Sunday School

About the same time, also, at the request of a few gentlemen interested in the education of the young, I undertook, in conjunction with another, the management of a Sunday-school in an adjoining village (Ord). One of my friends had been a shepherd in his earlier life among the Cheviot Hills. He and other herds formed a circulating library. The sheep-walks were very extensive, and in some places there were boundaries of loose stone walls. In certain crannies in these walls they agreed to deposit whatever books they might acquire-having first read them. The next who passed that way took the volume so deposited, leaving another in its place. The first, after being read, was carried miles farther on, and left in another similar depository; and so on, for a circuit of thirty or forty miles. The shepherds seldom saw each other, but their books bound them together, -profitably occupying their leisure time, and expanding their intellect.

On the expiration of my apprenticeship I went to Edinburgh; visited several relatives there; and, after a few days, finding no employment, walked westward forty miles to Glasgow. In this city I first heard the celebrated Dr. Chalmers. He preached in his own church, from the text: "In the world ye shall have tribulation; but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." The place was crowded. I stood the whole time. Though he read the sermon, I have never witnessed such breathless attention in any audience during my whole life.

I was much pleased with Glasgow; visited the University, the Cathedral (see "Rob Roy "), and other public buildings. It has wonderfully increased since that time. There being no prospect of employment here, I left Glasgow by the way of the Stirling Canal;—it was very pleasant travelling in the canal boats, though rather slow, especially in passing through the locks; I think at one place there were seventeen in succession. On reaching Edinburgh I stayed a few days, and visited most of the interesting localities in the city and neighbourhood. It was now needful I should return home, and I walked from Edinburgh to Berwick, fifty miles, in one day!