Wilson's Tales of the Borders and of Scotland Novel Chapters
List of most recent chapters published for the Wilson's Tales of the Borders and of Scotland novel. A total of 570 chapters have been translated and the release date of the last chapter is Apr 02, 2024
Latest Release: Chapter 1 : Wilson's Tales of the Borders and of Scotland.Volume I.by Various.PREFACE.This seri
Wilson's Tales of the Borders and of Scotland.Volume I.by Various.PREFACE.This series of Tales, now so well known in this country and also in America, was begun by JOHN MACKAY WILSON, originally a printer, and who subsequently betook himself to liter
- 270 "Eh! What?" returned he, gradually uncoiling himself, till his little thick legs were stretched to their full length (shortness, I should say), and his sharp twinkling eyes stared full up in my face. "So it _is_! Give me your hand, my boy--
- 269 "'Very fine, sir; steady breeze, smooth water; every st.i.tch of sail set that will draw.'"'Take in all your small sails, sir, as fast as you can; the gla.s.s has fallen considerably since I turned in; we are going to have a breez
- 268 I communicated the tidings of his death and his repentance of his conduct towards her; and she received them meekly, but wept as the remembrance of young affection touched her heart.Such, sir, is an account of my speculations, and the losses and crosses w
- 267 Priscilla was stupified, and she repeated the word "Away!" but the truth broke over me in a moment; and I sank back into a chair, as helpless, for all the world, as a new-born infant.Rachel tried to compose herself the best way she could; and sh
- 266 "Vessels large may venture more, But little boats should keep near sh.o.r.e."And he further said, "I am but serving my time yet; we must creep before we walk."Never was any man who prospered in the affairs of this world more diligent i
- 265 "What mean you?" said the captain."Do ye no recollect," said Lewis, "o' giein a man on a black mare twenty guineas to mak a red-herrin drag across the nose o' Mr Anson?""I do," said the captain; "but
- 264 "The plain Scotch o' a' this English, Mike," said Lewie, "is, that the la.s.sie is determined to hang ye, as a repayment for a' the kisses ye were at the trouble to gie her in the holms o' Netherwood; and, after ye'
- 263 "You have often, in playfulness, mocked me, Mike," answered she, "and turned the inquiries of my love into questions to myself, by the force of your Scottish humour; but I bear faith that you never told me a lie.Yet, when I think of the mys
- 262 But the blinds were still kept up. He paced on a little further, and, seeing that no answer was returned to his application, repeated the rap a little louder than before."Who's there?" cried a rough voice."A friend," answered Mike
- 261 THE WEDDING.On a certain vacation-day of August, of which I have still a vivid recollection, I fished in Darr Water; and with so much success, that night had gathered over me ere I was aware. I was at this moment fully fifteen miles from home, in a locali
- 260 Wilson's Tales of the Borders and of Scotland.by Various.Volume 12 THE SCOTTISH HUNTERS OF HUDSON'S BAY.The gloom of a boisterous winter evening was settling over one of the wild, inhospitable tracts which lie to the north of the St Lawrence. Th
- 259 Of the warriors from Fife, every man perished; but their price was a costly sacrifice of the boldest lives in England. The streets ran deep with blood; and, independent of slaughtered enemies, the mangled and lifeless bodies of seventeen thousand of the i
- 258 The scene around us was now dreary and desolate in the extreme: the sky was dark, gloomy, and threatening; light, angry-looking, discoloured clouds flitted over it, like spirits disturbed, while overhead the scud careered with lightning-like rapidity; the
- 257 "Let me see you often, my young friend," said the captain; "I should like to become better acquainted with you. We always pipe to breakfast at nine o'clock, and to dinner at three. I hate your late sh.o.r.e hours.Come whenever you are
- 256 THE SCHOOLFELLOWS.A few years ago, I happened to pa.s.s through the main street of Carlisle, just as the south mail had "pulled up" at the door of "The Bush." The night was very cold; the horses were tossing their heads, and pawing the
