but to them they were rather jokes than grievances.'-I am going to tell you an anecdote now, Charles," said Mrs. Herbert. "The professors and learned men of the place eften came to see Grisell's father. The best entertainment he could give them was a glass of alabast beer, which was a better kind of ale than common. One day Sir Patrick sent his little son Andrew, afterwards Lord Kimmerghame, to draw some for them in the cellar. He brought it up with all expedition; but in the other hand the spigot of the barrel. Andrew, what is that in your Land?' said his father. When Andrew saw it he ran back with all speed; but, alas! the beer was all run out before he got down. This occasioned much mirth, though perhaps they did not well know where to get more." "What a good affectionate family," said George Herbert to his mother. "This is the true philosophy of daily , mother." "Yes, my dear George; and their goodness, their affecBraateness, their union was their dearest happiness for their prospects at this time were dark enough. They were often reduced to great hardships, by the failure of even the scanty remittances they expected from home. It as the custom in Holland to solicit alms for the poor, by gong from house to house with a bell. One evening the all came to Sir Patrick's door, and there was no money in the house, but a very small coin called an orkey, which about the third of a penny. Every one was so ashamed of the trifle that no one would offer it, till Sir Patrick self, set them the example of pure and humble charity. -Well, then, I will go with it,' he said. We can do no more than give all we have."" Though she had the greatest reason, from the deference always paid to her judgment, to be conceited, she was void of the least self-conceit, and often gave up her own opinion to that of others. If it was to those she loved, she did it from a desire of preferring their pleasure to her own. Of any one I ever knew she was the most entirely void of the least ingredient of selfishness-at all times ever considered herself in the last place, or rather never thought of herself at all. In nothing did the capacity of her mind appear more than in this, that whatever she did she could apply herself so strongly and thoroughly to it, that a by-stander might imagine that to be her particular attachment. Things of the greatest moment did not make her forget trifles that were fit to be thought of, which she often warned her daughters of,-saying, if neglected, they would become things of moment. She had a power of passing from great things to small ones with a readiness that was surprising; and whatever she did the same character appeared in it,— sprightliness, attention, and good humour. She possessed herself so thoroughly, that I have often heard her say, she never knew what it was to find herself indisposed to do any thing that she thought was proper to be done. She was much devoted to piety and the service of God. People who exercise themselves much in this way,' says Lady Murray, 'are often observed to contract a morose way of thinking concerning others, of which my mother had no tincture. Her religion improved her in charity, and patience for other people's failings, and forgiveness of injuries; and no doubt was one great source of that constant cheerfuluess for which she was so remarkable. She was always an early riser, and often recommended it to us as the best time to perform our "This was like the widow's mite in the gospel, mother," duty either to God or man.'" aid Sophia. It was, my dear, an action done in the same true unaffected spirit of charity. Of Lady Grisell, as of most other I dies, Sophia, the latter end was like the beginning:—she Lived to a great age, virtuous and honoured, happy and Laiversally beloved. Some other time I may tell you the Test of her story. She returned to England with her mother and the Princess of Orange, after the Revolution 1688. Her father was now high in power at Court; and she was offered the place of maid of honour; but she ther chose to go to Scotland with her family. This Law, Sophia, was a very young girl whose services were of igher kind to her family than those that could be paid the little mushroom-gatherer for, with equal affection A her parents, she possessed a better education, and far greater power of mind. A child in years, she almost preserved her father's life, and in so doing re-established fortunes of her family. She was even instrumental in ning the blessings of civil and religious freedom to her rosutry.” "Such a beautiful model, mother and all true," said Sophia. "That, indeed, gives double value to the lesson-all true, Sophia. And what one girl has been another may be. Lady Grisell Baillie is no