LITERARY AND DOMESTIC LIFE. 313 



My father's contributions to the Magazine this year were very 

 extensive, and several of them of enduring interest. They include 

 " Christopher in his Sporting Jacket, 1 ' " Old North and Young 

 North," "Christmas Dreams," "Health and Longevity," " Salmo- 

 nia," and " Sacred Poetry." My mother, writing to her sister in 

 September, asks her: — "Have you read Blackwood's last number? 

 I mean any of it. ' Christopher in his Sporting Jacket' is thought 

 very good ; and Mr. W. expressed a sort of wish our nephew John 

 might like it. The Dean of Chester thinks it about one of the best 

 things the author has produced." 



Another of her letters about this time contains some pleasant 

 home gossip. A baby niece is of course a principal topic: — " Mr. 

 Wilson feels a great interest in her, poor little thing, and is never 

 annoyed by any of her infantine screams or noises, which is more 

 than I can say of him towards his own when of that age. This is 

 a comfort to me, because I shall have true delight in having the 

 little darling here as often as she is allowed to come ; and you may 

 well suppose that I am always anxious, when the pen is, as it must 

 be, in Mr. Wilson's hand often, that he has nothing to disturb him." 

 The mother's heart is shown in the following lines : — " Johnny is 

 preparing for the University. As Mr. Wilson only expects, and 

 exacts common diligence from him, I do not fear he will do well." 

 After mentioning the classes, she says : — " The three last-mentioned 

 accomplishments (drawing, fencing, and dancing) are only recrea- 

 tions, but there is no harm in them ; and I believe a greater blessing 

 cannot befall a young man than to have every hour harmlessly if 

 not usefully employed. You cannot think how much pleased I was 

 with a letter Mr. W. received from Miss Watson the other day, 

 speaking of the boys. I dare say it was flattering, but she has a 

 way of saying things that appears as if they were not flattering. 

 I would copy it now for you, but that I think you must be tired of 

 the old mother's egotism. I have not mentioned the girls, but 

 they are well. M. has two pupils, Jane and M. De Quincey, to 

 whom she gives daily lessons in reading, writing, geography, gram- 

 mar, and spelling ; this occupies good part of the forenoon, and 

 practising, mending old stockings, millinery, and such like, fill up 

 some of the remaining hours of the day." 



The four following letters from Allan Cunningham tell their own 

 story : — 



.3* 



