SKETCH OF THE AUTHOR'S LIFE. 21 



industry, as he displayed, brought such slight re- 

 wards. On several occasions he received an acknow- 

 ledgment for articles connected with angling or 

 natural history. In 1840 he appeared as the author 

 of the Essay on angling, of which the present work 

 is a re-written edition. He often lamented that he 

 could not bring the knowledge he possessed on many 

 subjects to more account. The year 1 847 brought 

 an opportunity by which he could measure his 

 capacity and literary grasp with the men of his class. 

 John Henderson, Esq. of Park, a gentleman distin- 

 guished for his zeal in every good cause, by way of 

 directing public opinion to the better observance of 

 the Sabbath, proposed three prizes for the best Essays 

 on the " Temporal advantages of the Sabbath to the 

 labouring classes." John Younger's eye fastened 

 on the public announcement. " The hour and the 

 man" had come together, and he resolved to try his 

 hand in the competition. More than a year passed 

 away, when the intimation was exultingly speeded 

 over the south of Scotland that John Younger had 

 obtained the second prize. A thrill of pleasure 

 cheered Tweedside as the good news was repeated 

 from mouth to mouth, and John became the theme 

 of applauding tongues in every circle. To London 

 he must go to receive the prize of 15 from the Earl 



