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letter were put into the hands of the minister, from the worthy nobleman whose exemplary tutor he had been, at an age when few are able to guide themselves. The letter overflowed with expressions of still youthful kindliness and gratitude. The parcel contained a snuff mull of beautiful workmanship, inlaid with all the valuable Scottish stones produced on the noble donor's estates.

"If I have any good in me," said the writer, in honest sincerity of acknowledgment, "you dug it out from its native bed like these long-overlooked gems, which, but for the hand which set them where they are, might have been still trodden underfoot, or slumbering in their dark hill-sides for ever. When you look on this box, think on your own workmanship, and add one more to the thousand pleasing reflections which make this day a day of pride to all, save your own modest self."

It was not in man to be unmoved by a tribute like this, and from the Duke of the very model and pattern of a pious and patriotic noble.

"Too much, too much!" sighed the meek man, as he read. "God made him what he is! education can do little for hearts and heads like his!"

The Lily was called, and her eyes sparkled through tears as they glanced on the splendid present and ducal epistle; but they did not glisten, nor her soft cheek glow, as while conning every feather on the dark glossy wing of young Norman's sylvan tribute.

Lilly, too, had her present on the way; one to whose safety, in her eyes, that of empires was as nothing: and never was the delay occasioned by traiking Tibbie's late tumultuous nuptials more acutely felt, than when noon arrived, bringing duly Norman's precarious prize, the roe, but no tidings of the fair fabric of Lilly's afterdinner glory-videlicet, a huge cake, from the city, which was first to grace with appropriate devices her grandfather's honoured board, and then to gladden, with undreamt-of sweets, the eyes and palates of the whole Sabbath school. The sight of the groups, who in holiday attire were already parading in joyful anticipation, deepened her anxieties; and the joy of eighteen, like the joy of eighty, had thus its inevitable drop of alloy !

The Manse, meantime, teemed all the morning with unbidden yet privileged guests. Neighbouring pastors came to congratulate the willing fellow-labourer, under whose fatherly shadow themselves had grown insensibly grey-with whom they had "taken sweet counsel and walked in the house of God as friends"—and with whom they hoped, though in all humility, to stand side by side at the great account. Couples married by him in the earlier periods of his incumbency, still lived to thank him for half centuries of happiness; while children and grandchildren, christened by his hand, and made Christian by his precept and example, came with them to add their grateful acknowledgments.

Widows, whose hearts had been bound up by one acquainted with grief, brought all they had-a prayer and a blessing to swell the general tribute: while the Sabbath school children tottered under the load of a Pulpit Bible, purchased out of the hoarded halfpence of the good man's own overflowing liberality.

With this juvenile offering he was fairly upset; and always easily overcome by aught associated with his own childless hearth and early-removed olive plants, he thanked them with tears alone, and deputed the glad Lilly to invite them all to tea on the green. This she could do with an easy mind, for Tibbie had at length arrived, -the enormous weight of the cake balanced, though imperfectly, in her panniers, by two of the hugest ewe-milk cheeses that ever owed their existence to mountain gratitude!

Our party, swelled by a few guests of the better order, at length sat down to dinner; and never did feast (for a feast it was, fit for the court of aldermen !) yield more unmingled satisfaction. The old man, exhilarated by the spontaneous burst of affection with which his Anniversary had been hailed, felt a buoyancy of spirit to which he had for years been a stranger. G and I were excited to the utmost by so unwonted a celebration. The Dominie himself, through the week the "observed of all observers," looked up in delighted admiration to his own exemplary Teacher; while the rough diamond of a Doctor eyed him with

the exact counterpart of the expression with which his dog, of the true shepherd breed, fixed his eyes in mute devotion on his master's well-known countenance. All felt, that like the good Centurion in Scripture, he had but to say to any of them, "Do this, and he doeth it; come, and he cometh." Their hearts, under Providence, were in his hand, and they felt it was well it should be so!

But there was in young Norman's reverential gaze, something deeper and more filial than any, and strange to say! on this day alone, when all seemed elated and emboldened, it was tempered for the first time with fear. For Norman had a suit to prefer, before that evening should close, on which hung his own and another's happiness; and not all the softened feelings of the day of jubilee would, he feared, reconcile the old pastor to the thought of parting with his Lilly! How this was to be brought about or even hinted at, was more than even a lover could devise,-so to Providence he left it, as he had been taught by his pastor to leave all besides.

And strangely was the knot cut, and the difficulty removed 'ere the thought had well passed from the young man's troubled mind! - Among the healths of that eventful evening, - "absent friends," the one ever dearest to the hearts of Scotsmen, was not forgotten; and then for the first time, did the pious father allow himself to whisper a regret that his daughter, the only stay of his old age, should dwell divided from him by

duty, in the new world. True, she was solacing by her kindness, and cheering by her society, the labours in Christian usefulness of a worthy countryman whom the spiritual necessities of his exiled Scottish brethren had induced to forego home and kindred for their sakes. But they had been long, long absent on this labour of love, and a father's heart would yearn, on the proudest day of his life, for a glimpse of his long banished only child!

The vain wish had crossed like a passing cloud the rarely dimmed serenity of his mind, and left but a halo behind,-when, as Lilly, loaded with the huge remnants of her cake, and assisted by Norman, was leaving the house to prepare for her juvenile fête-two plainly dressed, but respectable looking people, opened with something of strange familiarity the garden gate, and asked if Mr. Maxwell was at home.

"He is,” replied Norman, answering for the bashful and surprised girl,-"but very particularly engaged with friends, who would be loth to part with him tonight, even on business."

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'Lilly, my own Lilly!" sobbed out the female traveller, clasping her daughter to her heart-and then finding breath to say,-"how is my dear father?”— "Oh, well! well!" cried the delighted girl, hanging round her own father's neck in frantic joy,-come and see him directly!"

"Not just directly, my own Lilly!" said he com

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