one will tell us where the path is without first receiving two bashliks-over two francs. At last a woman, with a remnant of the instinct of her sex, points in the right direction, and after dragging our horses up and down black waves of rock, that ring metallic under their feet, we emerge on a path flagged with broad stones worn slippery as glass. We soon reach the coast-line, and for a mile or so I walk along the high edge of Argob parallel with my party, in order to get a better idea of the strange and awful district. The lava lies in great petrified waves, and these huge waves are generally split along the centre of their ridge, and the two sides falling away, leave a yawning chasm, wide at the top but narrowing towards the bottom, and disclosing the heart of each wave. The scene has a weird, unearthly appearance. Here we cross the party that engaged to start from Dasmascus with us, but were being led about through the land, at the will of their dragoman.

We coast along the edge of the Lejah in a southwesterly direction, crossing broad bays which end in narrow creeks, and skirting headlands with their lighthouses in ruins. We pass likewise four considerable towns, with high towers, on the coast of the Lejah, and a number of smaller ruins. The country on our right is entirely under cultivation, and towards night we join in a long stream of farm labourers returning from ploughing. The ploughman generally rode a little donkey, carrying his plough across the saddle before him, and leading his two oxen behind. The men were strong, healthy, and hearty. They were going to Khubab, and so were we, and we swept along together. As we enter Khubab, we meet all the youths of the place drawn out in line to receive us, headed by the priest, the sheikhs, and the schoolmaster. As we pass all bend to the ground to honour us, the holy father lowest of all. It soon appears that some mistake has been made, and that honours have been given us that were not intended for us; for the sheikh, an old acquaintance, darts forward and shakes hands with me in the most familiar manner. For a moment Sheikh Diab is the most envied man in Khubab, for Lord Snifly's dragoman had sent a report before that a prince was coming, and the simple people beheld with wonder and awe their own sheikh shaking hands with the prince in the most familiar manner. It was curious to hear them telling one another that they felt assured from the beginning that I had nothing princely about my hat; but when the real scion of nobility did come, his appearance impressed them so little that they let him pass without a nod, though they had been waiting all the evening to give him a princely reception. He that would rule Easterns must not neglect appearances. When the Crown Prince of Prussia came to Damascus he was looked upon as of little account, chiefly, I believe, because he did not wear a crown through the streets; and nothing seemed so inexplicable in that wonderful Franco-German war as that so quiet-looking a man could be a soldier at all. The Russian prince entered Dasmascus last year in princely trappings, and the effect was marvellous. An old Moslem who stood by my side exclaimed, "Wulla such a giant!" and then he went off into the following soliloquy: "Praise be to God who raises up men like themselves to destroy them." Of course he meant the English, whose mission in the world is to fight the Russians whenever Turkey calls upon them to do so.

E

THE ARMIES OF EUROPE.

have been always accustomed to speak of the costliness of war. But we are learning that there may be a condition of things almost as disastrous and quite as costly, viz., an armed peace. Europe is at this moment at peace, but "it is a peace," says the "Times," "not only full of mutual suspicion and mistrust, but one which entails as great a burden as Europe collectively has ever borne as the cost of war. Our talk still is of peace and progress; but Peace has been shorn of its accustomed blessings, and Progress has chiefly enabled us to devote more money and greater efforts to the preparation for mutual destruction." These remarks are suggested by the following table, given by the "Times" Berlin correspondent, to illustrate the increase in the military forces in the principal European States in the last fifteen years:

Austria

Year.

European Russia and Caucasus. 1859 1874

Total Army.

Army available for Offensive Purposes. 443,800

452,450

incrcase 222,580

increase 8,650

604,100

665,810

.

1,134,200... 1,401,510 increase 267,310

increase 28,350 increase 11,900

317,650

605,200

156.450 322,000

increase 287,550 increase 165,550

836,800 1,261,160

483,700 710,130

1859 1874

1859 1874

France and Al

geria

1859 1874

Belgium

1859

1874

1859

58,550.

42,200

Holland

Great Britain

decrease 8,850 decrease 7,950

46,300

134,900. 204,510. 54,910 increase 69,610 increase 8,610

The number of men contributed for military purposes.by every million of inhabitants in the principal States, may be seen from the following table:

Austria.

Number of Soldiers for Each Million of Inhabitants.

