes beating 

 against me, dashing my poor tangled tresses against m) 

 cheeks ; there is no solace in looking abroad, all is dul 

 and dismal, nature lies dead, and the very firmamenl 

 is but a burial vault ; and thus I toil on, till a coldei 

 blast or a heavier shower sends me home half frozen 

 and somewhat less than half alive, to cower and chittei 

 over the fire. Well, such is the balance of human life 

 Where are they that have no winter ? , 



' You recommend to me the study of sculpture as a 

 means of bettering my condition in life. Why, it can't 

 be much bettered. 'Tis true I am not rich, and yet, 

 thanks to the industry of my father, should Lord J. 

 Russell carry his motion, I shall have a voice in the 

 Legislation of my country. With books, which you sc 

 obligingly offer me, I am rather poorly provided ; but 

 the great book of nature lies continually open before me, 

 and were I to live to the age of Methusaleh, I would 

 still have much of it to peruse. Oh, with what splendid 

 passages are its pages filled ! ' 



The incident of Miss Smith's falling into the burn 

 (of Eathie), alluded to in the next letter, occurred at one 

 of those picnics of which Miller and his Cromarty friends 

 were fond. Miss Smith, having fallen into the burn, 

 was contemplated by Hugh with a placid interest which 

 did not in the least prompt him to lend assistance. 



