manor, and filled their places with his countrymen, who preferring roast beef to crowdie, came in clusters, as we see shrimps drawn from the sea hanging by each other, on the first intelligence of M'Boot's preferment across the Tweed. The tenants would not, perhaps, have thought this removal of the old servants so much amiss, if others had been chosen from among themselves; but they thought themselves outraged and insulted by M'Boot's placing them under the controul of hungry strangers, who never threw away a bone till they had picked it so clean, that even a dog could have made nothing of it, and would have spurned it. To add to their discontent, they were then engaged in an expensive contest with one Farmer Lewis, lord of the adjoining manor of GULL, and one Farmer Charles, lord of another adjoining manor, called GRAVEAIRS; and they threw all the blame of their ill-success on M'Boot, who, however, was not the author of its commencement. They openly vented their displeasure on M'Boot, even in his master's presence; but being proud of his favour and protection, as well as of his own noble Scotch descent, he set them all at

defiance, and answered all their taunts by pointing to his coat of arms, which was a thistle surrounded with this motto:

Nemo me impunè lacessit.

of which the enraged tenantry made this free and vulgar translation;

Touch not a Scot for fear of the itch.

VOL. I.

CHAPTER III.

FARMER GILDRIG

MARRIES.- CHARACTER

OF HIS

LADY.--BIRTH OF A SON AND HEIR.-MISMANAGEMENT OF STEWARD THREATENS TO PRODUCE CIVIL DISCORD. - FARMER GILDRIG'S BREACH OF

PROMISE, AND ITS ALARMING EFFECTS ON THE TENANTRY.

SOON after Farmer Gildrig's succession, he married Charlotte, the daughter of one Muckelburg, a neighbouring lord. Though not famed for superior beauty, she was a most amiable, worthy, discreet, domestic young gentlewoman, in whom malice itself could find no other fault, if fault it can be, than that of the most rigid economy. Whenever the clothes of the Lord's family were hung out to dry, after a washing day, there was not a bush which did not bear testimony to her industry. Stockings and other paraphernalia were so patched and darned that, like the coat in Swift's Tale of a Tub, not a

fragment of the original was to be seen. In the incumbered situation of the manor, this conduct was certainly setting an example worthy of imitation; but those, who loved to pick flaws in coats and could not even let petticoats alone, would maliciously assert that she hoarded for her own private purse. But far be it from a work of this kind to become a vehicle of scandal, which would be an infringement on tea-table privilege! Penelope at her web, and the Roman matrons weaving garments of rich Tyrian die, would be equally the subjects of those who prefer loose dissipation to profitable industry.

In due time after the nuptial ceremony, a son and heir-apparent (who was named George after his father) was born just as news arrived of the Lord's having gained some advantage over his antagonists, Farmers Lewis and Charles. The tenants made general rejoicings, and appeared for a while to forget their troubles, especially as the contest between the rival lords was soon after put an end to, leaving them all, like suitors after a law-suit, pretty much out at the elbows. They were, however, so

inveterately clamorous against Sawney M'Boot, that he was obliged to give up his office, and retire behind the curtain. He certainly refrained from all open interference in the affairs of the manor; but as it was suspected that he continued to give an impulse to the secret machinery, obloquy pursued him to his retreat. He was attacked in several scurrilous hand-bills, particularly by one JOHNNY SQUINTUM, an idle, dissolute, needy stable-helper, and wicked wit, who had the impudence to level his abuse even against the Lord himself. It was said by these scribblers in vindication of themselves, that M'Boot had first begun to throw dirt at his opponents through the same paper mediums. Squintum was apprehended-placed in the house of correction turned out from the stables; he gained his liberty, however, but was obliged to leave the manor to avoid the sentence of a Court Baron. M'Boot was succeeded in the stewardship by one Greenfield, who began to apply himself to relieve the distressed finances of the tenantry, and to regulate their economy; his schemes, whilst they were confined within the manor, were undoubtedly wise