Morning herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1837-1840, 1838-08-09
Mr.. Bennstt's Interview with his Mother
and Sisters.
LETTER NO XIV
NEwxILLs, near Keith, (a) 10th July, 1873

oh0 SAst0Hbe
IS LETTER NO. XIV.
NEwxILLs near Keiih,(a) 10th july 1888.
am surrounded with the scenes Of my childhood
What strange, pleasant singular emotions person
feels on recognizing the hills and Wales, the streams
and treesthe rocks and crags-thc heath heather
that first broke upon the soul in it's first movements
Of existence! In every part of Scotland but this de-
lieous spot, haIowed by the memory OF infancy
was foreigner, a stranger, an unknown-and even
here, in this spot this quiet spot Of EARTH the "ha-
man face divine has chaneed-death has been at
work. the features Of humanity are all revoluuomzed
The face of heaven the form fearth, the hills around
me- the valleys below, the waters the very oubbling
of the brooks, are the same that they were when
these eyes first opened upon them.
Ambition, PRIDE grandeur have all sunk to mo-
thingness before the holy scenes of infancy. On
Monday morning left Edinburgh in the fast coach
for the north like fast coach when travel On
Tuesday, at O'clock was here. In my Journey
north, felt as stranger in strange land-the very
dialect was strange. passed the beautiful lake OF
Loeb Leven, where Mary of Scotland was confined,
in splendid burst Of bright sunshine. On the island,
in the centre the remains Of the castle were easily
discovered.
The approach TO Perth is most lovely. Yoa burst
upon il from the jaws Of dark picturesque glen, and
light at once upon calm, sweet, smiling river, wind
lag through rich vale, with the town Of Perth sleep
ing on both Sides But l cannot stop to describe.
The suns last rays were sparkling on the river Dee
when passed the Gothic bridge, and entered the an
Gent town of Aberdeen Here was better acquaint-
ed with the scenery. had lived here a short time
wheH quite YOUTH and recollected several of the
streets, although great changes had been made.
Next morning started on the outside of the coach
for Keith. 1t was about fifty miles drive. The
coach was crowded with passengers for al this sea.
son of the year, travellers take to the lakes, hills
glcns and isles of the NORTH Throughout the whole
of this brief jesrney beheld that wonderful improve
ments had becH made on The face Of Scotland. II
presents the lineaments in its agriculture that
England does. Every spot of ground that can be
cultivated, is cultivated. Nothing is lost. had
some recollection how looke twenty Eve ears ago.
and the difference was striking.
/ was perfectly silent during my progress north
An ill.mannered youth, not out of his teens, whs
happened to sit near me- asked me the name of some
town that we passed. | replied, 81 don't know"
My accent and air having much changed In Is years.
he at once perceived il.
"Are you foreigner y asked he.
"The scenes here are not exactly foreign to me-"
81 suppose you are Frenchman," said he.
'No, SIR; though like Frenchman, seldom ask
improper questions" This closed .he conversion,
and gave my whsle attention TO other matters.
How did strain my eyes at every hill and every
"burn" cs the coach rolled along. Here rccollected
the blue top of BenachesS the spire of
rty krk--here the turvet of old castle-herc the
winding course of a bubblng brook.
was sitting the front seat. The coach
rising up the emnence 10 the south Of Keith and at
that very instant saw, marked and recognized the
very hill, edged round with green fields and skrted
with burR at each end, where had caught and i'm
bbed the first elements of intellect and existence.
was boy agan-I thought my heart would burst
swallowed deep saspratlon, and looked penectly
Indifferent around on my fellow travellers
We ploughed into and passed the ravine, through
which the road passes, and entered into the town.
How odd the little houses and narrow streets appear
ed to mel On arriving at the hotel dsmounsed,
and had sort Of lunch or dinner In every town in
this part of the country, the chief hotel is generally
called the "Gordon Arms Inn," or "Gordon Arms
Hotel" SO il is IN HunNey,(c) so in Keith SO in Fo.
chabers,(d believe, although did not 60 SO far
north.
In shsrt time was ready to start, cross the
"water of Isla,"() and plunge in the midst of my
youthful feelngsa recollectons. Ici perfectly
by this time An excellent dish Of mutton chops
from the noun tain ardsr Of Mrs Wiseman believe
they call her, and a botte of capital porter, had
nerved me for the enset. o.got every thing of
New Yerk, Of London, Of Europe, OF America
Twenty five years of anxeties, troubles coRtests,
and passions, were swept from my heart and wasa
boy acan, just abou, Is Ia years Of age. passed
down the street of Keith-ohi how altered! Between
Keith and Newmlls where 4 went to school
boy, the distance is mile. The "waier Of Isls," a
sraalI, dark, mountain stream, separates them. re-
collected the general features of the soene but the
particulars were lost. Here trees sprung up, and
waved their branches in the breeze-bat they were
oil strangers to me. knew net bush, nor branch
Of them. fEU
At last in descending the green hill to the "water"
recognized the murmuring Of little waterfall tina,
had been perfect Niagara TO me when boy. my
Godp' said 1 TO myself "there's the old Lynn
looked again through some ,rees-"Gracious hes-
ven there's the cid castle ruins, the urreis Of which
fell into the river on bonny Sunday morning when
two beautiful ladies were looking on, at the win
dow"
1 walked along. The grass, but especially the
blooming white clover, sent forth perfume that
smelea hike wild honey. How sweet how very
sweet.n Looking down on the Isa lust below me