records of a family of engineers-第5章

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rness　of　that　month　of　bereavement。

‘I　have　this　day　received；'　she　writes　to　Miss　Janet；　‘the　melancholy　news　of　my　dear　babys'　deaths。　　My　heart　is　like　to　break　for　my　dear　Mrs。　Stevenson。　　O　may　she　be　supported　on　this　trying　occasion！　　I　hope　her　other　three　babys　will　be　spared　to　her。　　O；　Miss　Smith；　did　I　think　when　I　parted　from　my　sweet　babys　that　I　never　was　to　see　them　more？'　　‘I　received；'　she　begins　her　next；　‘the　mournful　news　of　my　dear　Jessie's　death。　　I　also　received　the　hair　of　my　three　sweet　babys；　which　I　will　preserve　as　dear　to　their　memorys　and　as　a　token　of　Mr。　and　Mrs。　Stevenson's　friendship　and　esteem。　　At　my　leisure　hours；　when　the　children　are　in　bed；　they　occupy　all　my　thoughts；　I　dream　of　them。　　About　two　weeks　ago　I　dreamed　that　my　sweet　little　Jessie　came　running　to　me　in　her　usual　way；　and　I　took　her　in　my　arms。　　O　my　dear　babys；　were　mortal　eyes　permitted　to　see　them　in　heaven；　we　would　not　repine　nor　grieve　for　their　loss。'

By　the　29th　of　February；　the　Reverend　John　Campbell；　a　man　of　obvious　sense　and　human　value；　but　hateful　to　the　present　biographer；　because　he　wrote　so　many　letters　and　conveyed　so　little　information；　summed　up　this　first　period　of　affliction　in　a　letter　to　Miss　Smith：　‘Your　dear　sister　but　a　little　while　ago　had　a　full　nursery；　and　the　dear　blooming　creatures　sitting　around　her　table　filled　her　breast　with　hope　that　one　day　they　should　fill　active　stations　in　society　and　become　an　ornament　in　the　Church　below。　　But　ah！'

Near　a　hundred　years　ago　these　little　creatures　ceased　to　be；　and　for　not　much　less　a　period　the　tears　have　been　dried。　And　to　this　day；　looking　in　these　stitched　sheaves　of　letters；　we　hear　the　sound　of　many　soft…hearted　women　sobbing　for　the　lost。　　Never　was　such　a　massacre　of　the　innocents；　teething　and　chincough　and　scarlet　fever　and　smallpox　ran　the　round；　and　little　Lillies；　and　Smiths；　and　Stevensons　fell　like　moths　about　a　candle；　and　nearly　all　the　sympathetic　correspondents　deplore　and　recall　the　little　losses　of　their　own。　　‘It　is　impossible　to　describe　the　Heavnly　looks　of　the　Dear　Babe　the　three　last　days　of　his　life；'　writes　Mrs。　Laurie　to　Mrs。　Smith。　　‘Never　…　never；　my　dear　aunt；　could　I　wish　to　eface　the　rememberance　of　this　Dear　Child。　　Never；　never；　my　dear　aunt！'　　And　so　soon　the　memory　of　the　dead　and　the　dust　of　the　survivors　are　buried　in　one　grave。

There　was　another　death　in　1812；　it　passes　almost　unremarked；　a　single　funeral　seemed　but　a　small　event　to　these　‘veterans　in　affliction'；　and　by　1816　the　nursery　was　full　again。　　Seven　little　hopefuls　enlivened　the　house；　some　were　growing　up；　to　the　elder　girl　my　grandfather　already　wrote　notes　in　current　hand　at　the　tail　of　his　letters　to　his　wife：　and　to　the　elder　boys　he　had　begun　to　print；　with　laborious　care；　sheets　of　childish　gossip　and　pedantic　applications。　Here；　for　instance；　under　date　of　26th　May　1816；　is　part　of　a　mythological　account　of　London；　with　a　moral　for　the　three　gentlemen；　‘Messieurs　Alan；　Robert；　and　James　Stevenson；'　to　whom　the　document　is　addressed：

