BOYHOOD. 5 



Peddie prepared him to enter upon more arduous studies. He left 

 the teacher of his childhood with regret. 



The kindness and partiality with which he loved to speak of his 

 friends in Paisley, may be seen in the words he made use of in 

 reference to this old friend, as he was taking leave of duties he had 

 followed for upwards of half a century. They are honorable alike 

 to master and pupil : — 



" It was his method rather to persuade than enforce, and they all 

 saw, even amidst the thoughtlessness of boyhood, that their teacher 

 was a good man ; and therefore it was their delight and pride to 

 please him. Sometimes a cloud would overshadow his brow, but 

 it was succeeded by a smile of pleasure as gracious and benign as 

 the summer sky. In his seminary, children of all ranks sat on the 

 same form. In that school there was no distinction, except what 

 was created by superior merit and industry, by the love of truth, 

 and by ability. The son of the poor man was there on the same 

 form with the sons of the rich, and nothing could ever drive him 

 from his rightful status but misconduct or disobedience. No per- 

 son would deny that the office of a teacher of youth was one of the 

 most important.in this world's affairs. A surly or ignorant master 

 might scathe those blossoms, w r hich a man of sense and reflection, 

 by his fostering care, would rear up till they became bright con- 

 summate flowers of knowledge and virtue." 



The Manse of the neighboring parish of Mearns was the next 

 place fixed upon by Mr. Wilson to continue the education of his 

 son ; and there he found a dolce pedagogo fitted in every way to 

 carry on the instruction in knowledge and virtue so well beguu un- 

 der the good Mr. Peddie. The Rev. George M'Latchie won no less 

 a share of his pupil's veneration — "the minister in whose house he 

 passed many of his sweetest youthful days, and who regarded him 

 with a paternal, as he always looked up to him w r ith a filial 

 regard." That warm heart was ever ready with its tribute of 

 affection to the memory of good men ; and amid the tender recol- 

 lections of the past, hallowed by sentiments of gratitude, no place 

 is more touchingly alluded to than " the dear parish of Mearns." 

 Whoever wishes to find a perfect description of its physical features, 

 as well as most exquisite pictures of the youthful pleasures on which 

 memory cast back a glory, must turn to the pages of the Recrea- 

 tions, particularly to the papers entitled " Our Parish," " Christo- 



