feeling. And to conclude" exclaimed he, in a transport of triumphant, pedantic joy," the fourth figure, in which the middle term is thep redicate of the major proposition and subject of the minor: Every man is an animal, every animal has feeling; therefore some things possessed of feeling are men."

The good dominie would have gone on to show the rules of syllogisms,, whether common, general, or special, and all his sixty-four modes of a syllogism would have come in review, unfolding the sixteen different pairs of premises, and the fourfold conclusion, and all the etceteras, but Mactaggart's youngest boy arrived at the manse with letters, and one of these was to the dominie from his son.

As all were anxious to hear how poor Fergus was, a dead silence reigned over the room; the father put on his spectacles; they were not

bright; he took them off and wiped the glasses; put them on again; still he could not see. "Miss Ellen, will ye wipe my glasses," said he; and the lovely creature did so. But during this operation the poor but joyful father had applied both his hands to his eyes, rubbing them with the upper part of the first joint of his forefingers. And now he again put on his spectacles, and he could at length see it was the hand-writing of Fergus.

"Chatham Barracks, June 22nd.

My dear Parents,

We are under general or

ders for foreign service. We are holding ourselves in readiness for a moment's warning. We leave all our baggage behind us; there is not one woman to go with the regiment: where we are going I cannot tell you, but it is thought for the opposite coast. I

hope this expedition will not be so fatal to the 42nd as the last; that was the severest suffering expedition that ever went from England. If I can get as much spare time, I shall write you before I sail; but if not, when I land, if I am spared to land and can get an opportunity, let it be whatever place

it

may, I shall endeavour to send you a letter. But if it be a job like the last, it will be hard for me to send you a single letter. Many a time I regretted I could not get a single line sent home. When the regiment comes to England again, and you get no word about your undutiful son, you will direct your letters always to the same company.

The letter will be relieved and an answer sent back by some of my comrads. I hope the Almighty will be my protector in every danger, in the field and on the way, and be my hel

1

met of salvation to cover me in the

day of battle. I write this letter with

a tear in my eye.

parents, while I am,

"P. S.

Farewell, my dear

Your affectionate Son,

FERGUS MACLEAN,

Give my respects to the minister, and tell the parents and relations of my country lads that we are all well. It is supposed we shall embark at Ramsgate, as the expedition is to sail from the Downs under the command of our countryman, General

And without being able to proceed with a long postscript, the dominie gave the letter to the minister. "Ye'll be so good, Mr. Thornhill, as read the remainder; the parent's feelings are too strong for the task; indeed, though in your house, where I should willingly hold the office of any

one of your anagnosta optimi, you are ·lector peritissimus amongst us, and I hope will oblige me."

The poor dominie was sorrowful and resigned, but his resignation did not keep him fixed with one elbow on his school desk, his head resting on. the palm of his hand, and his eyes in listless gaze thrown on the ground: his resignation was of the same character as what we witnessed in the parents and relatives of the recruits when they left the quay of Rothsay; it was that restored equanimity which displays itself in active, sociable, and dignified cheerfulness, equally removed from capricious mirth and wanton joy.

The minister read the letter over again with calm attention, and coming to the Almighty name, the good man lifted his eyes and his hands to the heavens, and prayed a prayer of pro

tection and safety for these lads.