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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/7963.txt b/7963.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..72962be --- /dev/null +++ b/7963.txt @@ -0,0 +1,4824 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Eskdale Herd-boy, by Mrs Blackford + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most +other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions +whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of +the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at +www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have +to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. + +Title: The Eskdale Herd-boy + A Scottish Tale for the Instruction and Amusement of Young Persons + +Author: Mrs Blackford + +Posting Date: February 22, 2015 [EBook #7963] +Release Date: April, 2005 +First Posted: June 6, 2003 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ESKDALE HERD-BOY *** + + + + +Produced by Ted Garvin, S.R. Ellison, Charles Franks, and +the Online Distributed Proofreading Team + + + + + + + + + + +THE ESKDALE HERD-BOY + +A Scottish Tale + +FOR THE INSTRUCTION AND AMUSEMENT OF YOUNG PERSONS + +BY MRS. BLACKFORD + + + + + + + +CONTENTS + +INTRODUCTION + +CHAP. I. + + +Description of Eskdale.--History of Marion Scott and John Telfer.--He +loses his Parents.--Mr. Martin, the Pastor, befriends him.--John engaged +by Mr. Laurie as his herd-boy.--Helen Martin's first attempt at +horsemanship.--Her mother points out the advantages of perseverance and +self-command. + +CHAP. II. + +Excursion towards the Glen.--Beautiful scenery.--Account of the +_Borderers_.--The Minister visits David Little's cottage--Rustic +manners.--Canine sagacity.--The visitors take their departure. + +CHAP. III. + +John gains the approbation of the Pastor.--Visit to Mr. Elliott.--His +cottage delightfully situated.--Helen cautioned by her father against +affectation.--Arrival at Minkirk.--Visit at Craigie Hall.--Mrs. Scott's +hospitality.--John dispatched on an errand.--His unlucky disaster.--The +party returns by moonlight.--Their arrival at the Manse relieves Mrs. +Martin's anxiety. + +CHAP. IV. + +John's reflexions on entering service.--Receives advice from the Minister +for his future conduct.--John's good intentions the cause of great +anxiety. + +CHAP. V. + +Sunday morning.--The family assembled for morning prayer.--Interesting +description of the villagers' manners on the Sabbath.--Serious +illnesses.--John in an awkward dilemma.--Hateful effects of +intoxication.--Miss Helen taken seriously ill.--A curtain lecture. + +CHAP. VI. + +Uncertainty of human events.--News of Captain Elliott.--An agreeable +present.--John gains the approbation of the Minister for his activity. + +CHAP. VII. + +John enters Mr. Laurie's service.--New companions.--He receives +instruction in his new employ.--Surprising sagacity of the shepherds' +dogs.--Marion recovered. + +CHAP. VIII. + +Arrival of Capt. Elliott.--Unfavourable character of William Martin.--His +hasty temper the cause of uneasiness to his parents.--He is placed under +the care of Mr. Lamont.--Helen's amiability.--The party take their +departure for Kelso. + +CHAP. IX. + +Hospitable reception at Kelso.--Interview between Capt. Elliott and his +nephew William.--The party return to the _Manse_.--Helen's attachment to +home.--Capt. Elliott joins his vessel.--Alarm of the family at the sudden +disappearance of William Martin. + +CHAP. X. + +Mrs. Martin greatly distressed by William's thoughtless and undutiful +conduct.--Helen shrewdly guesses her brother's plans.--Information +received from Capt. Elliott that William has joined him.--William solicits +permission to accompany his uncle to sea.--His parents reluctantly +consent.--Mrs. Martin's death ensues. + +CHAP. XI. + +Helen's grandmother takes charge of the household.--Marion Scott resides +with Helen at the Manse.--John Telfer gradually improves himself.--Capt. +Elliott and his nephew arrive in England.--Their anxiety to visit Eskdale +again.--Mrs. Elliott's repugnance at seeing her undutiful grandson causes +her departure to Mr. Armstrong's. + +CHAP. XII. + +William's arrival, and interview with his sister.--Affectionately received +by his father.--Marion narrowly escapes perishing in a snow +storm.--Intrepidity of William and John.--The departure of Capt. Elliott +and William the cause of distress and fearful forebodings.--John +accompanies them. + +CHAP XIII. + +Their arrival in the metropolis.--And voyage to the Mediterranean.--Sudden +disappearance of William and the boat's crew at sea.--A sea fight.--Capt. +Elliott killed, the vessel taken by the enemy, and the crew made +prisoners.--The news of these disasters cause the death of Mr. Martin. + +CHAP XIV. + +Helen vacates the parsonage, and joins Miss Maxwell's millinery +establishment.--They become greatly attached.--John Telfer, after several +years' captivity, makes his escape. + +CHAP XV. + +John's unexpected interview with Marion.--They are married, and settle in +Eskdale.--His interview with Helen.--She is induced to accompany him to +Eskdale; and is finally married to Mr. Johnstone, the Minister of Eskdale. + + + + +INTRODUCTION + + +The Author of this little Work, many years ago, spent a few weeks in +Eskdale, the scene where she has placed the principal events of her tale. +The beauty of the country made a deep impression on her mind, at the time; +perhaps the more so, from its being the farthest excursion to the +southward, that she had then made from her native home. She, however, by +no means pretends to pourtray the scenery in the course of her narrative, +with minute accuracy. Too long a period has since elapsed, and she has +seen in the interval too great a variety of places, to retain an exact +recollection of every spot in this delightful dale; but its general +features remain strongly fixed in her memory; and she hopes that her young +readers will not find her tale less interesting from any slight inaccuracy +which they may discover in the local description. + +The general character and manners of the inhabitants are, she believes, +more correctly represented; for there is scarcely an incident, +exemplifying these in the following pages, of which she has not known a +counterpart in real life. The respect universally paid by the parishioners +to their clergyman, and the familiar intercourse and great influence which +the latter possesses, in forming their minds and morals, are circumstances +which have fallen under her own observation, not only in Eskdale, but in +various other parts of Scotland; and she has felt a peculiar satisfaction +in describing the simple and useful life of MR. and MRS. MARTIN, from the +remembrance of many worthy couples in similar situations, who might have +sat for the resemblance. She has endeavoured, in relating the adventures +of JOHN TELFER, the Eskdale Herd-boy, to impress on the minds of her young +readers, the permanent advantages of early integrity and gratitude. In the +short and unfortunate life of WILLIAM MARTIN, she has attempted to show +the duty that is incumbent on all young people, to subdue that disobedient +and self-willed temper, which may otherwise undermine, not only their own +comfort and happiness, but those of their parents and friends, of all whom +they love, and of all to whom they are dear. The character of HELEN is +meant, on the contrary, to illustrate the inestimable value that a dutiful +daughter may be of, both to father and mother; the prudence, the +steadiness, and even the energy which Helen displays, on some trying +occasions, will not, it is hoped, appear to be overstrained, when her +conduct is considered as the result of an education conducted on these +steady principles, which insure the love and obedience of the child, by +inspiring a firm reliance on the justice and affection of the parent. + + + + +THE ESKDALE HERD-BOY + + + + +CHAP. I. + + +In the year 1807 there stood on the beautiful banks of the river Esk, in +Dumfriesshire, one of the most southern counties in Scotland, a small +cottage. The neat white walls, well-thatched roof, and clean +casement-windows, ornamented as they were with honeysuckles and roses, +attracted the admiration of a few strangers, who, from the uncommon beauty +and grandeur of the scenery, were tempted to turn off the direct road from +Langholm to Edinburgh, and follow the windings of the river to its source. +The cottages in general, in that part of the country, present a very +different appearance; having too frequently a look of neglect, the windows +broken, the walls dirty, and instead of a pretty garden, a heap of mud +before the door. The contrast, therefore, rendered this building the more +remarkable; and led people to suppose, what indeed was the case, that its +inhabitants were more industrious, and had seen a little more of the +customs of other countries, than their less neat and cleanly neighbours. + +The names of the couple who resided on this spot, were John and Marion +Telfer: their history I am now going to relate. John was the only son of +an honest, industrious couple, who lived in the neighbourhood of Langholm, +but who unfortunately both died of a fever, when he was little more than +ten years old, leaving him nothing but their blessing, and the virtuous +habits of integrity and obedience, in which they had trained him from his +earliest youth. On their death-bed they entreated that the excellent +clergyman, who, in spite of the malignity of the disease, continued to +comfort and pray by them in their last moments, would take compassion on +their poor little orphan, and find him employment among the neighbouring +farmers, either as a herd-boy to some of the numerous flocks of sheep +which are common in Eskdale, or as a plough-boy in their fields. Mr. +Martin, for such was the name of the pious pastor, assured them that he +would do all in his power for their child: and he kept his word; for as +soon as they were dead, he took the boy home to his own house, and there +endeavoured, by kindness and sympathy, to console him for his great and +irreparable loss. For some days, all his endeavours were unsuccessful. +John, though sensible of the kind attentions of Mr. Martin, still felt +miserable and unhappy. All his dear mother's care and tenderness; all the +pains and trouble that his kind father used to take in teaching him to +read his Bible, after, perhaps, a hard day's work; the delight with which +they both watched his improvement--all, all rose to poor John's mind, and +made him believe he never more could be happy. + +Mr. Martin, at last, seeing the boy's melancholy continue, thought that a +little employment might serve to rouse him. He therefore one morning +called John into his study, and asked him if he would be so good as to +assist in dusting and arranging some books, which were in a large chest in +the corner of the room. John, from lowness of spirits, did not much like +to be employed; but as he had been taught by his father always to be +obedient, and to do at once whatever he was desired, he immediately set +about dusting the books. The first two or three he merely wiped, and put +them down without looking at them; but at last, in rubbing one, a leaf +fell out, which obliged him to open the book to put it back again. The +work happened to be a handsome edition of Robinson Crusoe, with very +beautiful prints. Mr. Martin, who was watching him unobserved, called to +him to bring the book, and then told him he might look at the pictures if +he pleased. John, who had never seen any thing of the kind before, was +delighted with this permission, and placing himself at a little distance, +so as not to disturb Mr. Martin, began turning over the leaves; his eyes +sparkling, and his little hands trembling with increased delight, at every +new scene that was represented. At last he came to the one where Man +Friday is saved from the savages. Here his curiosity got the better of the +natural awe he felt for Mr. Martin; and he cried out, "Pray, Sir, be so +good as to tell me what this means!"--for though John had been taught to +read his Bible, as well as his poor father was capable of teaching, yet +this was in so imperfect a way, that he could by no means read easily, and +was obliged to spell more than half his words. Mr. Martin smiled +good-naturedly, as John's exclamation made him raise his head from the +book he was reading; and desiring him to come near his chair, he +explained, at some length, what the print represented; after which he +asked John if he would not like to be able to read the story himself. John +immediately answered, "O dear! yes Sir, that I should; but," looking down, +and the tears starting into his eyes, "that can never be now; for my dear +father is dead and gone; and nobody else will ever take the trouble to +teach so poor a boy as I am. And yet," continued he, looking in Mr. +Martin's face, and brightening a little with a kind of hope, "don't you +think, Sir, that if I succeed in getting a place, and if I am _very, +very_ attentive, and always take pains to please my master, I may in time +be able to save, out of