120 MEMOIR OF JOHN WILSON. 



extinction of a " bright particular star ;" nor can any one who ever 

 saw her, altogether forget the effect of her presence. She belonged to 

 that old school of Scottish ladies whose refinement and intellect never 

 interfered with duties the most humble. In a large household, where 

 the fashion of the day neither sought nor suggested a retinue of 

 attendants, many little domestic offices were performed by the lady 

 of the house herself. The tea china, for example, was washed, both 

 after breakfast and tea, and carefully put away by her own delicate 

 hands. Markets were made early in the morning. Many a time 

 has the stately figure of Mrs. Wilson, in her elegantly fitting black 

 satin dress, been seen to pass to and from the old market-place, Ed- 

 inburgh, followed by some favorite " caddie,"* bearing the well- 

 chosen meats and vegetables, that no skill but her own was ever 

 permitted to select. Shrewd sense, wise economy, and well-ordered 

 benevolence marked all her actions. Beautiful and dignified in 

 presence, she at once inspired a feeling of respect. Pious and good, 

 she at the same time knew and understood the world ; and false 

 sentiment, or affectation of any sort, was not permitted to live near 

 her ; wit and humor she did not lack ; but it is doubtful whether 

 poetry was a material of her nature in any shape. Proud as she was 

 of her son John, and great as his devotion was to her, he used always 

 to say that his mother did not understand him. Sometimes, it is no 

 great wonder if his eccentricity might have been a little too much 

 for her order and regularity. It is very doubtful if any lady of the 

 present regime could so wisely and peacefully rule the affairs of a 

 household as did this lady,f when, for several years, she had under 

 her roof two married sons, with their wives, children, and servants, 

 along with her own immediate household, a son and two daughters, 

 yet unmarried, making in all a family of fourteen persons. Yet 

 peace and harmony reigned supreme ; and there are now not a few 

 of her grandchildren who remember this fine old lady, either as she 

 moved through the active duties of her house, or, seated at the fire- 

 side on a chair, the back of which she never touched, dignified in 

 bearing as a queen, took a short nap, awaking with a kindly smile 



* Street porter. 



t Mrs. Wilson, senior, was a keen Tory; and it is told of her that on hearing of her son com 

 tributing to the Edinburgh Review, she said to him significantly, " John, if you turn Whig, this 

 house is no longer big enough for us both. 1 ' She must have been well pleased with the principles 

 of her daughter-in-law, who, writing after the Reform Bill passed, " thanked God she was born in 

 the reign of the Georges." 



