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
- 101 "The king's!" said James, in astonishment--"what mean ye?""I mean," said the dying man, "that it was the king's sword that left me as you now see me. We waylaid him in this wood, expecting he would come this wa
- 102 "I've heard of that too, sirrah," replied the king, again laughing; "and it is for the good service thou didst me there, that I now feel disposed not to hang you.""That's an ugly word, sir.""Go to, go to, you k
- 103 I spent the evening of that day with Bill, outside the camp, and we ate the dates together, that in the morning had cost him so dear. The report had gone abroad--luckily a false one--that our colonel was dead; and that put an end to all hope, with the poo
- 104 But we must not conclude, on this account, that our forefathers were without curiosity, or without the means of gratifying that pa.s.sion for news which is deeply seated in our nature. Not at all; the very inconveniences of their position produced, in a g
- 105 IT was about dusk when I was caught in a mist on the borders of Scotland. I had made my way from Manchester, by Kendal and Penrith, and was on a long stretch across the bleak muirs which separate England from Scotland, as you advance towards the village o
- 106 "Take it with thee, take it with thee, man," said the writer. "Say it is a--a Dunfermline baton, the sign of your constables.h.i.+p, and you will find the bill two inches shorter.""Ingenious cratur!" e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Duncan
- 107 "They _are_ sure of the _spark_," replied the Prince. "But we give it here only as a medicine whereby we recover our patients that they may be the more able to feel our torments. The moment thou drinkest, the pincers will be applied."&
- 108 "Your fire's no sae guid as the ane I saw last nicht," he said to the tavern-keeper."It is only newly lighted," was the apology of the host."It may be the better o' that," said the other, throwing the whisky into th
- 109 "Elspeth," said the freebooter, "it is not your life they seek, and they canna hae the heart to harm our bairn. Gie me my Jeddard-staff in my hand--an' fareweel to ye, Elspeth--fareweel!--an eternal fareweel!Archy, fareweel, my gallant
- 110 Once, indeed, at a party to which he had been accidentally invited, he had felt a kind of a sort of a nervous tremulousness come over him on being set down at the supper table beside a lady, who, he discovered, was a widow; not from her garb, however; for
- 111 "DEAR ISY,--I enclose you a crown; if you want more, apply to Manager Trash for my arrears of salary. I'm off to Perth with the toggery of an old fellow who slept in the same room with me last night. They'll perhaps talk of pursuing me; if
- 112 We have now to explain the most extraordinary part of this piteous case--and that is, how it was that the poor boy's parents knew nothing of his miserable fate till it was discovered by the inquiry of which we shall shortly speak. In the first place,
- 113 "Mrs. Horner!--what has happened? Why are you here at this untimeous hour?--or what is the cause of your grief?""Thomas Kerr," replied she, "I am a poor unfortunate woman, whom G.o.d alone can help. Pa.s.s on, and leave me to my m
- 114 The load that had for many days pressed down the treasurer's spirits gradually pa.s.sed off as the deacon proceeded, and a new light shone on his mind; his countenance brightened up."Deacon," he said, "the truth begins to dawn upon me,
- 115 He was getting gradually worse--gradually weaker. He had tried all those little remedies commonly prescribed for coughs, without advantage, and in secret. What was next to be done, he hardly knew. The school could no longer be continued, as he was unable
- 116 Wilson's Tales of the Borders and of Scotland.Volume VI.by Various.THE GUIDWIFE OF COLDINGHAM; OR, THE SURPRISE OF FAST CASTLE.Near where St. Abb stretches, in ma.s.sive strength, into the sea, still terrible, even in ruins, may be seen the remains o
- 117 "And my mother kens," Janet was proceeding to say, when her mother's voice was heard, crying from the house-- "Come in, Janet--what are ye doing oot there in the cauld?--ye hae been lang enough wi' Florence the nicht--but the morn
- 118 "Aye, sir, and _the book_ of all books," replied he seriously; "but I hope I am not irreverend when I say that G.o.d may lead us to understand the first image in Eden by showing us sometimes something better here than what we can feel withi