my wages, as much as a penny a week, for I know if +I could do that, I might go to the school at Langholm. I remember hearing +my poor dear father wish very much that he could afford to pay so much +money for me; as he said he was sure that Mr. Campbell would teach me to +read much better than he could." + +John here stopped, and seemed to wait anxiously to hear what Mr. Martin +would say to his little plan. After a few minutes' consideration, this +worthy man replied, "my dear John, I am afraid it would be a long time +before you would be able to save so much out of the very small sum that +such a little boy as you can earn;" but, seeing the poor fellow look +disappointed, he went on to say, that he had a little scheme to propose, +which he hoped John would like as well as going to Langholm school. He +then added, "my dear John, when your parents were dying, I promised them +to take care of you, and to endeavour to find a master who would be +willing to take you into his service, and treat you kindly. With that +view, I have been inquiring all around, amongst my parishioners, whether +any of them were in want of such a little fellow; and this morning my +neighbour, Mr. Laurie, has called to ask me if I think you may be trusted +with the care of a flock of sheep, up behind the hills, on the other side +of the river. I told him you might certainly be trusted, as I was sure you +were an honest boy; and that if you undertook the charge, after he had +explained to your what your duty was to consist in, I had no doubt you +would do all in your power to perform it. But, at the same time, I told +him you must determine for yourself; as I would on no account press you to +leave me sooner than was quite agreeable to your own feelings. Now," +continued he, seeing John beginning to speak, "hear what I have to propose +to you. It is, that if you go to live with Mr. Laurie, I will make an +agreement with him, provided you are a careful and industrious boy in his +service through the day, that he shall allow you, after you have penned +your sheep, to come to me for an hour in the evening; and in that hour, if +we both, my dear boy, make a good use of our time, I in teaching, and you +in learning, I have little doubt but that in a very short time you will be +able to read perfectly, both this book and many other useful and +entertaining stories. Take time to reflect on what I have been saying to +you," continued Mr. Martin, "and be sure that you are resolved in your own +mind to be an honest and industrious servant to Mr. Laurie, so far as your +strength and years will allow, before you engage with him; and if, after +thinking over the subject, you believe that you can promise me to be very +attentive, and strive to learn what I shall be most willing to teach you, +then, my dear John, I shall consider the plan as nearly settled, and shall +only wait till I have seen Mr. Laurie to make it completely so." + +Mr. Martin then pointed to the green plat before the window, where his +little daughter was standing looking at some beautiful crocuses, which had +made their first appearance that season; and said, "Go, John, now; and let +me see if you are a handy lad, and can get Master William's pony ready for +Helen; as I have promised her a ride up the glen, if she has pleased her +mother by attention to her morning lessons; and I think, by her merry +face, she must have earned her reward. I am going a couple of miles to see +David Little, who, you know, broke his leg last week by a fall from his +horse; and if you will go and get the pony ready, I will desire Mrs. +Martin to put up a loaf of wheaten bread, which will be a rarity to him, +and which he may perhaps relish more than his oaten cakes whilst he is +sick; and you, John, get your bonnet (boys always wear Highland bonnets, +instead of hats, in the hilly part of Scotland) and come along with us; as +you can carry the basket and open the gates for Helen. To-morrow morning +will be time enough for you to give me your answer about Mr. Laurie." John +made an awkward bow, and a scrape with his foot, and then set off in +search of the pony, which was feeding on a green flat plain by the side of +a river, which sort of meadow in that country is called a _holm_. The +animal appeared very quiet, and suffered John to come close to him, +without attempting to move; but the moment he tried to put out his hand to +take hold of him, off went the pony as fast as he could scamper. When he +got at a little distance, he stopped and looked back at John, who again +approached and attempted to lay hold of him, but with no better success. +All this was observed by Helen, for the green plat, where she stood, +overlooked the holm; and though she could not help laughing at first, on +seeing John's awkward attempts to catch the pony, yet, as she was a +good-natured little girl, she soon ran into the house, and begged a little +corn of her papa, and having put it in her pinafore, she skipped down the +lane with it to the holm, where holding it out to let Bob (for that was +the pony's name) see it, he instantly began trotting towards her, neighing +with pleasure. She then told John to throw the halter over Bob's neck +while he was eating, and he might jump on his back and ride him up to the +stable, where he would find the side-saddle. John very soon appeared in +front of the house with the pony neatly combed, brushed, and ornamented +with a very pretty little white side-saddle and bridle, a present which +Helen had received from her grand-mamma the last time she had visited +Eskdale. "My dear Helen," said the old lady, when she presented them to +her, "I have brought you this side-saddle, in hopes that it may induce you +to conquer your fears of mounting a horse. I am very anxious, considering +the part of the world in which you live, that you should learn to ride +well; as it may be of essential consequences to you through life. +Besides," added she, smiling, "you know, my dear, that unless you are a +good horsewoman, I can never have the pleasure of seeing you at Melrose; +for your dear papa cannot afford to send you by any other mode of +conveyance. Nothing but practice will ever give you the confidence that is +necessary to enable you to accomplish this; and I hope that, whenever you +see pony dressed in his new saddle and bridle, it will remind you of the +great delight that I shall have in seeing my dear girl riding up to my +door at Melrose." Helen thanked her grandmother, and said she would try if +she could learn; but she hoped her papa would walk close by her side, and +make Bob