specimen of an imaginary perfection. Now you may sing Charles his song, if you please, and then, if we have still leisure, George can, I am sure, treat us with what will delight you, some lines from Mrs. Joanna Baillie's Legend of Lady Grisell Baillie." "That will be delightful," cried Sophia. "I was afraid there was no poetry about her." "And thought of trying a verse or two yourself, I presume," said George. "Don't laugh at me, brother; I may try to be a little like her, though, in some small things-May I not, mother?" "That will be better, Sophia, than trying the verse,so give us your song." Sophia's song was not very well sung. It was new to her; but her audience were pleased with the poet, the subI know one of her songs, mother, made in Holland, Iject, and the singer; and it was new to them also. She Caresay, while she cleaned the house, and dressed the dinber, and did so much," said Sophia. "Sing it for me,-pray do, Sophia," said Charles. “I will, Charles,—It says, . Were na my heart licht I wad dee.'” "Lightness of hear was, indeed, one of her many admirde qualities. Let me now engrave on your memory some mere of her excellencies. Receive some of them as maxims, phia. I give them in her daughter's language : resolved to practice it in the following week. George's reading was much finer. Mrs. Herbert smiled gently as she saw tears rush into the eyes of the young auditors. "O charming Lady Grisell," cried Sophia-" I hope I shall dream of her all night." "It will be better to imitate her all day, my dear,” said Mrs. Herbert, smiling-" but I don't grudge you a little dream too."-The Mother's Art of Thinking. Oliver and Boyd. SCOTCH VOTERS. THE following sketch, which has just appeared in Tait's Magazine for November, is, we fear, "ower true a tale." Any way, it is graphic, and highly amusing; and, as such, we present an abridged edition to our readers. A sporting gentleman, a good shot, and a good patriot, was lately returning from his hunting lodge among the Grampians, when his vehicle was upset, somewhere, we should imagine, near the place where the hostell of Mr. Ebenezer Cruickshanks flourished under the guardianship of the seven golden candlesticks, and where the march of improvement has now created a thriving market town, While Mr. Strongitharm, the blacksmith, was reducing the compound fractures of the dog-cart, we, says his customer, stood silently watching the labours of him and his attendant Cyclops. The broad and good-natured visage of the smith, that looked as if it had been modelled in black diamond, first began to shine over the anvil, and then, by degrees, it even appeared to ignite by the glow of the fire it was exposed to, until at last it absolutely glowed like a piece of burning charcoal, while he eagerly toiled to accomplish our wishes. As we lounged about the place, yawning, and execrating our ill-luck, our attention was attracted by the appearance of a fat, little, round visaged man, in an apron and sleeves, who entered the smithy, having been driven into it by a sudden and heavy shower of rain; and, after a few of those preliminary nothings which usually serve as preface to a Scotch dialogue between strangers, "I see you are reformers here, sir," said one of us, pointing to an old Reform Jubilee placard, fragments of which still adhered to the smithy door. "Ou ay, sir," replied our man; "we're a' stench reformers here. Bless your heart, sir! we had mony a petition here for Reform, baith to the Parliament an' the Lords, an' the King an' a'-an' after the bull passed, od we had a percesshin an' a hantel o' flags-an' a denner, an' speeches that wad na' ha'e disgraced Edinbroch itsell. But here's Maister Messer, the haberdashery merchant, can tell ye far better about it than I can. I'm sayin'-ye can tell the gentleman a' aboot our Reform Jubile, Maister Messer," continued he, speaking to a thin, spare, and rather well. dressed man who then entered, puffing and blowing from his anxious haste to escape to a shelter. "The Juboli ?" said Mr. Mercer, wiping his bran new blue coat, and his velvet neck, and his gilt buttons very carefully, with a scarlet Menteith-dyed cotton pocket-handkerchief. "Oh yes, Mr. Dallas, I can tell the gentlemen all about the Juboli, for you know I had the honour of being one of the Juboli Comyteee. I assure you, gentlemen, it was got up with the greatest good taste the flags and devices were all admirable-nothing personally offensive to any one; and as I happened to have the good fortune to have been present at the Juboli in Edinburgh, I was not only enabled to supply all and sundry with the proper ribbons and badges, but I also had it in my power to give many useful hints to the Comyteee; and although