Page:The Cottagers of Glenburnie - Hamilton (1808).djvu/412

 fine day of the following spring, all stopped a few moments before the schoolhouse, to inhale the fragrance of the sweet-brier, and to admire the beauty of the crocuses, primroses, and violets, which embroidered the borders of the grass-plot. Mrs MacClarty, who, in great disdain, asked auld John Smith's wife "what a' the folks were glowering at?" received for answer, that they were, "leuking at the boniest sight in a' the town," pointing at the same time to the spot.

"Eh!" returned Mrs MacClarty, "I wonder what the warld will come to at last, since naething can serve the pride o' William Morison, but to hae a flower garden whar' gude Mr Brown's midden-stead stood sappy for mony a day! he's a better man than will ever stand on William Morison's shanks."

"The flowers are a hantel bonnier than the midden tho', and smell a hantel sweeter too, I trow," returned Mrs Smith.

This striking indication of a change of