The poor fellow's days continued to be passed much in the manner above described; but he had exchanged the stable, at night, for the shop, which was warmer, as soon as his benevolent host was satisfied respecting his principles; and with exemplary diligence he pursued his humble employment of making chains and skewers. He usually dined on hot potatoes, or bread and cheese, with occasionally half a pint of beer. If solicited to take additional refreshment, he would decline it, saying, "I am thankful for the kindness,-but it would be intemperate." At an early hour in the afternoon of the first Saturday which he spent in this village, he put by his work, and began to hum a hymn tune. Mr. S. asked him if he could sing. "No, sir," he replied. "I thought," added Mr. S., "I heard you singing." "I was only composing my thoughts a little," said the poor man, "for the sabbath." On Mr. Read being informed of these particulars, he was induced to return to the stranger with a view to converse with him. He says "There was a peculiar bluntness in his manner of expressing himself, but it was very far removed from any thing of churlishness or incivility. All his answers were pertinent, and were sometimes given in such measured terms as quite astonished me. The following was a part of our conversation. Well, my friend, what are you about?' 'Making scissor-chains, sir.' 'And how long does it take you to make one? With peculiar archness he looked up in my face, (for his head always rested upon his bosom, so that the back part of it was depressed nearly to the same horizontal plane with his shoulders,) and with a complacent smile, said, 'Ah! and you will next ask me how many I make in a day; and then what the wire costs me; and afterwards what I sell them for.' From the indirectness of his reply, I was induced to conclude that he was in the habit of making something considerable from his employment, and wished to conceal the amount of his gains." It appeared, however, that he was unable, even with success in disposing of his wares, to earn more than sixpence or sevenpence a day, and that his apparent reluctance to make known his poverty proceeded from habitual contentment. Mr. Read asked him, why he followed a vagrant life, in preference to a station 66 re ary one, in which he would be better known, and more respected? "The nature of my business," he replied, quires that I should move about from place to place, that, having exhausted my custom in one spot, I may obtain employment in another. Besides," added he, "my mode of life has at least this advantage, that if I leave my friends behind me, I leave also my enemies." When asked his age, he replied, with a strong and firm voice, "That is a question which I am frequently asked, as if persons supposed me to be a great age : why, I am a mere boy." " "A mere boy!" repeated Mr. Read; and pray what do you mean by that expression ?"-" I am sixy-five years of age, sir; and with a light heel and a cheerful heart, hope to hold out a considerable time longer." In the course of the conversation, he said, "It is not often that I am honoured with the visits of clergymen. Two gentlemen, however, of your profession once came to me when I was at in, and I expressed a hope that Í should derive some advantage from their conversation. 'We are come,' said they, with the same expectation to you, for we understand that you know many things.' I told them that I feared they would be greatly disappointed." He then stated that the old scholastic question was proposed to him, "Why has God given us two ears and one mouth?" "I replied," said he, "that we may hear twice as much as we speak;" adding, with his accustomed modesty, "I should not have been able to have given an answer to this question if I had not heard it before." Before they parted, Mr. Read lamented the differences that existed between persons of various religious persuasions. The old man rejoined in a sprightly tone, "No matter; there are two sides to the river." His readiness in reply was remarkable. Whatever he said implied contentment, cheerfulness, and genuine piety. Before Mr. Read took leave of him, he inquired how long he intended to remain in the village. He answered, "I do not know; but as I have house-room and fire without any tax, I am quite satisfied with my situation, and only regret the trouble I am occasioning to my kind host." Until the twentieth of the month Mr. Read saw but little of him. On the morning of that day he met him creeping along under a vast burden; for on the pre shop exclaimed in a vexatious and offensive manner, that he would not have such a leg (taking off his hat) " for that, full of guineas." The old man looked up somewhat sharply at him, and said, "nor I, if I could help it." The other, however, proceeded with his ranting. The afflicted man added, "You only torture me by your observations." This was the only instance approaching to impatience he manifested. It appears that of late he had slept in one corner of the workshop, upon the bare earth, without his clothes, and with the only blanket he had, wrapped round his shoulders. It was designed to procure him a bed in a better abode; but he preferred remaining where he was, and only requested some clean straw. He seemed fixed to his purpose; every thing was arranged, as well as could be, for his accommodation. ceding Monday he had set out on a