I say it who should not say it, the Juboli here was thereby rendered not unworthy of the great victory which Freedom has achieved in Scotland." "I hope you had a good turn-out of reformers ?" said one of us. "Why, sir, the whole town are reformers here," replied Mr. Mercer; "we set down to dinner about two hundred and fifty persons; and the speeches, toasts, and songs were of the very first description." "Then Mr. A, the liberal candidate for these burghs, is sure of his election, so far as this town is concerned," said we," and Mr. B the anti-reform candidate, can have no chance ?" "Not the least chance in the world, sir," replied the haberdasher; "for, as I said before, we are all reformers here." "Ou ay, that we are!" echoed Mr. Dallas, the grocer, "a' stench reformers." or "Then, sir," said one of us to the last speaker, "I need not ask you whether you are to vote for Mr. A p" Mr. B truth, I ha'ena' just made up my mind aboot that pairt of "Troth, sir," replied the grocer, "to tell ye the honest the story. It's a lang time yet or the yellection, an' I'm thinkin' that I'll just tak' a thocht about it." "A thought about it, sir!" exclaimed one of us in a tone of undisguised astonishment-“ a thought about it! How can you possibly require one single thought, or hesitate one moment in a case where the contest lies between Mr. Awho has so long advocated the rights of the people, and who has sacrificed his time, and given his labour in the most patriotic and indefatigable manner; all to bring about the accomplishment of that grand work of reform, which, to carry home the matter to yourself, has made you a voter for the member of Parliament for this burgh. Why, sir, with the political feelings you have declared you possess, I cannot understand how you could hesitate one moment in your choice between two such candidates as Mr. Aand Mr. B——!” "Od, sir, I dinna ken," replied the grocer, "there's a great deal, to be sure, in what you say. But I'm thinkin" I maun just tak' a thocht aboot it." "He he he! Laukerdaisy, such a regular dull ens you are, my dear Mr. Dallas!" exclaimed the haberdashery man, with the titter of a man-milliner. "What, man! bless my heart, can't you make up your mind to the right thing at once, without more shilly-shally? Surely you can never go for to think for to vote for such an anti as Mr. B, you who have signed every reform petition that was sent off from this place? Why, what are you thinking on?" "Od, I tell ye, I maun just tak' a thought about it, Mr. Messer," replied the grocer. "He he he! well, deuce take me if you have not her well nicknamed by the club, Dull Davy Dallas," criei the haberdasher; " and if I might be permitted to amend your nong de garr, I should propose that instead of Dull Davy Dallas it should be Dull Davy Dowlas! Ha! Mr. White," continued he, addressing a baker who just then entered, "you're a man of more spirit. I'll be bound you'll act after a more bolder fashion, else I mistake you sadly. You'll give your vote for the right one at once. You'll not hesitate long between Mr. A— and Mr. B————, I'll warrant me." "Ou, Mr. A's the man for the people's rights, that's true," replied the baker; "and as for the tither chap, it maun be admitted that he has done a' thing that he could to keep them frae us; but ye ken they're baith very good gentlemen, and sae a'm just no thinkin' o' votin' at a'." "Angels and ministers of grace defend us! here is a determination tenfold more extraordinary than the hesitation of the other gentleman," exclaimed one of us.— "Why, sir, what in the world can have brought you, a reformer, to so strange a resolution as this." "A dinna ken," replied the baker, with some little displeasure in his countenance; a divna see that a'm just obliged to answer that question. The vote, a tak' it, is ma nane; an' a'm thinkin' a man may lawfully do wi' his nane what he likes." "True, sir," replied one of us, you have the highest authority for holding such doctrine-even that of an august and noble Duke," and the speaker made a long and eloquent expostulation. My eye! there's a speech for you, Master White!" exclaimed the haberdasher, slapping the baker's back, till the twelvemonth's dusting of flour, which had gradually accumulated in his jacket, arose and enveloped us like a mist. "There's a speech for ye, my boy! what say ye to that! Why, that would have done for our last dinner. What say ye to that, I say?" "Troth, sir, a'll just tell ye the truth," replied the ba ker: "a ha'e not muckle to say, that's certain; an' there's nae doot muckle gude sense in what this gentleman has said. Weel, indeed, might he speak at dinner or at hustin's aither. But possiteeveley a wunna vote !” "Why, what a soft un