l' MEMOIR OF GEORGE WILSON. CHAP. I. 



the chill of an unsympathizing world, and disposed to envy 

 every one who had a mother. Janet, at the time of her mar- 

 riage, of which we now speak, had passed through years of grief 

 and change, and only a sister and a brother remained of her 

 family circle. Both were married, and home had long been to 

 her a word of little meaning. 



The bridegroom, Archibald Wilson, had, a few years before, 

 come from Argyleshire to settle in business in Edinburgh, and 

 thus, to each, " our own romantic town " had few personal 

 associations. Yet at this, their wedding-time, how fresh and 

 beautiful it looked ! In the clear mornings and long evenings 

 to watch the Firth and the distant hills peeping in and out in 

 the varying lights ; to feast the eye on the crags and battle- 

 ments of the dear old castle in its nest of green, with pictures 

 of living beauty to refresh the eye at every turn ! Did it not 

 say to their young hearts, " Forget also thine own people, and 

 thy father's house," and in me thou shalt have a home dearer 

 than those of the past ? 



The first pledge of this unspoken promise was given in the 

 birth of a daughter in the spring of the following year. When 

 Mary was a year old, there came a fair little brother again to 

 open the fountains of love; and, when John was nearly two 

 years of age, the group received a fresh addition in the arrival of 

 a second boy, who was named Daniel, and is the only son who 

 has survived till now. 1 



The year 1817 opened in sorrow, for it found the heavy hand 

 of sickness on this little band ; and before its first month closed, 

 Johnny had ceased his sweet prattle, and had gone to learn the 

 angels' songs. The first deposit of the family treasures was thus 

 placed be}T>nd reach of the spoiler, and since then, from time 

 to time, the store has been added to. Like the dreamer's ladder, 

 a pathway was formed, by which the yearning hearts left behind 

 have paid many a visit to the happy circle above, and been re- 

 freshed by tin- assurance from the Saviour's lips, "I will come 

 again and receive you unto myself." 



About a year after this, on the 21st of February 1818, twin 



i Dr. Daniel Wilson, Professor of History :uil Kn-lisli Lilc-nitim-, University Co!- 

 Ic^c. Toronto. Caii:nl:i. 