- 255 "No," said Harry, sternly; "wouldst tamper with my child's heart, when her trusting in thee would place my life in thy power? Say no more--I won't hear thee," he continued, again raising the pistol in his hand.Augustus, findi
- 254 "Now, sir," said he, as he set him down from his shoulders on an arm-chair, "ye needna be under the smallest apprehension, for every attention shall be paid ye here; and, as soon as ye are better, ye shall be at liberty to return, safe and
- 253 "Smash, man!" rejoined Harry; "wad you sit here on your hunkers, while your capital is in danger o' being robbed frae ye as simply as ye would snuff out a candle, and a' to escape a night's doukin! Get up, man--get a boat--we
- 252 THE SMUGGLER.The golden days of the smuggler are gone by; his hiding-places are empty; and, like Oth.e.l.lo, he finds his "occupation gone." Our neighbours on the other side of the herring-pond now bring us _dry bones_, according to the law, ins
- 251 "It's a dizziness i' my head, woman," was the reply. "I've never been mysel since that illness I had afore the term. Thae curious turns come owre me aye, noo and then," she continued, her voice sinking and saddening as s
- 250 "Na, na," rejoined the other; "it was you--it was Nelly Kilgour. Oh, I'll never forget its words!--and if ye winna tak pity on me, what am I to do?""Ye needna speer what ye're to do at me," said Nelly; "but it
- 249 "Dinna vex yersel owre sair, Jock," said she, "though Lizzie's awa wi'anither lad; when he leaves her, I'll warrant she'll be glad to see ye again.""The deil confound her and her lads baith!" said Jock, hi
- 248 "Hold, sir!--hold!" cried the roused man. "You now speak daggers to me! I could hae borne this when you were here last; but ye hae unmanned me--ye hae made me familiar wi' him, the king o' terrors, wha waits for me. I know him in
- 247 "I wadna hae shown you that," he continued, as I sat down, "but that it is my wish to tell you the warst; for nae man can expect a.s.sistance, if he is ashamed or afraid to show his necessities and his danger. I didna send for you to cure m
- 246 "Whisht! whisht! Back, Davy, back!" (The two professional gentlemen were ensconced in a close or entry directly opposite Mr Willoughby's garden-gate.) "Back, Davy, back!" said Howison. "There's somebody comin. I hear fol
- 245 "Do your duty, sir!" he said, waving his hand impatiently as a signal to M'Intyre to return to his place, and stepping a pace or two away from him as he spoke. "Do your duty, sir, or I'll compel you; I'll have you in the same
- 244 On arriving at Glasgow, which, although a distance of nearly forty miles from the spot where we first introduced them to the reader, they made out with perfect ease on the evening of the same day on which they left their native village, the young men repa
- 243 "A pair of friends, though one was young, And Matthew seventy-two."Linked closer and closer together by these sweet natural ties, they were happy, and their affection was the grateful theme of all the inhabitants of the valley.A little incident
- 242 "He apprised me o' the danger I stood in," replied the boxmaster, "anent Templeton's bill, that's in the corporation box. I had forgotten the date o' its becomin due, and he brocht it to my mind.A's safe yet."T
- 241 "I repent o't," replied Andrew, with dry lips, and a gurgling of the throat, as if he had been on the eve of choking."Then, I fancy," continued Mrs Jean Todd, "ye would like yer name back again?""Ou ay--surely,"
- 240 The deacon, however, did almost immediately wait upon the boxmaster, and got him to adjourn to a tavern in the Lawnmarket, at that time much frequented by the members of the incorporation. They had scarcely seated themselves when the superior official ope
- 239 All my efforts were o' no avail. I could get him to learn nothing, and to comprehend nothing. Often I had half made up my mind to turn him awa from the school, for I saw that I never would have any credit by the blockhead. But what was most annoying
