THE VALE OF GALA. 21 



of 



Vale was once designated by a face- 

 tious friend of mine as " a lang road by 

 the side of a burn between twa hills ;" but 

 what a change has come over it now ! The rail- 

 road winds through it, and it is no more a lang 

 road. Supposing you have taken your seat in 

 the carriage, do not, gentle youths, stray in 

 pleasure-paths, and turn aside to minor waters 

 about Tynehead or Heriot, but go on gladly 

 and rejoicingly with an honest and a cheerful 

 heart, the characteristics of a true angler ; for 

 when oiled with these, 



' The wheels o' life 

 Gae down hill scrievin 

 Wi' rattling glee.' 



And so will you find the wheels of the railway 

 from Tynehead to Stow, where you may stop 

 and begin your sport. But, before you begin, 

 please to cast your eyes up to a fine, sub- 

 stantial building, which Alexander Mitchell, 

 Esq., of Stow, has lately built a town-house, 