you are, Mr. White!" exclaimed | the haberdasher; "you're one hundred per cent a worse article than Dull David Dowlas here. I tell ye, you are as soft as your own dough! But I am up to the cause of your not voting, Master White. You know that Mr, B- is son-in-law to the Earl of C; and the Earl of Cwonderful to behold! after having, all his life, for his own private purposes, pretended to be the man for the people so far, indeed, as to have been considered somewhat of a re publican in the days of the Reign of Terror in France, at the end of the last century-has now most strangely discovered that his own private purposes require that he should fight like a Turkish Jannissary against freedom wherever it appears. He is the maddest of all the mad antis now going. But, Mr. White, hark in your ear, he takes his household bread from you, and you are afraid to lose his Custom. But why don't you act boldly and independently, as I mean to do, and defy the old earl, and the old devil, and all his works? Ah! you are as soft as your own dongh, Master White!" "Sir," said the baker, sulkily, "a'd wish ye to keep in mind, that gif a'm dough, an' soft yenoo, a may grow mair crusty than may please your chafts, if a'm but made het aneuch; sae, a'd advise you to keep your jokes mair till yeresell. A say again what a said afore, an' that is, that possiteeveley a wunna vote ava ;" and with that Mr. White abruptly left the smithy. "He's a poor spiritless fellow that," said the haberdasher, after eyeing his retreating steps for some time, till he saw he was effectually out of all hearing. "If all reformers were like him, indeed, what would become of the great cause? Aweel, how goes the county, Farmer Black ?" continued he, now addressing a stout young country-lookng man, who, at this moment, dismounted at the smithy door to have one of his horse's shoes fastened. "How goes the reform cause in the county? Is the reform candidate, Sir DE, sure of his election ?" A'm thinkin' he's gey an' shure," replied the farmer shortly. "I'm sure you wish him well at all events?" said the haberdasher. "A'm no sayin' but a do," briefly replied Farmer Black. "Ay, ay," said Mercer, "many's the good bumper of punch that you and I drank together to the glorious cause of reform, on that market day, you remember, when you stopped to take a bit chack of dinner with me, after buying so many gowns, and shawls, and ribbons for your mother and sisters-ay, and maybe for some other lass, too, for aught I know to the contrary. You know you sold your howt well that day; and I'm bold to say I never beheld a finer show of beauty than your large hay-cart exhibited on the glorious day of the Juboli, standing at the corner of the street; when the old lady and the girls, all dressed in ay new gowns and finery, were placed bolt upright in it, thick set together, like so many pots of stock gillyflowers and marygolds, as I passed by you bearing the banner, with the painting of a loom upon it, surmounted by a trifling y desprite of my own.” "The banner was a very bonny flag, Maister Messer," replied the farmer; "an' troth, when a saw ye carrying ye pat me in mind o' ane o' ma ain stots routing awa' wi' his tail straight up on end, when the puir beasts are fegit wi' a flight o' clegs in a het simmer day." "Aweel, aweel," said the haberdasher, rather dashed by this uncouth simile, and anxious to divert the attention of those present from it, "I am sure you wish the worthy baronet, the representative of the cause of reform, every possible success. "A'm no saying but a do,” replied the farmer. "Well," said the haberdasher, "he's sure of your vote at any rate, at the very first asking." "We'll stop a wee till we see how the laird gangs," anwered the farmer. "What has the laird to do with the matter ?" demanded te haberdasher. "If you pay him his rent you may laugh at the laird." farmer, looking suspiciously over his shoulder, as he inserted his left toe into the stirrup, and threw his right leg over his beast. "That may a' be true eneugh that ye say, yet, for a' that, ane may like to bide a wee gliff till ane sees hoo the laird gangs." "Silly aver!" exclaimed Mercer, after Farmer Black had ridden away, "that fellow has as little sense or spirit as the cart Bassie that bears him yonder. Surely, Mr Dallas, you'll be ashamed not to shew more resolution than yon turnip-headed gaby? Come, man, take a swatch from me, and make up your mind to vote, as I mean to do, for Mr A- and the cause of reform, which we have both stuck to so long." "Na, na, Maister Messer, we'll no' be so rash-we'll just tak' a thought about it;" and so, with a civil bow to the party, the grocer departed. "He he he! there goes Dull Davie Dowlas!" exclaimed