The parents, at this time, were both well stricken in years-the father was seventy-four and the mother sixty-five years of age. There remained for them but the evening time of a busy and honourable life. Old Mr Grant was a genial, homely, kind-hearted man. In his latter days he was a victim of rheumatism, and very lame. Mrs Wilson-then a young employé of the firm, and afterwards Mrs Grant's maidtold us that he used to walk from Grant Lodge down to the warehouse on "the Old Ground," and sit and chat in his cheery, kindly way to herself and others. Grant Lodge, like the homes of all the sons in after years, was a very hospitable home, and a table furnished with provisions was kept by Mrs Grant for all needy comers and they were many. "Nobody," said Mrs Wilson, "ever made a poor mouth to her and went away empty-handed." She was one of the old M'Kenzies of Tombrech,1 in Strathspey-a woman of fine benevolence, keen natural intelligence, and great spirit and energy. While she lived, she ruled; all the family unquestioningly owned her sway. Sometimes, on a summer evening, Mr Grant, seated outside, would ask for his evening cup; and, if not just at once forthcoming, would say to Mrs Grant, whose Christian name was Grace-"O Grace, Grace, ye're Grace by name, but ye're no Grace by natur!" The old lady, with a laugh or a smile, and a twinkle of fun in had been held in the rather curiously frescoed dining-hall of the hotel for thirty years, attended the funeral in token of respect for Mr Goodrick's memory. Several large and doubtless originally costly oil-paintings, belonging to the late Messrs Grants' estate, are hung in the hotel; and its masonic assembly room is a large and elegantly appointed apartment. 1 One of her grandnephews is a member of the Elgin County Council at the present time, and another is an office-bearer in the Presbyterian Church at Wolverhampton. a that a group of workmen at Topwood-some distance up the hill from Grant Lodge were preparing to fell trees. "Cut down the trees! Na, na - they shannot do that." And, without moment's hesitation, off she set at surprising pace up the steep ascent, and in imperative tones ordered the workmen to desist and go back to the works. They obeyed. She returned, passing Grant Lodge, a and, going right down to the Square, poured out her indignant remonstrance and absolute prohibition to her son, who promised acquiescence on the spot. That occurred over seventy years ago; and where the writer sits, he can see Topwood still adorning the mountainside. The life of these venerable parents of the Grants embraced something like a completed providential cycle. They began their united life with fairly happy prospects. But these were dashed by stern adversity. With a large family of young children they had to start afresh, far from the native homestead, and in unfamiliar surroundings. But they maintained their integrity; and, through many years of trustful, unremitting toil, prosperity returned; while, in the peaceful evening of their days, affluence blessed their lot. All that had been lost had then come back to them augmented manifold. MRS GRANT (Mother of the Cheeryble Brothers), After the purchase of the estate of Messrs Peel & Yates, the firm of Messrs William Grant & Brothers rose rapidly in importance, embracing extensive foreign operations. One who had known them well in Bury in earlier times wrote in after years—“While your name has been sounded in my ears at Batavia, at Singapore, at Calcutta, in the East, it has been equally favourably mentioned to me at New Orleans, at Baltimore, and New York, in the Western World." 1 Of the four members of the firm, the eldest, William, and the third, Daniel, were for the most part in Manchester ; and the second, John, and the youngest, Charles, at Nuttall and Ramsbottom.2 For half a century the firm occupied a prominent place among the great houses of Manchester, and always promptly and liberally supported the ameliorative public movements and educational and charitable institutions of that important period. They were opponents of the Corn Bill in the year of Waterloo, and continued generous contributors to the agitation directed against the Corn Laws until their repeal in 1846. At their homes they were profusely hospitable, while they scattered money freely by the way to their less fortunate fellows, and were never above pulling up and 1 Letter to Mr Daniel Grant from Mr John Clark, or Clerke, of Sir William Clerke's family. 2 William never married. Daniel and Charles married sistersdaughters of Mr Worthington of Sharson, Cheshire. Daniel's wife died in her 21st year; Charles's widow married again after his death. John married Miss Dalglish of Glasgow (see Book II.) James, the eldest of the brothers, lived in Glasgow. He had a family. One of his daughters, Grace, married Mr Thomson of Batavia; and another, Elizabeth, became the first wife of Rev. Dr MacLean. alighting from their carriage to chat with and quietly assist an old neighbour or friend whose face recalled to them the struggle of their earlier years. Of those years they were never ashamed. They had no need to be. Indeed, one of the best tributes that can be paid to their memory is just this, that there was nothing in their lives when it was their lot to be poor which caused them to be ashamed when it was their fortune to become rich. They were sound at the core. "The heart aye's the pairt aye That makes us right or wrang." 1 A reminiscence of the late Mr John Slagg, M.P., reveals the daily experience of Mr William Grant in Manchester -"By the time of his arrival a number of poor people had gathered at the warehouse door awaiting his coming. When his carriage drew up they would divide into two lines, forming an avenue from the carriage to the warehouse door through which he passed. If he did not distribute his alms to them himself, he would send out a clerk to them, and I believe they seldom went away unrelieved." Of the younger brother, Mr Slagg said "I well remember how proud I was one morning when, my master having learnt they were wanting concentrated lime-juice at the works, he sent me to the warehouse to see Daniel Grant, and make him an offer of some. To my delight he ordered a hundred pounds worth. In giving the order he wasted no words, and yet did it so kindly that I have never forgotten the circumstance." In 1824, William was made a Justice of the Peace; 1 Robert Burns. |