“ It was the wreck of her once noble lad, who, shattered by wounds, by sickness, and by foreign imprisonment, had at length dragged his wasted limbs homeward, to repose among the scenes of his childhood.
I will not attempt to detail the particulars of such a meeting, where joy and sorrow were so completely blended; still he was alive; he was come home; he might yet live to comfort and cherish her old age; Nature, however, was exhausted in him; and if any thing had been wanting to finish the work of fate, the desolation of his native cottage had been sufficient. ”

“ The gallant officer was himself in tears; he knew that it was impossible to grant the poor wife's petition, without creating much discontent in his company, and he gazed upon them with that feeling with which a good man always regards the sufferings' he cannot alleviate. At this moment, a smart young soldier stepped forward, and stood before the Captain, with his hand to his cap. ”

“ When I saw the mother slowly and painfully quitting the grave, leaving behind her the remains of all that was dear to her on earth, and returning to silence and destitution, my heart ached for her. What, thought I, are the distresses of the rich ? they have friends to soothe—pleasures to beguile—a world to divert and dissipate their griefs. ”

“ There is a narrow pass between the mountains in the neighbourhood of Bendearg, in the Highlands of Scotland, which, at a little distance, has the appearance of an immense artificial bridge thrown over a tremendous chasm; but on nearer approach, is seen to be a wall of nature's own masonry, formed of vast and rugged bodies of solid rook, piled on each other, as if in the giant's sport of architecture. ”

“ What are the sorrows of the young? their growing minds soon close above the wound—their elastic spirits soon rise beneath the pressure—their green and ductile affections soon twine round new objects. But the sorrows of the poor, who have no outward appliances to soothe—the sorrows of the aged, with whom life at best is but a wintry day, and who can look for no after-growth of joy—the sorrows of the widow, aged, solitary, destitute, mourning over an only son, the last solace of her years; these are indeed sorrows which make us feel the impotency of consolation. ”

“ Oh! there is an enduring tenderness in the love of a mother to a son, that transcends all other affections of the heart. It is neither chilled by selfishness, nor daunted by danger, nor weakened by worthlessness, nor stifled by ingratitude. ”

“ A murmur of approbation succeeded his speech, and Stewart turned back intimidated, and seated himself on a grave-stone at a little distance, folding his arms across his breast, and kicking his heels against one of the feet of the stone, in order to appear very much at his ease. ”

“ At length M'Pherson, suddenly removing his right foot, so as to give him greater purchase, stooped his body, and bent his enemy down with him by main strength, till they both leaned over the precipice, looking downward into the terrible abyss. The contest was as yet doubtful, for Grant had placed his foot firmly on an elevation at the brink, and had equal command of his enemy, but at this moment M'Pherson sunk slowly any firmly on his knee, and while Grant suddenly started back, stooping to take the supposed advantage, whirled him over his head into the gulf. ”

“ But at this instant the dogs boldly flew in between us and the lion, and surrounding him, kept him at bay by their violent and resolute barking. The courage of these faithful animals was most admirable; they advanced up to the side of the huge beast, and stood making the greatest clamour in his face, without the least appearance of fear. The lion, conscious of his strength, remained unmoved at their noisy attempts, and kept his lead towards us. ”

“ Sometimes he would start from a feverish dream, and look anxiously up until he saw her venerablo form bending over him, when he would tako her hand, lay it on his bosom, and fall asleep with the tranquillity of a child. ”

“ As soon as silence was obtained, Mr Thomson, in a few simple words, refuted Stewart’s objections, and at the same time held up to public view Mr Johnson’s drawing of the footstep, to convince the people that there was something so remarkably peculiar in its shape, there could be little doubt of finding out the person to whom it belonged, by the means proposed. Every one now seemed eager to have his shoes examined, and hastened to seat himself on the grass. Two shoemakers were employed to take the measurement, and Mr Johnson accompanied them with the drawing in his hand. ”

“ They then threw their bonnets over the precipice, and advanced with a slow and cautious pace closer to each other—they were both unarmed. Stretching their limbs like men preparing for a desperate struggle, they planted their feet firmly on the ground, compressed their lips, knit their brows, and fixing fierce and watchful eyes on each other, stood prepared for an onset. ”

“ I do not pretend to be what is called a devout man; but there are feelings that visit mo in a country church, and tho beautiful serenity of nature, which I experienco no where else; and if not a more religious, I think I am a better man on Sunday, than on any other day of the seven. ”

“ It was the aged mother of the deceased—the poor old woman whom I had seen seated on the steps of the altar. She was supported by a humble friend, who was endeavouring to comfort her. A few of tho neighbouring poor had joined the train, and some of tho children of tho village were running hand in hand, now shouting with unthinking mirth, and now pausing to gaze, with childish curiosity, on the grief of the mourner.
As the funeral train approached the grave, tho parson issued from the church porch, arrayed in the surplice, with prayer book in hand, and attended by the clerk. ”

“ M'Pherson fell backwards, his body partly hanging over the rock, a fragment gavo way beneath lim, and he sunk farther, till catching with a desperate effort at the solid stone above, he regained his footing. There was a pause of death-like stillness, and the bold heart of M.Pherson felt sick and faint. At length, as if compelled unwillingly by some mysterious feeling, ho looked down over the precipice. Grant had caught with a death-like grip, by tho rugged point of a rock—his enemy was almost within his reach. ”

“ I'll guard the yett, and let none out.” “You are saved that trouble, young man,” replied Mr Thomson, “for there are constables already posted at the gate, and none need attempt to escape.” “I must request every person,” continued he, “to sit down on the grass in the vacant space at the north side of the church, arranged as nearly in rows as possible. That you may not think this request unnecessary, I will explain to you the reason of it. The murderer, whoever he was, left the impression of his shoe on some new dug ground near the spot where the crime was committed. ”

“ Sleep, sleep they say, it’s a sleep.” “Alas! young man,” said Mr Thomson, shuddering as he spake, “in that sleep there aro awful dreams to the wicked—dreams do I say? they are horrible realities. God grant that I may not find—” “It's a lie!” interrupted he with a dreadful oath, “I'll no beliove it—sae yo needna preach to me.” Mr Thomson, finding ho could do no good by continuing tho conversation, left the room; and it was not long after this he learned that the wretched murderer died, still hardened and impenitent. ”

“ There is something in sickness, that breaks down the pride of manhood, that softens the heart, and brings it back to the feelings of infancy. Who that has languished, even in advanced life, in sickness and despondency ”

“ At this moment we felt our situation not free from danger, as the animal seemed preparing to spring upon us, and we were standing on the bank, at the distance of only a few yards from him, most of us being on foot and unarmed, without any visible possibility of escaping. ”

“ They had inhabited one of the neatest cottages, and by various rural occupations, and the assistance of a small garden, had supported themselves creditably and comfortably, and led a happy and blameless life. ”

“ But among husbands and wives, uncertainty as to their destiny prevailed for the lots were yet to be drawn—the lots that were to decide which of the women should accompany the regiment, and which should remain behind. ”

“ The women had gathered round the flag-serjeant, who held the lots in his cap, ten of them marked, “to go,” and all the others containing the fatal words “to remain” It was a moment of dreadful suspense, and never have I seen the extreme of anxiety so powerfully depicted in the countenances of human beings, as in the countenances of each of the soldiers’ wives who composed that group. One advanced and drew her ticket ”