Page xi

LIFE OF WJLSON.
undutiful conduct of his, or harsh treatment of hers, I know
not; but it may be asserted with truth, that she continued an
object of his aversion through life; which was manifest from
the circumstance that, in the many letters which he wrote from
America to his father, he seldom, if ever, mentioned her name.
She is still living, and must, doubtless, feel not a little rejoiced
that her predictions with respect to the " lazy weaver," as
Sandy was termed at home, who, instead of minding his busi-
ness, mispent his time in making verses, were never verified.
But, in justice to her character, we must state, that, if she was
an unkind stepmother, she nevertheless proved herself to be
a faithful and affectionate wife; and supported, by her industry,
her husband when he became, by age and infirmities, incapa
ble of labour.
   At an early period of his life Wilson evinced a strong desire
 for learning; and this was encouraged by a spirit of emulation
 which prevailed among his youthful acquaintance, who, like
 himself, happily devoted many of their vacant hours to literary
 pursuits. He had free access to a collection of magazines and
 essays, which, by some good luck, his father had become pos-
 sessed of; and these, as he himself often asserted, "1 were the,
 first books that gave him a fondness for reading and reflection."
 This remarkable instance of the beneficial tendency of periodb
 cal publications we record with pleasure; and it may be ad-
 duced as an argument in favour of affording patronage, in our
 young country, to a species of literature so well adapted to the
 leisure of a commercial people; and which, since the days of
 Addison, has had so powerful an influence on the taste and
 morals of the British nation.
 Caledonia is fruitful of versemen: every village has its poetss
 and so prevalent is the habit of jingling rhymes, that a scholar
 is considered as possessing no taste, if he do not attune the
 Scottish lyre to those themes, which the amorpal/riw, the nap
tional pride of a, Scotsman, has identified with his very exa
stenew.
  rThat poetryr woulld attvract the regard ofS Wihunl was to he cx<-