WEIRD SISTERS. 279 



associated with that shore — when I was about eight 

 years of age. My mother was spending a few weeks 

 with Mam-Willa, and had taken " Benjamin " and 

 myself with her. 



It was sunset, and a most lovely, quiet summer 

 evening. The little brother and I had been playing 

 for hours at our mother's feet as she sat by the shore 

 talking to Mam-Willa; but he grew tired and was 

 carried to the house by " bonnie Jean," while Mam- 

 Willa strayed along the beach picking up some kind 

 of seaweed which she said was " good for folk." Then 

 my mother called me to her, and, pointing to the sea, 

 said, '* Isn't God good to give us such a bonnie world 

 to live in ? " I remember clearly the sensation of 

 delight. with which I suddenly awoke to see what a 

 world of beauty and wonder lay around me; and as 

 her graceful white hand pointed out the tints of rock 

 and grass, the sheen upon the seaweeds, the glory in the 

 heavens, the life and mystery of the burnished ocean, my 

 child-heart swelled with feelings new and indescribable. 



Then in soft melodious tones she repeated the 

 hundred-and-fourth Psalm, and Byron's exquisite lines, 

 beginning? — 



" Roll on, thou deep and dark blue Ocean, roll." 



I did not comprehend the poems, of course ; but 

 they are for ever associated in my mind with that 

 scene ; and I believe my predilection, in later years, 

 for the Psalmist and Byron may be traced to this 

 source. 