- 238 Wilson's Tales of the Borders and of Scotland.by Various.Volume 11 THE DOMINIE'S CLa.s.s.[A]"Their ends as various as the roads they take In journeying through life."There is no cla.s.s of men to whom the memory turns with more complac
- 237 Thus died that remarkable man. A dark story now arose in Scotland: Countess Margaret had encouraged a criminal pa.s.sion for the English baron, John Russel, and was openly accused of having poisoned her husband, by means of a posset of milk and sack, to m
- 236 "That's weel thocht on," said James. "I canna say but ye hae sometimes a gliffin o' sense aboot ye, Nanny."The stranger soon recovered so far as to be able to put off his own clothes; and though he remonstrated strongly again
- 235 the deep sonorous sound of a well-blown horn fell upon his ears, and roused him to fresh exertions. He had crossed the burn and clambered to the top of the bank before the blast had ceased; and, as he endeavoured to fix the direction of the sound, the hor
- 234 "It's very true, la.s.sie," said James; "but, if we hae nae bairn to carry meal, we hae nane to eat it--let's aye be content, woman."James was soon provided with a clean linen bag, which he deposited in his pocket; and, cross
- 233 But to proceed:-- "After your father's death, I felt the most solitary of men for many months. Still I continued to do my duty as a private soldier, without taking any interest in surrounding events. About two years after my arrival, a revolt br
- 232 THE IMPRUDENT MARRIAGE.Serjeant Square again resumed the narrative of his adventures:-- There is a strange feeling, that every reflecting person must have often been conscious of, accompanying the idea of time. We feel as if in contact with the past, as f
- 231 "The never a doubt on't, madam," rejoined Mr Caleb. "Loneliness is poor company; and I would marry to-morrow, were it for nothing else than to produce some stir of life in my deserted house.""And, for society's sake, I w
- 230 What shall he do? Shall he part with one? and if so, which of the two?No; the idea is torment to him--he cannot for a moment entertain it. He will save both, or perish in the attempt. He sinks, and rises, and sinks again, with his precious burden. The wat
- 229 Soon after the royal marriage, preparations were made for the queen's coronation (King David having been crowned when he ascended the throne), and the royal pair, with the court, proceeded to Scone Palace for that purpose.It was a fine morning in the
- 228 The reign of the ill.u.s.trious Malcolm III., surnamed Canmore, King of Scotland, which began in the year 1057, was not more distinguished for heroism and literature than for love. He was both a religious and a valiant king, and was often victorious again
- 227 "Ay!" said she, "had ye keepit your tryst at such a time, and at such a place, nae doubt this would have been the day; but ye couldna be fashed to keep it then--and I canna be fashed now.""Oh, confound it!" cried I; "Isa
- 226 and to another, "Where's my jacket?"Then my faither would have cried out again, "_I'll seek_ it for ye!"Then I soon found it, and got out o' the house wi' the rest o' them.It was precisely the same thing when m
- 225 "Henry," she said, holding up their child, and stretching forth her arms--"Henry, look on this dear pledge of our affection, the child of love, though born in bitterness and tears, the offspring of your choice--look on him, Henry, and let t
- 224 or "ashes from the burning mountains." But, on the occasion to which we refer, there was an exhibition in the shape of a theatrical booth, which presented extraordinary attractions for May Darling; and, accordingly, after deliberately balancing
- 223 "'Not I, Rodney.'"'My eyes!' muttered the old man to himself, 'to think of a man coming to his years, and not knowing how to make lobskous! Why, sir, axing yer pardon, yer edication must have been sadly neglected.'&
- 222 "'Parbleu! he is one clevare man, that capitane! He most be var weak after lose one boat's crew, and yet how he manage his sheep skeelfully!'Tis almost peety not let him rone away; bote I mos catch heem--he cannot escape long.' Wh
