My evenings are my own. When the heavens are clear, I
watch them; when obscured, there are my books and letters.
"Dr. Alexander Brown, of Arbroath, is one of my correspondents.
I have sent him my drawings of the rings of Saturn, of Jupiter's
belt and satellites. Dr. Ralph Copeland, of Dunecht, is also a
very good friend and adviser. Occasionally, too, I send accounts
of solar disturbances, comet a within sight, eclipses, and
occultations, to the Scotsman, the Dundee Evening Telegraph and
Evening News, or to the Blairgowrie Advertiser. Besides, I am
the local observer of meteorology, and communicate regularly with
Mr. Symons. These things entirely fill up my time.
"Do I intend always to remain a railway porter? Oh, yes; I am
very comfortable! The company are very kind to me, and I hope I
serve them faithfully. It is true Sheriff Barclay has, without
my knowledge, recommended me to several well-known astronomers as
an observer. But at my time of life changes are not to be
desired. I am quite satisfied to go on as I am doing. My young
people are growing up, and are willing to work for themselves.
But come, sir," he concluded, "come into the garden, and 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.
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