European Russia and Caucasus 20,086
Italy
Germany

25,175

13,863

36,815

20,624

PAPER CHURCH.-There exists near Bergen, in Norway, a church constructed of paper, which can contain nearly a thousand persons. Its interior is of a circular form, while its exterior is of octagon shape. The relievos without and the decorative statues within, as well as the vaulted roof, nave and Corinthian capitols, are made of papier-mâche, which have been made waterproof by soaking them in a solution of quick-lime, curded milk and white of egg. It appears to us that this is up to the present the boldest use which has been made of paper. However, it ought not to cause great surprise, since the same material is partially employed in private houses, steamers, and public buildings, where papier-mâché is used for ornamentation instead of plaster cornices or embellishments cut out of solid stone. We confess our preference for the employment of bricks or stone in the construction of churches, but the preceding fact demonstrates the impossibility of foreseeing where the genius of industry of our century will stop with regard to the use of paper. Who, some few years ago, would have thought it possible to cover with glass a superficial area of eighteen acres? This fact has, however, been realised. When we think that psalms are chanted by a thousand voices in a church constructed of old rags, imagination may take its boldest flight, and everything may be expected from perseverance and the science of the times. Papeterie Francaise.

OFFERTORY STATISTICS.-The following figures, showing the offerings made in four London churches last year, give curious statistics :-

St. Mary, Newington, 30 per cent. in copper
St. John, Hammersmith

St. Mary Magdalen, Paddington

St. Peter, Eaton Square

£937 1,001 5,693 6,085

The "St. Peter's, Eaton Square, Parish Magazine," gives an interesting table of the coins which make up this sum, viz. 31 cheques; 91 bank-notes; 1,457 sovereigns; 1,375 half-sovereigns; 17 crowns; 3,092 half-crowns; 5,128 florins; 20,547 shillings; 19,638 sixpences; 3,582 fourpences; 12,278 threepences; 18,956 pence; 8,891 halfpence; 597 farthings; 60 foreign coins.-Church Bells.

RELIGIOUS SECTS IN SYRIA.-The effects of the Crimean war on the Mohammedan mind are even now not fully developed: but it is obvious that prejudices have received a severe shock, and Christian books are making their silent way into the most unexpected quarters. Prayerful and watchful expectation will be the present attitude of the friends of the Missions in Palestine, Asia Minor, and Constantinople. Syria contains representatives of almost every religious sect to be found in the Levant, besides others not met with beyond its borders.

1. Mohammedans, the lords of the country, about 150,000; divided into the Sunni, or followers of Omar, dominant in Turkey, Egypt, Syria, and parts of Hindustan; and the Shia, or followers of Hassan and Hossein, dominant in Persia, and bitterly hostile to the former.

The Druses (population 100,000), the Ansayrii (population 200,000), the Ismaelites, or Assassins, now few in number, and the Metawileh (population 25,000), may be regarded as heretical offshoots of Islamism, though their particular tenets, which they keep a profound secret, are but imperfectly ascertained. 2. Yezidis, or devil-worshippers, the bulk of whom are to be met with in Mesopotamia and Assyria.

3. Jews (population 40,000), subdivided into Talmudists; Karaites-who reject the Talmud, and are found principally in the Crimea; Chasidim-fanatics, not dissimilar from Mohammedan dervishes; Habadim, or Quietists; and Zoharites, so called from their adherence to the Talmudical book, Zohar.

In connection with them may be mentioned the Samaritans, between whom, however, and the Jews the bitterest hostility still exists. They are now dwindled down to 150 or 200 souls at Nablous (the ancient Sychar).

4. The Christian sects of Syria and the adjoining countries(1.) The Greek Church-called by themselves The Catholic and Apostolic Oriental Church'--with the four Patriarchates for Turkey in Asia, having their seats at Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, and Jerusalem. The two latter are virtually, though not nominally, subordinate to the Patriarch of Constantinople, and have each under their jurisdiction eight bishoprics.

(2.) The Greek-Catholic Church (population 40,000) was formed by a secession from the Greek Church about 120 years ago. Their liturgical language is Arabic; they receive the Lord's Supper in both kinds; their priests are allowed to marry; they keep Easter after the Oriental tradition; but they acknowledge the Pope's supremacy, and follow several Romish customs. The Patriarch resides at Damascus, and their ecclesiastical dignitaries are usually Arabs by birth, educated at Rome.

