LITEEARY AJSD DOMESTIC LIFE. 421 



ing but silence. Alas ! this was but the beginning of the end. Ten 

 years ago, while yet strong in body, though suffering and sad of 

 heart, the melancholy of his mind gave a similar tone to his words, 

 and he wrote of himself as if his days were being consumed swifter 

 than a weaver's shuttle : — " Day after day we feel more and more 

 sadly that we are of the dust, and that we are obeying its doom. 

 This life is felt to be slowly — too swiftly wheeling away with us 

 down a dim acclivity — man knoweth not into what abyss. And as 

 the shows of this world keep receding to our backward gaze, on 

 which gathers now the gloom, and now the glimmer, of this world, 

 hardly would they seem to be, did not memories arise that are re- 

 alities, and some so holy in their sadness that they grow into hopes, 

 and give assurance of the skies." 



With thoughts such as these ever springing from the pure region 

 of his soul, did he go on meeting the common day with hope bright- 

 ened into cheerfulness, until existence was beautified once more by 

 the conviction that duties were still before him — though one was 

 gone whose approving smile had given impetus to all he did. 



The first break to this silence comes in a short letter, written to 

 his old friend Mr. Findlay, inviting him to be present at the marriage 

 of his son John, which took place in July, 1848. This relation was 

 one conducive to his happiness — a fresh tie to keep him hale and 

 strong of heart — making the summer visits to Billholm all the more 

 agreeable by a welcome from its new occupant, whose gentle com- 

 panionship often cheered his rambles by the river side, or made 

 pleasant a rest beneath the shade of its trees : — 



" Friday, June 9, 18-48. 



"My dear Robert: — My son John is to be married on the 22d 

 of this month, at the house of his father-in-law, Mr. G. Bell, 43 

 Melville Street. \Ye are sorry not to have beds to offer our 

 friends, and a journey to and from Edinburgh may not be conve- 

 nient to you at this time ; but if you, your good lady, and one of 

 your dear daughters, can assist at the ceremony (twelve o'clock) I 

 need not say how welcome will be your presence, and that we shall 

 hope to see you after it at Glo'ster Place. 



" Ever affectionately yours, J. "Wilson." 



It may be seen from a letter to his son Blair, that he had lost no 

 time in paying a visit to the newly-married pair ; for he writes from 



