records of a family of engineers- 第6部分

‘In　reading　your　letter　the　trickling　tear　ran　down　ray　cheeks　in　silent　sorrow　for　your　departed　dear　ones；　my　sweet　little　friends。　　Well　do　I　remember；　and　you　will　call　to　mind；　their　little　innocent　and　interesting　stories。　　Often　have　they　come　round　me　and　taken　me　by　the　hand；　but　alas！　　I　am　no　more　destined　to　behold　them。'

The　child　who　is　taken　becomes　canonised；　and　the　looks　of　the　homeliest　babe　seem　in　the　retrospect　‘heavenly　the　three　last　days　of　his　life。'　　But　it　appears　that　James　and　Mary　had　indeed　been　children　more　than　usually　engaging；　a　record　was　preserved　a　long　while　in　the　family　of　their　remarks　and　‘little　innocent　and　interesting　stories；'　and　the　blow　and　the　blank　were　the　more　sensible。

Early　the　next　month　Robert　Stevenson　must　proceed　upon　his　voyage　of　inspection；　part　by　land；　part　by　sea。　　He　left　his　wife　plunged　in　low　spirits；　the　thought　of　his　loss；　and　still　more　of　her　concern；　was　continually　present　in　his　mind；　and　he　draws　in　his　letters　home　an　interesting　picture　of　his　family　relations：

‘WINDYGATES　INN；　MONDAY　（POSTMARK　JULY　16TH）

‘MY　DEAREST　JEANNIE；　…　While　the　people　of　the　inn　are　getting　me　a　little　bit　of　something　to　eat；　I　sit　down　to　tell　you　that　I　had　a　most　excellent　passage　across　the　water；　and　got　to　Wemyss　at　mid…day。　　I　hope　the　children　will　be　very　good；　and　that　Robert　will　take　a　course　with　you　to　learn　his　Latin　lessons　daily；　he　may；　however；　read　English　in　company。　　Let　them　have　strawberries　on　Saturdays。'

‘WESTHAVEN；　17TH　JULY。

‘I　have　been　occupied　to…day　at　the　harbour　of　Newport；　opposite　Dundee；　and　am　this　far　on　my　way　to　Arbroath。　　You　may　tell　the　boys　that　I　slept　last　night　in　Mr。　Steadman's　tent。　　I　found　my　bed　rather　hard；　but　the　lodgings　were　otherwise　extremely　comfortable。　　The　encampment　is　on　the　Fife　side　of　the　Tay；　immediately　opposite　to　Dundee。　　From　the　door　of　the　tent　you　command　the　most　beautiful　view　of　the　Firth；　both　up　and　down；　to　a　great　extent。　　At　night　all　was　serene　and　still；　the　sky　presented　the　most　beautiful　appearance　of　bright　stars；　and　the　morning　was　ushered　in　with　the　song　of　many　little　birds。'

‘ABERDEEN；　JULY　19TH。

‘I　hope；　my　dear；　that　you　are　going　out　of　doors　regularly　and　taking　much　exercise。　　I　would　have　you　to　MAKE　THE　MARKETS　DAILY　…　and　by　all　means　to　take　a　seat　in　the　coach　once　or　twice　in　the　week　and　see　what　is　going　on　in　town。　　＇The　family　were　at　the　sea…side。＇　　It　will　be　good　not　to　be　too　great　a　stranger　to　the　house。　　It　will　be　rather　painful　at　first；　but　as　it　is　to　be　done；　I　would　have　you　not　to　be　too　strange　to　the　house　in　town。

‘Tell　the　boys　that　I　fell　in　with　a　soldier　…　his　name　is　Henderson　…　who　was　twelve　years　with　Lord　Wellington　and　other　commanders。　　He　returned　very　lately　with　only　eightpence…halfpenny　in　his　pocket；　and　found　his　father　and　mother　both　in　life；　though　they　had　never　heard　from　him；　nor　he　from　them。　　He　carried　my　great…coat　and　umbrella　a　few　miles。'

‘FRASERBURGH；　JULY　20th。

‘Fraserburgh　is　the　same　dull　place　which　＇Auntie＇　Mary　and　Jeannie　found　it。　　As　I　am　travelling　along　the　coast　which　they　are　acquainted　with；　you　had　better　cause　Robert　bring　down　the　map　from　Edinburgh；　and　it　will　be　a　good　exercise　in　geography　for　the　young　folks　to　trace　my　course。　I　hope　they　have　entered　upon　the　writing。　　The　library　will　afford　abundance　of　excellent　books；　which　I　wish　you　would　employ　a　little。　　I　hope　you　are　doing　me　the　favour　to　go　much　out　with　the　boys；　which　will　do　you　much　good　and　prevent　them　from　getting　so　very　much　overheated。'

