390 7V//-: JOURNEYMAN. 



this be a testimony of my willingness to write. Oh, I 

 have many things to say to you that I could say to none 

 other, for I think that a-bove all others you can put your 

 " soul in my soul's stead/' Keep my manuscript books 

 carefully. I wish you had them all, and many other 

 little things, but I know you will need no tokens to 

 remember me by. How happy you would make me if 

 you would call upon me in any way in which I could 

 really serve you. How do you manage to live ? You 

 are not working much, and must, at a time like the 

 present, have many little expenses ; do you want 

 money ? I have enough and to spare, and I would 

 injure no one by giving to you. Away with your high 

 notions of what you deem independence, but which, I 

 assure you, has more of alloy than of true metal in it. 

 No proper feeling can be injured by an accommodation 

 of the kind I propose. Now be not offended, if you 

 are, I shall say you are yet unacquainted with my heart/ 

 The following reply at once gushed from Hugh 

 Miller's heart. 



1 Cromarty, September '25, 18,'U. 



' How shall I thank 'you for your truly kind, truly 

 excellent letter ! My heart bounded to my lips, as 

 opening it I exclaimed, "From Miss Dunbar's own 

 hand ! " and I glanced my eyes over it with a hurried 

 eagerness, an intense impatience that seemed to be- 

 grudge the minutes which were to be spent in the slow 

 process of perusal, and to desire that all its contents 

 might be stamped upon my mind at once. Need 1 say 

 how deeply I sympathi/e with you and how highly I 

 esteem you? Often do my thoughts carry me to Forres; 

 I seize the extended hand, and then draw in my chair 

 beside you; and though my heart sinks when I see how 

 pale and thin you appear, I am again reassured by the 