(3.) The Maronite Church (name derived from their first Bishop, who flourished in the seventh century) embraces about 200,000 souls, the descendants of the ancient Syrians. Their ecclesiastical language is Syriac, an unknown tongue to the generality. Their Patriarch resides on Mount Lebanon. They are bigoted and fanatical Romanists, with, however, certain usages of their own, most of their priests being married.

(4.) The Latins are native Roman Catholics of the European Church, but few in number, under the supervision of the

convents.

(5.) The Syrian or Jacobite Church consists of but few members. Their Patriarch resides near Mardin in Mesopotamia.

(6.) The Syrian Catholics, but few in number, bear the same relation to the Syrian Church that Greek Catholics bear to the Greek Church-i.e., they are Papists, retaining the language and certain of the rites of the Church from which they have seceded.

(7.) The Armenians in Syria are few in number, but important from their wealth. They are an ancient Oriental church, and their version of the Scriptures (about A.D. 421) is valuable in determining the Greek and Hebrew texts. They have few holidays, and condemn the worship of images. They are governed by four Patriarchs, of whom the principal resides at Echmiazin, near Erivan.

(8.) The Armenian Catholics are a papal offshoot of (7), as (2) is of (1).

(9.) The Copts are the Church of Egypt, numbering about 200,000 souls. They are the descendants of the ancient Egyptians the Arabic form of the name, Kubt, being apparently connected with AYYUTTоs. They practise circumcision.

(10.) Abyssinians regard themselves as a branch of the Coptic Church, though far outstripping them in absurd legions, superstitious ceremonies, and the worship of saints and angels. They regard Pontius Pilate and his wife as saints. Their worship is in the ancient and to them almost unknown Ethiopic language.-The Church Missionary Atlas. [Excellent maps, prepared with great care, and each illustrated by a good historical summary.]

DOCTORS SEE PEOPLE WITH LEAST DISGUISE.-Ministers of

religion see people at their very best. When a visit is expected the Bible or some pious book is found on the parlour table, and all seems serene and fair. Lawyers see people at their worst, and good legal advisers have a task to resist the angry feelings that would hurry them into bitter lawsuits. But doctors see From them few wish to hide their people just as they are.

real condition.-Dr. Livingstone.

66

MR. PLIMSOLL HONOURED BY FOREIGN SEAMEN.-An address, illuminated on parchment, was lately presented to Mr. Plimsoll, M.P., by a deputation of sailors from ships plying between London and Hamburg, of which the following is a copy: Honour to whom honour is due! This address to Mr. Samuel Plimsoll, M. P., the sailor's friend, is presented by the undersigned, representing over 600 seamen, who trade between Great Britain and Hamburg, to express their admiration of and to show their gratitude to him who has for many years taken a deep interest in the welfare of sailors. At a meeting held in the Sailors' Institute, Hamburg, it was unanimously resolved to offer our thanks and give some humble proof of our appreciation of such disinterested and self-denying work by ask ing you to accept this testimonial, which has been subscribed to by master-mariners, engineers, officers, and men. valuable life may be long spared (with that of your dear wife, to whom we look with reverence as your untiring coadjutor in this great and ennobling work in trying to prevent shipwreck and loss of life, thereby lessening widows' tears and orphans' cries) to bring to a successful issue such good and praiseworthy labours we will ever pray; your honoured name engraven upon

That your

our hearts, taught to our children, will not be forgotten when your voice is no longer heard in debate pleading the cause of humanity." Mr. Plimsoll, in thanking the deputation, said that he was taken by surprise, as he never expected such a handsome memento as that which had been presented. He begged the deputation to express to the sailors at the Institute at Hamburg his sense of their kind recognition of the efforts he had made, and he trusted that such legislation as would materially diminish the worst evils complained of would be entered upon. Complaints, we ought to add, have been made as to the exagge rations of some of Mr. Plimsoll's statements, and the actions for libel by some shipowners ought to make him more guarded in future, and his zeal consequently more useful.

