THE

TWO FAMILIES:

AN EPISODE IN THE HISTORY OF CHAPELTON.

BY

THE AUTHOR OF "ROSE DOUGLAS."

"Surely every man walketh in a vain shew; surely they are disquieted
in vain: he heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather
them."-PSALM XXXIX. 6.

"Train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old, he will
not depart from it."-PROVERBS Xxii. 6.

VOL. I.

LONDON:

SMITH, ELDER, & CO., 65, CORNHILL.

1852.

249. X. 319, 320.

Printed by Oliver & Boyd,

Tweeddale Court, High Street, Edinburgh.

THIS WORK

IS AFFECTIONATELY AND RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED

ΤΟ

MRS HOUISON CRAUFURD

OF CRAUFURDLAND,

AYRSHIRE.

THE

TWO FAMILIES;

AN EPISODE IN THE HISTORY OF CHAPELTON.

INTRODUCTION.

CHAPELTON is one of the prettiest of our Scottish country towns; its situation is beautiful. The country around is rich and well wooded, with a fine river winding through it. An air of cheerfulness is diffused over the landscape, Meadows, gleaming with yellow buttercups and daisies, slope down to the water's edge; hedgerow trees, of great age and majestic size, abound; and green swelling hills are varied with bold, picturesque, and wood-fringed rocks. A ruin

A