Biggar and the House of Fleming

30 RIGGAR AND THE HOUSE OF FLEMING.
The Doctor lived at Biggar till his twelfth year. Being
educated privately, he did not mix much with the adventurous,
and perhaps somewhat mischievous, youths, who at that time
nourished in the little town ; but he, nevertheless, retains a
very lively recollection of the scenes and the men with whom
he was familiar in his early years. In the end of his lay Ser-
mons on " Health " to working people, when bidding adieu to
his hearers or readers, he specially names a number of the
inhabitants of Biggar and its neighbourhood, both male and
female, with whom he was acquainted in his youth. We give
an extract. " Good night, John Noble (Skirling) let me grip
your horny hand, and count the queer knobs made by the per-
petual mell. I used, when I was a Willie Winkie, and wee,
to think that you were born with them. Never mind, you
were born for them, and of old you handled the trowel well,
and built to the plumb. Thomas Bertram (Biggar) your loom
is at a discount, but many's the happy day I have watched
you and your shuttle, and the interweaving treadles, and all
the mysteries of setting the ' wab.' Andrew Wilson (Biggar)
across the waste of forty years and more I snuff the fragrance
of your shop ; have you forgiven me yet for stealing your paint
pot (awful joy) for ten minutes, to adorn my rabbit house, and for
blunting your pet furmer. Wise you were always, and in the
saw pit you spoke little and wore your crape." "And nimble
Pillans (Biggar) the clothier of the race, and quick as your
needle, strong as your corduroys, I bid you good night. May
you and the cooper be like him of Fogo, each a better man
than his father ; and you Mungo, the mole catcher, and Tod
Laurie, and Sir ' Robert the Cadger,' and all the other odd
people, I shake your fists twice, for I like your line."
In 1822, the Doctor removed, along with his father, to
Edinburgh, attended the High School and the University of
that city, took his degree as an M.D., and for some years was
connected with a medical institution in Minto House, Argyle
Square. He entered at length into the marriage relation, and
set up his staff as a physician in the same city.
Dr Brown, however, has achieved higher fame at a litterateur
than as a physician. He had long been known as a person of
mark and likelihood, — as a contributor to some of our most
popular periodicals, — and as possessed of that warm devotion