go very slowly at first. Nothing, she was sure, would give her so +much pleasure as to go and visit her dear grandmamma. Her mother took an +opportunity of speaking to her when they were alone, and told her that if, +in the course of the summer, she had gained a sufficient command of her +pony and a firm seat in her side-saddle, she should accompany both her +parents to Melrose in August, the time when they usually made their annual +visit to the good old lady. + +Helen was quite delighted with this promise, and for the moment forgot +what she had to accomplish before her journey could take place. However, +next morning, on going down stairs, after she had finished her lessons, +she found that, though she had forgotten all about learning to ride, her +father had not; for before the little glass door of the study stood Bob, +the pony, ready saddled and bridled, and her papa waiting anxiously for +his little girl's appearance. As soon as he saw her, he called out, "come +Helen, my dear, I am quite ready to give you your first lesson in riding, +and I hope I shall have an expert little scholar." Helen walked rather +slowly towards her papa; and when he took her in his arms to put her on +the pony, she looked a little pale, but as she had promised to try to +learn, she endeavoured to conquer her fears, and suffered herself to be +placed on the saddle very quietly. Her father took a great deal of pains +to show her how to hold her bridle, and how to manage Bob; and after +making him walk gently two or three times round the green, in front of the +house, whilst he himself held her on, Mr. Martin ventured to leave her +seated alone, and only walked by her side. + +After repeating this for two or three days, Helen began to feel more +comfortable, and even was glad when her riding hour arrived. In the course +of a week she had ridden as far as the end of the green holm, and had +begun to allow Bob to trot home. In another week she had ventured on a +canter: and for the last month had improved so much as to become her +father's constant companion in all his walks through the parish, when he +went either to visit the sick, or comfort the afflicted; duties which are +conscientiously performed by the Scottish clergy in general, and by none +more regularly than they were by Mr. Martin. Helen now felt that she was +rewarded for all the trouble she had had in conquering her fears; for, +besides the pleasure she enjoyed in the exercise, she was by these means +enabled to see much more of the beautiful country in which she lived, than +she could ever have accomplished by walking; and besides, her dear father +was always by her side, to point out and explain all the beauties of the +surrounding scenery, as well as to relate to her many of the little local +stories, which abound in that part of the country, and possess peculiar +interest to the young mind. Her mother, on her return, quite delighted, +from one of these charming excursions, took the opportunity of pointing +out to her the advantages of perseverance and self-command, and Helen +promised, and indeed firmly resolved, never again to allow herself to give +way to foolish fears; nor ever to fancy it impossible to conquer what +might at first sight appear difficult, until she had at least tried with +her whole mind to overcome the difficulty. + + + + +CHAP II. + + +We must now return to our little party, who were setting out on their +excursions towards the _glen_, that is to say, a deep and narrow opening +between the hills which bound the dale. + +John had no sooner assisted Helen to mount Bob, than Mr. Martin made his +appearance, accompanied by Mrs. Martin, who came to see them set off, she +being detained at home that morning, arranging some household affairs, +which required her presence, and which would not admit of delay. After +wishing them good bye, and giving Helen many charges to be careful, and +keep a firm hold of her bridle, Mrs. Martin returned into the house, and +the travellers proceeded to follow the windings up towards the glen, where +David Little's cottage stood. Nothing can exceed the beauty of this walk. +The holm extends above a mile above Mr. Martin's house, divided by a large +and rapid river, on each side of which hills rise, almost as high as the +eye can reach, covered with rich, smooth verdure, up to the very top, and +seeming to shut out the inhabitants of the valley from all communication +with the rest of the world. As Mr. Martin and the young people proceeded +leisurely along the road, he related to them several stories, which +occurred to him at the moment, and which he thought would interest and +amuse them. He told them that, in former times, before Scotland and +England were united, there were continual wars between the _Borderers_, +or inhabitants of the country on each side of the border dividing the two +kingdoms; and that, in order to check the English from coming over, and +plundering the Scotch of their sheep and cattle, one of the Scottish +kings, named James, was said to have brought a family of seven brothers, +of the name of ELLIOTT, from the Highlands, a stout and hardy race, whom +he settled all along the borders of Scotland; "and the Elliotts," said he, +"my dears, who, you know are now so numerous all through the Dale, are +said to be descended from these seven brothers." Mr. Martin was going on +to tell of Johnnie Armstrong, who was one of the great chieftains of those +times, and was a sad enemy to the English, when John, who had been +listening with great eagerness to all he had heard, cried out, "Oh! +Johnnie Armstrong! I have heard of him sir, all the Dale knows about him. +He was a great robber, was he not? I remember, my father used to sing some +old songs about him to me; and I think I could repeat parts of the verses +myself, if Miss Helen would like to hear them, and you, sir, would give me +leave." "Certainly John," answered Mr. Martin, "I am sure Helen will like +to hear them much." + +John cleared his voice, and after considering a little while, began the +following old ballad:-- + + Some speak of lords, some speak of lairds, + And such like men of high degree; + Of a gentleman I sing a song, + Sometime called Laird of Gilnockie. + + The King he writes a loving letter, + With his own hand so tenderly, + And he hath sent it to Johnnie Armstrong, + To come and speak with him speedily. + + The Elliotts and Armstrongs did convene, + They were a gallant company; + "We'll ride and meet our lawful king, + And bring him safe to Gilnockie." + + They ran their steeds on the Langholm holm, + They ran their