‘There　are　many　prisons　here　like　Bridewell；　for；　like　other　large　towns；　there　are　many　bad　men　here　as　well　as　many　good　men。　　The　natives　of　London　are　in　general　not　so　tall　and　strong　as　the　people　of　Edinburgh；　because　they　have　not　so　much　pure　air；　and　instead　of　taking　porridge　they　eat　cakes　made　with　sugar　and　plums。　　Here　you　have　thousands　of　carts　to　draw　timber；　thousands　of　coaches　to　take　you　to　all　parts　of　the　town；　and　thousands　of　boats　to　sail　on　the　river　Thames。　　But　you　must　have　money　to　pay；　otherwise　you　can　get　nothing。　　Now　the　way　to　get　money　is；　become　clever　men　and　men　of　education；　by　being　good　scholars。'

From　the　same　absence；　he　writes　to　his　wife　on　a　Sunday：

‘It　is　now　about　eight　o'clock　with　me；　and　I　imagine　you　to　be　busy　with　the　young　folks；　hearing　the　questions　＇ANGLICE；　catechism＇；　and　indulging　the　boys　with　a　chapter　from　the　large　Bible；　with　their　interrogations　and　your　answers　in　the　soundest　doctrine。　　I　hope　James　is　getting　his　verse　as　usual；　and　that　Mary　is　not　forgetting　her　little　HYMN。　　While　Jeannie　will　be　reading　Wotherspoon；　or　some　other　suitable　and　instructive　book；　I　presume　our　friend；　Aunt　Mary；　will　have　just　arrived　with　the　news　of　A　THRONG　KIRK　＇a　crowded　church＇　and　a　great　sermon。　　You　may　mention；　with　my　compliments　to　my　mother；　that　I　was　at　St。　Paul's　to…　day；　and　attended　a　very　excellent　service　with　Mr。　James　Lawrie。　　The　text　was　〃Examine　and　see　that　ye　be　in　the　faith。〃　'

A　twinkle　of　humour　lights　up　this　evocation　of　the　distant　scene　…　the　humour　of　happy　men　and　happy　homes。　　Yet　it　is　penned　upon　the　threshold　of　fresh　sorrow。　　James　and　Mary　…　he　of　the　verse　and　she　of　the　hymn　…　did　not　much　more　than　survive　to　welcome　their　returning　father。　　On　the　25th；　one　of　the　godly　women　writes　to　Janet：

‘My　dearest　beloved　madam；　when　I　last　parted　from　you；　you　was　so　affected　with　your　affliction　＇you？　or　I？＇　could　think　of　nothing　else。　　But　on　Saturday；　when　I　went　to　inquire　after　your　health；　how　was　I　startled　to　hear　that　dear　James　was　gone！　　Ah；　what　is　this？　　My　dear　benefactors；　doing　so　much　good　to　many；　to　the　Lord；　suddenly　to　be　deprived　of　their　most　valued　comforts！　　I　was　thrown　into　great　perplexity；　could　do　nothing　but　murmur；　why　these　things　were　done　to　such　a　family。　　I　could　not　rest；　but　at　midnight；　whether　spoken　＇or　not＇　it　was　presented　to　my　mind　…　〃Those　whom　ye　deplore　are　walking　with　me　in　white。〃　　I　conclude　from　this　the　Lord　saying　to　sweet　Mrs。　Stevenson：　〃I　gave　them　to　be　brought　up　for　me：　well　done；　good　and　faithful！　they　are　fully　prepared；　and　now　I　must　present　them　to　my　father　and　your　father；　to　my　God　and　your　God。〃　'

It　would　be　hard　to　lay　on　flattery　with　a　more　sure　and　daring　hand。　　I　quote　it　as　a　model　of　a　letter　of　condolence；　be　sure　it　would　console。　　Very　different；　perhaps　quite　as　welcome；　is　this　from　a　lighthouse　inspector　to　my　grandfather：

‘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