FRANCIS JEFFREY AND HIS MSS.-Of Jeffrey's habits of work we do not know much. But what we do know is charac

teristic of the man. He never took up his pen till the candles were lit; and, like Sheridan, and Byron, and Charles Lamb, he did most of his work in those fatal hours of inspiration from ten at night till two or three o'clock in the morning. Adopted originally, perhaps, from the exigencies of his profession, Jeffrey continued his habits of study and of work all through his life; and the only disagreeable incident attending his elevation to the bench was, at least in his own estimation, the hard necessity it imposed upon him of breakfasting now and then at eight o'clock in the morning. His manuscript was inexpressibly vile; for he wrote with great haste, wrote, that is, as most men do whose thoughts outrun their pens, generally used a wretched pen, for he could never cut a quill, and altered, erased, and interlined without the slightest thought either of the printer or his correspondent. Sydney Smith was always quizzing Jeffrey upon his scrawl. How happy I should be," he says, in one of his notes, "if you would but dictate your letters, and not write them yourself. I can scarcely ever read them!" He gives a description in another of the sort of perplexities he got into in trying to puzzle out Jeffrey's manuscript. "I have tried to read it from left to right, and Mrs. Sydney from right to left, and we neither of us can decipher a single word of it.' Constable's printers followed Jeffrey's copy as Scotch terriers follow their quarry, by scent, for it was impossible for any of them to put two sentences together by sight.-Authors at Work. LIFE AT CAPE YORK, NEW GUINEA. In a letter from Mrs. Murray, whose husband has charge of the New Guinea Mission, we read: "The few poultry we have are fed on rice. There are horrible large serpents here from seven to ten

feet in length, which devour the fowls. We have lost many in that way. After finding out the cause of their disappearing, we made places for them in the back verandah, about ten feet above the ground, but it was of no use, they were devoured still. Then we had some put in boxes in the dining-room. One night we heard a great noise among the fowls. Mr. Murray went to see what was the matter, and to his great horror there was a huge serpent hanging over a cask with a fowl in its mouth. still a mystery how the serpent got into the room, unless it was at one of the small windows near the ceiling. Four or five large serpents have been killed near our house since our arrival."

It is

The city

YARKAND.-In his book "From Lahore to Yarkand," Dr. George Henderson gives pleasant notices of the countries which he visited in the expedition of 1870 under Mr. Forsyth. Dr. Henderson thus describes his first view of Yarkand. wall is about thirty feet high, and is built entirely of sun-dried bricks, and outside the wall there is a ditch. We entered by one of the gates, and found a guard drawn up inside, composed of villagers, or the peaceful inhabitants of the city, shopkeepers,

and others who formed the Yarkand reserve force.

We passed through many winding streets, most of them clean and wide, and in many places roofed over with trellis work and wires, as at Kargalik. The shops and houses were precisely like those in every Oriental town; but from the scarcity of timber and the absence of stone and kiln-burnt brick, all the houses are limited to one story in height. Our residence was extremely spacious and comfortable, and had evidently been built and fitted up specially for our use, which must have been a work of several months. Chairs and tables had also been provided. A splendid dastarkhan (entertainment) was at once brought in. Our quarters consisted of several courtyards; one of them was laid out as a flower-garden, and had a tank in its centre surrounded by rows of willow-trees." This is the bill of fare of a good dinner in Yarkand :-"First came melons, grapes, apples, pears, and apricots, with all sorts of jams and sweetmeats. One dish, much like marmalade, was composed of the pulp of some preserved fruits and finely-sliced carrots, flavoured with lemon. After the fruits and sweets, and a great variety of fancy bread and biscuits, a large tray of nuntoos

was brought in. These are a favourite dish in Yarkand, and consist of minced mutton flavoured with onions and sweet herbs, enclosed in a thin film of very nicely-made soft paste, and cooked by steam. The numtoos were followed by hashi.c., a baked leg of mutton buried in rice and carrots. The Yarkand mutton is delicious." This is a sketch of the general appearance of the people:-"We could not avoid remarking that a number of the Yarkand faces are precisely like those of Englishmen, being for the most part quite as fair, and many of them having rosy cheeks. No females were observed, and I was afterwards told that the rule against females appearing in public is more strictly observed in Yarkand than in most Mohammedan countries. In the villages we saw numAs we approached they always disappeared, bers of women. but we could often see numbers of pretty faces trying to get a sight of us through the chinks of the doors or peeping over the The total distance from Jamu, the winter garden walls." capital of the Maharajah of Cashmere (a few hours' distance from Lahore), to Yarkand, is a little above 1,000 miles, taking about seventy days marching, exclusive of halts.

