HUGH MILLER. i z 9 



fact, and whose understanding was as vigorous as her taste was 

 faultless and her feelings exquisite.* 



Mrs. Fraser finding out the state of affairs, and afraid that 

 her daughter might form an alliance with a mechanic, inter- 

 dicted the correspondence between the two for a time. The 

 young lady was disconsolate at this. Her mother finding out 

 that on the whole it would be more judicious to permit them 

 to meet together, when things had gone thus far, removed 

 the interdict, and they were again permitted to enjoy each 

 other's society. An understanding was arrived at between 

 them. They were to remain for three years more on the 

 existing terms of intim.acy, when, should no suitable field of 

 exertion occur for Miller at home, they were then to quit the 

 country for America. With a view of proving what he could 

 do in the field of literature and editorial work, he resolved 

 to publish his Scenes and Legends of the North of Scotland ; or^ 

 The Traditional History of Cromarty. This was attended with 

 some difficulty, but it was eventually published by Adam 

 Black of Edinburgh. At this time occurred what he has 

 termed one of the special providences of his life. The 

 Commercial Bank of Scotland having decided to start a 

 branch in Cromarty, Miller was offered the accountantship 

 of the branch bank, without any security being required. 

 This post he accepted, and travelled south to Edinburgh for 

 instructions and initiation into the mysteries of banking. 

 Linlithgow, a town west from Edinburgh, was chosen as the 

 place where he would receive the training which was necessary 

 for a bank agent. Looking backwards at this period, he says : 

 ' I had wrought as an operative mason, including my term of 

 apprenticeship, for fifteen years — no inconsiderable portion of 

 the more active part of a man's life; but the time was not 



