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put some ferns into his master's particular corner； and adding；
〃Though； indeed； Robert； he doesn't deserve them； for he wouldn't
help me to gather them；〃 〃EH； MEM；〃 replies Robert； 〃BUT I WOULDNAE
SAY THAT； FOR I THINK HE'S JUST A MOST DESERVIN' GENTLEMAN。〃
Again； two of our friends； who were on intimate terms； and
accustomed to use language to each other； somewhat without the
bounds of the parliamentary； happened to differ about the position
of a seat in the garden。 The discussion； as was usual when these
two were at it； soon waxed tolerably insulting on both sides。
Every one accustomed to such controversies several times a day was
quietly enjoying this prize…fight of somewhat abusive wit … every
one but Robert； to whom the perfect good faith of the whole quarrel
seemed unquestionable； and who； after having waited till his
conscience would suffer him to wait no more； and till he expected
every moment that the disputants would fall to blows； cut suddenly
in with tones of almost tearful entreaty： 〃EH； BUT； GENTLEMEN； I
WAD HAE NAE MAIR WORDS ABOUT IT！〃 One thing was noticeable about
Robert's religion： it was neither dogmatic nor sectarian。 He never
expatiated （at least； in my hearing） on the doctrines of his creed；
and he never condemned anybody else。 I have no doubt that he held
all Roman Catholics； Atheists； and Mahometans as considerably out
of it； I don't believe he had any sympathy for Prelacy； and the
natural feelings of man must have made him a little sore about
Free…Churchism； but at least； he never talked about these views；
never grew controversially noisy； and never openly aspersed the
belief or practice of anybody。 Now all this is not generally
characteristic of Scotch piety； Scotch sects being churches
militant with a vengeance； and Scotch believers perpetual crusaders
the one against the other； and missionaries the one to the other。
Perhaps Robert's originally tender heart was what made the
difference； or； perhaps； his solitary and pleasant labour among
fruits and flowers had taught him a more sunshiny creed than those
whose work is among the tares of fallen humanity； and the soft
influences of the garden had entered deep into his spirit；
〃Annihilating all that's made
To a green thought in a green shade。〃
But I could go on for ever chronicling his golden sayings or
telling of his innocent and living piety。 I had meant to tell of
his cottage； with the German pipe hung reverently above the fire；
and the shell box that he had made for his son； and of which he
would say pathetically： 〃HE WAS REAL PLEASED WI' IT AT FIRST； BUT
I THINK HE'S GOT A KIND O' TIRED O' IT NOW〃 … the son being then a
man of about forty。 But I will let all these pass。 〃'Tis more
significant： he's dead。〃 The earth； that he had digged so much in
his life； was dug out by another for himself； and the flowers that
he had tended drew their life still from him； but in a new and
nearer way。 A bird flew about the open grave； as if it too wished
to honour the obsequies of one who had so often quoted Scripture in
favour of its kind。 〃Are not two sparrows sold for one farthing；
and yet not one of them falleth to the ground。〃
Yes； he is dead。 But the kings did not rise in the place of death
to greet him 〃with taunting proverbs〃 as they rose to greet the
haughty Babylonian； for in his life he was lowly； and a peacemaker
and a servant of God。
CHAPTER VI。 PASTORAL
TO leave home in early life is to be stunned and quickened with
novelties； but when years have come； it only casts a more endearing
light upon the past。 As in those composite photographs of Mr。
Galton's； the image of each new sitter brings out but the more
clearly the central features of the race； when once youth has
flown； each new impression only deepens the sense of nationality
and the desire of native places。 So may some cadet of Royal
Ecossais or the Albany Regiment； as he mounted guard about French
citadels； so may some officer marching his company of the Scots…
Dutch among the polders； have felt the soft rains of the Hebrides
upon his brow； or started in the ranks at the remembered aroma of
peat…smoke。 And the rivers of home are dear in particular to all
men。 This is as old as Naaman； who was jealous for Abana and
Pharpar； it is confined to no race nor country； for I know one of
Scottish blood but a child of Suffolk； whose fancy still lingers
about the lilied lowland waters of that shire。 But the streams of
Scotland are incomparable in themselves … or I am only the more
Scottish to suppose so … and their sound and colour dwell for ever
in the memory。 How often and willingly do I not look again in
fancy on Tummel； or Manor； or the talking Airdle； or Dee swirling
in its Lynn； on the bright burn of Kinnaird； or the golden burn
that pours and sulks in the den behind Kingussie！ I think shame to
leave out one of these enchantresses； but the list would grow too
long if I remembered all； only I may not forget Allan Water； nor
birch…wetting Rogie； nor yet Almond； nor； for all its pollutions；
that Water of Leith of the many and well…named mills … Bell's
Mills； and Canon Mills； and Silver Mills； nor Redford Burn of
pleasant memories； nor yet； for all its smallness； that nameless
trickle that springs in the green bosom of Allermuir； and is fed
from Halkerside with a perennial teacupful； and threads the moss
under the Shearer's Knowe； and makes one pool there； overhung by a
rock； where I loved to sit and make bad verses； and is then
kidnapped in its infancy by subterranean pipes for the service of
the sea…beholding city in the plain。 From many points in the moss
you may see at one glance its whole course and that of all its
tributaries； the geographer of this Lilliput may visit all its
corners without sitting down； and not yet begin to be breathed；
Shearer's Knowe and Halkerside are but names of adjacent cantons on
a single shoulder of a hill； as names are squandered （it would seem
to the in…expert； in superfluity） upon these upland sheepwalks； a
bucket would receive the whole discharge of the toy river； it would
take it an appreciable time to fill your morning bath； for the most
part； besides； it soaks unseen through the moss； and yet for the
sake of auld lang syne； and the figure of a certain GENIUS LOCI； I
am condemned to linger awhile in fancy by its shores； and if the
nymph （who cannot be above a span in stature） will but inspire my
pen； I would gladly carry the reader along with me。
John Todd； when I knew him； was already 〃the oldest herd on the
Pentlands；〃 and had been all his days faithful to that curlew…
scattering； sheep…collecting life。 He remembered the droving days；
when the drove roads； that now lie green and solitary through the
heather； were thronged thoroughfares。 He had himself often marched
flocks into England； sleeping on the hillsides with his caravan；
and by his account it was a rough business not without danger。 The
drove roads lay apart from habitation； the drovers met in the
wilderness； as to…day the deep…sea fishers meet off the banks in
the solitude of the Atlantic； and in the one as in the other case
rough habits and fist…law were the rule。 Crimes were committed；
sheep filched； and drovers robbed and beaten； most of which
offences had a moorland burial and were never heard of in the
courts of justice。 John； in those days； was at least once
attacked； … by two men after his watch； … and at least once；
betrayed by his habitual anger； fell under the danger of the law
and was clapped into some rustic prison…house； the doors of which
he burst in the night and was no more heard of in that quarter。
When I knew him； his life had fallen in quieter places； and he had
no cares beyond the dulness of his dogs and the inroads of
pedestrians from town。 But for a