Biographical Sketch 2 1 



That r year his northern home was over- 

 shadowed by deep sorrow. A beautiful little 

 sister he dearly loved lost her life through a 

 terrible accident. She was only seven years 

 of age, but seems to have been Tom's 

 feminine copy. Her pinafore was always 

 gathered up to hold a multitude of insects, 

 shells and flowers, which had to be identified 

 by her father before being carefully put away. 

 She could read and write well, as her letters 

 in existence show, and the busy little fingers 

 had knitted for the idolised father more than 

 one pair of socks. She had her brother's 

 sweet temper also. 



Shortly after her death a baby sister was 

 also taken, and the double loss so saddened 

 the young student that his yearning for home 

 overcame all other considerations. 



In April, we read, he took them all by 

 surprise by dropping out of a fishing sloop 

 upon the shore at Baltasound, where his un- 

 expected arrival brought gladness into gloom. 

 He remained about a fortnight, and then re- 

 turned to Edinburgh in his usual buoyant 

 spirits, rejoicing in his holiday and his sea 

 voyage, and eager to " start at the work of 

 his life." 