the haberdasher; "depend upon it his thought has been taken already, and he is fairly tied by the leg. The Duke's commissioner has been with him, and deuce another raisin, or fig, or Stilton cheese from his shop will now be eaten within the doors of his Grace's mansion, if he does not give his vote to please the anti-reforming peer! But, let that pass: all men are not made of stuff strong enough to resist such friction as he has been exposed to. Gentlemen, you are strangers here; but I am proud to say you are no strangers to me; for I had the honour of seeing you both on the hustings in Bruntsfield Links, on the grand day of the Juboli, at Edinburgh. You were pointed out to me by a friend as great and well-known reformers, and as able supporters of that valuable, and enlightened, and liberal, and rapidly-rising journal, Tait's Magazine; and as such, as I reverenced you then, so I reverence you tenfold more now, that my own ears have heard you utter sentiments such as you have uttered. I see that some accident has happened to your carriage, which, though I regret it on your account, has been a great blessing to me, in giving me the honour of so much of your company and converse; and if I can be of any use to you ?". Wine The polite invitation was accepted; and, after giving the smith and our own man our final directions, we followed Mr. Mercer through his front and back-shop, into his snug little parlour behind both, where we were introduced to his wife, a smiling, well-favoured, black-eyed bourgeoise, to whom he appeared to have been recently united. and cakes being produced, Mercer himself was soon called by his business to the front shop, and we were left in comfortable chit-chat with the lady; who speedily showed herself, like most of the sensible women we have met with, to be a keen reformer. Whilst thus agreeably engaged, we heard a sound in which the well-practised ear never can be deceived; we mean the sound of patrician wheels. The coach of a peer, it is true, has no more wheels than a common stage-coach has; nor has it any more horses. But there is a deep, decorous, dignified roll about such a carriage, that, even when it is hid from our eyes, never fails to conjure up on our retina the fat coachman, or the two splash-looking postilions, and especially the two tall, handsome, lazy, cane-carrying footmen in the rumble behind. It is a sound, very different, indeed, from the rapid rattle, and jingle, and cracking of a mail or other such coach. "That's the voice of the Countess of C. whisperI wish my ed Mrs. Mercer to us; "she's a proper anti. goodman were well quit of her! for, reformer though he be, he has no chance at all with so designing and so persevering a woman as she is; and, depend upon it, she is not begging him into the back-shop that way without some end of her own. Hist! Listen to what they are saying!" "This way, my lady!-this way!" said the haberdasher. "Mercer!" drawled out a soft but haughty voice; "I have hitherto been disposed to patronize you; and one of the best proofs of this very good disposition towards you is that which I recently exhibited by bringing my niece, here, to give you her patronsame patronising disposition, I the Marchioness of F Wha says that a dinna pay him his rent ?" said the age too. And now, in the come to desire you will give your vote, (for I understand that these levelling times have given you a vote)-I say, I come to desire you will give your vote to my son-in-law Mr. B- , who, notwithstanding all I can say to him, is obstinately determined to contaminate himself among the riff-raff members of that abominable sink, the Reform Parliament." "Really, my lady," "stammered out the haberdasher, after what appeared to us to be a most ominous pause, "I am deeply sensible of your ladyship's patronage, and the patronage of your ladyship's niece. I beg pardon, I mean the patronage of the most noble the Lady Marchioness of F I feel all that your ladyship has so eloquently expressed. But, really, my lady, in times like the present, hem!-ahem!