OCTOBER 281 



were losin' spirit. State aid was no' a' 

 blessin'. It could never gi'e the people 

 pluck and peace o' mind and happiness. 

 What ga'e these things was a man's ain 

 effort that, and naething else. He 

 sometimes thought that if it werena' 

 that other countries which were possible 

 enemies had States, we'd be better with- 

 oot a State at a'. Fause sentiment, 

 which injured when it tried to cure, 

 would never then get the upper hand. 

 After a', each man for himsel' was the 

 principle o' well-bein' and happiness. 



This outbreak left us silent, and Peter 

 fell into a reverie again. At length 

 Bismarck, having expressed respect for 

 the precepts we had heard, delicately 

 indicated inability to reconcile them with 

 Peter's practices. 



" Oh ! " said Peter, in his lighter voice, 

 " I ken I'm no' exactly consistent. But 

 I'm no 1 sae far oot wi' mysel' as would 

 appear. You think that a man o' my 

 principles should be industriously followin' 

 an ordinary trade ? How could I do 



