NORTHERN MEMOIRS. 211 



yet having any spark of life hitherto discovered 

 to shine about her. Then, like the leaves in 

 October that leisurely drop off (since predestina- 

 ted to fall) even so the barnicle drops off from 

 the twig of the tree to which Nature had fast- 

 ned her, and gave her a growth, and an inani- 

 mate being. Where note, to so many as provi- 

 dentially fall into water, protection is immediate- 

 ly sent them to live ; but to all others as acci- 

 dentally encounter dry land, such I presume are 

 doom'd to die without redemption. And though 

 some of them are commissioned to live, yet how 

 difficult is it to preserve life, when hourly sought 

 after by the luxurious devourer ? 



Theoph. However, let not our discourse of 

 geese discover us ungrateful to the inhabitants. 

 For it were madness more than good manners, 

 not to acknowledg civilities from a people that 

 so civilly treated us. 



Arn. Civility wanting, we are wanting to our 

 selves ; when too much of self bars the fruits of 

 society. Now we tread on the borders of South- 

 erland, that of right belongs to the Earl of South- 

 erland ; whose eldest son is born Lord of Strana- 

 var. On the top of that little hill, stands little 

 Dun Robin ; it's a castle, though but a small 

 one, where the Earl himself inhabits. But that 

 other great house, or rather some piece of decays, 

 they call it Skibbo ; but there is yet another 