journey to Bristol, to procure a fresh stock of wire, and with half a hundred weight of wire upon his back,, and three halfpence in his pocket, the sole remains of his scanty fund, he was now returning on foot, after having passed two days on the road, and the intervening night before a coalpit fire in a neighbouring village. The snow was deep upon the ground, and the scene indescribably desolate. Mr. Read was glad to see him, and inquired if he were not very tired. "A little, a little," he replied, and taking off his hat, he asked if he could execute any thing for me. An order for some trifling articles, brought him to Mr. Read on the follow ing Wednesday, who entered into conversation with him, and says, “he repeated many admirable adages, with which his memory appeared to be well stored, and incidentally touched on the word cleanliness. Immediately I added, cleanliness Early the next morning Mr. Read found is next to godliness;' and seized the the swelling and blackness extending themopportunity which I had long wanted, but selves rapidly towards the vital parts. from fear of wounding his mind hesitated The poor fellow was at times delirious, to embrace, to tell him of the absence of and convulsed; but he dozed during the that quality in himself. He with much greater part of the day. It was perceived good nature replied, I believe I am from an involuntary gesture of the medisubstantially clean. I have a clean shirt cal gentleman on his entrance, that he every week my business, however, ne- had not before witnessed many such obcessarily makes me dirty in my person.' jects. He declared there was but little But why do you not dress more tidily, hope of life. Warm fomentations, and and take more care of yourself? You large doses of bark and port wine were know that God hath given us the com- administered. A bed was provided in a forts of life that we may enjoy them. neighbouring house, and Mr. Read inCannot you afford yourself these com- formed the patient of his wish to remove forts?' That question,' said he emphati- him to it, and his anxiety that he should cally, but by no means rudely, you take the medicines prescribed. He subshould have set out with. No, sir, I can- mitted to every thing proposed, and not afford myself these comforts."" added, “ One night more, and I shall be beyond the clouds." Mr. Read perceiving his instep to be inflamed, and that he had a miserable pair of shoes, pressed a pair of his own upon him. On the following day he visited him, and found him working upon his chains while sitting,-a posture in which he did not often indulge. Mr. Read looked at his foot, and found the whole leg prodigiously swollen and discoloured. It had inflamed and mortified from fatigue of walking and inclemency of the weather during the journey to Bristol. Mr. Read insisted on his having medical assistance. "The doctor is expected in the village to-day, and you must see him: I will give orders for him to call in upon you." "That is kind, very kind," he replied. At this moment an ignorant talker in the On the Saturday his speech was almost unintelligible, the delirium became more frequent, and his hands were often apparently employed in the task to which they had been so long habituated, making links for chains; his respiration became more and more hurried; and Mr. Read ordered that he should be allowed to remain quite quiet upon his bed. At certain intervals his mind seemed collected, and Mr. R. soothed him by kind attentions. He said, "There are your spectacles; but I do not think they have brought your bible? I dare say you would like to read it?" "By-and-by," he replied: "I am pretty well acquainted with its contents." He articulated indistinctly, appeared exhausted, and on Sunday morning his death-knell was rung from the steeple. He died about two o'clock in the morning without a sigh. His last word was, in answer to the question, how are you?" Happy." A letter from a gentleman of Jedburgh, to the publishers of Mr. Read's tract, contains the following further particulars respecting this humble individual. At school he seldom associated with those of his own age, and rarely took part in those games which are so attractive to the generality of youth, and which cannot be condemned in their own place. declining the society of his schoolfellows His did not seem to arise from a sour and un social temper, nor from a quarrelsome disposition on his part, but from a love of solitude, and from his finding more satisfaction in the resources of his own mind, than in all the noise and tumult of the most fascinating amusements. He was, from his youth, noted for making shrewd and sometimes witty remarks, which indicated no ordinary cast of mind; and in many instances showed a sagacity and discrimination which could not be expected from his years. He was, according to the expressive language of his contemporaries, an "auld farrend " boy. He began at an early period to make scissor-chains, more for amusement than for profit, and without ever dreaming that to this humble occupation he was to be indebted for subsistence in the end of his days. When no more than nine or ten years of age, he betook himself to the selling of toys and some cheap articles of hardware; and gave reason to hope, from his shrewd, cautious, and economical character, that he would gradually increase his stock of goods, and rise to affluence