Burns was no bad judge of human nature; and he has a stanza on this subject, combining the reflection of the philosopher with the canny discrimination of the Scot.

“Away with your follies of beauty’s alarms,

The slender bit beauty you clasp in your arms;

But gi’e me the lass that has acres of charms,

Oh, gi’e me the lass with the weel-plenished farms.”

Should the following pages afford such attractive young ladies matter for a few moments’ reflection, the author will not have written in vain.

May he hope they will choose well and wisely; and that the withered rose, when she has lost her fragrance, may be fondly prized and gently tended by the hand that plucked her in her dewy morning prime.

[CONTENTS]

CHAP. PAGE
[I.]My Cousin9
[II.]The Abigail26
[III.]The Handsome Governess41
[IV.]“Libitina”58
[V.]Uncle Baldwin72
[VI.]The Blind Boy85
[VII.]Boot and Saddle101
[VIII.]The Ball116
[IX.]Want130
[X.]Superfluity146
[XI.]Campaigning Abroad161
[XII.]Campaigning at Home177
[XIII.]The World194
[XIV.]To Persons about to Marry204
[XV.]Penelope and her Suitors212
[XVI.]Forgery225
[XVII.]Club Law236
[XVIII.]The Strictest Confidence247
[XIX.]Dispatches259
[XX.]Dawn in the East276
[XXI.]Hospital292
[XXII.]The Widow303
[XXIII.]“Stop her”309
[XXIV.]King Crack323
[XXV.]“Dulce Domum”333
[XXVI.]“Eudæmon”347
[XXVII.]Flood and Field360
[XXVIII.]“The Sad Sea Wave”374