I am the mother of three hardy, generous boys, and two pretty, affectionate little girls. But far beyond my own walls extend the charities of kindred. Many a smoke, curling in the morning sun, guides my eye to the abode of true, though humble friends; for every one of this faithful romantic race is united to me by the ties of relationship. I am the mother of their future chieftain. Their interests, their joys, their sorrows, are become my own. Having in my early days seized the enjoyments which selfish pleasure can bestow, I might now compare them with those of enlarged affections, of useful employment, of relaxations truly social, of lofty contemplation, of devout thankfulness, of glorious hope. I might compare them!--but the Lowland tongue wants energy for the contrast. * * * * * Transcriber's note: Punctuation has been standardized except on page 25, after "'the way that Miss Elizabeth ...," where it is unclear where the quotation ends. Hyphenation has been made consistent. Spelling has been retained as it appears in the original publication, except as follows: Page 2, doubless changed to doubtless Page 5, perserverance changed to perseverance Page 15, behavioiur changed to behaviour Page 17, selon les regles changed to selon les règles Page 23, pretentions changed to pretensions Page 33, bienseances changed to bienséances Page 33, "made some some" extra some removed Page 36, waltze changed to waltz, twice Page 38, father-in-aw changed to father-in-law Page 45, decieving changed to deceiving Page 52, "when we have have" extra have removed Page 53, himsef changed to himself Page 54, Mailtland changed to Maitland Page 54, solider changed to soldier Page 55, peculiuar changed to peculiar Page 55, ambiguous check/cheek in original text changed to cheek Page 62, digusted changed to disgusted Page 79, nonchâlance changed to nonchalance Page 83, disappoiont changed to disappoint Page 92, Mohametan changed to Mahometan Page 99, curiousity changed to curiosity Page 104, intellignce changed to intelligence "she was was abroad" changed to "she was abroad" Page 111, forebearance changed to forbearance Page 117, "blot upon her frame" frame changed to fame Page 135, teachery changed to treachery Page 137, mainly changed to manly Page 138, dictatated changed to dictated Page 144, sounder changed to sounded Page 147, publishng changed to publishing Page 158, assunder changed to asunder Page 162, upn changed to upon Page 167, instrusion changed to intrusion Page 173, "than when I could no longer repay..." than changed to that Page 175, forebore changed to forbore Page 180, forseen changed to foreseen Page 186, incresased changed to increased Page 193, sine quâ non changed to sine qua non Page 201, efficious changed to efficacious Page 225, "(set) our immediately" our changed to out Page 227, substracted changed to subtracted