The Moral of the Moss. 147 



moment of retiring, but by this time they had, 

 according to their own account, as much of worldly 

 pelf as would, with care, keep them in such a position 

 as they had no desire to go beyond. It may be 

 added that they apparently had enough to enable 

 them to keep the doors of their hospitable house ever 

 open to their friends, to come when they will, and to 

 stay as long as the most pressing kindness can induce 

 them. At any rate they avow that they have never 

 had reason to repent the resolution upon which they 

 acted. 



That the adoption of such a course was in Mr. 

 Robertson's mind some time earlier may be seen 

 from a letter, dated June 28, 1856, which he wrote to 

 his friend, Mr. Henderson, then in Calcutta. 



"MY DEAR SIR, 



"I- am glad to hear from your welcome 

 letter that you are well, and although you find much 

 that is dissimilar both in customs and climate from 

 what you had at home, still you are hopeful of enjoy- 

 ing a fair share of health and pleasant and agreeable 

 society. Many thanks for the mica. It is just the 

 thing I wanted, and as much as will serve me for a 

 long life-time. Excuse me for not making the ac- 

 knowledgment sooner. I had a little project in my 

 mind of making you a pin set with Mungo Park's 

 moss, but it was long before I could find the little 

 plant in fruit, which caused delay. I have now the 

 pleasure of sending the pin for your acceptance, and 

 I hope that its appearance will never be less cheering 

 than the moss was to Mungo Park, when he lay down 