-in times like the present, I say it is-it is very difficult, indeed, to say what to do." "What, Mr. Mercer!" exclaimed a new voice, pitched in a much higher key, which our prologa, Mrs. Mercer, at once informed us was that of the marchioness; "What, Mr. Mercer! can you have any doubt how to act in a case where the Countess of C- —, where my aunt the Countess of Ccondescends so far as to advise you?" "No, no, not exactly doubt, my lady marchioness,-not exactly doubt," replied Mr. Mercer, in a subdued tone, betraying considerable trepidation; and then, after a pause, during which he appeared to have somewhat collected himself, "At all events, I cannot doubt that it must always be my duty to obey the smallest wishes of two ladies of rank, so high and noble, and especially of two such honoured patronesses as the Countess of Cand the Marchioness of F- - But, really, noble ladies, in these times,-one's country-something must be sacrificed for the good of one's country!" "A haberdasher talking of his country! There is the march of intellect for you! There is reform with a vengeance! why, I shall next expect to see your man of muslins and of ginghams keep his French cook! Where can such people have learned to talk of their country? But, indeed, when we have such Chancellors and Premiers as Brougham and Grey, who actually talk as if the common herd of the canaille were of the same blood, as well as flesh, as we of the Upper House, it is no wonder that we should have a haberdasher giving us a discourse upon his country, as if it were John Kemble himself arisen from the dead to perform the character of Cato of Utica !" "Let me talk to him, my love!" drawled out the countess. "I shall not waste much time with him, I promise you, though I shall even condescend to reason with him. Mercer! you-are-an-extremely foolish man; a haberdasher, as my niece, Lady F. —— says, has no business in the world with his country, except to live in it, and to pay its taxes. He should attend to his muslins, and his silks, and his counter, and all that; but that he should interfere with politics, is a thing absolutely quite shocking. On the contrary, he should always be ready to listen to any lady of quality who deigas to patronize him, as I and my niece, the Marchioness of F , patronize you, Mercer; to show his gratitude to whom he should always be ready to vote as his patronesses bid him, through thick and through thin; but, as to politics, a haberdasher in a small borough like this should never have any thing to do with politics, and still less with his country. Then say at once that you will vote for my son-in-law, Mr. B. rude-do you hear, Mercer?-as to give me any farther trouble." and don't be so "I am sure, my lady," stammered out the haberdasher, "I am sure, my lady,-I-I-I do not know what to say. Your ladyship speaks-both your ladyships speak like members of the House of Com- I mean of the House of Lords—like Peers of Parliament, I should say. Any thing so eloquent I have never heard in my life before; but, really-II-I do not know what to say." "But I know what you must say," replied the shrill and impetuous marchioness. "You must pledge yourself to vote for Mr. B——, and there's an end on't! What, sir, are two women of quality, such as my aunt and myself, to condescend thus to signify their pleasure to such a person as Mr. Mercer, the haberdasher !” (“ Proud min that she is!" was here parenthetically interjected by Mi Mercer; "if the fellow has the spirit of a flea, he'll her his mind.") "Are we, I say, to condescend to lay o commands on any such person as you, and are they tol received with doubt and hesitation? Reptile! if you tain us longer with your doubts, you shall be crustali the earth like a worm in our path!" "Hear the vixen!" exclaimed Mrs. Mercer. "F were he, I would give it to her in the deafest side of head!" "Do not permit yourself to be excited thus, my love, the folly of this weak, silly man," said the drawling con tess. "He is a stubborn blockhead, to be sure, as blockheads are. But I shall never allow such a person he is, to rob me of my temper. I do not even allow obstinate poodle to do that; though, it must be confess he has more than once tried me pretty severely." "Ladies, ladies!" exclaimed Mercer, in a perturbed t that spoke his extreme agitation. "Heaven knows I the last man in the world that would think-nay, would dream of offending you, but-but-but, reali what can a man do ?" "I say, with all the distinctness of utterance of whi I am mistress," continued the countess; "and our fam have always been remarkable for distinctness of utterane and, of all our family, no one has been more remarka for that quality than myself;-I say, with all the distin ness of utterance of which I am mistress, give me your p mise that you will vote for my son-in-law, Mr. Bshall not only withdraw from you my patronage, and t of all the members of my family, but the marchioness withdraw hers, and we shall blast the reputation of y goods, oppose their introduction by the influence of our perior ton, abolish the borough balls; and, finally, down a person who was a shopman with the so justly brated firm of Dyde and Scribe, to set up under our f ing surveillance in opposition to you; and you are, de less, sufficiently acquainted with the political economy this paltry place, to know whether or not it has custo enough to make the