1 2 MEMOIR OF GEORGE WILSON. CHAT'. I. 



George was probably not more than eleven years of age. By 

 help of the railway we had got a fair and early start, and made 

 our way to the grand old ruin of Crichton, where 



' That castle rises on the steep 



Of the green vale of Tyne ; 

 And, far beneath, where slow they creep 

 From pool to eddy, dark and deep, 

 Where alders moist, and willows weep, 



Yon hear her streams repine.' 



Our purpose was to catch the railway car on our return, and so 

 diminish the journey homeward by some seven miles ; but the 

 day was bright and the attractions manifold, and when we 

 reached Dalkeith on our homeward way, laden with a large 

 sigillaria which we had secured as a coveted prize, the cars were 

 gone, and we had to make our way home as best we could. I 

 well remember still the debate as to whether our prized sigil- 

 laria which the alternate carrying for some miles had already 

 proved to be no light weight could possibly be transported 

 home. The result was the determination not to abandon it ; 

 but many a time was the coveted burden passed from one to the 

 other, as the lively chat and merry sallies with which George 

 ever beguiled such a ramble grew less and less frequent, until 

 at length after trudging over the last miles, with only a rare 

 monosyllable, we reached home, wearied and footsore, to be re- 

 freshed with our ever- welcome cup of tea, and then to 



' Lay our head 

 Upon our own delightful bed.' 



But when it is considered that we had probably walked not less 

 than fifteen or sixteen miles, and that such were common holi- 

 day and Saturday rambles, it suffices to show the vigorous energy 

 and robust health that characterized the happy little fellow in 

 those early years. No pleasanter companion could have been. 

 The lively fancy which sparkles in his writings, and the genial 

 humour so familiar to all who knew him in later years, already 

 marked the boy, and there grew up between us then a common 

 bond of sympathy and lasting friendship, such as by no means 

 invariably knits brothers together, and which years only served 

 to strengthen and mature. As for the dear-bought and far- 

 brought sigillaria, it was safely housed, and prized accordingly ; 



