of all. No matter what the subject might b©, young Grant always submitted, with Beeming admiration, to Andrew's opinion. He professed to look on the elder as a paragon of wisdom. This not only pleased the farmer, but it gave delight to both mother and daughter. When they would depart, Mrs Simpson would remark, " What a nice young man the laird is. How quiet and modest he is ; and gifted wi' sic an understanding." " Yes," Andrew would reply, " he's a' that. He has a fine judgment, and is well informed. I'm muckle mista'en but he'll be a great pillar tae the kirk yet, and a blessing tae his country." But a change now stole over the spirit of Bessie Simpson. She seemed much more quiet and thoughtful. This did not altogether escape her parents' notice, but they attributed it to her increasing years and the improvement of her mind. She manifested a desire to be alone, and was in the habit of taking long walks. Some times it would be 9 o'clock in the evening (before she would return, the hour when \ll belonging to the elder's establishment had to be in for family worship, and when her anxious mother would inquire where she had been, she would reply, that she had taken a longer walk than usual, which was partly the truth. It was a cold, clear November morn ing when the early rays of the sun were beginning to light up the frosted land scape, that Mrs Simpson knocked at her daughter's bedroom door and exclaimed, " I say, lassie, are ye gan tae sleep a' day ? It's near aucht o'clock." Receiving no answer, she turned the handle of the door and entered. Judge of her terror and amazement when she saw the bed had not been lain upon during the night, and a letter lying on the small dressing table by the window. She ran back into the kitchen where she met her husband, in whose hands she placed the note, perfectly unable to speak a word. Who can imagine their feelings, as with trembling voice he made out the following : — Dear Father and Mother— l hope you will forgive me for going away with out telling you, for I cannot help it. 