The Rev. Dr. Guthrie's prose paintings, and far more his truly benevolent active exertions in this cause,-entitle him to the very highest praise, as we have no doubt that they are among the sweetest of all the recollections which his past life and labours present to him.

The author of the verses which follow, probably, knows little either of Mr. Ballantine or Dr. Guthrie. He has spent most of his life in teaching children of the lowest ranks in a very secluded village, and his taste has been, to note and describe, in such verse as the following, the various traits which young persons of that rank are observed to display. We should think that the author never could have been a severe teacher,-though he probably lived during part of that now happily bygone time, which has been not inappropriately named "the palmy days" of teaching in Scotland. Palmying, let all young persons sing aloud for joy, is now happily, and we hope for ever, and entirely at an end,—and let teachers rather study the habits and peculiarities of their charge, than seek to brutify them by the incessant use, as in former times, of the tawse, and the everlasting onlaying of palmys. Excuse these preliminary notices, and do a great favour to some welldeserving persons, by printing, in all its simplicity and inartificial construction, the following graphic and affectionate portrait of

THE WEE DIRTY LADDIE.

I ought to have said, that among the many contributors to the periodical literature of the day,-and among some of the brightest stars of that galaxy, -there have been some,-I know it for certain,-who, at one period of their early course, would have been ranked in the class to which the above title refers. So much the more to their honour,-and so much greater is the encouragement not to neglect anything that may contribute, directly or indirectly, to draw attention to young buds for whom good culture and kindly training may yet do so much.

THE WEE BIT DIRTY LADDIE.

To Church on Sabbath morn we hied,
In summer fair and ruddy;

When in the street I raised my head,
And saw the dirty laddie.

On him, when past, was fixed my mind,
Like sculptor in his study;

I wished some striking trait to find

To draw the dirty laddie.

My limning thought paints bare his head,-
Gemm'd with blue eyes, unsteady,-

'Bove cheeks, which tears all soiled have made
Of the wee dirty laddie.

His keen-set teeth, in white array,

Look over lips of ruby,

As if to lookers-on to say,

"There is a hungry laddie."

I next must paint his unshorn hair
In ringlets waving towsy,

Not getting oft the comb's rough tear,
On the wee dirty laddie.

I paint his bosom, plump, but bare,
His jacket worn and duddy,

His knees quite naked to the air-
A wee bit dirty laddie.

The portrait thus before me stands,
But mocks my pencil-ready
In power to give what it demands
To paint the dirty laddie.

But pride, perhaps, would stigmatize,
Were I to gem my study

With higher thoughts-to moralize
On the wee dirty laddie.

Here Nature's common currents roll
Beneath these garments duddy,
The channel's laving of the soul
Of this wee dirty laddie.

For birth no merit gives to man,
Nor all its trappings gaudy;

The worth that tells in heaven's great plan
Is in this dirty laddie.

Let thought pass through the outward skin-
We'll find a precious ruby,—

Immortal in the depths within

This wee bit dirty laddie.

Nor can his rags cool Nature's fires;
His Mother's always ready

To pour profuse her warm desires
On her wee dirty laddie.

No odorous sweets the bosom seeks
Of her, or of his daddy.

To kiss and clap the chubby cheeks
Of their wee dirty laddie.

DAVID WILSON, Cramond.

ECCLESIASTICAL INTELLIGENCE.

The Queen has been pleased to present the Rev. Malcolm Munro Ross to the Church at Tomintoul in the parish of Kirkmichael, in the Presbytery of Abernethy, and shire of Banff, vacant by the death of the Rev. George Bruce.

Old Church Vacancy in Montrose.— The Crown has made an appointment to the important charge here, vacant by the death of the late Dr. Smith. The Standard mentions that the Rev. Samuel Trail, LL.D. and D.D., of Birsey and Harray, Orkney, is the person generally spoken of.

Presentation. The parish of Moffat, vacated by the translation of Mr. Stuart to Stirling, has been offered to, and accepted by, Dr. M'Vicar, late of Ceylon.

Scotch Church, London.-The Rev. Ranald Macpherson of Brodick, Isle of

Arran, has been elected to the vacant Scotch Church, Swallow Street, London.

East Church, Aberdeen.-The Town Council have, in accordance with the recommendation of the male communicants, issued a presentation to the East Church and Parish, in favour of the Rev. W. Ogilvie, New Spynie, near Elgin.

The parishioners of Ferry-Port-onCraig have petitioned Lord Palmerston, to issue a presentation in favour of the Rev. Mr. Mackenzie of Chapelshade Church, Dundee, to that parish, just now vacant by the deposition of Mr. Burt.

Died at the Manse of Drainie, on the 23d inst., the Rev. Dr. Rose, in the 85th year of his age and 59th of his ministry.

END OF FIFTEENTH VOLUME.

INDEX.