in the world. His early acquaintances, considering these things, cannot account for the extreme poverty in which he was found at the time of his death He appears to have been always inattentive to his external dress, which, at times, was ragged enough; but was remarkable for attention to his linen-his shirts, however coarse, were always clean. This was his general character in the days of his youth. On his last visit to Jedburgh, twenty-nine years before his death, he came with his clothes in a most wretched condition. His sisters, two very excellent women, feeling for their brother, and concerned for their own credit, got a suit of clothes made without delay. Dressed in this manner, he continued in the place for some time, visiting old acquaintances, and enjoying the society of his friends. He left Jedburgh soon after; and, from that time, his sisters heard no more of their brother. Hogg's father was not a native of Jedburgh. Those with whom I have conversed seem to think that he came from the neighbourhood of Selkirk, and was closely connected with the progenitor of the Ettrick Shepherd. He, properly speaking, had no trade; at least did not practise any: he used to travel through the country with a pack containing soine hardware goods, and at one time kept a small shop in Jedburgh. All accounts agree that the father had, if not a talent for poetry, at least a talent for rhyming. He appears to have had a most excellent mother, whom he regularly accompanied to their usual place of public worship, and to whom he was indebted for many pious and profitable instructions, which seem to have been of signal service to her son when she herself was numbered with the dead and mouldering in the dust. During the time of his continuance in Jedburgh and its vicinity, he evinced a becoming regard to the external duties of religion; but nothing of that sublime devotion which cheered the evening of his days, and which caused such astonishing contentment in the midst of manifold privations. My own belief is, from all the circumstances of the case, that the pious efforts of his worthy mother did not succeed in the first instance, but were blessed for his benefit at an advanced period of life. The extreme poverty to which he was reduced, and the corporal ailments under which he had laboured for a long time, were like breaking up the fallow ground, and causing the seed which had been sown to vegetate. ". We must here part from "the Scottish Wanderer." Some, perhaps, may think he might have been dismissed before" for what was he?" He was not renowned, for he was neither warrior nor statesman; but to be guileless and harmless is to be happier than the ruler of the turbulent and more honourable than the leader of an army. If his life was not illustrious, it was wise; for he could not have been seen, and sojourned in the hamlets of labour and ignorance, without exciting regard and communicating instruction. He might have been ridiculed or despised on his first appearance, but where he remained he taught by the pithy truth of his sayings, and the rectitude of his conduct: if the peripatetic philosophers of antiquity did so much, they did no more. Few among those who, in later times, have been reputed wise, were teachers of practical wisdom: the wisdom of the rest was surpassed by "Cheap Tommy's." NATURALISTS' CALENDAR. July 12. A VICIOUS SWAN. In July, 1731," an odd accident hap pened in Bushy-park to one of the helpers in the king's stables, riding his majesty's own hunting horse, who was frighted by a swan flying at him out of the canal, which caused him to run away, and dash out his brains against the iron gates; the man was thrown on the iron spikes, which only entering his clothes did him no hurt. Some time before, the same swan is said to have flown at his highness the duke, but caused no disaster." This, which is noticed by a pleasant story in column 914 as the "swan-hopping season," is a time of enjoyment with all who are fond of aquatic pleasures. On fine days, and especially since the invention of steam-boats, crowds of citizens and suburbans of London glide along the Thames to different places of entertainment on its banks. ANNUAL EXCURSION TO TWICKENHAM. To the Editor of the Every-Day Book. Sir,-As it is the object of the EveryDay Book to preserve a faithful portraiture of the prominent features and amusements of the age, as well as the customs of the "olden time," I subjoin for insertion a brief account of an unobtruding society for the relief of the dis Gentleman's Magazine. tressed; with the sincere hope that its laudable endeavours may be followed by many others. A number of respectable tradesmen, who meet to pass a few social hours at the house of Mr. Cross, Bethnal-green, impressed by the distresses of the thickly. populated district in which they reside, resolved to lay themselves and friends under a small weekly contribution, to allay, as far as possible, the wretchedness of their poorer neighbours. They feel much gratification in knowing that in the course of two years their exertions have alleviated the sorrows of many indigent families. Nearly four hundred friends have come forward as subscribers to assist them in their praise-worthy undertaking; yet such is the misery by which they are surrounded-such are the imperative demands on their bounty, that their little fund is continually im poverished. In