steeds with might and main; + The ladies looked from their high windows, + God bring our men well back again. + +John stopped here and said, "he did not remember the whole ballad, for it +was very long, but he knew that the story was that Johnnie was deceived by +the king, who only wanted to get him into his power, by enticing him out +of his own country; and having succeeded in this, he caused poor Armstrong +and all his followers to be hanged. He would try," he said, and "remember +the last two verses, which gave an account of Armstrong's death." + + Farewell, my bonny Gilnockhall, + Where on Esk side thou standest stout! + If I had lived but seven years more, + I would have gilt thee round about. + + Because they saved their country dear + From Englishmen, none were so bold, + While Johnnie lived on the border side, + None of them durst come near his hold. + +Just as John had finished his ballad, they turned out of the main road, up +a narrow path, into the glen. On their right hand a small clear brook, or, +as it is called in Scotland, a _burn_, ran down among the brush-wood; now +hid from view, now showing its white foam, bursting over the stones which +obstructed its passage. The walk from this till our little party reached +David's cottage was extremely beautiful, amongst natural woods, varied +hills, and bold rocks, over which the burn kept continually pouring, with +a loud but pleasing noise. A wooden bridge, which might, indeed, more +properly be called a plank, was thrown across the burn at the narrowest +part, and rested upon the rock on each side, a little above which stood +the remains of an old watch-tower. Altogether the scene was so beautiful, +that, whilst Helen dismounted, and John endeavoured to coax Bob across the +bridge, Mr. Martin took out his sketch-book and made a drawing of it. + +When they had crossed to the other side, the road took a winding turn +amongst the hills; and their minds were so impressed with the grandeur of +the scenery, that, from the time they quitted the bridge, they ceased +speaking; only pointing out to each other, as they advanced, any new +beauty that suddenly presented itself. The cottage was built about half a +mile above the bridge, on a shelving bank, which they could only reach by +ascending a little path with steps cut in the rock. At the bottom of these +rude stairs Mr. Martin desired John to fasten Bob to the stump of an old +tree, which grew conveniently near it. When they reached the top of this +ascent, they found a small clay-built hut, thatched with furze, erected +close under the shelter of an immense rock, which hung with frowning +grandeur over it, and seemed to threaten to crush it and its inhabitants +to pieces. About a hundred square yards of ground were cleared from the +surrounding brushwood, part of which David had cultivated, as a little +garden, and had planted it with vegetables, as an assistance in the +support of his family. The rest formed a pasture, in the middle of which +was feeding a goat, confined from ranging far by a cord fastened to one of +its feet, and tied to a piece of wood driven into the ground. + +On Mr. Martin's appearance, the shepherd's dog set up a loud and shrill +bark. Two or three ragged children ran into the house, calling out, that +"the _Minister_ was come," (the name which the Scottish clergy generally +receive from their parishioners). On hearing this joyful information, +their mother soon appeared, and having obtained silence, both from the dog +and the children, proceeded to welcome her visitors in the most hospitable +manner, assuring Mr. Martin that her husband had greatly desired this +favour. She added, that the surgeon had seen him that morning, and had +assured her that, could he refrain from fretting, and be left undisturbed, +he did not doubt of David's being able to walk in a few months as well as +ever. "That, I fear," continued she, "is next to impossible; for when he +sees his dear little children going without their usual food, which they +are now obliged to do, as I cannot get more for my work than will supply +them with one good meal a day, he must fret and regret his being laid +aside, and prevented from going to the hill to earn their suppers for +them. However, Sir, I am glad that you are come, for I am sure a word from +you will comfort him, and make him easier than he has been since he met +with this unlucky accident." Mr. Martin immediately went into the hut, +desiring his daughter and John to wait for him on the outside. + +While the worthy clergyman was with David, Helen remained talking with his +wife. The children were so shy, that they could not be prevailed on to +come forward and speak to her, but stood wrapping their little heads up in +the corner of their mother's apron, taking a sly peep at the strangers, +when they thought they were not observed. Helen at last recollected her +basket, and asked John to give it to her. As soon as she began to unfold +the snow-white napkin in which her present was wrapped, the little heads +gradually approached nearer and nearer to the basket; and when Helen took +out a few cakes of _parliament_(a kind of gingerbread very common in +Scotland), and gave each of them one, the little creatures began jumping, +shouting, and clapping their hands with delight. She then presented to +their mother a loaf of bread and a bottle of currant wine, which last, she +said, she was desired to tell her was for herself, as wine was not good +for David. "No, no, Miss Helen," said Mrs. Little, "that will never do. I +cannot think of drinking our good madam's wine myself, I assure you; I +will just put it by the spence, (_spence_ means _cupboard_) till David +is beginning to get about again, and then I think it will help to +strengthen him." "Do what will give you most pleasure, Mrs. Little," said +Helen; "I dare say my mother will be satisfied." + +She had scarcely finished speaking, when she felt a little hand take hold +of hers. It was the eldest of the shepherd's children, a boy about seven +years old. When he found that she observed him, he pulled her gently down, +to whisper to her, that if she would like to see his hen and chickens, he +would show them to her. "The chickens," he said, "were only two days old, +and were very pretty creatures." Helen replied, that she should like to +see them much. Away skipped Tom, as fast as he could run, to the end of +the cottage, and lifting up an old rug, that lay over a coop, displayed +the young brood and their mother to the admiring eyes of the visitors. Tom +was quite delighted to find the lady amused