The Ayrshire Legatees

On New Year's day Dr. Pringle received a letter from India, informing him

that his cousin, Colonel Armour, had died at Hydrabad, and left him his

residuary legatee. The same post brought other letters on the same

subject from the agent of the deceased in London, by which it was evident

to the whole family that no time should be lost in looking after their

interests in the hands of such brief and abrupt correspondents.

"To say the least of it," as the Doctor himself sedately remarked, "considering

the greatness of the forth-coming property, Messieurs Richard Argent and

Company, of New Broad Street, might have given a notion as to the

particulars of the residue." It was therefore determined that, as soon

as the requisite arrangements could be made, the Doctor and Mrs. Pringle

should set out for the metropolis, to obtain a speedy settlement with the

agents, and, as Rachel had now, to use an expression of her mother's, "a

prospect before her," that she also should accompany them: Andrew, who

had just been called to the Bar, and who had come to the manse to spend a

few days after attaining that distinction, modestly suggested, that,

considering the various professional points which might be involved in

the objects of his father's journey, and considering also the retired

life which his father had led in the rural village of Garnock, it might

be of importance to have the advantage of legal advice.

Mrs. Pringle interrupted this harangue, by saying, "We see what you would

be at, Andrew; ye're just wanting to come with us, and on this occasion

I'm no for making step-bairns, so we'll a' gang thegither."

The Doctor had been for many years the incumbent of Garnock, which is

pleasantly situated between Irvine and Kilwinning, and, on account of the

benevolence of his disposition, was much beloved by his parishioners.

Some of the pawkie among them used indeed to say, in answer to the godly

of Kilmarnock, and other admirers of the late great John Russel, of that

formerly orthodox town, by whom Dr. Pringle's powers as a preacher were

held in no particular estimation,--"He kens our pu'pit's frail, and

spar'st to save outlay to the heritors." As for Mrs. Pringle, there is

not such another minister's wife, both for economy and management, within

the jurisdiction of the Synod of Glasgow and Ayr, and to this fact the

following letter to Miss Mally Glencairn, a maiden lady residing in the

Kirkgate of Irvine, a street that has been likened unto the Kingdom of

Heaven, where there is neither marriage nor giving in marriage, will

abundantly testify.