1817-32. HOLIDAY EXCURSIONS. 1 1 



was a match for any pedestrian of his years. Many a long 

 Saturday's excursion has accordingly left pleasant memories be- 

 hind, when, added to the mere physical enjoyment of a holiday 

 walk among novel scenes, there were the fresh sources of pleasure 

 of botanizing or geological gatherings, and the tin botanical-box 

 became the unfailing companion of our walks. A certain amount 

 of pleasurable sympathy in the associations with ancient scenes 

 and picturesque ruins is also a common feeling with boys ; and 

 frequently a Saturday's ramble had for its special goal, Old 

 Woodhouselee, Roslin. Chapel, Niddry Castle, Preston Tower, 

 or some other of the storied ruins around Edinburgh, associated 

 with the names of Wallace, Bothwell, Queen Mary, etc. One 

 of our boyish wonders was to watch, from Arthur's Seat, 

 the slow progress of the railway tunnel, which at length 

 forced its way through the solid trap rock, and admitted 

 of Edinburgh's first railway entering the town. It is only the 

 juniors among Edinburgh citizens who need to be told of the 

 marvels of the Dalkeith railway. The triumphs of the steam- 

 horse had nothing to do with it. A good, honest quadruped, 

 fed on oats and hay not on coke and coal, drew the rude 

 railway carriage at an exceedingly safe and moderate pace ; and 

 it was no uncommon occurrence, after the train had started, for 

 a Musselburgh fishwife to hail the driver, who would put down 

 his brakes, and pull up in response to her sturdy shouts, and 

 wait till she leisurely disposed of her baskets, before the cars 

 were once more in motion. Not only men, however, but even 

 boys were less impatient in those old times than in these days 

 of flashing telegraphs and express trains ; and if the rate of 

 progress on the old Dalkeith railway was moderate, its charges 

 corresponded thereto. Hence it helped to extend greatly the 

 range of our Saturday's wanderings. A few pence secured our 

 transport, by its means, away beyond the North Esk, and so 

 brought within our reach the old ruins of Bothwell and Crichton 

 Castles, of Seton and Temple Churches, besides Roman camps 

 and historical scenes, already possessing an interest for us : such 

 as Lasswade, Prestonpans, Carberry hill, and Pinkey cleuch, all 

 readily accessible to the healthy young pedestrians. One such 

 holiday ramble, for instance, T vividly recall to mind, when 