- 119 "'My lady was some nights ago reading the story of Jane Grierson,' said I, 'and her sleep-walking conversation was only a repet.i.tion of the story.'"'Grierson, Grierson!' cried my master, as he rose frantically, an
- 120 "For a broken heart," said I, "there is no cure in this world."He looked at me, and wept."Dress yourself in this suit of my mournings," he said, "and accompany me whither I will lead you."I gazed at him in amazement
- 121 "How was that, sir?""On my way down here, a few days since, the steamer touched at Greenock.I was standing on the quay when a poor fellow, a pa.s.senger in a vessel just arrived, fell from the gangway, and was taken up insensible. I immedia
- 122 "I was half mad with fever, and the effects of my late draught; and, under the persuasion that our lives were in danger, I fired. The bowman of the gig fell, and we rapidly left her. We came at last to a narrow lagune, close to the low sh.o.r.e of wh
- 123 But, about ten years after he had gane awa, James Laidlaw came back to our neighbourhood; but he wasna the same lad he left--for he was now a dark-complexioned man, and he had wi' him a mulatto woman, and three bairns that called him _faither!_ He wa
- 124 "An' what got ye frae him?" said his mother; "for I hae naething i' the house for supper.""Twa or three placks," said Geordie, throwing down some coppers on the table."This is the 21st day o' April--your b
- 125 "No," answered the housekeeper, with a kick of her head, which Geordie took as a sign that his bait had been swallowed; "I am not Lady Maitland--I am in de charge of her ladys.h.i.+p's house. Vat you vant vit her ladys.h.i.+p? Can Loui
- 126 "Cadies are no cadies to coachmen," answered Geordie, dryly; "your brains maun be far spent, man, when they canna keep a house ower their head."The coachman jumped down for his hat, and Geordie, applying the whip to the horses, was off
- 127 I protested that it was not so--that I had found it as I had said. To this protest the fellow replied by striking me a violent blow on the side of the head, which stretched me on the road; where, after administering two or three parting kicks, to teach me
- 128 "Low, mean, _sneaking_ conduct," said a fourth."Dirty subterfuge," exclaimed a fifth. And off the gentlemen went.But they had not yet done with me. One of the number was a person with whom I had some acquaintance, and the next day I re
- 129 GUILTY, OR NOT GUILTY.On the 15th of September, 17--, an unusual stir was observable in our village. The people were gathered in little groups in the streets, with earnest and awe-stricken countenances; and even the little children had ceased their play,
- 130 "No," he articulated, with a slightly faltering voice, but a steady eye, "I will not trouble you with a friends.h.i.+p which might bring odium on you. I need not say how delightful it would be to me; but"---- "My father," int
- 131 He was about to add something more; but his utterance became choked; and, again pressing her hand to his lips, while a tear fell on it, he turned abruptly away. Miss Manners said not a word--her heart was too full--but closed the gate behind her and disap
- 132 "I must escort you a little way back," he at length said; and, accordingly, the two strolled up the garden, hand in hand--she speaking of the lateness of the hour, and he of the loveliness of the moon and stars, until night, moon, and stars, wer
- 133 We were now careering over the blue waves of the vast Atlantic, as if we were far above the earth. Nothing was there for the weary eye to rest upon but a dreary expanse of ocean and sky. All was still as death, save the hissing at the bows of the vessel,
- 134 He preached his first sermon in the church of his native parish; and, according to the fas.h.i.+on of the times, at the close of the service, the parish minister publicly criticised the discourses of the day. The young preacher, in this instance, found fa
- 135 It were an easy, and would be a pleasant task, to paint some of the scenes and characters which presented themselves to my observation even at that early period of life; but it would be foreign to the object I had in view, and would swell this humble narr
