Page:Martha Spreull by Zachary Fleming.pdf/52

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WAS mortal angry, as ye may jalouse, when Maister Fleming, the writer, telt me that the College authorities wud hae naething a dae wi' the bursary I had set my heart on givin' to the best first year's student who should compete for it. The bursary, as ye 'll nae doot recollect, wis to be tenable for four years, or at least for such period within that time as the bursar should conduct himsel' to my satisfaction; and wis to consist o' bed, board and washing in my ain hoose, wi' a wummanly care ower his moral upbringin' during the term o' holding the same. It wis a most carefully wordit foundation, as Maister Fleming beautifully ca'd it; and couldna be worth less to ony growin' callant than forty pounds o' guid sterling money i' the year.

It wis gey provokin'; but the greatest and best o' folk hae met wi' discouragement i' the wye o' weel-doin.' I had settled Mrs. Whangy, and I wisna gaun to hae the laugh turned against me by the opposition o' a wheen College Professors. So I clapped on my things and went stracht doon to an auld frien' o' my faither's, the Rev. Dr. Threshie, wha keepit a private academy in Montrose Street, and had great skill i' the classical and ither languages. The Doctor, puir body, had met