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apparently stated than in the works of our Edinburgh
poet； Fergusson。 He was a delicate youth； I take it； and
willingly slunk from the robustious winter to an inn
fire…side。 Love was absent from his life； or only
present； if you prefer； in such a form that even the
least serious of Burns's amourettes was ennobling by
comparison； and so there is nothing to temper the
sentiment of indoor revelry which pervades the poor boy's
verses。 Although it is characteristic of his native
town； and the manners of its youth to the present day；
this spirit has perhaps done something to restrict his
popularity。 He recalls a supper…party pleasantry with
something akin to tenderness； and sounds the praises of
the act of drinking as if it were virtuous； or at least
witty； in itself。 The kindly jar； the warm atmosphere of
tavern parlours； and the revelry of lawyers' clerks； do
not offer by themselves the materials of a rich
existence。 It was not choice； so much as an external
fate； that kept Fergusson in this round of sordid
pleasures。 A Scot of poetic temperament； and without
religious exaltation； drops as if by nature into the
public…house。 The picture may not be pleasing； but what
else is a man to do in this dog's weather？
To none but those who have themselves suffered the
thing in the body； can the gloom and depression of our
Edinburgh winter be brought home。 For some constitutions
there is something almost physically disgusting in the
bleak ugliness of easterly weather； the wind wearies； the
sickly sky depresses them； and they turn back from their
walk to avoid the aspect of the unrefulgent sun going
down among perturbed and pallid mists。 The days are so
short that a man does much of his business； and certainly
all his pleasure； by the haggard glare of gas lamps。 The
roads are as heavy as a fallow。 People go by； so
drenched and draggle…tailed that I have often wondered
how they found the heart to undress。 And meantime the
wind whistles through the town as if it were an open
meadow； and if you lie awake all night； you hear it
shrieking and raving overhead with a noise of shipwrecks
and of falling houses。 In a word； life is so unsightly
that there are times when the heart turns sick in a man's
inside； and the look of a tavern； or the thought of the
warm； fire…lit study； is like the touch of land to one
who has been long struggling with the seas。
As the weather hardens towards frost； the world
begins to improve for Edinburgh people。 We enjoy superb；
sub…arctic sunsets； with the profile of the city stamped
in indigo upon a sky of luminous green。 The wind may
still be cold； but there is a briskness in the air that
stirs good blood。 People do not all look equally sour
and downcast。 They fall into two divisions： one； the
knight of the blue face and hollow paunch； whom Winter
has gotten by the vitals； the other well lined with New…
year's fare； conscious of the touch of cold on his
periphery； but stepping through it by the glow of his
internal fires。 Such an one I remember； triply cased in
grease； whom no extremity of temperature could vanquish。
'Well；' would be his jovial salutation； 'here's a
sneezer！' And the look of these warm fellows is tonic；
and upholds their drooping fellow…townsmen。 There is yet
another class who do not depend on corporal advantages；
but support the winter in virtue of a brave and merry
heart。 One shivering evening； cold enough for frost but
with too high a wind； and a little past sundown； when the
lamps were beginning to enlarge their circles in the
growing dusk； a brace of barefoot lassies were seen
coming eastward in the teeth of the wind。 If the one was
as much as nine； the other was certainly not more than
seven。 They were miserably clad； and the pavement was so
cold； you would have thought no one could lay a naked
foot on it unflinching。 Yet they came along waltzing； if
you please； while the elder sang a tune to give them
music。 The person who saw this； and whose heart was full
of bitterness at the moment； pocketed a reproof which has
been of use to him ever since； and which he now hands on；
with his good wishes； to the reader。
At length； Edinburgh； with her satellite hills and
all the sloping country； are sheeted up in white。 If it
has happened in the dark hours； nurses pluck their
children out of bed and run with them to some commanding
window； whence they may see the change that has been
worked upon earth's face。 'A' the hills are covered wi'
snaw；' they sing； 'and Winter's noo come fairly！' And
the children； marvelling at the silence and the white
landscape； find a spell appropriate to the season in the
words。 The reverberation of the snow increases the pale
daylight； and brings all objects nearer the eye。 The
Pentlands are smooth and glittering； with here and there
the black ribbon of a dry…stone dyke； and here and there；
if there be wind； a cloud of blowing snow upon a
shoulder。 The Firth seems a leaden creek； that a man
might almost jump across； between well…powdered Lothian
and well…powdered Fife。 And the effect is not； as in
other cities； a thing of half a day； the streets are soon
trodden black； but the country keeps its virgin white；
and you have only to lift your eyes and look over miles
of country snow。 An indescribable cheerfulness breathes
about the city； and the well…fed heart sits lightly and
beats gaily in the … bosom。 It is New…year's weather。
New…year's Day； the great national festival； is a
time of family expansions and of deep carousal。
Sometimes； by a sore stoke of fate for this Calvinistic
people； the year's anniversary fails upon a Sunday； when
the public…houses are inexorably closed； when singing and
even whistling is banished from our homes and highways；
and the oldest toper feels called upon to go to church。
Thus pulled about； as if between two loyalties； the
Scotch have to decide many nice cases of conscience； and
ride the marches narrowly between the weekly and the
annual observance。 A party of convivial musicians； next
door to a friend of mine； hung suspended in this manner
on the brink of their diversions。 From ten o'clock on
Sunday night； my friend heard them tuning their
instruments： and as the hour of liberty drew near； each
must have had his music open； his bow in readiness across
the fiddle； his foot already raised to mark the time； and
his nerves braced for execution； for hardly had the
twelfth stroke。 sounded from the earliest steeple； before
they had launced forth into a secular bravura。
Currant…loaf is now popular eating in all house…
holds。 For weeks before the great morning； confectioners
display stacks of Scotch bun … a dense； black substance；
inimical to life … and full moons of shortbread adorned
with mottoes of peel or sugar…plum； in honour