＇TO　THE　BOYS　…　PRINTED。＇

‘When　I　had　last　the　pleasure　of　writing　to　you；　your　dear　little　brother　James　and　your　sweet　little　sister　Mary　were　still　with　us。　　But　it　has　pleased　God　to　remove　them　to　another　and　a　better　world；　and　we　must　submit　to　the　will　of　Providence。　　I　must；　however；　request　of　you　to　think　sometimes　upon　them；　and　to　be　very　careful　not　to　do　anything　that　will　displease　or　vex　your　mother。　　It　is　therefore　proper　that　you　do　not　roamp　＇Scottish　indeed＇　too　much　about；　and　that　you　learn　your　lessons。'

‘I　went　to　Fraserburgh　and　visited　Kinnaird　Head　Lighthouse；　which　I　found　in　good　order。　　All　this　time　I　travelled　upon　good　roads；　and　paid　many　a　toll…man　by　the　way；　but　from　Fraserburgh　to　Banff　there　is　no　toll…bars；　and　the　road　is　so　bad　that　I　had　to　walk　up　and　down　many　a　hill；　and　for　want　of　bridges　the　horses　had　to　drag　the　chaise　up　to　the　middle　of　the　wheels　in　water。　　At　Banff　I　saw　a　large　ship　of　300　tons　lying　on　the　sands　upon　her　beam…ends；　and　a　wreck　for　want　of　a　good　harbour。　　Captain　Wilson　…　to　whom　I　beg　my　compliments　…　will　show　you　a　ship　of　300　tons。　　At　the　towns　of　Macduff；　Banff；　and　Portsoy；　many　of　the　houses　are　built　of　marble；　and　the　rocks　on　this　part　of　the　coast　or　sea…side　are　marble。　　But；　my　dear　Boys；　unless　marble　be　polished　and　dressed；　it　is　a　very　coarse…looking　stone；　and　has　no　more　beauty　than　common　rock。　　As　a　proof　of　this；　ask　the　favour　of　your　mother　to　take　you　to　Thomson's　Marble　Works　in　South　Leith；　and　you　will　see　marble　in　all　its　stages；　and　perhaps　you　may　there　find　Portsoy　marble！　　The　use　I　wish　to　make　of　this　is　to　tell　you　that；　without　education；　a　man　is　just　like　a　block　of　rough；　unpolished　marble。　　Notice；　in　proof　of　this；　how　much　Mr。　Neill　and　Mr。　M'Gregor　＇the　tutor＇　know；　and　observe　how　little　a　man　knows　who　is　not　a　good　scholar。　　On　my　way　to　Fochabers　I　passed　through　many　thousand　acres　of　Fir　timber；　and　saw　many　deer　running　in　these　woods。'

＇TO　MRS。　STEVENSON。＇

‘INVERNESS；　JULY　21ST。

‘I　propose　going　to　church　in　the　afternoon；　and　as　I　have　breakfasted　late；　I　shall　afterwards　take　a　walk；　and　dine　about　six　o'clock。　　I　do　not　know　who　is　the　clergyman　here；　but　I　shall　think　of　you　all。　　I　travelled　in　the　mail…　coach　＇from　Banff＇　almost　alone。　　While　it　was　daylight　I　kept　the　top；　and　the　passing　along　a　country　I　had　never　before　seen　was　a　considerable　amusement。　　But；　my　dear；　you　are　all　much　in　my　thoughts；　and　many　are　the　objects　which　recall　the　recollection　of　our　tender　and　engaging　children　we　have　so　recently　lost。　　We　must　not；　however；　repine。　　I　could　not　for　a　moment　wish　any　change　of　circumstances　in　their　case；　and　in　every　comparative　view　of　their　state；　I　see　the　Lord's　goodness　in　removing　them　from　an　evil　world　to　an　abode　of　bliss；　and　I　must　earnestly　hope　that　you　may　be　enabled　to　take　such　a　view　of　this　affliction　as　to　live　in　the　happy　prospect　of　our　all　meeting　again　to　part　no　more　…　and　that　under　such　considerations　you　are　getting　up　your　spirits。　　I　wish　you　would　walk　about；　and　by　all　means　go　to　town；　and　do　not　sit　much　at　home。'