- 221 THE MEETING AT ST BOSWELL'S.It is now some years since I happened to visit the pretty little village of St Boswell's, in Roxburghs.h.i.+re, in company with a friend, who had some stock to dispose of at the great annual fair then holding there.Mo
- 220 I know not that any one has rightly described a first love. It is not the love of man and woman, though that be fervent and terrible--it is not the love of mere boy and girlhood, though that be disinterested and engrossing--but it is the love of the perio
- 219 Anne threw back her veil, and, with her face uncovered, cast herself at the feet of Bruce. The a.s.sembled lords fixed their eyes upon the damsel, as she occupied a position which exhibited the graces of her perfect figure, and the intelligence of her bea
- 218 Bruce was now on the ladder. He stopped suddenly, and gazed for a moment at the riband on the top of the escalade. Anne's voice met his ear."Come on, come on, brave warriors," she said, in a low tone."Who art thou, in Heaven's nam
- 217 "Money will make any man stoop, fair Anne," replied Peter. "I have heard the back armour of the bravest knight of the lists crack with the bow to Mammon, as loud as when he knelt to the peac.o.c.k. A merchant knows the science of provisos,
- 216 "I am, your lords.h.i.+p," answered the author."You are!--you!" said his lords.h.i.+p, "you the author of _the Defence_?Impertinent fool! had not you the idea from me? Am not I to pay for it?The work is mine!" So saying, he r
- 215 Wilson's Tales of the Borders and of Scotland.by Various.Volume 10 THE FIRST-FOOT.Notwithstanding the shortness of their days, the bitterness of their frosts, and the fury of their storms, December and January are merry months. First comes old Christ
- 214 "Ye will forgive me, David," said she, "for the remark I hae dune ye great injustice; for how is it possible to conceive that sae guid a man could be sae nearly related to a monster? But ye hae to explain to me the change o name. How hae yo
- 213 "Did she?" exclaimed Chatelard, eagerly, and with such a look of inquiry and doubt as greatly disappointed the a.s.serter. "You know who I mean, then; but how know ye that which you have just now said? a.s.sure me that ye speak true, Choiss
- 212 "Your insinuation is rude, my lord," replied the queen, haughtily; and, without vouchsafing any other remark, walked away to the further end of the apartment, leaving the earl and Chatelard together.Murray now saw, from the perfectly composed an
- 211 "I have heard the queen say so, my lord," replied the chamberlain. "She has spoken of him in my hearing as a poet.""Ah! the same, the same," said the earl; "but how obtained he access to the queen, know ye?""Th
- 210 "Very seldom, sir," replied mine host; "for ye see she doesna fin hersel quite at hame yet amang us; but she'll come to by and by, I've nae doot.""And she is not easy of access, you say--no chance of one being able to th
- 209 "I pitched upon the bridal eve of Theodore for that of his death, and the seizure of his bride; and hired the leader of a band of ruffians to a.s.sist me in the scheme. The fatal night, so big with horror, at last arrived. The sun sank sullenly into
- 208 "Certainly--with a great deal of pleasure," coldly responded Miss Gingerly, blowing her nose with the end of her pocket-handkerchief, which she extracted partially from her black satin bag for the purpose, and feeling particularly venomous at be
- 207 "But why should you remain here?" said he, with emotion; "tell me, could not I a.s.sist you?" And he placed a piece of money in her hand."No! no!" cried the widow, bitterly, and raising her head; "oh, that Mary Lawson sh
- 206 I mounted the high-hung, crazy vehicle, with a lad to drive and bring it back, having satisfied mine host to his utmost wish. By half-past ten o'clock, I reached the jeweller's in the Strand, whose first floor Captain H----occupied, and found hi
- 205 Before the evening closed, I was all ready to start upon my new line of life. As Berwick, he said, was not a proper place to lay in a store of goods to sell again with a sufficient profit, I purchased only a few pounds' worth of hardware, Wilson bein
