nd look at the moon through my telescope."

We went into the garden accordingly, but a cloud was over the moon, and
we could not see it. At the top of the garden was the self-registering
barometer, the pitcher to measure the rainfall, and the other apparatus
necessary to enable the "Diagram of barometer, thermometer, rain, and
wind" to be conducted, so far as Coupar Angus is concerned. This Mr.
Robertson has done for four years past. As the hour was late, and as I
knew that my entertainer must be up by six next morning, I took my
leave.

A man's character often exhibits itself in his amusements. One must
have a high respect for the character of John Robertson, who looks at
the manner in which he spends his spare time. His astronomical work is
altogether a labour of love. It is his hobby; and the working man may
have his hobby as well as the rich. In his case he is never less idle
than when idle. Some may think that he is casting his bread upon the
waters, and that he may find it after many days. But it is not with
this object that he carries on his leisure-hour pursuits. Some have
tried--sheriff Barclay among others[5]--to obtain appointments for him
in connection with astronomical observation; others to secure
advancement for him in his own line. But he is a man who is satisfied
with his lot--one of the rarest things on earth. Perhaps it is by
looking so much up to the heavens that he has been enabled to obtain
his portion of contentment.

Next morning I found him busy at the station, making arrangements for
the departure of the passenger train for Perth, and evidently upon the
best of terms with everybody. And here I leave John Robertson, the
contented Coupar Angus astronomer.

Some years ago I received from my friend Mr. Nasmyth a letter of
introduction to the late Mr. Cooke of York, while the latter was still
living. I did not present it at the time; but I now proposed to visit,
on my return homewards, the establishment which he had founded at York
for the manufacture of telescopes and other optical instruments.
Indeed, what a man may do for himself as well as for science, cannot be
better illustrated than by the life of this remarkable man.

Mr. Nasmyth says that he had an account from Cooke himself of his small
beginnings. He was originally a shoemaker in a small country village.
Many a man has risen to distinction from a shoemaker's seat. Bulwer,
in his 'What will He do with It?' has discussed