TUDOR SHOES IN WINDMILL STREET, FINSBURY.-At a late meeting of the British Archæological Association, a collection of shoes, consisting of fifteen examples, found in Windmill Street, Finsbury, was exhibited. They were of the date of Henry VII's time, and a few of Henry VIII's. Stow, in his "Survey," states that the street, where the shoes were found, re ceived its name from the following circumstance. On the north side of St. Paul's Churchyard there stood formerly a chapel and a charnel-house, which were founded in 1287, but were pulled down in 1549. In that year the bones from the latter building were removed, to the extent of about one thousand cartloads, to Finsbury Fields, and a mound was formed by dust and all sorts of rubbish being thrown over them. On the mound three windmills were erected; and these shoes, it is thought, were part of the rubbish of which the mound had been originally formed. Many of the shoes exhibited resembled in shape those represented in the manuscript of the "Roman de la Rose," which was executed in Henry vir's time, and most of them, no doubt, belonged to that period.

"PAPIST OR PROTESTANT, OR BOTH BETWEEN."-Pope, the poet, in a letter to the Bishop of Rochester (November, 1717), says:-"I am not a Papist, for I renounce the temporal invasion of the Papal power, and detest their arrogated authority over princes and states. I am a Catholic in the strictest sense of the word. If I was born under an absolute prince, I would be a quiet subject; but, I thank God, I was not. I have a due sense of the excellence of the British Constitution. In a word, the things I have always wished to see are not a Roman Catholic, French Catholic, or a Spanish Catholic, but a true Catholic; and not a king of Whigs, or a king of Tories, but a king of England, which God of his mercy grant his present Majesty may be, and all future majesties."—Letter of Mr. Pope.

HARVEY MEMORIAL WINDOW.—A stained glass window has been placed in the parish church of Folkestone to the memory of Dr. William Harvey, the discoverer of_the_circulation of the blood, who was born in the town in 1578. It is the gift of the medical profession, more than 3,000 of whom have contributed towards the cost. The artist was Mr. C. E. Kempe, of Beaumont Street, London. In the chancel of this church there is a brass to the memory of Joan Harvey, mother of Dr. Harvey, which bears the following inscription :—“ A.D. 1605. Nov. 8th, dyed in ye 50th yeere of her age, Joan, wife of Tho. Harvey, mother of 7 sones and 2 davghters, a godly, harmless Woman; a chast loveing wife; a charitable qviet Neighbovr; a cofortable friendly Matro'; a provident, diligent Hvswyfe; a carefyll te'der harted Mother; deere to her Hvsband; reverensed of her children; beloved of her Neighbovrs; elected of God; whose Sole Rests in Heaven; her Body in this Grave, to her a Happy Advantage, to Hers an Vnhappy loss."

NEWSPAPER COPYRIGHT.-The "Printing Times" advocates a "newspaper copyright." It says, the thing to be done "is to enact a twenty-four hours' copyright for all newspapers. This would prevent the appropriation of news both by evening papers and by those who furnish the commercial newsrooms of the country with information (which is really taken earlier) from carrying out practices which, however legal, certainly inflict a very serious amount of injustice. We draw the line here that whenever another man's brains are used they ought to be paid for either directly or indirectly; and we do not approve of the telegraphing to the country papers the body of fact and opinion which has cost the London paper probably ten times as much as it would cost the agency who sent it out

and maybe a bit running burn before our door; and a bonnie garden with flowers and grozzet (gooseberry) bushes, and a bleaching-green of our own. "Still, Mr. Matthew, when the days begin to draw in, and get wet and cold, I canna say but I'm thankful to be so near kirk and market. I'm no so strong and supple as I have been, and there's a great difference between stepping down to the flesher's at the corner for our bit pound o' steak or minced collops, to sending two or maybe three miles for it in the country; and the meat often as teugh (tough) as bend leather when you get it.

"And then the country kirks, that are a pleasure to sit in in summer, when you can see the green kirkyard and the waving trees and the blue sky through the windows and the open door, are awfully cold and comfortless in winter-it's like sitting in a damp cellar to be in them, and every other body has a hoast (cough). It's a great comfort to have a kirk near one, there's no doubt; and they're very particular in heating the stoves in ours; and that's why I never grudge to give the bedral a half-crown at the new year, while most put him off with a shilling.

"But I have kent some, Mr. Matthew, who, rather than bide in a town with all its comforts, would have preferred to live in the poorest bigging in all the country. There was my Auntie Kirstyfar from thinking a town either a cheerful or a comfortable place, she held to her dying day it was neither, and that the most of the folk there were just thieves and vagabonds. But then she was only once in a town in her life, and she got a fright at that time besides."

