tor's desk. The whole aspect of the place indicated the remote date of its erection.

The history of this church may be considered remarkable even for Scotland. Two holy men of God discharged the duty of the pastoral office in it for one hundred years. The first of these, Rev. Mr. Dalziel, was between fifty and sixty years their preacher; and the last, the Rev. Wm. Lauder, has been for nearly fifty. I took great pleasure in the society of this venerable man, for it was he, who, a quarter of a century ago, administered to me the rite of Christian baptism, and he had long known both me and mine. Although with him this mortal must soon put on immortality, yet he is as lively and cheerful as though in his prime, and is a bright example of a "happy Christian." The pastoral duties are now discharged by his associate, the Rev. Mr. Hamilton. The Kirk, or established church, has long been under the pastoral care of the Rev. Mr. Gordon, an earnest preacher and faithful pastor. There is also in the village a small Free Church, and another United Presbyterian one, so that the people are well supplied with gospel ordinances.

To show the religious habits of these people, I

might mention a remark that my father has often made, that had you gone through this village at nine o'clock in the evening (when he was a young man), you would have found every household engaged in family worship.

One morning I arose early to take a stroll, while breakfast was preparing. The sun was shining brilliantly over me, every breeze wafted the fragrance of some neighboring garden, and every tree was vocal with the music of birds. I followed the meanderings of the beauteous Leader, its waters sparkling in the sunbeams, and the yellow trout gliding through its tiny waves. I soon found myself in a rich meadow. No one, who has not seen it, can conceive of the peculiar verdure and softness of a Scottish meadow. It sometimes happens that these lawns are allowed to lie for half a century, or more, without ever being disturbed by the ruthless plough-some of them, in fact, have lain for ages undisturbed. They thus acquire a softness which I can compare to nothing but a rich and downy carpet. In strolling along, ere I was aware of it, I found myself on the estate called the "Cowdenknowes," celebrated in song for its bonny broom which waves from a neighboring hill. The house

is pleasantly situated on the banks of the Leader. As I wandered through these grounds, laid out with all the skill that art can lavish upon nature, I ceased to wonder that Scotland, where the elements of the romantic and the beautiful so richly abound, should be a land of poetry.

One of the first objects that arrests the eye of a stranger on entering this town, is an old ruined. wall, the greater part of which has crumbled to the dust, though one firm corner remains, defying, as it were, the rage of the elements. Every stone which remains seems to grow firmer in its bed of mortar as years roll on-and I doubt not it will remain, unless removed by the ruthless hand of modern improvement, till that day when the "elements shall melt with fervent heat." This was a place of no ordinary interest to me, as I am somewhat of an antiquarian. Ages have succeeded ages since this once lordly mansion became a ruin. For centuries it was the family residence of the noble Learmonts, and was called "Learmont Hall." Its last and most renowned occupant was the great Sir Thomas, commonly called "Thomas the Rhymer." was esteemed a prophet not only by the ignorant populace of a succeeding generation, but by many

He

of the peasantry even to the present day. He lived in the 13th century, when Earlstown, or Ercildowne, as it was called, was a greater place than it is now. Tradition says that, when young, he was carried away by the Queen of the Fairies to Elfin land, where he lived seven years, during which time he acquired the power of foretelling future events. He was permitted to revisit the world again, under obligations, however, to return to his royal mistress, when she should intimate her pleasure. After seven years spent in the world, it happened that

"The feast was spread in Ercildowne,

In Learmont's high and ancient hall,
And there were knights of great renown,
And ladies dressed in pall."

Sir Thomas arose with harp in hand, the harp that he had brought from fairy land.

"In numbers high the witching tale

The prophet poured along;
No after bard might ere avail

Those numbers to prolong."

The feast breaks up, and the guests are soon locked in slumber. Lord Douglas, whose camp was pitched in Ercildowne, hearing a strange sound,

starts from his couch, just in time to see a hart and hind, both white as snow, rush rapidly by.

"To Learmont's hall a message sped,

As fast as page might run,
And Thomas started from his bed,
And soon his clothes did on.
First he wox pale, and then wox red,
Never a word he spoke but three,
'My sand is run, my thread is spun,
This sign regardeth me.'”

Binding his harp around his neck, he proposes to return with the white messengers to fairy land. In parting

The hart and hind approached, and with them Sir Thomas crossed the river Leader.

"Lord Douglas leap'd on his berry-brown steed,
And spurred him the Leader o'er;

But though he rode with lightning speed,
He never saw them more.

Some said to hill, and some to dale,

Their wondrous course had been ;

But ne'er in haunts of living men
Again was Thomas seen."