The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1850-11-09

nlshed by her family, she rnnmcncel bu-i-
ne-s a- d i''llar ia rnnli articles a,t,f.,.g the
poasantry Of the hills
Finding tho suporuitions Of her country
folk stlil more prevalent thau the desire toT
thimblrs and needles Nanny yry threwd-
ly connected uecromancy and fortune telling
with her other cmploymcntsi and sho soan
found the people would pay any money with
IN their means for the qualification Of NOR
bid curiosity, In tle prosecution uf this vo-
cation Of questionable morality, flr many
years joined Ia an economy yergnP on asce-
tic coyctouancss the weird sistor 6f the hills
had deposited a considerable sum of money IN
the Bank Of Glasgow, besides what she had
Huriod 10 irbn pots In her kailyard. bot
Nanny M'Grceor had now hecomo an old
woman The STORMS Of liio had shaken her
frai tenement; and the thoughts Of approach
ing death had drawn her wandering heart
back 10 early picty, aud 10 the lessons Of god
llaa-.z-As Lad -L-li. tsl..sl4s ". tl.s-ls.E-al
She had bought tho soqucslercd cottage
have uotirrd with kHiiyari atmrhcd, retired
10 IL from trade and necromancy, refusing
longer to toll the fortunes Of the young, or
reveal the hiding place Of lo.t good,, aud,
A. far ~ fail humanity could resist the force
oflong established habits Nanny had be-
come religious and godly.
Still. she could not maintain picty In her
foulnor health in her body without largr
dmughp Of mountain air, which she had
been accustomed 10 imbibc for more than
seventy years, 10 obtain this, she still wan
dcrcd much amoug the broken bighlAnds;and
thrrr wr- mt shepherds lby, n -ore Of
bird nor blcat Of flock, she had not heard a.
mong the hcathcry hills She more than
once stood concealed, listening 10 the wild
notes Of mimicry ~ performed hy the "wcc
~, 81 la.ldie ? ~ .he called John Groig, a. he
was mockmg the birds On. his rustic instrul
mcnt
At-l-rrtlr- she fs,.e,l,,i- rer-rf --,,r-'
priscd him while ~ his music, "Yc need ma
riu, laddic; III ma harm yc," said she sooth.
inply, NJ John was hastily quitting biz mossy
knoll. "Comc back, and tune up that wee
bit o pipes once moir. I'm ma just sure /
kend the like. OF till moo, save the sclfsamo
thought BE- among the spiritual psaltcrics aud
holy pipes Of lsracl's shepherd, when tending
his father. locks,as We hear % in holy kirk"
Rc-assurcd 10y the kindly soothing Of the
old woman. John returned TO bis seat and
music and ~ the humhlc.t performer loves
ilattcry equally well with the grca, mnstcr,
himself and in favor ,owafh N,dny 't,- ,of
unqualified rrri-r.
"Au moo" said the old woman, "rm laud
body; they ca me the weird cronc a. the hilt
on coniabulatinr wi witches, elves, Giric.
an warlocks, ON a sickcu dcyilmcnt,; bat
a.. ,4.aii.r, l. has -lIair nar-Gncugh ~ wlrlds
gear gathered anaug the -nfn' a tai, Ian, Ia
buy sma spot a. earth ia Kirk -yarl,and set
mp bit grayc-slouc 10 my ould head; aud
sin moo hac guide tho'ts o. my lang hamc,
an Il surc hc there, Gamma misdoubt H., my
gha,tly duty TO uphold some poor laddic To
the university, or the kirk, that he might cN-
pauad Gods MorL when I'm lain doun in
rcacc myscl, q, the psomist says"
Poor John Grcig but ii1h, know what was
meant by universities, or holy calings 20 the
nih-try, ia kirk or sessions; yet he could not
fail 10 understand that il was the oldwoman's
design, some how or Athcr, to better his con
ditiun 10y the use or money, lie agreed,
therefore, that she MIGHT go to his father, and
obtain his consent to her plan whatever it
might br Old shepherd Grcip had taken
lessons of adycrsity from the stern book of
nature for many year; or, at least, from that
page of laid open over the hcnthcry hills of
Scotland, whore the,pNcrty of the soil is in
striking contrast with the richness aud ,aric-
T., of the scenery. lie knew that To get a
snug living in kirk was far better for John
than tending sheep To old Nanuy's propos-
al, heard with some surprsci ho replied
"Wccl o day, wecl o day, Miss Nanny rm
no lust sure sic wonlermcut Ger cum over
me, TO hnc il tould 10y ycrsclf, that one o. my
ane 10y pooriul predetermination, is to haze
/ part in the loregathcriug o saints; and that
the wee addic fiae the sheep fauld iS TO be
elected Until the gospel ministry, faud the
flock o'Chrcest, deal in spirtuals, an the
wcchtier matters o the law albeit, | danrna
dcny John is "A heavenly minded tad, n tro't
fu1ikc and his ganging ava will be sair wac
to me, and missed 10y the Sheep nevertheless
/ guide righth hac the Lord To ca his ain in his
ain guide time, an the spunke ceme to be a
Tsayory preacher, an skilh like in kirk ordi'
nanccs, j rarui, say amen. The bairn is nae
mair my ain, but dcdicat till the Lord. -
Poor Johnny of the sheep fold. for whom
such pious calculations were made, was no fl
candidate for the university. He still hac
his letters to learn; and humble DOMINIC OF
Perthshirc was selected as his teacher in the
primer and horn book. II is said however
that the, boy made rapid progress in his early
studies; so that within three years after hi
: first essay at letters, he was removed To
grammar school at Glasgow Yet previou
Il nj that event. lath his t5ther and his old pat
, .roness were tenants OF the graveyard. Nan
I, ny MGrcgor was not surprised by death. r
Her penitence and faith waNed deep am
bright as she drew near her rnd;and the hop
of A blissfil Immortality gildcd her pathwa