Page:Life memoirs & pedigree of Thomas Hamilton Dickson.pdf/28

 possible for man to realise. From this source flows the bitter stream of life.

I have had many sweet-hearts―at least sweet faces, and as for their hearts I know nothing about them, who all appeared to pay less or more attention towards me; but I found that I was to encounter a host of difficulties, which here it would be tedious to comment upon. I shall only mention a few examples, which I consider to be obstacles in the way of my happiness, such as parents who did not approve of me, and rivals-the parents because I was in rather destitute circumstances in life, and had not what was necessary to keep a woman comfortable, in their estimation, and seemed to have forgotten the old Scottish proverb viz. "Marry for love and work for siller," which is often neglected by the parents and guardians of the fair sex, for they often bestow their favour on those that have the most of the coveted things of this world; and thus often it is the case that the poor creature has not a heart to lose, or if she has, it is but seldom consulted, but disposed of without mercy to the best and highest bidder. The rivals generally took all the advantage of me, and even stormed the fair garrison of hope, and laid waste my fondest hopes.

Emma, my first love, was the youngest daughter of Gilbert Rosefield, who possessed in tack the farm of Rowantreefauld from a neighbouring gentleman. Emma was slender, and of a genteel form, with fine Asiatic eyes, and of a florid complexion. Her father had been