‘INVERNESS；　JULY　23RD。

‘I　am　duly　favoured　with　your　much…valued　letter；　and　I　am　happy　to　find　that　you　are　so　much　with　my　mother；　because　that　sort　of　variety　has　a　tendency　to　occupy　the　mind；　and　to　keep　it　from　brooding　too　much　upon　one　subject。　　Sensibility　and　tenderness　are　certainly　two　of　the　most　interesting　and　pleasing　qualities　of　the　mind。　　These　qualities　are　also　none　of　the　least　of　the　many　endearingments　of　the　female　character。　　But　if　that　kind　of　sympathy　and　pleasing　melancholy；　which　is　familiar　to　us　under　distress；　be　much　indulged；　it　becomes　habitual；　and　takes　such　a　hold　of　the　mind　as　to　absorb　all　the　other　affections；　and　unfit　us　for　the　duties　and　proper　enjoyments　of　life。　　Resignation　sinks　into　a　kind　of　peevish　discontent。　　I　am　far；　however；　from　thinking　there　is　the　least　danger　of　this　in　your　case；　my　dear；　for　you　have　been　on　all　occasions　enabled　to　look　upon　the　fortunes　of　this　life　as　under　the　direction　of　a　higher　power；　and　have　always　preserved　that　propriety　and　consistency　of　conduct　in　all　circumstances　which　endears　your　example　to　your　family　in　particular；　and　to　your　friends。　　I　am　therefore；　my　dear；　for　you　to　go　out　much；　and　to　go　to　the　house　up…stairs　＇he　means　to　go　up…stairs　in　the　house；　to　visit　the　place　of　the　dead　children＇；　and　to　put　yourself　in　the　way　of　the　visits　of　your　friends。　　I　wish　you　would　call　on　the　Miss　Grays；　and　it　would　be　a　good　thing　upon　a　Saturday　to　dine　with　my　mother；　and　take　Meggy　and　all　the　family　with　you；　and　let　them　have　their　strawberries　in　town。　The　tickets　of　one　of　the　OLD…FASHIONED　COACHES　would　take　you　all　up；　and　if　the　evening　were　good；　they　could　all　walk　down；　excepting　Meggy　and　little　David。'

‘INVERNESS；　JULY　25TH；　11　P。M。

‘Captain　Wemyss；　of　Wemyss；　has　come　to　Inverness　to　go　the　voyage　with　me；　and　as　we　are　sleeping　in　a　double…bedded　room；　I　must　no　longer　transgress。　　You　must　remember　me　the　best　way　you　can　to　the　children。'

‘ON　BOARD　OF　THE　LIGHTHOUSE　YACHT；　JULY　29TH。

‘I　got　to　Cromarty　yesterday　about　mid…day；　and　went　to　church。　　It　happened　to　be　the　sacrament　there；　and　I　heard　a　Mr。　Smith　at　that　place　conclude　the　service　with　a　very　suitable　exhortation。　　There　seemed　a　great　concourse　of　people；　but　they　had　rather　an　unfortunate　day　for　them　at　the　tent；　as　it　rained　a　good　deal。　　After　drinking　tea　at　the　inn；　Captain　Wemyss　accompanied　me　on　board；　and　we　sailed　about　eight　last　night。　　The　wind　at　present　being　rather　a　beating　one；　I　think　I　shall　have　an　opportunity　of　standing　into　the　bay　of　Wick；　and　leaving　this　letter　to　let　you　know　my　progress　and　that　I　am　well。'

‘LIGHTHOUSE　YACHT；　STORNOWAY；　AUGUST　4TH。

‘To…day　we　had　prayers　on　deck　as　usual　when　at　sea。　　I　read　the　14th　chapter；　I　think；　of　Job。　　Captain　Wemyss　has　been　in　the　habit　of　doing　this　on　board　his　own　ship；　agreeably　to　the　Articles　of　War。　　Our　passage　round　the　Cape　＇Cape　Wrath＇　was　rather　a　cross　one；　and　as　the　wind　was　northerly；　we　had　a　pretty　heavy　sea；　but　upon　the　whole　have　made　a　good　passage；　leaving　many　vessels　behind　us　in　Orkney。　I　am　quite　well；　my　dear；　and　Captain　Wemyss；　who　has　much　spirit；　and　who　is　much　given　to　observation；　and　a　perfect　enthusiast　in　his　profession；　enlivens　the　voyage　greatly。　Let　me　entreat　you　to　move　about　much；　and　take　a　walk　with　the　boys　to　Leith。　　I　think　they　have　still　many　places　to　see　there；　and　I　wish　you　would　indulge　them　in　this　respect。　　Mr。　Scal