Morning herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1837-1840, 1838-08-08

We publish today one NAH oI nAI. Dchuse msei-
eating account of his visit to his mother and relatives
after an absence Of g years-hs having left there
when a boy. We would have published the whole
of today, but it is too long We shall give the ba
lance tomorrow and publish the whole in tomorrow's
evening paper and in our Weekly 1t is the best let
ter ever sent across the Atlantic.
LETTER NO. XIV.
NEwNILLs, near KEITH GAY 10th July, 1888.
I am surrounded with the scenes of my childhood.
What strange, pleasant, singular emotions person
feels recognizing the hills and wales, the streams
and trees-he rocks and crags-the heath and heather
that first broke upon the soul in lis first movements
of existence! In every part of Scotland but this de-
Iieious spot, haIlowed by the memory OF infancy,
was foreigner, a stranger, an unknown-and even
here in this spot this quiet spot OF earth, the "hu-
man face divine has changed-death has been at
work, the features of humanity are all revolutonzed
The face of heaven the form ofearth the hills aronnd
me- the valleys below, the waters, the very bubblng
of the brooks are the same that they were when
these eyes first opened upon them.
Ambition, pride, grandeur, have all sunk to no.
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, al o'clock, was here. In my Journey
north felt stranger in a strange land-the very
dialect strange. l 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 early
discovered.
The approach 10 Perth is most lovely. You burst
upon from the jaws of dark picturesque glen, and
light at upon a calm, sweet, smiling river, wind
lag through rich vale, with the town OF Perth sleep
ing on both sides. But cannot stop to describe.
The suns last rays were sparkling on the river Dee
when passed the Gothic bridge, and entered the
Gent town Of Aberdeen. Here was better acquaint-
ed with the scenery. l had lived here short time
when quite youth, and recolected several of the
streets, although great changes had been made.
Next morning started on the outside of the coach
for Keith. 1t was about a fifty miles drive. The
coach crowded with passengers, for at this sea-
son of the year. travellers take to the lakes hills,
glens and isles of the north. Throughout the whole
OF this brief journey beheld that wonderful improve
ments had been made on the face of Scotland II
presents the same lineaments in It's agriculture that
England does. Every spot of ground that can be
cultivated, is cultivated. Nothing is lost. I had
some recollection how ii looked twenty Eve ago.
and the difference was striking.
An ill.mannered youth. not on, Of his teens, VIE
happened 10 sit near me, asked me the name of some
town that we passed. l rephed, III don't know"
My and air having much changed in Is years,
he at once perceived it.
Are you foreigner? 7" asked he.
"The scenes here are not exactly foreign to me-"
III suppose you are Frenchman," said he.
"No, sir; though like Frenchman, seldom ask
improper questions" This closed The conversation,
and gave my whole attention TO other matters
How did strain my eyes at every HILL and every
"burn" as the coach rolled along. Here recollected
the blue top of the spre of coun
rty kmk-here the turret Of an old castle-there the
winding course of bubbling brook.
was sitting on the front seat. The coach was
rising up the eminence 10 the south OF Keith and at
that very instant saw, marked and recognized the
very hill, edged round with green fields, and skirted
with burn al each end, where had caught and i'm
bibed the first elements of intellect and existence.
was a boy agaia-I thought my heart would burst
swallowed deep saspiraton, and looked perfectly
indifferent around on my fellow travellers.
We ploughed into and passed the ravne, through
which the road passes, and entered into the town.
How odd the little houses and narrow streets appear
ed 10 me! On arriving at the hotel dismounted,
and had sort of lunch or dinner In every town in
this part Of the country, the chief hotel Is generally
called the "GordoR Arms Inn," or "Gordon Arms
Hotel" SO il is Huntley,c) SO in Keith, so in Fo-
chabers(d) believe, although l did not 60 so far
north
In short time was ready to start, cross the
water OF Isla,"( and plunge in the midst Of my
youthful feelings and recollectons. felt perfectly
by this time. An excellent dish Of mutton chops
from the noun tain ardsr Of Mrs. Wiseman, believe
they call her, and a bottle Of capital porter, had
Rered me for the ensct. fo.got every thing of
New York. Of London, OF Europe of America
Twenty five years Of anxieties troubles, contests
and passions, swept from my heart, and wasa
BOY agais just about Is IA years Of age. passed
down tho street OF Keith-oh! how altered! Between
Keith and Newmlls where | went TO school as
boy, the distance is mile. The "waer of 1sla,"
small dark, mountain stream, separates them. re-
collected the general features Of the scene but the
particulars were lest. Here trees sprung up, and
waved their branches in the breeze-but they were
all strangers TO me. knew net bush, nor branch
Of them.
At last in descending the green hill to the "waer"
recognized The murmuring Of little waterfall that
lad been perfect Niagara to me when boy. my
Godr said TO myself "lheres the old Lynu'-I
looked again through some trees" Gracious hea-
yea there's the cid castle ruins the turres of which