I o8 RISEN B V PERSE VERANCE. 



of merely a reader of them, would have had the merit of being 

 clear and terse, and more laden with meaning than words. 

 From his reputation for sagacity, his advice used to be much 

 sought after by the neighbours in every little difficulty that 

 came their way ; and the counsel given was always shrewd and 

 honest. I never knew a man more entirely just in his dealings 

 than Uncle James, or who regarded every species of meanness 

 with a more thorough contempt. I soon learned to bring my 

 story-books to his workshop, and became, in a small way, one 

 of his readers — greatly more, however, as may be supposed, on 

 my own account than his. My books were not yet of the kind 

 which he would have chosen for himself; but he took an 

 interest in my interest ; and his explanations of all the hard 

 words saved me the trouble of turning over a dictionary. And 

 when tired of reading, I never failed to find rare delight in his 

 anecdotes and old-world stories, many of which were not to be 

 found in books, and all of which, without apparent effort on 

 his own part, he could render singularly amusing. Of these 

 narratives, the larger part died with him ; but a portion of 

 them I succeeded in preserving in a little traditionary work 

 published a few years after his death. I was much a favourite 

 with Uncle James — even more, I am disposed to think, on my 

 father's account than on that of his sister, my mother. My 

 father and he had been close friends for years, and in the 

 vigorous and energetic sailor he had found his beau-ideal of a 

 man. 



•My Uncle Alexander was of a different cast from his 

 brother, both in intellect and temperament; but he was 

 characterised by the same strict integrity; and his rehgious 

 feelings, though quiet and unobtrusive, were perhaps more 

 deep. James was somewhat of a humorist, and fond of a good 