with any thing he had to +exhibit, and told her, that if he succeeded in rearing them, he would ask +his mammy's leave to come down himself to the _Manse_ (the name always +given to the parsonage house in Scotland), and bring her a chicken as a +present; for they were all his own; his daddy had given him the hen long +ago, and he had watched and fed her, all the time she was sitting, with +part of the porridge which he got for his own breakfast. Helen asked him +how he could spare any of his porridge, as she supposed that, now his +father was sick, he got nothing else to eat all day. "Oh," said he, "it is +but little she eats; and though, to be sure, I am sometimes very hungry, +and could eat it all myself. I keep thinking how happy I shall be if I can +have some pretty chickens to give my mammy to lay eggs; for, then, you +know she can sell them up at the hall, next August, when the English +gentry come. The English," continued he, looking up at Helen with a very +grave face, "must be very fond of eggs; for do you know they gave my mammy +a whole white shilling for a dozen last year." Helen thought as Tom did, +that the English must indeed be fond of eggs, if they gave so much money +for them. She had never seen her mother give more than fourpence or +fivepence a dozen; and she thought she would ask, when she got home, +whether it could really be as Tom said. + +Whilst they were looking at the chickens, the dog, that had been lying at +the door, rose leisurely, shook himself, and walked after them. He stood +close by Helen, wagging his tail and looking pleased; but when she stooped +down to take one of the chickens in her hand, he began to growl at a +terrible rate. "Down, Colly, down!" said Tom; "he won't bit you, Miss, for +he is the best natured creature in the world; he is only afraid you may +hurt the chicken. We always liked Colly very much, but now more than ever; +for it was he, poor fellow, that came and told mammy that daddy had fallen +down." "Stop, Tom," cried Helen, "take care what you say. How could a dog +_tell_ any body what had happened to your father? Do you know what a +naughty thing it is to fib?" "Yes, I do know very well, Miss, that it is +wicked to tell fibs;" answered Tom, stoutly, "but mammy can assure you, +that what I am saying is true." "Yes, indeed," said his mother, "Tom +speaks the truth; though perhaps he should not have used exactly the word +_told_, for the dog certainly did not speak, he only barked. If you +please, I will tell you what he did; and then I think you will believe +Tom, and love poor Colly too." + +"It was in the evening of last Wednesday se'nnight: David was just come +home from the hill, where he had been with his sheep. He was wet and tired +with being out in the rain all day; and I had just got him some dry +clothes, and made up a nice blazing fire, to boil some potatoes for his +supper. The two youngest children had climbed up on his knee, poor things! +Tom and Colly were lying at his feet on the hearth. We were saying, what a +dreadful night it was. The rain and wind were beating against the cottage, +and making it almost shake; when, between the blasts, I thought I heard +the sound of a voice, calling David. I listened, and very soon there came +a violent knocking at the door. Who can be out at this time of night, and +in such weather? said I, as I went to open it. 'Make haste, David,' said +Peggy Oliphant, our master's little herd-girl, as she stepped into the +house. 'Come away as fast as you can: there is a horse ready saddled for +you, down at the farm; for our master is taken dangerously ill, and my +mistress thinks, if he has not immediate advice, he will die before +morning; so she begs you will lose no time in riding to Langholm, for Mr. +Armstrong. It is a dreadful night, to be sure, she says, to send you out; +but it is a work of necessity.' David scarcely waited to hear her out. He +took his _maude_ (a woollen plaid cloak which the shepherds wear), and +wrapping it closely round him, set off as fast as he could run, telling me +to put the children to bed, and he would be back as soon as he could. He +would soon ride to Langholm; it was not more than four miles and a half; +and he would gallop all the way. Well, Miss, away he and Peggy went; and I +sat waiting and listening all night, but no David appeared. + +"I had just dropped into a kind of sleep, when I was awakened by Colly +barking most piteously. Up I jumped, glad to think that David was come +back; but, on opening the door, only Colly was to be seen. The moment he +beheld me, he took hold of my apron, and tried to draw me out of the +house. I could not think what he wanted; and pulling my apron from him, +went back towards the fire to stir it; but before I could get half way to +the fire place, Colly had laid hold of me again, pulling very hard, and +looking up in my face, howling. I then began to think that something must +be the matter; so I determined I would go with him, and see what it was. +He held me fast till he got me down the steps, and then he ran a little +before me, looking back every minute, to see if I followed him, and +running on again, till we were about half a mile down the glen. Oh, Miss! +I shall never forget the fright I felt when I saw my master's horse +standing grazing by the road side, and the saddle turned quite round under +him. I began, then, to run after Colly, as fast as my trembling limbs +would let me; and in about five minutes I came to the place where my poor +husband was lying on the grass. Colly was standing close to him, licking +his hand, just as if he had been telling him that help would soon come to +his relief. David tried to make the best of his misfortune to me, and said +he did not think he was very much hurt; only his leg was sprained, he +believed, for he could not walk. He bade me go directly to the farm, and +get some of the men to come and carry him home. I did as he desired me; +and the men servants very readily went to his assistance. Just as I was +leaving the farm, Mr. Armstrong, who had been up with our master, came out +into the yard, and seeing the men running, asked me what was the matter. +He very kindly said he would go with me to the cottage, and see where +David was hurt; and very well it was that he did so, for when we got +thither we found that David had fainted from the acute pain he felt when +they began to move him. As soon as we got him into bed, he recovered +himself a little, and Mr. Armstrong then found that his leg was _broken_, +not sprained as he had told me. You may be sure that this was bad news for +me. The setting of the bone put him to great torture, but he bore it +better than could have been expected; and Mr. Armstrong now says he will +do very well, if he be properly taken care of; and to help us to get what +was necessary, he was so kind as to give us half a crown out of his own +pocket; God bless him for his goodness to poor distressed creatures as we +are! He has seen him every day since; and I am sure I do not know what +David and I can ever do to shew our gratitude towards him." + +"Now," cried Tom, "Miss Helen, what do you think of Colly? Did I not tell +the truth?" "Yes, my dear, I think you meant to do so; but my mamma always +bids me be sure to be very particular how I express myself when I am +relating a story, for fear of being misunderstood; and if you had said +Colly barked to let your mother know that your father was hurt, then I +should have understood you better, and not have suspected you of an +untruth, which I am very sorry for having done. I think Colly deserving to +be loved very much, by every body that hears the story. I will tell it to +papa and mamma; and I am sure they will admire Colly's sagacity and +affection for his master." + +Mr. Martin now made his appearance at the door of the cottage, and called +to John to make haste and get the pony ready, as he thought they would +have time to go up the river, as far as Craigie Hall, one of the oldest +family seats in Eskdale. The gardener had promised to give him some +curious flower seeds, and the time was now come for saving them. He +therefore, took leave of Mrs. Little; Helen shook hands with Tom, and bade +him be sure to remember his promise of coming to the Manse to see her. +"That I will," cried Tom, "and bring my chicken with me whenever it is big +enough to leave its mother, if mammy will give me permission."-- + + + + +CHAP. III. + + +When Mr. Martin and the young folks had got to the bottom of the steps, +Helen once more mounted her pony, and they proceeded down the glen till +they nearly reached the beginning of the green holm, when they again +turned up the public road, by the side of the river; Bob chose here to +make a stop, to drink some of the clear sweet water of the burn, before he +crossed it; and while he was gratifying his taste, John observing that the +late rains had washed away some of the stepping stones, which served to +prevent passengers from wetting their feet in getting to the other side, +began to bring the largest he could carry, for Mr. Martin's accommodation; +and by the time that Bob had finished his drink, had made quite a dry path +for him to cross. As for himself, poor fellow, stepping stones were not +necessary; for the boys in his rank in life in Scotland wear neither +stockings nor shoes during the week; only on Sundays are they indulged +with this piece of finery. Mr. Martin looked pleased with this attention. +"Thank you, John," said he; "that is being both a useful and observing +boy. Such little civilities to those around you, my dear, will make you +beloved by everybody;" and turning to Helen, he continued, "This is what +your dear mother calls natural politeness, and which she loves so much to +see in young people; as she says it is the mark of a good disposition." +Bob now moved on, Mr. Martin and John by his side, conversing upon +different subjects. Just after they had crossed the burn, they reached the +farm-house of David Little's master, Mr. Elliott, which stood on a rising +ground, at no great distance. + +There was nothing remarkable in the house itself; but its situation was +extremely beautiful: the little burn running on one side of it, and the +more majestic Esk on the other; the garden in front extending quite to the +edge of the rock, at the bottom of which a narrow path had been cut, +barely sufficient to allow the small carts of the country to pass along. +"Here," said Helen to her father, pointing to it, "is the loveliest spot +in the whole dale for a residence. Were I rich, I should like to buy that +house and garden, and live in it with you and mamma; would you like to +live there, papa?" asked she. "Why," returned he, "my dear Helen, I think +you have certainly shown your taste by making choice, in the event of +being rich, of Mr. Elliott's cottage; for I have often thought as you do, +that it is the most beautiful situation in the dale; but I am not sure, +for myself, that I should like to live there, in preference to the snug +comforts of my own little manse. Custom has endeared my present home to +me, and I own that to me it would be a painful sacrifice, to be obliged to +move out of it; even were it to go to a rich home of yours. However, my +dear," continued he, "though I may, with the blessing of God, hope to end +my days in my present peaceful abode, yet, in the natural course of +events, you probably will have to look out, at some future time, for +another place of residence; and should you become rich, which at present +is not very likely, you then may be able to gratify your ambition, if a +knowledge of the world should not produce in you a change of mind, in +regard to this object." + +Helen was silent for some minutes, considering what was meant by saying +she might be obliged to change her place of residence; and when her +father's meaning broke upon her mind, the tears stole gently down her +cheeks. Poor girl! it was almost the first painful thought her dear parent +had ever raised in her mind; and it was with great difficulty she +suppressed her emotion. She knew, however, that her kind mother was +extremely anxious, and indeed had spared no pains to teach her the +necessity of controlling her feelings, as she had a great dislike to that +sickly kind of sensibility which many children are in the habit of +indulging, by giving way to tears on trivial occasions; a habit which two +years before she herself had found great difficulty in overcoming. The +judicious management of her mother, aided by her own sincere desire to +please so good a parent, had now nearly corrected this habit. Of what +great and essential service this was to her happiness through life, will +appear in the course of this little tale. John had heard all that passed, +but did not quite comprehend what was meant. He walked on, however, in +silence, considering in his mind how much he should like to be rich enough +to gratify Miss Helen. Little did he think, poor boy, that the day would +come, when, in that very cottage, he would receive Miss Helen, and watch +over her declining health, with all the respect and affection of a +brother. + +Mr. Martin, observing that