Scott and his Song World [pp. 450-454]

THE LADIES' REPOSITOR0 Y
any way so well as by social companionship. How often have I blessed those
hours of my childhood spent in my little
seat at the feet of aged friends, looking
lup to them, as "the dearest, best, and
wisest folks in the world."
One little reminiscence of a young
companion has often occurred to me
in these days of overdressing among
"wAomen professing godliness." A Miss
Aves was one of the many who, with myself, attended the young people's meetings
held blay Mr. Maffitt. Both of us were
singers in the Church choir in Bromfield
Street, but she was a member of the
Church also. She was very handsome,
and a great favorite of Mr. Maffitt, who,
with his family, had boarded at her
fathler's residence in Boston.
The Discipline required plainness of
dress in the members of the Methodist
communion. Miss Aves had gradually
slid away a little from the rule, and her
attire was more in accordance with "the
world," than that of her companions.
One bright Sunday morning in Spring,
Miss Aves took her seat in the choir,
looking as lovely as the morn itself. Her
dress was white, and was bordered by
two flounces, which her owvn fingers had
tastefully embroidered. A bonnet of
white straw, with a bright blue ribbon,
and-ahl, for a Methodist of those daysa cluster of roses upon one side! What
a gazing took place. I really thought
some so occupied they would not find
the right tune. Miss Aves went to classmeeting as usual. What was said I do
not know, lbut I do know she was disciplined for " conformity to the world."
She remained out of the Church a long
time, and whether she ever returned I
do not know. But I fear she was not at
heart a follower of the meek and lowly
Jesus.
Another young lady was guilty of no
actual crime, but an entire worldliness
of conduct was seen in all she did. She
was labored with, prayed with, and borne
with, for a long time, but gave no signs
of repentance, or of having been truly
converted. So the Church felt it a duty
to the cause of Christ to exclude her
from their communion. This was done
with great sorrow. How many would
remain in our Churches if such were the
enforcement of Discipline now?
ETHEL S. CUSTAR.
SCOTT AND HIS SONG-WORLD.
T is morning on the sparkling fields
and breezy hills of Scotland. The
sons of toil are astir. The huge, ungainly
horses go tramping by with conscious
strength. The lhomes of the people are
suggestive of thrift. There is a stern reality in the very air, and in the land we
tread, yet are we passing through a
region of romance; for it was these Highland lakes and glens that Scotland's
favorite minstrel filled with the glowing
creations of his song-world. Scott has
left the impress of his cultivated and
comprehensive genius on these lovely
"lochs," with their marvelous mountain
shores, in every variety of shade, from
dark green to light purple and ethereal
blue, and clothed in grass and fern and
heather to their very tops. These caves
and dells and water-falls; these emerald
isles and silver strands; these wilderness wilds and castle-crowned hills and
storied battle-fields, the whole region
reaching from Loch Lomond and Ben
Vennue, through the Trosachs, to Stirling and Edinburgh are redolent with the
name and fame of the mighty magician.
The city itself, historic and picturesque,
has scarcely ceased to hear the echo of Sir
Walter's footsteps, as staff in hand he
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450