Volume 1 - Electric Scotland

THE FIRST NUMBER. 127
lightning of fiery flame." The name is put in in a
corner ruled off with careful lines, in the very forma-
lity of which the nervous excitement shows ;
John Wilson, Esq.,
Queen Street.
thus
—
October 20, 1817.
My dear Sir,—As in duty bound I send you the first com-
plete copy I have got of the ' Magazine.' I also beg you will
do me the favour to accept of the enclosed. It is unnecessary
for me to say how much and how deeply I am indebted to you,
and I shall only add that by the success of the ' Magazine ' (for
which I shall be wholly indebted to you) I hope to be able to
offer you something more worthy of your acceptance.—I am,
dear Sir, yours very truly, W. Blackwood.
There is a thrill of emotion and feeling in this
formal little epistle which shows in every exact and
carefully written line. And then he walked home in
the keen evening air — with perhaps that touch of
coming frost in it which is considered seasonable, and
which was exhilarating as generous wine to the vigorous
and healthful man at the height of his manhood
and strength—with the precious little packet under
his arm. He went into his house, where all the chil-
dren—by this time a nursery full—rushed out with
clamour and glee to meet their father, who for once, in
his excitement, took no notice of them, but walked
straight to the drawing-room, where his wife, not
excitable, sat in her household place, busy no doubt
for her fine family ; and, coming in to the warm glow
of the light, threw down the precious Magazine at
her feet. " There is that that will give you what is
your due—what I always wished you to have," he
said, with the half-sobbing laugh of the great crisis.