- 136 "Chief of Macpherson!" said he, in a deep hollow voice, "man of the dark brow and ruthless hand! what seekest thou with Moran of the Wild?"But, ere Macpherson could reply, the sage cast the wolf hide back from his right shoulder--exten
- 137 They saluted her as their queen. Her breast swelled with exultation.Pride flashed from her eyes, as the sun bursting from a cloud dazzleth the eye of the gazer. The king gazed upon her beauty as a dreamer upon a fair vision.Now, the beauty of Bethoc was s
- 138 The people beheld her from afar. Their shout of joy rang across the sea. It was echoed among the hills. A scream rose from the tower of Ida. From the highest turret Bethoc the queen had sprung. In pieces was her body scattered at the foot of the great cli
- 139 Wilson's Tales of the Borders and of Scotland.by Various.JUDITH THE EGYPTIAN; OR, THE FATE OF THE HEIR OF RICCON."The black-eyed Judith, fair and tall, Attracted the heir of Riccon Hall.For years and years was Judith known, Queen of a wild world
- 140 It was in January the body of a grey-haired woman, covered with a tattered red cloak, was found frozen and dead, below Norham Castle. It was the poor maniac Judith, the once beautiful gipsy. Some years afterwards, an old soldier, who had been in foreign w
- 141 The youth looked inquiringly in the face of the bluegown; but the same expression was still there. He was sorely puzzled: the feelings of humanity were throbbing in his heart in audible pulses. The old beggar was in one of his humours, and held him by the
- 142 "Now for your choice," said he. "Auld Mansie was giein ye counsel, maybe, to stay and stand your doom. What say ye--flight or flaught, an exile or an eizel?""I am unresolved," replied the youth."And by the faith o'
- 143 I know no place where one may be brought acquainted with the more credulous beliefs of our forefathers at a less expense of inquiry and exertion, than in a country lykewake. The house of mourning is naturally a place of sombre thoughts and ghostly a.s.soc
- 144 "But who or what is the water-wraith?" said my friend. "We heard just now of the kelpie, and it is the kelpie that Sir Walter quotes.""Ah," I replied, "but we must not confound the kelpie and the water-wraith, as has bec
- 145 of some score of ploughmen and dairymaids, not formed exactly after the Chinese fas.h.i.+on. At the further end of the barn stood a sort of platform, erected on a couple of empty herring-barrels; and on this again a chair was placed. This distinguished si
- 146 "Nae doot, nae doot, sae's seen on your playin," replied the latter."How do you fend wi' your fiddle? Do ye mak onything o' a guid leevin o't?""No that ill ava," said the stranger. "I play for the aul
- 147 "But _I_ do, though," replied the disguised knight; "and I'll gie ye yours back again for't.""The mair fule you," exclaimed Jeanie, rus.h.i.+ng away towards the house, and leaving the fiddler to make out the remaind
- 148 Immediately after the interchange of the commonplace civilities above-mentioned had pa.s.sed between the stranger and Mr Harrison and his daughter-- "Mr Harrison," he said, "may I have a private word with you?""Certainly, sir,&quo
- 149 We wish we could describe the look of amazement with which the laird listened to this extraordinary outpouring of law and Latin--this flouris.h.i.+ng of his own weapons in his face. He was perfectly confounded with it. It was a thing so wholly unexpected
- 150 the c.o.c.ks themselves. Oh, it was gran' sport! The dominie brought twa witnesses frae Lunnon, to swear to the c.o.c.k having been brought frae Sumatra; an' I brought frae Dumbarton, where the best c.o.c.k mains in a'Scotland are fought, t
- 151 "A' ticht an' richt, laird. We're baith that," said Skimclean, staggering towards his guest. "For my pairt, I never was better in my life. Never mair correck. Jenny, ye're wrang--clean wrang, I'm perfectly _compous_
- 152 "Sae, lang ere bonny Mary wist, Her peace was lost, her heart was won."It was the employment of Miss Walker, on warm, yet refres.h.i.+ng evenings, to sit in her open verandah or balcony, playing on the harp, and wooing all the sea-breezes with t
- 153 Reader, if ever thou hast been in "Babylon the Great," or, in other words, in the overgrown metropolis of the southern portion of these kingdoms, peradventure you have observed melancholy-looking men, their countenances tinged with the "pal