- 204 seeking ye there, faither."Lady Polwarth shuddered, and Sir Patrick pressed the cheek of his lovely daughter to his lips."Save us a', bairn!" said Jamie, "there's surely something no earthly about yer young laddys.h.i.+p, for
- 203 "Ha! Matty, la.s.s, this is sad wark," cried the farmer, on recognising the voice of his wife."Is it possible, Robert Melville," said the father, "that you could disgrace your family and your pedigree, by carrying off the wife of
- 202 Her cutting words had still no effect upon the good-natured farmer, who continued his operations till he got the six steers safely lodged in their shed. He then came into the house quietly, and, with a "heigh-ho, that job's weel owre," sat
- 201 Such is the character you pretend to, at any rate.""And such," replied Tromp, with a blush of honest indignation, "is the character I maintain. Who shall gainsay it?""Why, there are some things going on here to-night that don
- 200 "The tae half's aboot the usual thing I believe," replied the latter; "and, if we tak that in the present case--that is, regarding the king's gallantries----""Ay, ay, go on, laird, go on--that's it--give us all you
- 199 "Aweel, it may be sae, sir," replied the imperturbable stranger; "but I ken o' nae country whar a calm sough's no guid counsel.""Ha! ha! ha! right, friend, right," roared mine jolly host of the Drouthsloken, with op
- 198 "Ou, I was only telling him there waur nae trouts, except _stane anes_,[B] here."In the meantime, I had approached the old man's seat, and thinking that he motioned me to be seated, I at once took my place, as if I had been an old acquainta
- 197 "My bonny la.s.s, I work in bra.s.s-- A tinkler is my station-- I've travell'd round all Christian ground In this my occupation.I've ta'en the gold--I've been enroll'd In many a n.o.ble squadron-- In vain they search
- 196 "'What light is that?' shouted he; 'who has dared to disobey the orders?Jump up there, one of you boys, and douse it. Rogers, there's a traitor on board.'"'Then Jose is the man, sir!'"The Delight had lost
- 195 "'Ay, so it is!' said he; 'I see her spars plain enough; nothing but a royal loose--and there's her hull!' he continued, as the moon broke out, and showed us a long, low, rakish-looking square brig, lying as snug as a duck in
- 194 William Duncan had lived nearly thirty years in the service of a landed proprietor in Dumfries-s.h.i.+re; where his honest, upright, trustworthy character had gained him the esteem and respect of his employer; and he was looked upon more in the light of a
- 193 Her soft musical voice fell on the ear of the youth; but his keen, dark eye was busy with the examination of charms with which his ear had been long familiar. The blush of a woman is a man's triumph; whatever may be its secret cause, the man will con
- 192 Wilson's Tales of the Borders and of Scotland.Vol. 9.by Various.THE CRIPPLE; OR, EBENEZER THE DISOWNED.It is proverbial to say, with reference to particular const.i.tutions or habits of body, that May is a _trying_ month, and we have known what it is
- 191 "Gracious heaven! is it possible?" exclaimed Mr M'Arthur, now aware that she who spoke to him was no other than the daughter of his employer, between whom and himself there had long been a secret and unavowed attachment--an attachment which
- 190 "Perhaps it may, sir; but let me look at the plans, &c., if you please."They were immediately produced, and, in a few minutes, the stranger and Mr M'Ausline were up to the elbows in papers; the former examining every doc.u.ment connected wi
- 189 "Well, call upon me there to-morrow forenoon. Ask for Mr M'Donald. I wish to speak further with you."The boy promised, and Mr M'Donald rode off.Now, it would not be easy for us to say what were the latter's intentions regarding th
- 188 "We'll let you know all that by and by, friend," replied the spokesman of the party; "but, in the meantime, you _must_ go with us; so there's no use in palavering about it.""I'll be hanged if I do, then," said
- 187 "Much obleeged, sir, much obleeged," stammered out Jamie, in great distress of mind; "but, ye see, it's impossible--althegither oot o' the question; for I have some important business to do, that maun be dune before I go onywhaur.
