HOME GUARDS.
[To THE EDITOR OP THE " SPECTATOR."] SIR,—The passage from Sir Walter Scott's Antiquary quoted by Sir Henry Craik (Spectator, December 19th) reminds me of a kindred extract a few pages on (chap. xliv. of the same work). Edie Ochiltree is replying to the remark, "I would not have thought you, Edie, had so much to fight for P "- "Me no muckle to fight for, Sir? Isna there the country to fight for, and the burnsides that I gang daundering beside, and the hearths o' the gudowives that gie me my bit bread, and the hits o' weans that come toddling to play wi' me when I come about a landward town ? De'il—an I had as gude pith as I has gude will and a glide cause, I should gie some o' them a day's kemping !"
I venture to think this, Sir, not only highly appropriate to the present subject, but one of the finest things Sir Walter has written.—I am, Sir, &C., EDWARD STANLEY ROBERTSON.
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