grinned as they passed, and said, "That's a kind heart, God bless un!" and the market-girl looked more than once over her shoulder at the athletic form, which corresponded so well with the frank and blithe address of the stranger. A rough terrier dog, his constant companion, who rivalled his master in glee, scampered at large in a thousand wheels round the heath, and came back to jump up on him, and assure him that he participated in the pleasure of the journey. Dr Johnson thought life had few things better than the excitation produced by being whirled rapidly along in a postchaise; but he who has in youth experienced the confident and independent feeling of a stout pedestrian in an interesting country, and during fine weather, will hold the taste of the great moralist cheap in comparison.

Part of Brown's view in choosing that unusual track which leads through the eastern wilds of Cumberland into Scotland, had been a desire to view the remains of the celebrated Roman Wall, which are more visible in that direction than in any other part of its extent. His education had been imperfect and desultory; but neither the busy scenes in which he had been engaged, nor the pleasures of youth, nor the precarious state of his own circumstances, had diverted him from the task of mental improvement." And this, then, is the Roman Wall," he said, scrambling up to a

height which commanded the course of that celebrated work of antiquity: "What a people! whose labours even at this extremity of their empire, comprehended such space, and were executed upon a scale of such grandeur! In future ages, when the science of war shall have changed, how few traces will exist of the labours of Vauban and Coehorn, while this wonderful people's remains will even then continue to interest and astonish posterity! Their fortifications, their aqueducts, their theatres, their fountains, all their public works, bear the grave, solid, and majestic character of their language; and our modern labours, like our modern tongues, seem but constructed out of their fragments." Having thus moralized, he remembered that he was hungry, and pursued his walk to a small public-house, at which he proposed to get some refreshment.

The ale-house, for it was no better, was situated in the bottom of a little dell, through which trilled a small rivulet. It was shaded by a large ash tree, against which the clay-built shed, that served the purpose of a stable, was erected, and upon which it seemed partly to recline. In this shed stood a saddled horse employed in eating his corn. The cottages in this part of Cumberland partake of the rudeness which characterizes those of Scotland. The outside of this house promised little for the interior, notwithstanding the vaunt of a

sign, where a tankard of ale voluntarily decanted itself into a tumbler, and a hieroglyphical scrawl below attempted to express a promise of "good entertainment for men and horse." Brown was no fastidious traveller-he stooped and entered the cabaret.

The first object which caught his eye in the kitchen, was a tall, stout, country-looking man, in a large jockey great-coat, the owner of the horse which stood in the shed, who was busy discussing huge slices of cold boiled beef, and casting from time to time an eye through the window, to see how his steed sped with his provender. A large tankard of ale flanked his plate of victuals, to which he applied himself by intervals. The good woman of the house was employed in baking. The fire, as is usual in that country, was made on a stone hearth in the midst of an immensely large chimney, which had two seats extended beneath the vent. On one of these sat a remarkably tall woman, in a red cloak and slouched bonnet, with the appearance of a tinker or beggar. She was busily engaged with a short black tobacco-pipe.

At the request of Brown for some food, the landlady wiped with her mealy apron one corner of the deal table, placed a wooden trencher and knife and fork before the traveller, pointed to the round of beef, recommended Mr Dinmont's good example, and, finally, filled a brown pitcher with

her home-brewed.

Brown lost no time in doing

ample credit to both. For a while his opposite neighbour and he were too busy to take much notice of each other, except by a good-humoured nod as each in turn raised the tankard to his head. At length, when our pedestrian began to supply the wants of little Wasp, the Scotch store-farmer, for such was Mr Dinmont, found himself at leisure to enter into conversation.

"A bonnie terrier that, sir-and a fell chield at the vermin, I warrant him—that is, if he's been weel entered, for it a' lies in that."

"Really, sir, his education has been somewhat neglected, and his chief property is being a pleasant companion."

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Ay, sir? that's a pity, begging your pardon -it's a great pity that-beast or body, education should aye be minded. I have six terriers at hame, forbye other dogs. There's auld Pepper and auld Mustard, and young Pepper and young Mustard, and little Pepper and little Mustard-I had them a' regularly entered, first wi' rottens-then wi' stots or weazles and then wi' the tods and brocks-and now they fear naething that ever cam wi' a hairy skin on't."

"I have no doubt, sir, they are thorough-bred -but, to have so many dogs, you seem to have a very limited variety of names for them."

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O, that's a fancy of my ain to mark the breed,

sir-the Deuke himsell has sent as far as Charlieshope to get ane o' Dandy Dinmont's Pepper and Mustard terriers-Lord, man, he sent Jamie Grieve the keeper, and siccan a day as we had wi' the foumarts and the tods, and siccan a blithe gae-down as we had again e'en! Faith, that was a night!" “I suppose game is very plenty with you ?"

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Plenty, man!-I believe there's mair hares than sheep on my farm; and for the moor-fowl, or the grey-fowl, they lie as thick as doo's in a dooket -Did ye ever shoot a black-cock, man?"

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Really I had never even the pleasure to see one, except in the museum at Keswick."

"There now! I could guess that by your Southland tongue-It's very odd of these English folk that come here, how few of them has seen a blackcock!-I'll tell you what-ye seem to be an honest lad, and if you'll call on me-on Dandy Dinmont at Charlies-hope-ye shall see a black-cock, and shoot a black-cock, and eat a black-cock too, man." Why, the proof of the matter is the eating, to be sure, sir; and I shall be happy if I can find time to accept your invitation."

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"Time, man? what ails ye to gae hame wi' me now? how d'ye travel?"

"On foot, sir; and if that handsome poney be yours, I should find it impossible to keep up with you."

"No unless ye can walk up to fourteen mile an