Year: 1870

CONTINUED


To this proposal the stranger did moi
sseem to be averse In such circumstances
imen are often more grateful for a mere
! strifie than, in others, they would be for the
greatest favors. He seemed highly sensible
of the kindness with which be was treated,
and soon began to regard his entertainers
with a feeling Of respect Upon further
conversation, it was discovered that bis
name was Robert Walker-that be was the
son of the Glasgow merchant whose failure
has been already noticed as having been
prejudical to the interests Of james Brai-
kens and, on learning that be was in the
society of one who had been in the habit of
dealing with his father, be proceeded to
give them brief sketch of bis story.


After bis prospects had been obsecured
by the bankruptcy of his father, he had
succeeded in procuring for himselfa situa-
ton in Aberdeen; and, as be was good
pedestrian had, moreover, a liking
for rural scenery. rural manners, and un-
frequented roads-these considerations,
backed by motives Of economy, had induced
him to undertake the journey on foot. He
had accordingly proceeded by Kinross, in
tending to make his line as straight as pos
sible, without paying much attention to the
highways; and, on reaching the village Of
Strathmiglo, he had been directed across q
part of the Ochils as the nearest road to
Newburgh-at which part be intended to
cross the Tay He had taken these direc-
tions, and pushed forward, in the expecta-
ton that be would reach the last mentioned
place beSofs Il Wa ldtt;; b0stbe snvs <so6ing
on, be soon lost all traces of the road, and,
what was worse, be soon after lost everything
like an idea of what direction he was travel
ling in, He had, however, no alternative
but to proceed. Exertion was ndispen
sable to pre- ,ent bis limbs from being be-
numbed with cold but the dense fall Of
snow rrevented him from seeing any dis
tant object upon which be might direct bis
course, and thus arrive at some place Of
shelter. In this state of uncertainty, he
had wandered be neither knew where nor
how long, when-stumbling over the bank,
as already noticed, and being unable to ex-
tricate himself-he was beginning to fear
that be had reached the end Of bis journey
before his dehverers reached him.


On the following morning, which was
fair, though the clouds still appeared to be
far from having discharged the whole Of
their contents, the stranger was easily in
duced to accompany Betsy Braikens and
her brother to Perth-alleging, as his rea-
son for doing 50, wish to see the town, and
the possibility Of bis being there able to
procure some mode of conveying himself to
Aberdeen less laborious than travelling bad
now become They accordingly set forward
together but before they had reached the
bead of Abernethy Glen, the snow began to
fall, accompanied by gusts of wind, which
whirled whole wreaths into the air at once,
and drove the dazzling particles before
them with such violence, that sutfocation
seemed to be the inevitable consequence Of
being long exposed to the fury Of the storm.
In short time the snow had accumulated
to such depth in the hollows as to render
travelling most laborious operation and
it was with some difficulty that the party
reached the domicile Of Andrew Braikens,
where they thought it best to take shelter
for the present, and postpone their further
journey till the weather should be more
favorable. The storm continued for nearly
forty-eight hours without intermission, SC
that, dating from the time at which they sci
out, it was not till the evening of the third
day that they reached Perth.


Whatever loss in the way Of business
this delay might occasioned, the merchant
found, on his arrival, that it was only bis
absence which had saved him from being
declared bankrupt, and, in all probability
imprisoned for debt at the same time. But
on the previous day, one of his most clam
orous creditors had been suddenly taken i'll
A temporary respite was thus obtained and
with the assistance Of Robert Walker, who
exerted all his oratorical powers in his be
half, matters were again patched up, and he
was allowed to 90 on with the concerns Of
his shop as before. These things being
settled, this new friend strenuously advised
MIN to retain his business if possible assur
ing him, at the same time, that there wal
nothing like perseverance, and then went OF
his way, whittier We follow him or not.


At Gairyburn things went on much il
the same way as they. had done before, ex
cept that the management Of the house wa


now committed to the care of a servant girl


But some circumstances soon transpiret
which led tire people around to suppose tina
the girl might, in due time, be promoted t
be mistress of what at present she only man


aged for another Sandy Crawford ha'


bought rather better suit Of MORNINGS 70


Jenny Jervis than it was common to give t


a servant and this, along with number Q
other incidents and occurrences, too minut


to be enumerated here, but not so minut


as 10 escape the notice Of country POpula


ton, was made the subject Of discussion


at the tire-sides Of the neighboripg cottages


But as neither men nor women, since th
world began, were ever known 10 agre


about either religion or politics, or an.


other important matter Whatever, % her


there was differnce Of opinion and man