The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1876-01-12
FoR TIE CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN.
LETTERS OF DAVIE CALDER TO AN
ELGIN GENTLEMAN.
No. 5.
No. 5.

No. 5.
Dear L,-YOur communication has some
what disturbed my self complacency. YO'
have lost your usual cheerfuness and pra.
what is the cause of such marvellOu
change? We thought you were more o
man. The people of Elgin, including al
your relatives, are in good health. You
grand.mother Lois, and your mother Eunic'
are still at Elgin, and we'll prepared to as
cend to better city, even one that is hea
venly. Well, then, what is the mighty
trouble? Why, nothing more or less thar
that your afianced Lossie Bra has taken 8
queer notion to cross Pentland Firth, anC
circumnaVigate the Orkney8. Poor Lo8sie
We had attributed to her the several varie,
ties of the daisy, and never dreamed that
she would oppose herself to your sovereign
will. Especially when y1ur only objection
arises from fear that she may be lost in a
storm, or cast away on the Pentlsnd Sker-
ries. We must postpone the residue of this
letter, till We reflect on this momentouS af-
fair, that We may give you that advice which
becomes Sage.
You knew some time since that Lossie was
fond of excursions. She has stemmed the
brisk current of the Spey, gone to the
sources of the Findhorn, naVigated Loeb
Ness, climbed up Kirk Hill, explored the
McGregor cave, collected June flowers on
Ben Kinnes; she now wishes to lift her
hazel peppers on the Stunted shrubs and
juniper trees of the Ockneys, where James
vi. was once guest, and the third husband
of Mary, our Queen, a disappointed fugitive.
My advice then is that you make no further
opposition to her notion. A good many be-
sides Lossie have seen the grass of the Ork-
neys. The passion for going abroad will
soon be cured by the rush of domestic cares.
Since the war a good many Virginia ladies
have given up their passion for music
Their pianos were smashed, perhaps at the
dictum Of Phil Sheridan, who gained vic
tory at Winchester by leading fOrty-twO
Thousand against eight thousand men. You
may be sure of this change in your intended,
even should you settle on the blooming bank
Of Boutwell,. The English prisoners taken
by Robert Bruce were delighted with the
Clyde, and you will not catch her running off
to Luss on LomOnd.
the views of Lossie will be enlarged by
the voyage. Sir Francis Drake went round
the world; a greater achievement than en-
comprising cluster of poor islands in these
days of steam. Travel is a great thing for
the enlargement of the mind. This motive
in part has brought me TO Virginia. She
will inhale aquatic breezeS, and enjoy the
vision of more Nesses, alias roses, than We
can mention, because their names are so
uncOuth. But in passing ROseness it will
be found to be sweet. Nor do we think that
Lossie will be much distressed at Girdle
Ness, for many persons are pleased at being
bound. Why, the Zodiac is belt, and may
the sun of prosperity shine on all her life,
and her years be many in the land which the
Lord our God has given US, and rejoice in
the zodiacal light of heaven without any
ecipses or obhquities. We know not how
Scotland found such queer names for her
lochs, glens, bens, dsles, moors, caverns, and
even dens; for at Hawthornden Drummond
went forth to welcome johnson the pedes-
trian dramatist. Permit her by all means to
carry out her plan. Let her admire whole
acres of moss, set traps for rabbits, collect
the fruits of Pomona, unfurl her sail on
Scapa flow, purchase gentle pony, and
moor her skiff in the isle of Hoy, after talk
ing with the people on second sight. And
al there are ruins in mainland. Who can
resist the march of time, for it seems to re-
semble the omnipotence of our adorable Gre.
ator. But if your opposition be invincible,
Just hint about breaking squares. Let il
simply be whispered at the distance of the
South Pole and, mark me, Lossie will come
to, as a skif gides into its harbOr. Dom
break squares; for when man gets intc
Venus, his eye ought to beam keen on honor
You recollect no doubt an absurd rumol
which obtained currency in Elgin and For
res, that your correspondent had broker
squares with Roberta EdenkilHe, who live
near Kuockadown. Not one word of trutl
in that affair, and as you were my brave de
fender in that seven days report, it give
me pleasure to state the facts just as the.
occurred. Finding Eden in her name, it re
minded me of Eve, the mother of US ALL
e For awhile my fancy was taken with her i'm
posing person, and lofty air. She is hand
4 some, as you know, intelligent, rather ga
in her apparel, wealthy, good accountant
, strict attendant on the Kirk, rather IN
= friendly to the Free Church, and quite de
= voted to the Establishment We never quar-
relied about our Krks, because on man
points the Free Kirk and Establishment ar
closely allied. What then was the difficulty
We early discovered that she was ambition
h of becoming Lady EIgin, or Lady Gordon
. Her mind was fixed on some grandee, Opt
mate, or Bigwig. At a glance we discovere
, that all chances of success were gone, an
). that perseverance would only change h,
name to Edenkill-Him. Who would N
: avoid an arrow if it came from Eden?