CHAP. xii. MR. AIKMAN, TULLIDODY. 153 



has been and will be. One generation cometh, and 

 another goeth. The Framer of all things alone is sub- 

 ject to no change." 



Eobert Dick also kept up his correspondence with 

 his old master, Aikman, at Tullibody. In the year fol- 

 lowing his father's death, Aikman told him that he was 

 about to retire from business, "that he had not yet 

 advertised the shop and bakehouse, but intended doing 

 so. It would be a good opening for an active man, as 

 he was now baking about 20 bolls of wheat every week, 

 with three men and a boy." 



This was doubtless intended as a hint to his cor- 

 respondent to buy the business, and thus enter into a 

 thriving trade. But Dick had no money to spare for 

 the purpose. His business at Thurso was only paying 

 expenses. He did not save money. What he could 

 spare from his ordinary wants, he spent on books. 



Competition was also beginning to tell upon him. 

 Although there were only two bakers in Thurso at the 

 time that he commenced business, there were now 

 several. Every new baker served to diminish his trade. 

 No increased exertion could make up for the loss. The 

 town was small, and the people's wants were few. When 

 the bakers amounted to six, Dick said " it was like half- 

 a-dozen dogs worrying over a very little bone." 



Dick's business was also to a considerable extent 

 diminished by his not going to " the Kirk." When that 

 is known of a man in a small town in Scotland, it goes 

 very much against him. The " fear o' the folk " is very 

 great there. Conformity is insisted on. A man must 



