J/A'S. SOMERVILLE. 13 



was acquired, never to be lost again. The tiny 

 seed from which would grow the glorious harvest 

 of knowledge that was to astonish the generation, 

 lay hidden in that " small collection of books, one 

 of which was Shakespeare," discovered in the old 

 country house at Burntisland. 



Housewives in Scotland were very proud of their 

 house linen in those days. Country gentlefolk grew 

 the flax on their estates, which their maids spun ; the 

 coarser yarn being woven close at hand, and the 

 finer sort usually sent to a manufactory. Mrs. Fair- 

 fax was a notable housewife in this respect. She 

 had a goodly supply of linen, and some of it was very 

 fine and beautiful. Doubtless she devoted much of 

 her time to making and mending it. This would 

 make her all the more grieved when she found that 

 her daughter cared for reading more than for sewing. 

 But it turned out that the daughter could sew as well 

 as read. She learned to love needlework ; and when, 

 after a time, the linen for some very fine shirts was 

 put into her hands, Mary made one shirt all by her- 

 self so well, that her mother felt there was no further 

 ground for uneasiness about skill with the needle, and 

 that, while she mi^ht safely be relieved from attending 

 the village school, she might with equal safety be 

 put in charge of the linen press. It is pleasant to 

 find that the accomplishment thus gained Mrs. Somer- 

 ville retained through life. She left behind her some 

 most elaborate specimens of embroidery and lace work. 