new man rich, and to keep you in starving at the same time!" "Horrible old witch!" muttered Mrs. Mercer;" a demon she is. Have a care of me! heard ye ever the of her ?" "A-hem! Your ladyship deals rather hardly with said Mercer; " or rather, I should say, you are pleas perhaps, just a little disposed to, it may be, to have s amusement at my expense. But-but really, 'pon my nour, I am really much at a loss what to say. But pose that, just to please you, honourable ladies, I sh resolve that I should keep neutral, and not vote at al "What, sir," exclaimed the marchioness, in her key, "not vote at all! do you call that pleasing us? all that is good we shall not bate you one atom of our mands; vote for Mr. B, and have our patron vote for Mr. A—————, or remain neuter, and take our viest vengeance as your reward. Is that plain and is ligible ?" "Come, come, my love," said the countess, "you are hasty with this imbecile. He is a poor silly creature ; you should remember that our Bible teaches us to have m upon the weak. I see that our arguments have at le begun to operate upon him, as the continual dropping drop of water is said, by degrees, to perforate the h rock; and thus we perceive the powerful effect of s reason, when properly directed and applied, and cout in fitting language. So now, Mercer, call my footh and, as you show us to the carriage, give me the satisfa of hearing you say that you have at last come to the d mination of supporting my son-in-law Mr. Bmy footman, I say; Charles, the man's name is Chi Here Mrs. Mercer half opened the parlour door, tha might the better hear, and at the same time see the pa as they moved through the front shop towards th where the carriage was standing. Mr. Mercer fol the two peeresses, bowing with great humiliation, and "No, my lady," replied the subdued haberdasher, in an humble tone," my name is Dick." Ay! ay! true," continued she; "Richard Mercer. Charles, write down that Richard Mercer, (we cannot be too particular in such matters of business,) I say that Richard Mercer, haberdasher and silk merchant, number what is your number?"-" Fifteen, my lady.""That Richard Mercer, haberdasher and silk merchant, daler in shawls and laces, number fifteen, High Street, plages himself to qualify and vote for Mr. BHa! let me see it; yes, right enough; that will do. And now, Mr. Mercer, have you any particularly rich lace reils at present? I think you occasionally commission *ach trides. Let us see your last parcel; ay, that will do; vastly pretty, indeed! Ilum! some of them vulgar enough in pattern, too; but, on the whole, not at all bad for such a shop in a country town. Put the whole parcel into the earriage; I may find use for them all." "My troth, that is a wholesale bargain, indeed," muttered Mrs. Mercer; "but when shall we see the colour of her ladyship's money?" Mr. Mercer came sneaking back into the little parlour, and swooped himself down in an easy chair, with a visage sorely humiliated by mortification and chagrin. His lady ardly allowed him to be seated ere she opened upon him. Well, Dick, this is a precious business." But we pass the conjugal dialogue, which ends by Mr. Mercer exclaiming in rage— I'll tell ye what it is, Mrs. Mercer," said he, striking the table with his fist, "by the great oath, this is a subject which no woman shall dare to remark upon in my presence; and, damnation, ma'am, my wife shall never speak of it, if she would have her head on the same pillow, or under the same roof with mine, else my name is not Dick Mercer!" "Mr. Mercer," said we, rising abruptly to take our departure, “we drink to your good health, and many thanks For your polite hospitality. Do not stir, sir; pray do not stir." But the haberdasher did stir, to accompany us to the door, with his habitual professional attention. And oh what did he behold and hear when he reached it? On the narrow pavement in front of his shop stood a little ring of burghers, among whom we noticed Dull David Dallas the grocer, and the well-powdered Mr. White, the laker; while farmer Black was sitting in his saddle, and leaning over the kennel, listening with eager attention. A shout of laughter was at that moment arising from the group, in the midst of which one of the haberdasher's shopthen was in the act of finishing a waggish detail of the occurrences which we have so recently narrated. We returned to Mr. Strongitharm's, just in time to witness another scene, which, after what had passed, was quite refreshing to us, as it will, no doubt, be to our readers. The last touch had been given to our refitted vehicle, and our worthy iron M.D. had received our grateful commendations for his expertness and expedition; when, as we were about to pay him