Page:Martha Spreull by Zachary Fleming.pdf/39

Rh wudna be loatb to do sae if they had seen, like me, the happiness which even a sma’ eek to the students’ slender means affords, but I mak’ nae pretence o’ kennin' ither folk's duty. I only hope to be able to see my ain, and this leads me to remark that it is my serious intention to establish a Spreull bursary—Providence did a real mindfu’ thing in takin’ awa’ my cousin Jen before she had time to mak’ a will to put the Trongate property past me, the which I jalouse she had the heart to do if she had been granted time. It is therefore my bounden duty, as a Christian wumman, to do what good lies to my hand, so far as my means will alloo, and as naebody kens better than I do the scrimpit diet some college-bred callants are reduced to, I think my intention will commend itself to your approval.

Let me say here that I dinna believe in posthummous leeberality; as the Rev. Dr. Dousimweel used to say—“ there are nae pockets i’ the shroud. ’ I aye thought that wis a gey grim and cauld-rife remark: but ane I wud nevertheless humbly commend to folk wi’ siller by them—for mysel, whatever pleasure there is in doing good I wud like to enjoy it during my lifetime. I had three several consultations wi’ Maister Fleming, who made a note o’ my instructions, as he ca’s them—though I don’t like the word, for its no' for the like o’ me to instruct a professional, no’ to say a college-bred man—and I think the bursary will be something like this:—Bed, board and washing in my ain house, wi’ a wummanly care ower the moral wellbeing o’ the bursar during the term o’ holding the same.

I must alloo I wis puzzled by a word Maister Fleming used —a foundation, I think he said it wis. At first I couldna’ see the sense o’t ava, but the mair I think on t the mair I see the beauty o’ the word, for health is needfu’ for study, and a good diet for a growing callant lays the foundation o' a healthy