THE IDIOT BOY. 373 



trust, and certainly much pleased, but not at all elated. 

 I have myself to contend with and myself to satisfy ; it 

 will be a long time, I am afraid, ere I shall be successful 

 in so hard a contest, or succeed in pleasing so fastidious 

 a critic ; and yet until that time comes the approbation 

 of others, however profound their judgment or exquisite 

 their taste, will have the effect rather of showing me 

 what I ought to be than what I am. Is it not wonder- 

 ful that the fancy of Mrs Grant should be still so active, 

 so engagingly playful ? There is not less of it in her 

 last brief epistle to you than in any of her earlier ones. 



' If ever my Traditions get abroad they will be all the 

 better for having staid so long as home. And now, 

 what shall I say of your last brief epistle ? This much 

 at least, that were it ten times more brief, still I would 

 value it as coming from you. At this time of day I 

 need hardly tell you of the value I set on your letters, 

 how fondly I treasure them up, or how often I peruse 

 them ; but I must not be selfish, and you will judge 

 that I am not, when I say, do not for the future, till 

 your health fully permits, give me more than half a 

 sheet, and do not fill even that at one sitting. That 

 God may be with you, to support and comfort, is the 

 earnest wish, and, I trust, earnest prayer of/ &c. 



' Cromarty, May 8, 1834. 



' There is a poor idiot boy in 



the neighbourhood here who spends much of his time 

 with me in the churchyard, and who, when I am writing 

 in my little room, frequently creeps up-stairs and squats 

 himself beside me. I never yet saw any one of the class 

 in whom intellect is so entirely wanting as in this poor 

 thing. He cannot even count three ; but he has a few 

 simple instincts which seem given him to supply in part 



