course for a moment? There is a sea to receive thee in its bosom, and an eternity for man when his fretful and hasty course through the vale of time shall be ceased and over. What thy petty fuming is to the deep and vast billows of a shoreless ocean, are our cares, hopes, fears, joys, and sorrows, to the objects which must occupy us through the awful and boundless succession of ages!"

Thus moralizing, he passed on till the dell opened, and the banks, receding from the brook, left a little green vale, exhibit-' ing a croft, or small field, on which some corn was growing, and a cottage, whose walls were not above five feet high, and whose thatched roof, green with moisture, age, house-leek, and grass, had in some places suffered damage from the encroachment of two cows, whose appetite this ap-" pearance of verdure had diverted from their more legitimate pasture. An ill-spelt, and worse written inscription, intimated

to the traveller that he might here find refreshment for man and horse ;-no unac appear. ceptable intimation, rude as the hut ed to be, considering the wild path he had trode in approaching it, and the high and waste mountains which rose in desolate dignity behind this humble asylum.

1

"It must indeed have been," thought Morton, "in some such spot as this, that Burley was likely to find a congenial.confidante."

As he approached, he observed the good dame of the house herself, seated by the door; she had hitherto been concealed from him by a huge alder-bush.

"Good evening, mother," said the traveller." Your name is Mistress Maclure?"

"Elizabeth Maclure, sir, a poor widow," was the reply.

"Can you lodge a stranger for a night ?" "I can, sir, if he will be pleased with the widow's cake and the widow's cruize."

"I have been a soldier, good dame," answered Morton, " and nothing can come amiss to me in the way of entertainment."

"A sodger, sir?" said the old woman with a sigh, "God send ye a better. trade."

"It is believed to be an honourable profession, my good dame. I hope you do not think the worse of me for having belonged to it ?"

"I judge no one, sir," replied the woman, "and your voice sounds like that of a civil gentleman; but I hae seen sae muckle ill wi' sodgering in this poor land, that I am e'en content that I can see nae mair o't wi' these sightless organs."

As she spoke thus, Morton observed that she was blind..

"Shall I not be troublesome to you, my good dame ?" said he, compassionately; your infirmity seems ill calculated for your profession."

"Na, sir," answered the old woman; "I can gang about the house readily

aneugh; and I hae a bit lassie to help me, and the dragoon lads will look after your horse when they come hame frae their patrole, for a sma' matter; they are civiller now than lang syne.'

Upon these assurances, Morton alighted.

Peggy, my bonny bird," continued the hostess, addressing a little girl of twelve years old, who had by this time appeared, "tak the gentleman's horse to the stable, and slack his girths, and tak aff the bridle, and shake down a lock o' hay before him, till the dragoons come back.-Come this way, sir," she continued; "ye'll find my house clean, though it's a puir ane."

Morton followed her into the cottage accordingly,

CHAPTER XIII.

Then out and spak the auld mother,

And fast her tears did fa'

"Ye wadna be warn'd, my son Johnie,

Frae the hunting to bide awa!"

Old Ballad.

WHEN he entered the cottage, Morton perceived that the old hostess had spoken truth. The inside of the hut belied its outward appearance, and was neat, and even comfortable, especially the inner apartment, in which the hostess informed her guest that he was to sup and sleep. Refreshments were placed before him, such as the little inn afforded, and, though he had small occasion for them, he accepted the offer, as the means of maintaining some discourse with the landlady. Notwithstanding her blindness, she was assi