- 186 "The season is backward; I have some," replied he, "but they are a little high-priced.""So much the better--send half-a-crown's worth with the duck, for me and my friends.""Well, Kay, you always do the thing genteel
- 185 "'O Bill, we are more than friends,' she sobbed. 'I love you dearly, and am proud of you.'"Arm-in-arm, we returned to the tents."Long Ned had just come home after an excursion; so, as soon as he saw us, his rage knew no
- 184 "'What want you, William?' he inquired, in a hollow voice."'It is a letter for you, sir,' said I, 'brought by a stranger, whom the laird said I might admit.'"A glow of pleasure pa.s.sed over his face, as, with
- 183 "'Be composed, my dear sir,' I rejoined; 'do you not know Edward Vavasour, your attached nephew?'"He rose--his eyes had a peculiar expression--one I had never witnessed before: naturally of a dark-grey, they seemed to take th
- 182 had given him a fancy for the pleasures of a seafaring life, they yielded speedily to the irresistible effects of sea-sickness.The vessel reached the island in about six weeks, and Tom presented his credentials to Mr Tresham, from whom he met a favourable
- 181 "True--very true! If I live, my innocence may yet be proved. But how to get through the window?""That can be easily managed, if you will act like a man. It is now early. I will be with you again before the prison shuts. Remember, not one wo
- 180 "I am no thief--I am as honest as yourself, Sir Thomas! and bitterly, bitterly shall you rue this day! When I set my foot next time on your grounds, it will be for no good to you."Saying this, he turned on his heel, and, extricating himself sudd
- 179 "_Stop the supplies!_" returned Patie--"what do you mean, Robin? I canna say that I fully comprehend ye.""I just mean this," added the other; "be your ain banker--your ain cas.h.i.+er--be maister o' your ain siller-
- 178 bellowses; and there wad she lie grumblin a' the time, ca'in me useless _this_, and useless _that_; and I just had to put up wi' it. But, after our first bairn was born, she grew far wa.r.s.e, and I becam mair and mair miserable every day.
- 177 "O Heavens! my Agnes!" cried the stranger, in a voice of agony."Henry! my Henry!" screamed the wretched bride, and, starting from the side of the bridegroom, she sank on the breast of the stranger.That stranger was indeed Henry Cransto
- 176 THE LARK'S AUTUMNAL SONG.(INSCRIBED TO AGNES PERCY.) Again in the heavens thy hymn is heard, Bird of the daring wing!When last ye sprang from the daisied sward, Making the welkin ring, Thy lay the dreaming buds awoke-- Thy voice the spell of winter b
- 175 THE ARTIST.In the course of my practice, I have paid some attention to the effects of the two great stimulants, whisky and tobacco, on the bodies and habits of the votaries of excitement. There is a great difference in the action of the two substances; an
- 174 "'Ay, brother, I fancy you found him a very pleasant intelligent companion,' said Miss Darsy, with a look and tone of peculiar meaning."What this meaning was, Mr Darsy perfectly understood. He knew that his sister was at once insinuati
- 173 "'Come, come, Willie, nane o' yer blarney for me,' said Sandy, now dismounting. 'Ye're no gaun to saft-sape me that way. What kind o'horses were they ye selt us?"'Just the very pick o' the country,' r
- 172 "'Yes, sir,' said Willie-- 'For modes of faith, let graceless zealots fight, His can't be wrong whose life is in the right.'"'Certainly not--certainly not,' exclaimed Mr Darsy, in raptures.'One self-approv
- 171 Those, only fix'd, they first and last obey-- The love of pleasure, and the love of sway.'"Having now reached the house, Mr Darsy desired Willie to remain a minute in charge of the horses, until he went for his factotum, Sandy Ramsay, whom