Part 18 (1/2)

[Ie] Alexander Nasmyth After a caain I had reewater Foundry was in full operation My father was then in his eightieth year He was still full of life and intellect

He was vastly delighted in witnessing the rapid progress which I had h the workshops, where reatly interested him He was sufficiently acquainted with the technical details of ht, especially when self-acting tools were ereat source of pleasure to hient foremen and mechanics These, on their part, treated him with the most kind and respectful attention

The Scotch workarded him with special veneration They knew that he had been an intimate friend of Robert Burns, their own best-beloved poet, whose verses shed a charm upon their homes, and were recited by the fireside, in the fields, or at the workman's bench

They also knew that he had painted the only authentic portrait of their national bard This fact invested my father with additional interest in their eyes Their respect for him culminated in a rather extraordinary de Scotch workmen procured ”on the sly” an ar poles Whenat mid-day, he was approached by the workmen, and respectfully requested to ”take the chair” He refused; but it was of no use He was led to the chair, and took it He was then raised and carried in triuarden-gate, where the men affectionately took leave of hiood wishes for his safe return home with three hearty cheers I need scarcely say that reatly affected by this kind demonstration on the part of the work to a close He had borne the heat and burden of the day; and was about to be taken ho and happy life, blessed and cheered by a most affectionate wife, he laid down his brushes and went to rest

In his later years he rejoiced in the prosperity of his children, which was all the reeable as it was the result of the example of industry and perseverance which he had ever set before thely continued his professional occupations until 1840, when he had attained the age of eighty-two His later works ree of minute finish which characterised his earlier productions; but in regard to their quality there was no falling off, even to the last picture which he painted The delicate finish was aeneral breadth and effectiveness, so that his later works were even more esteemed by his brother-artists The last picture he painted was finished eight days before his death It was a small work The subject was a landscape with an autue in the round, and an old labouringover it on his way towards his hoe a thin streak of blue s air

All these incidents suggested the idea, which no doubt he desired to convey, of the tranquil conclusion of his own long and active life, which was then, too evidently, drawing to a close

The shades of evening had coed to lay down his pencil My mother was at ith her needle close by him; and when he had finished he asked her what he should call the picture Not being ready with an answer, he leant back in his chair, feeling rather faint, and said, ”Well, I think I had better call it Going Hoth had so failed hiht days, and then he painlessly and tranquilly passed away While on his deathbed he expressed the desire that his remains should be placed beside those of a favourite son who had died in early youth ”Let me lie,” he said, ”beside ratified He was buried beside his son in St Cuthbert's churchyard, under the grandest portion of the great basaltic rock on which Edinburgh Castle stands His grave is marked by a fine Runic Cross, ade] Monument to Alexander Nasmyth

One of the kindest letters reat loss was one from Sir David Wilkie It was dated 18th April 1840 ”I hasten,”

he said, ”to assure you ofthat I can sy one as my earliest professional friend, whose art I at all times admired, and whose society and conversation was perhaps the reeable that I everSchool of Scotland, and by his taste and talent has forhis native land with the representations of her romantic scenery; and, as the friend and contemporary of Ramsay, of Gavin Hamilton, and the Runci link that unites the present with the early dawn of the Scottish School of Art”

I may add that e as e--The Steam Hammer

Before I proceed to narrate the later events of my industrial life, it is necessary to mention, incidentally, an ireatest happiness in life, I cannot avoid referring to it

Ipursuit of all subjects and occupations, such as I conceived were essential to the acquiree of eneral society I had accordingly few opportunities of enjoying the society of young ladies Nevertheless, occasions now and then occurred when bright beings passed before me like meteors They left iree increased the earnestness of my exertions to press forward in my endeavours to establisha Home of my own

Many circued for condition of my means, such as should induce me to solicit some dear one to complete my existence by her sweet companionshi+p, and enter with me into the most sacred of all the partnershi+ps of life In course of time I was rewarded with that success which, for thebusiness efforts

This cheered h there were still many causes for anxiety, which made me feel that I must not yet solicit some dear heart to forsake the comforts of an affluent home to share with me what I knew le for comfort and comparative independence I had reached my thirtieth year before I could venture to think that I had securely entered upon such a course of prosperity as would justifythis the most important step in life

It may be a trite but not the less true reinate in apparently chance occurrences and circumstances, which lead up to results that materially influence and even determine the subsequent course of our lives I had occasion to make a business journey to Sheffield on the 2d of March 1838, and also to attend to some affairs of a siement at Sheffield, I had to wait for more than two dreary hours in momentary expectation of the arrival of the coach that was to take me on to York The coach had been delayed by a deep fall of snow, and was consequently late When it arrived, I found that there was only one outside place vacant; so I mounted to my seat

It was a very dreary afternoon, and the snoas constantly falling

As we approached Barnsley I observed, in the re, the blaze of so whose works they were, I was infored to Earl Fitzwilliaement of a Mr Hartop The ht of the ironworks, brought to ivenmy workshop in Manchester to order sohbourhood, he would beabout the ironworks and colliery ement

I at once decided to terminate my dreary ride on the top of the coach

I descended, and with ed over some trackless snow-covered fields, andiron furnaces On reaching theone to his house, which was about a ly h the deep snow I met with a cordial welcome, and with the hospitable request that I should take up ht, and have a round of the ironworks and theday I cheerfully acceded to the kind invitation

I was then introduced to his wife and daughter in a cosy roo As Mr Hartop was an enthusiast in allsubjects generally, we found plenty to converse about; while his wife and daughter, at their needlework, listened to our discussions with earnest and intelligent attention

On the following day I was taken a round of the ironworks, and inspected their machinery, as well as that of the collieries, in the details of which Mr Hartop had introduced many common-sense and avewe resuhter joined in our conversation with the h only in her twenty-first year, she had evidently ood use of her time, aided by her clear natural faculties of shrewd observation Mr Hartop havingto the very unsatisfactory conduct of a partner, had in a ain on his own account; and although he had to reduce his domestic establisheree of neatness and perfect systeant taste and good sense which pervaded the whole, that enhanced in no sree the attractiveness of the household The chief of these, however, was to hter Anne! I soon perceived in her, most happily and attractively combined, all the conditions that I could hope for and desire to meet with in the dear partner of my existence

As I had soon to proceed onher what I felt and thought, and so ardently desired in regard to our future intercourse What little I did say was to this great purpose; and, so far as I could judge, all that I said was received in the best spirit that I could desire I then communicated my hopes and wishes to the parents I explained to the to assu, in a substantial form, a return for the earnest exertions that I hada home of my own

They expressed their concurrence in the kindest ress as favourably as I hoped, our union should take place in about two years fro went on hopefully and prosperously The two years that intervened looked very long in some respects, and very short in others; for I was always fully occupied, and labour shortens tith the two years came to an end My betrothed and myself continued of the sa on the evening of the 2d of March 1838 cule church of Wentworth on the 16th of June 1840--a day of happy memory!

From that day to this the course of our united hearts and lives has continued to run on with steady uninterrupted harmony and mutual happiness Forty-two years of our married life finds us the sainning; and there is every prospect that, under God's blessing, we shall continue to be so to the end

I was present at the opening of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway, on the 15th of Septe Railways becae They were projected in every possible direction They were first e towns, after which branches were constructed to place the whole country in connection with theappeared to be thrown into a state of confusion

People wondered greatly at the new conditions of travelling; and they flocked from all quarters to see the railway at work

When the line was opened froow, a shepherd and his wife came from beyond the Pentlands to see the train pass