Page:The Monastery, Volume 1 - Scott (1820).djvu/16

son had, or seemed to have, something to do, less or more. They did not indeed precisely go to school and learn tasks, that last of evils in my estimation; but it did not escape my boyish observation, that they were all bothered with something or other like duty or labour—all but the happy Captain Doolittle. The minister had his parish to visit, and his preaching to prepare, though perhaps he made more fuss than he needed about both. The laird had his farming and improving operations to superintend; and, besides, he had to attend trustee-meetings, and lieutenancy-meetings, and head-courts, and meetings of justices, and what not—was as early up, (that I always detested,) and as much in the open air, wet and dry, as his own grieve. The shopkeeper (the village boasted but one of eminence) stood indeed pretty much at his ease behind his counter, for his custom was by no means over-burthensome; but still he enjoyed his status, as the Bailie calls it, upon condition of tumbling all the wares in his