I never saw a fairer,

I never lo'ed a dearer,

And neist my heart I'll wear her,
For fear my jewel tine."

She is a winsome wee thing,
She is a handsome wee thing,
She is a bonie wee thing,

This sweet wee wife o' mine.
The warld's wrack3 we share o't,
The warstle and the care o't;
Wi' her I'll blythely bear it,
And think my lot divine.

Epistle to a Young Friend.

I lang hae thought, my youthfu' friend,
A something to have sent you,
Tho' it should serve nae other end
Than just a kind memento;

But how the subject-theme may gang,5
Let time and chance determine;
Perhaps it may turn out a sang,
Perhaps, turn out a sermon.

Ye'll try the world soon, my lad,
And, Andrew dear, believe me,
Ye'll find mankind an unco squad 6

And muckle they may grieve ye:
For care and trouble set your thought,
Ev'n when your end's attained;
And a' your views may come to nought,
When ev'ry nerve is strained.

I'll no say men are villains a';

The real, hardened wicked

Wha hae nae check but human law

Are to a few restricked.

But, och! mankind are unco weak,

An' little to be trusted;

If self the wavering balance shake,
It's rarely right adjusted!

1 Next.

2 To lose.

3 Trouble. 4 Struggle.

5 Go.

• Strange crew.

Yet they wha fa" in fortune's strife,
Their fate we shouldna censure,
For still the important end of life
They equally may answer:
A man may hae an honest heart,
Tho' poortith2 hourly stare him;
A man may tak a neebor's part
- Yet hae nae cash to spare him.

Aye free, aff-han', your story tell,
When wi' a bosom crony;
But still keep something to yourse
Ye scarcely tell to ony.*
Conceal yoursel as weel's ye can
Frae critical dissection;

But keek thro' ev'ry other man
Wi' sharpen'd, sly inspection.

The sacred lowe" o' weel-plac'd lov
Luxuriantly indulge it;

But never tempt th' illicit rove,
Tho' naething should divulge it;
I waye the quantum' o' the sin,
The hazard o' concealing;
But, och! it hardens a' within,
And petrifies the feeling!

To catch Dame Fortune's golden smile
Assiduous wait upon her;

And gather gears by ev'ry wile
That's justified by honor:
Not for to hide it in a hedge,

Nor for a train attendant,

But for the glorious privilege
Of being independent.

The fear o' hell's a hangman's whip
To haud the wretch in order;
But where ye feel your honor grip10
Let that aye be your border:

Its slightest touches, instant pause

Debar a' side pretences;
And resolutely keep its laws,
Uncaring consequences.

The great Creator to revere

Must sure become the creature:
But still the preaching cant forbear,
And ev'n the rigid feature;

Yet ne'er with wits profane to range
Be complaisance1 extended;

An atheist laugh's a poor exchange
For Deity offended!

When ranting round in pleasure's ring,

Religion may be blinded;

Or, if she gie2 a random sting,

It may be little minded;

But when on life we're tempest-driv'n,-
A conscience but3 a canker,

A correspondence fix'd wi' Heav'n
Is sure a noble anchor!

Adieu, dear, amiable youth!

Your heart can ne'er be wanting!

May prudence, fortitude, and truth

Erect your brow undaunting!

In ploughman phrase, "God send you speed," 4
Still daily to grow wiser;

And may ye better reck the rede

Then ever did th' Adviser!

Highland Mary.

Ye banks and braes and streams around

The castle o' Montgomery!

Green be your woods, and fair your flowers,

Your waters never drumlie: 6

There simmer" first unfauld her robes,

And there the langest tarry;

For there I took the last fareweel
O' my sweet Highland Mary.

1 Courtesy. 2 Give, 3 Without. Success. 5 Heed the advice. Muddy. 7 Summer,

How sweetly bloomed the gay, green birk,
How rich the hawthorn's blossom,
As underneath their fragrant shade

I clasped her to my bosom!
The golden hours on angel wings
Flew o'er me and my dearie;
For dear to me, as light and life,
Was my sweet Highland Mary.

Wi' mony a vow and locked embrace
Our parting was fu' tender;
And, pledging aft to meet again,
We tore oursels asunder:

But, oh! fell death's untimely frost,
That nipt my flower sae early!

Now green's the sod, and cauld's the clay
That wraps my Highland Mary.

O pale, pale now, those rosy lips
I aft hae kissed sae fondly!

And closed for aye the sparkling glance
That dwelt on me sae kindly!
And mould'ring now in silent dust
That heart that lo'ed me dearly!
But still within my bosom's core
Shall live my Highland Mary.

PERIOD VIII.

FROM THE FRENCH REVOLUTION ONWARDS,

1789

LESSON 49.

Brief Historical Sketch.-In 1793 war began with France; it ended June 18, 1815. Vaccination introduced, 1796. Rebellion in Ireland put down, 1800. Union of Ireland with England, 1800. Undulatory theory of light established, 1802. Battle of Trafalgar and death of Nelson, 1805. Death of Pitt, 1806. Slave Trade abolished, 1807. Against Napoleon's Berlin decree, 1806, which made it lawful for French vessels to seize neutral vessels sailing from English ports with English merchandise, the celebrated retaliatory Orders in Council are issued, 1807, declaring France and all subject states in a state of blockade and that vessels attempting to trade with their ports may be seized. In 1807 the American Congress retaliates with the Embargo, and in 1809 prohibits intercourse with England and France till the restrictions on neutral commerce are relaxed. War declared against the U. S. in 1812, ended, 1814. Streets of London first lighted with gas, 1814. Holy Alliance formed, 1815. First steamer, the Savannah, crosses the Atlantic, 1819. George IV. comes to the throne, 1820. Roman Catholics admitted to Parliament, 1829. First Railway, from Liverpool to Manchester, 1830. Wm. IV. succeeds Geo. IV., 1830. Reform Bill, 1832. Slavery abolished in British colonies, 1833. East India trade thrown open, 1833. Great Tractarian Movement" by Newman, Pusey, and Keble begun, 1833. System of National Education begun, 1834. Victoria succeeds William IV., 1837. The Opium War with China, 1839. Penny Postage, 1840. Transportation for Crime abandoned, 1840. Ashburton Treaty respecting our N. E. boundary, 1842. Potato famine in Ireland, 1845. Treaty determining the boundary of Oregon, 1846. Corn Laws repealed, 1846. French Revolution and flight of Louis Philippe to England, 1848. Suppression of the Chartists and of Irish rebels, 1848. Peel's death, 1850. Crystal Palace Exhibition, 1851. Crimean War, 1854-5. Sepoy Mutiny in India, 1857-8. East India Co, abolished, and sovereignty of