h the intelligence
affected them. It was, however, unanimously agreed, that the Doctor's
legacy had every symptom of being equal to what it was at first expected
to be, namely, twenty thousand pounds;--a sum which, by some occult or
recondite moral influence of the Lottery, is the common maximum, in
popular estimation, of any extraordinary and indefinite windfall of
fortune. Miss Becky Glibbans, from the purest motives of charity,
devoutly wished that poor Rachel might be able to carry her full cup with
a steady hand; and the Rev. Mr. Snodgrass, that so commendable an
expression might not lose its edifying effect by any lighter talk,
requested Mr. Micklewham to read his letter from the Doctor.

LETTER IX

_The Rev. Z. Pringle_, _D.D._, _to Mr. Micklewham_, _Schoolmaster and
Session-Clerk of Garnock_
LONDON.

DEAR SIR--I have written by the post that will take this to hand, a
letter to Banker M---y, at Irvine, concerning some small matters of money
that I may stand in need of his opinion anent; and as there is a prospect
now of a settlement of the legacy business, I wish you to take a step
over to the banker, and he will give you ten pounds, which you will
administer to the poor, by putting a twenty-shilling note in the plate on
Sunday, as a public testimony from me of thankfulness for the hope that
is before us; the other nine pounds you will quietly, and in your own
canny way, divide after the following manner, letting none of the
partakers thereof know from what other hand than the Lord's the help
comes, for, indeed, from whom but HIS does any good befall us!

You will give to auld Mizy Eccles ten shillings. She's a careful
creature, and it will go as far with her thrift as twenty will do with
Effy Hopkirk; so you will give Effy twenty. Mrs. Binnacle, who lost her
husband, the sailor, last winter, is, I am sure, with her two sickly
bairns, very ill off; I would therefore like if you will lend her a note,
and ye may put half-a-crown in the hand of each of the poor weans for a
playock, for she's a proud spirit, and will bear much before she
complain. Thomas Dowy has been long unable to do a turn of work, so you
may give him a note too. I promised that donsie body, Willy Shachle, the
betherel, that when I got my legacy, he should get a guinea, which would
be more to him than if the colon