Prefatory Epistle

I am just writing this for the information o' my bairns, but mair especial for the lassies, who may tak' twa-three hints frae their auld mither's experience, that may be o' service till them when they win their way through the warld. I hae heard it tauld that there's a lesson in every life and a warain' in too mony. I dinna ken that there's ony special warnin in my ain; but ye may gather frae it, that the maist leal friends are no them that flitter round ye when ye're simmerin' in the gowden sun-light o' prosperity, but thae that haud till ye wi' a gude honest grip, in the cauld days o' distress, an' the dark hour o' difficulty.

I am no very gude at the hand-write: for I didna get the fine schoolin' that's gi'en noo wi' sic open hand to a' folk, gentle and simple alike, and for which ye should be abundantly thankfu'. But I couldna bide to “lay me down an' dee,” as the sang says, without leaving an account o' how your faither and mysel' forgathered in the braw lang syne, in the dear auld land, that ye hae never seen.