furtherance of their benevolent views they projected an annual excursion of July; the profits from the tickets to be to Twickenham, sometime in the month devoted to the Friend-in-Need Society. I have joined them in this agreeable trip, and regard the day as one of the happiest in my existence. A few gentlemen acted as a committee, and to their judicious day is due. The morning was particu arrangements much of the pleasure of the larly favourable: at eight o'clock the "Diana" steam-packet left her moorings off Southwark-bridge, and bore away up the river with her long smoky pendant; a good band of music enlivened the scene by popular airs, not forgetting the eternal "Jagher chorus." I arrived on board just at starting, and having passed the usual "how d'ye does," seated myself to observe the happy circle. They appeared to have left "old care" behind them; the laugh and joke resounded from side to side, and happiness dwelt in every countenance. There was no unnecessary etiquette; all were neighbours and all intimate. As soon as we began to get clear of London, the beautiful scenery formed a delightful panoramic view. Battersea, Wandsworth, Putney, Kew, and Richmond, arose in succession; when, after staying a short time at the latter place to allow those who were disposed to land, we proceeded on to Twickenham Aite, an island delightfully situated in the middle of the Thames, where we arrived about twelve o'clock. Preparation had been made for our reception: the boat hauled up alongside the island for the better landing; tents were erected on the lawn; a spacious and well-stocked fruit-garden was thrown open for our pleasure; and plenty of good cheer provided by "mine host" of the "Eel-pie house." On each side of the lawn might be seen different parties doing ample justice to "ham sandwiches, and bottled cider." After the repast, the "elder" gentlemen formed into a convivial party; the " the society" was read; and, afterwards, the song and glee went merrily round; while the younger formed themselves in array for a country-dance, and nimbly footed to the sound of sweet music "under the greenwood tree:" the more juvenile felt equal 'delight at "kiss-in-the-ring," on the grass-plat. report of He must have been a stoic indeed who could have viewed this scene without feelings of delight, heightened as it was by the smiles of loveliness. These sports were maintained until time called for our departure; when having re-embarked, the vessel glided heavily back, as if reluctant to break off such happy hours. The dance was again renewed on board-the same hearty laugh was again heard; there was the same exuberance of spirits in the juniors; no one was tired, and all seemed to regret the quickly approaching separation. About nine o'clock we safely landed from the boat at Queenhithe stairs, and after a parting "farewell," each pursued the way home, highly delighted with the excursion of the day, enhanced as it was by the reflection, that in the pursuit of pleasure we had assisted the purposes of charity. J. H. C. Kingsland-road, July, 1826. SWAN-HOPPING. It appears that formerly-" When the citizens, in gaily-decorated barges, went up the river annually in August, to mark and count their swans, which is called swan-hopping, they used to land at Barn Elms, and, after partaking of a cold collation on the grass, they merrily danced away a few hours. This was a gala-day for the village; and happy was the lad or lass admitted into the party of the fine folks of London. This practice has, however, been long discontinued." • Gentleman's Magazine. "SWAN-HOPPING "-Explained. poration of London to the swans on its The yearly visit of members of the cornoble river, is commonly termed "Swanhopping." This name is a vulgar and long used corruption of "Swan-upping," signifying the duties of the official visiters, which was to" take up" the swans and mark them. The ancient and real term may be gathered from the old laws concerning swans, to have been technically and royal birds; and in proof of their and properly used. They were manorial estimation in former times, a rare and valuable quarto tract of four leaves, printed in 1570, may be referred to. It what persons shall "op no swannes ;" and mentions the "vpping daies;" declares speaks of a court no longer popularly known, namely, "the king's majesties curious tract is here reprinted verbatim, justices of sessions of swans." This viz: THE Order for Swannes both by THE STATUTES, AND BY THE AUNCIENT ORDERS AND CUSTOMES, USED WITHIN THE REALME OF ENGLAND. THE ORDER For Swannes. First, Ye shall enquire if there be any person that doth possesse any Swanne, and hath not compounded with the Kings Maiesty for his Marke (that is to say) six shillings eight pence, for his Marke during his life: If you know any such you shall present them, that all such Swans and Cignets, may be seazed to the King. 2. Also you shall enquire, if any person doth possesse any Swan, or Cignet, that may not dispend the cleare yearly value of five Markes of Freehold, except Heire apparant to the Crowne : then you shall present him. 22 Edw. Also, If any person or persons doe iv. cap. 6. drive away any Swanne or Swannes, breeding or prouiding to breed; be it vpon his own ground; or any other mans ground: he or they so offending, shall suffer one yeeres imprisonment, and fine at the Kings pleasure, thir 3. |