"How was that, Nelly?" said I.

"I dinna think, Mr. Matthew," said Nelly, settling herself more comfortably in her chair, and sticking her knitting-needles carefully into the feather sheaf at her waist, as she always does before telling a story -"I dinna think that you ever heard me speak of my Auntie Kirsty before. I am sure, at least, that you never saw her, for at the time we lived in the manse she was an eldern woman, stopping at a farmhouse in Boulder parish. She wasna my full aunt, for my grandfather was twice married, and she and my Auntie Peggy were by the first wife, while my father was by the second. When my grandfather died, and my Auntie Peggy got married to the tailor, she went among her mother's friends at the East Braeside Farm, where she kept her cousin John Lundie's house till her death; and a good manager she was, and very kind to his motherless bairns. Many folk wondered that she and John didna make a match o't; but she was some years older than he was; besides, they had kent one another all their days, and I have often noticed that folk seldom think of marrying when that is the case.

"I dinna believe that marriage-at least, as regarded hersell-ever entered into my Auntie Kirsty's head. For one thing, she had no time to think o't, and I canna but suspect that idleset is at the bottom of many matches. If folk had their hands full of work there would be fewer thoughtless marriages.

"My Auntie Kirsty," continued Nelly, "was aye the worker in her father's family, and when she came to John's, truly she had her hands full. There were four wee motherless bairns to look after, two young light-headed hizzies to keep to their work, and most of the care of a large dairy farm on her shoulders, for John, honest man, aye took things easy. There was no wonder she didna get married.

"It wasna from ill-looks, however. She was a big, well-favoured, bouncing woman, I mind, with an arm like a man's for strength. I have seen her lift weights that many a man couldna stir. To see her going about her work with her coats weel kiltit to keep them clean, was just to see the picture of a throughgaun (practical), elever woman; and everybody said that John had just fallen on his feet for a housekeeper. But, though my Auntie Kirsty was all this, she was also very simple and tender-hearted, and just as ignorant as a bairn about the ways of the world; and no wonder, for she had zever been out o' the country side she was born in. She had never seen Yoker even, though it was only ten miles from John's; but the truth was, she couldna be easily spared from home, and, 'deed, she cared little about it.

"But at last, one summer, about six years after she had gone to Braeside, when all the cows had calved, and the thrang (pressure of work) was by till the harvest came, it came into my Auntie Kirsty's head that she would like to go to Glasgow and see her sister Peggy and her family. Peggy and her man had settled in Glasgow soon after their marriage; for Rabby was a pushing chield, and had heard of a good opening there in his trade; and, 'deed, he got on wonderfully. Peggy had been through once to see her friends, but it was years since; and every time she wrote to them, which was about twice a year, she was very fain that her sister or some o' them should come and pay her a visit.

"My Auntie Kirsty couldna be at the trouble of writing to say she was coming-for, well-a-wat! she could handle a milk-bowie (milk-pail) muckle better than a pen-but she got Rabby's direction by heart; and though Glasgow, she heard, was a place just extraordinary for bigness, she thought, having a Scotch tongue in her head, that there would be no difficulty in finding the way to the house she wanted.

"Well, my Auntie Kirsty got a far-away cousin of her own to fill her place at the farm till she came back, which she meant to do in three weeks; and very early on a fine summer morning she started-no empty handed, you may be sure-for Glasgow. She had a bundle with a change and her Sabbath-day's gown and shawl in it, for she didna travel in her best, besides a basket with some fresh eggs and butter and two pair o' ducks that she was taking as a treat like to her town friends. She would have nothing to do with a coach, though one ran through Yoker to Glasgow; she had never been in one in her life, and she thought she was safer trusting to her own legs. John sent a cart with her for the first twelve miles, and after that she had to walk as many more to reach the house of an old acquaintance who, she knew, would be glad to see her, and with whom she meant to bide a night.

"She had no trouble in finding her out, for the house stood by the roadside on the outskirts of a small town that she had to pass through; and well pleased was her friend to see her, for they hadna met since my auntie had gone to John's. Of course they had many old stories to crack about, and new ones too, for her friend had got married since she had seen her; and if my Auntie Kirsty hadna a man and weans o' her own to make cares for her to talk about like the other, she had toil enough with John and his, if she had been of a compleening turn o' mind, which she wasna.

"Her friend prigged (entreated) sore that she