of Aberdeen granite, and while they are one hundred and twenty feet apart at the base, they taper in to thirtythree feet at the top. The braces which help hold the vast pillars in position are eight feet in diameter and cross each other in various directions. I walked with Mr. Harris up two hundred and twenty-one steps until I came to where the railway tracks will be laid one hundred and sixty-five feet above the water. "Come on," he said, but I told him I was high enough, for two hundred feet of iron and steel and ropes and chains and ladders and elevators and braces still loomed above us and caused at least some dizziness to look either up or down. These massive columns of steel, reaching out their arms for hundreds of feet over the water, impressed me with their greatness as being daring and almost awful. Think of it! These pillars have to stretch out their arms and uphold thousands of tons of iron and steel over one thousand, seven hundred and ten feet of water on one side and one thousand seven hundred and ten feet of water on the other side-more than two-thirds of a mile with but one resting-place. Those vast columns of metal, towering up there in the middle of the Forth, reach down their great arms to uphold a mighty bridge one hundred and sixty-five feet above the sea-waves, while ponderous engines roll across drawing passengers and merchandise, and while clouds. float above and ships and sea-gulls below. Why, I imagined these fourteen great columns to be castles or barracks, forty stories high, in which fourteen regiments of soldiers might lodge comfortably, and when you consider also the great tubular braces eight feet in diameter, then you might lodge easily a hundred thousand men there within safe walls of steel. "Mr. Harris, I understand you have an accident now and then?" "Yes; two men were killed a few days ago. Thirty-one men have been killed on the work since it began seven years ago. The distance is so great that when even a spike, or a bolt, or a burr, or a small tool falls it is about certain to kill some one, for we have six hundred and fifty men working on this one abutment. There are four thousand men in all employed on the bridge. The bridge is calculated to cost at least ten millions of dollars. It will weigh about forty-two thousand tons. The engineers are Sir John Fowler and B. Baker. The contractors are Tancred, Arrol & Co., London." As above mentioned, the bridge was commenced seven years ago and probably three years must go by yet before it is finished. Consider how much one strong man can do in one day, but this great work would employ the strength of one man for at least thirty thousand years to build. The bridge will have two tracks. Mechanical man is so correct in his plans and designs that when this. becomes a thoroughfare the engines and cars made in the most distant part of Britain may roll easily and safely over it on their way to the Highlands. Now, as the sun is setting at the close of a delightful day, we step into our wagonette and are driven. along the Forth, by hedges, cuts, walls, groves, fields and mansions; up and down gentle declivities, and along smooth roads lined with shade trees. Now, across the waters, the bright, golden track of the sun is seen through a vista of trees, and beyond a green meadow, surrounded by water and black rocks, stand the remains of an old castle. Oh, the evening and the surroundings are pleasant! Halcyon days, those in Scotland, cannopied by clear skies and surrounded by humble, honest and kind hearts! The "good night" of the sun as he kisses water, meadow, hill and cloud, is indescribably sweet. The sun must reside in a rich and beautiful place or he could not give so much beauty and comfort to earth. Now, as we approach Crossford, we begin to meet pairs of lovers from Crossford and Dunfermline, walking out to enjoy the twilight hour. Yes, there are many romantic walks in this region; but, why mention it? For I sometimes think there are few who know what romance is. Yes, the life of most of us is awfully tame, for we cannot be really happy without loving with the whole heart-willing to do or die in the right, for the one beloved. It is dark as we enter the little, old-fashioned village of Crossford. Here we enter the hospitable cottage of Mr. and Mrs. James Morgan, and are kindly greeted by Mrs. Morgan and their hearty, rosy-cheeked daughters. Soon we are asked to sit by the table and partake of tea, scones, cheese, bread, butter, meat, etc. The food is clean, fresh, simple, cordially given and gratefully received, and partaken of heartily. The furniture, the fire, the faces, the china and all were appetizing. In this house my friend Charles Graham spent his days of childhood. He is a brother of Mrs. Morgan. Mr. Morgan is a remarkably kind-hearted, friendly man. He told me of his fine, large garden full of fruits and vegetables, and of the old village. I somewhat regretted that I did not see it by daylight. We kindly bade each other good night, hoping to meet again in health and peace, and walked out of Crossford toward Dunfermline in company with A. Bennett, Sr., and his daughter, and Mr. Couper. Now the lights of Dunfermline appear in irregular lines ahead of us, and we enter the city not far from the old church and soon arrive at 18, Foundry street. CHAPTER XXVIII. SCOTLAND: STERLING AND GLASGOW. FROM DUNFERMLINE TO STERLING-MOUNTAINS LIKE LIONS, SHINING LIKE VELVET-STERLING-GOING UP BY FAMOUS OBJECTS TO ROCKS MARBLE-DECKED AND CASTLE-CROWNED - CANNON ROAR BETWEEN THE CLOUDS AND THE WINDING FORTH-BRIDGE OF ALLAN-ABBEY CRAIG-A PLAIN DECKED WITH ROCKS, RIVERS, SHEEP, ETC.—A CEMETERY CLAD IN MARBLE, GRANITE, GLASS AND ROSES-OLD CHURCHES-RELICS OF KINGS, QUEENS AND KNOX-SCOTLAND'S STANDARDS-BEN-LOMOND-WATER LOOPED IN DOUBLE s'S IN MEADOWS FIVE HUNDRED FEET BELOW-SOLDIERS - HIGHLANDERS-SINGING WITCH-BANNOCKBURN-CURIOUS MONUMENT-ON TO GLASGOW-THIR -- TY-SIX HUNDRED GROUSE-WINAN'S DEER PARK- At 9:20 a. m., September 19th, 1887, I parted with my kind friends, the Bennetts and Mr. Morgan, at the station in Dunfermline and took the train for Sterling. The railway runs through a picturesque country abound |