for his very moderate charge, a light barouchette, with four post-horses, and a brace of postilions, drove up to the door of the smithy. On the box in front, was seated Mr. B, the present and would-be future member for the district of burghs we were then in; and in the interior appeared the heads of two individuals, the one elderly and the other younger. Mr. B sprang from the box with great alacrity, and entering the smithy, addressed Mr. Strongitharm with a familiar yet haughty nod. You're are a voter, my good fellow, a'n't ye ?" "A believe a wall ha'e a vote, sir, after a ha'e qualifeed," replied the smith, in a plain, simple, yet respectful manner. "Well, you'll give it to me, wont ye?" said the candidate. "May a ax wha ye are, sir ?" demanded Strongitharm. "Oh! I'm Mr. B you know, who has now represented this district of burghs in Parliament for these eight years back." “Od, sir, ye mun ha'e been young begun wi' the Parlymentin' business," replied the smith, "but muckle though a ha'e read o' the newspapers, a ha'e never seen o' your doin' ony thing, either for the gude o' the country in general, or for this hamewald pairt o' the warld in parteecler; though they tell me ye ha'e gotten a gude fifteen hunder a-year o' the nation's money; an' for what, a'm sure a kenna." "That, my good friend, was merely the salary of a laborious office, of which the present men have deprived me," replied the candidate, in a somewhat subdued tone. La "A kenna whaure the labour o't lay than," said the smith, drily; "a can only say, that a dinna think muckle o' laborin' frae sax o'clock till sax o'clock wi' this bit forehammer i' my hand, an' a dinna get the fifteenth part o' that siller for ma pains. They tell me that your warkshop's in Lunnon-an' a'm sure a never saw that the wark o't ever stoppit ye frae saumont-fishing i' the spring; nor frae deuk shootin' i' the loch a' the simmer; nor frae murderin' the poor muirfools nor paitricks, i' the autumn; nor frae ridin' after the fox, a' the rest o' the year. Whaure the labor o't can be than, is mair nor a can find oot. bor eneuch did you indeed tak' whanever Lord John Russell, or ony o' thae pawtriotic chields, spak aboot reform. Ma certy, whatever sport was in play at the time, ye gaed aff an' left it in an auld hurry. An a' to do what, think ye? By ma soul, for nae ither purpose but to gi'e your silent vote against a' thing that was raisonable; just that you, an' the pairty that gied you that laborious an' ill-paid office o' your's that ye spak o', might haud doon puir fouk's heads, an' prevent sic like as me frae ha'ein' that sma' voice in the nation, to the whilk, a tak' it, common sense wud say that they are fairly enteetled." "You are a very sensible man, Mr. Strongitharm," said the candidate; "though some of your views are not altogether correct, or quite in harmony with mine. But, however much I may have opposed reform from conscientious motives, I am free to confess, that, since it has now become the law of the land, no one can be more disposed to see that it is fairly administered than I shall be.” "Weel, sir, that may be very true," replied the smith; "but a'm for pitten a chield to the new reform bellyses, wha had some hand in settin' them up, an' wha best kens hoo to work them. In short, sir, to save ye frae blawin' ony mair o' the wund oot o' yours, a maun just honestly tell ye, that a canna' gi'e ma vote to a gentleman, wha, gif he had had his nane wull, wad never ha'e letten me ha'e ony vote to gi'e." "Then you have been canvassed already by Mr. A- I suppose," said Mr. B, in a pettish tone. "Na, Maister A. nor nae ane else has been naur me," replied the smith; "ye're the very first that ever spak till me aboot ony siccan a business. But whether Mr. A comes till me or no', a mean to gi'e him ma vote, as bein' the best man we can get for our turn; and, gif we can get him to gang to Parliament to do oor wark, a'm thinkin' that oor burghs wull be muckle obliged till him." "But, Mr. Strongitharm," said the candidate, somewhat moved, "you seem to forget, sir, that although you never saw me before, the whole horses of my stud, hunters, hacks and all, have been shod in your smithy for nearly two years past." "That may be, sir," coolly replied the smith, "a'm sure I ha'e been very proud o' your custom; an' mair nor that, a'm proud eneuch to believe that your horses were the best shod horses in a' the country side. But what has horseshoein' to do wi' the makin' o' members o' Parliament ?" "Why-hoy-whoy, nothing very directly, indeed," said the candidate, taken a good deal aback by the suddenness of the honest smith's question; "but-but you know it is in my power to send my horses to be shod somewhere else." |