- 154 "'What would my poor Bertha think if she knew this!'"At length the list of names amongst which mine appeared was removed from the post-office and replaced by others; and when, after obtaining the means of paying for the letter, I made
- 155 "Bertha!" exclaimed Musgrave, and stepped forward, as if unconscious of what he did."Robert!" she rejoined, clasping her hands together. She started--she fell back; her brother supported her in his arms."Bertha!--father!--friend!&
- 156 Now Heiton was no more than other gallant Border men long in coming to a point, whether it was among black cattle or obscure fancies. His life had been spent in a.s.serting rights which were constantly liable to invasion; and the prompt, fiery, and resolu
- 157 "Down with them!" exclaimed James Dawson, springing forward, and s.n.a.t.c.hing down a sword which was suspended over the mantelpiece. The students vigorously resisted the attempt to make them prisoners, and several of them, with their entertain
- 158 "In this state of desperation, we hallooed, and made as much noise as possible, and were speedily answered by a human voice, inquiring why we made such a disturbance, and what we wanted. I answered, "'Shelter for the night, and food; for we
- 159 "'No--no--no. I would not live if I could; I am weary, and need rest in my grave. Captain,' he continued, 'you have dealt with me kindly and considerately; would you make me your debtor still farther? I have one request to make, which,
- 160 Next day, my wish was gratified."After my arrival in Greenock from my voyage to America," he began--"that land of promise, where I had been carried as a Palantine--I had no wages to receive; for I had wrought my pa.s.sage home--that is, giv
- 161 "This was one of the golden opportunities every man has once in his power during his existence of bettering his circ.u.mstances for life. My evil destiny, or some other cause, made me reject it. I had, for several months back, as I had had several ti
- 162 Wilson's Tales of the Borders and of Scotland.by Various.Volume 8 THE DOOM OF SOULIS."They roll'd him up in a sheet of lead-- A sheet of lead for a funeral pall; They plunged him in the caldron red, And melted him--lead, and bones, and all.
- 163 "The lid was lifted up, and a deep and angry voice said, 'Mortal!wherefore hast thou summoned me before the time I commanded thee? Was not thy wish granted? Steel shall not wound thee--cords bind thee--hemp hang thee--nor water drown thee. Away!
- 164 "She who cooks Rippon steel, Wat, needeth a fire," replied she."Charters will burn. I'll give ye the spurs, if ye'll give me the parchment. It will roast one of Gilmanscleugh's kye.""But I have no cause of quarrel,
- 165 "Haste! haste!" added other voices."I cannot disobey Harden's commands," replied she, "though the face of this fair corpse seems to beckon me to the satisfaction of a mother's heart, at the price of a wife's rebelli
- 166 "'Can you reef or steer, or heave the lead?'"'No.'"'Then what the devil _can_ you do?'"'I can read and write, and keep accounts.'"'Oh, ho!--a reg'lar long-sh.o.r.e gemman!--the mak
- 167 "'Why, who else should it be?' replied he; 'eh, old boy, who else should it be?'"To my great surprise, I now perceived that my poor s.h.i.+pmate was half-seas-over, as we call it."'Telford.' said I, 'do yo
- 168 "But tell us something about yourself, and Mr Dalzell. I suppose you have been in action together?""Action!--Lord love ye, sir, we were hardly ever out of it! If I were to tell you all, I'd have nothing else to do for the next week. I
- 169 He was a decent, substantial-looking farmer--plain and unsophisticated in his manners, intelligent, and shrewd, with a spice of humour about him which he seemed to have some difficulty in controlling.Having mentioned to Mr Pentland the purpose of my visit
- 170 'For Wit's false mirror held up Nature's light-- Show'd erring Pride _whatever is, is right_.'"'And,' exclaimed Sandy, energetically, and waving his hand aloft, in the excitation of his feelings, as he spoke-- '
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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.
- 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-
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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.
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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