The Ayrshire Legatees

At first when we came here, and when the amount of our legacy was first

promulgated, we were in a terrible flutter. Andrew became a man of

fashion, with all the haste that tailors, and horses, and dinners, could

make him. My father, honest man, was equally inspired with lofty ideas,

and began a career that promised a liberal benefaction of good things to

the poor--and my mother was almost distracted with calculations about

laying out the money to the best advantage, and the sum she would allow

to be spent. I alone preserved my natural equanimity; and foreseeing the

necessity of new accomplishments to suit my altered circumstances,

applied myself to the instructions of my masters, with an assiduity that

won their applause. The advantages of this I now experience--my brother

is sobered from his champaign fumes--my father has found out that charity

begins at home--and my mother, though her establishment is enlarged,

finds her happiness, notwithstanding the legacy, still lies within the

little circle of her household cares. Thus, my dear Bell, have I proved

the sweets of a true philosophy; and, unseduced by the blandishments of

rank, rejected Sir Marmaduke Towler, and accepted the humbler but more

disinterested swain, Captain Sabre, who requests me to send you his

compliments, not altogether content that you should occupy so much of the

bosom of your affectionate RACHEL PRINGLE.

"Rachel had ay a gude roose of hersel'," said Becky Glibbans, as Miss

Isabella concluded. In the same moment, Mr. Snodgrass took his leave,

saying to Mr. Micklewham, that he had something particular to mention to

him. "What can it be about?" inquired Mrs. Glibbans at Mr. Craig, as

soon as the helper and schoolmaster had left the room: "Do you think it

can be concerning the Doctor's resignation of the parish in his favour?"

"I'm sure," interposed Mrs. Craig, before her husband could reply, "it

winna be wi' my gudewill that he shall come in upon us--a pridefu' wight,

whose saft words, and a' his politeness, are but lip-deep; na, na, Mrs.

Glibbans, we maun hae another on the leet forbye him."

"And wha would ye put on the leet noo, Mrs. Craig, you that's sic a

judge?" said Mrs. Glibbans, with the most ineffable consequentiality.

"I'll be for young Mr. Dirlton, who is baith a sappy preacher of the

word, and a substantial hand at every kind of civility."

"Young Dirlton!--young Deevilton!" cried the orthodox Deborah of Irvine;

"a fallow that knows no more of a gospel dispensation than I do of the

Arian heresy, which I hold in utter abomination. No, Mrs. Craig, you

have a godly man for your husband--a sound and true follower; tread ye in

his footsteps, and no try to set up yoursel' on points of doctrine. But

it's time, Miss Mally, that we were taking the road; Becky and Miss

Isabella, make yourselves ready. Noo, Mrs. Craig, ye'll no be a

stranger; you see I have no been lang of coming to give you my

countenance; but, my leddy, ca' canny, it's no easy to carry a fu' cup;

ye hae gotten a great gift in your gudeman. Mr. Craig, I wish you a

good-night; I would fain have stopped for your evening exercise, but Miss

Mally was beginning, I saw, to weary--so good-night; and, Mrs. Craig,

ye'll take tent of what I have said--it's for your gude." So exeunt Mrs.

Glibbans, Miss Mally, and the two young ladies. "Her bark's waur than

her bite," said Mrs. Craig, as she returned to her husband, who felt

already some of the ourie symptoms of a henpecked destiny.