85 



ball-room. Nature's teachings are always to the 

 purpose always directed to self-examination, self- 

 culture, self-government, self- gratification and im- 

 provement. Every thing she teaches, she teaches 

 for time and eternity. 



The angler will find it a most delightful ramble 

 to go from the junction of the two rivers to the 

 higher sources of the Dee. There is excellent trout 

 fishing in this direction, and the country is beauti- 

 ful along many parts of its banks. From the neigh- 

 bourhood of Poulloch Water, which flows out of 

 Loch Grannoch, to near the source of the stream, 

 there is a regular succession of the finest fishing 

 waters imaginable. The entire route is full of wild 

 and picturesque grandeur. 



"We cannot leave these angling waters without 

 noticing that, near to the junction of the Dee and 

 Ken, there is a locality rendered sacred by the well- 

 known song, called " Mary's Dream." It was 

 written in 1770, by one John Lowe, the son of the 

 gardener of Kenmure Castle. We are told that 

 Burns specially visited this neighbourhood, hallowed 

 by the outpourings of genius, and " lingered, and 

 lingered, and lingered on the spot, as if he expected 

 the passing spirit to appear. " The author of this 

 song fell in love with one of the daughters of a gen- 

 tleman, in whose family he was a preceptor. The 

 sister to this young lady was called Mary, and her 

 lover was drowned at sea; and this unfortunate 

 occurrence induced the young man to write the song 

 in question. As it is a great favourite with the 