his conversation had thrown a little gloom over +the faces of the young folks, said cheerfully, "Come, my dears! let us +think of something that will amuse us. Helen! suppose you sing us a song! +John has given us one already; and I heard you telling your mamma last +night that you had learnt a pretty new one; I should like to hear you sing +it very much." "Well, papa," said Helen, "I will try to please you; but I +am afraid I am not quite perfect yet. I hope you will excuse me, if I make +any blunders." She then began the following lines, which she sang in a +sweet, clear and natural voice: + +I. + + My brother's a shepherd, so artless and gay, + Whose flock ranges over yon mountain, + And sweet is his song at the close of the day, + By the echoing rock of the fountain. + +II. + + With him, how delightful, to stray o'er the lawn, + When spring all its odours is blending! + Together to mark the sweet blush of the dawn, + Or the sun in his glory descending! + +Soon after her little song was finished, Helen's attention was caught by a +green plat of ground, about fifty or sixty feet in breadth, surrounded by +circular earthen walls; and pointing to it, she asked her father what +_that_ was. He told her it was called a _birren_ in that country, where +there were several of them, and that they were supposed to have been +intended for places of safety for the cattle at the time of the border +wars. They were now arrived at Muirkirk, a small church, which belongs to +the parish adjoining Mr. Martin's. It is pleasantly situated on the banks +of the river, near a stone bridge, consisting of three arches. The +building is very neat, and adds greatly to the beauty of the country. Near +it is the mausoleum of the family of Craigie Hall, a very elegant piece of +architecture. The manse stands at a little distance from the church. Mr. +Martin called on his friend the clergyman, but found the family were all +gone on a visit farther up the dale;--so our party did not stop, but went +on to Craigie Hall to get the flower-seeds. + +When they reached the hall, they fortunately found Mr. Scott, the +gardener, at home, who received them with great pleasure, and invited +them, as the family were not at home, to walk into his own house and take +some refreshment before he showed them the garden and grounds. Our young +people were glad to find him so considerate, for they began, particularly +John, to be rather hungry. Mrs. Scott produced a nice bason of cream, some +excellent butter, oaten cakes, and a beautiful large ewe-milk cheese. She +invited Mr. Martin and Helen to sit down and partake of her humble fare, +which they very readily complied with. John was not forgotten, for she had +put a pretty good portion for him on a seat at the outside of the door, +her small house not affording two sitting apartments, and she conceived it +would not be respectful to the Minister to bring the herd-boy inside the +house. Mr. Scott, as they sat eating their luncheon, told them that a +curious thing had occurred that morning, about a mile up the dale, at the +_Roman camp_. This is a place, the like of which is to be found in many +parts both of England and Scotland, being a small grassy hill, on the top +of which are long ditches and mounds of earth, seemingly intended for +fortifications, and supposed to have been made by the Romans, when they +first invaded Britain. Near this spot, some labourers had been employed +digging a piece of ground, and one of them, in the course of his work, +struck upon something hard, which, after much labour, he succeeded in +raising, when it proved to be an urn, or large sort of earthen vessel, in +which were a number of gold and silver coins and other rarities. Mr. +Martin, who had found great amusement in his retired manner of living, in +collecting whatever was curious in the neighbourhood, said, he should much +like to see this urn, and inquired of Mr. Scott if he thought it were +possible to get a sight of the labourer who found it. "Oh yes, Sir," +answered Mrs. Scott, "that you may easily do, for it was Archie Kerr who +found it, and his mother lives only about a mile and a half from this +place; but I think, if your honour wants to see it, you had better send up +to him at once, for it is most likely that some of the neighbouring gentry +will buy it from him, as soon as they hear of it." Mr. Martin thought she +was very right, and began considering how he could send a message, as he +felt it was rather further than he liked to walk. At last he determined on +sending John upon the pony, Mrs. Scott assuring him he could not miss his +way to Jenny Kerr's, it being the first house he came to after passing the +_Shaw rigg_, where a large stone stood on his left hand. John was no +sooner applied to, than he willingly undertook to deliver the message, and +taking Miss Helen's side-saddle off, and throwing one of Mrs. Scott's +horse-rugs over the pony's back, jumped upon it very alertly, and trotted +off with a grin of delight on his face, proud at heart in being trusted to +ride Miss Helen's pony. As soon as it was gone, Helen asked her father +what was the reason of calling the place where the great stone described +by Mrs. Scott stood, the Shaw rigg? Her father told her the tradition of +the country was, that it took its name from _Shaw_, a Pictish king, to +whom that part of the land belonged. "I am glad, my dear," added he, "that +you take care to ask about what you do not perfectly understand. Many +children are so foolish as to be ashamed to let those they converse with +discover that they do not comprehend every thing said to them, by which +means they often imbibe erroneous ideas, and perhaps remain in a state of +ignorance on many essential subjects, when, by questioning their relatives +or friends, they might easily have obtained correct information." + +Mr. Scott now proposed a walk in the garden, which was planted in the +Dutch style of stiff walks with high hedges, and was, according to the +present taste, any thing but admirable. Its appearance, however, was +extremely curious, contrasted with the natural and luxuriant beauties of +the country by which it was surrounded. The house was small, considering +the rank and consequence of the family to whom it belonged. It is said +that they originally came from Clydesdale, and brought with them a thorn, +which still grows on a little mount before the door, though they have been +settled there several centuries. The gardener, after leading them through +the garden and grounds, took them into the greenhouse to notice some +curious plants, such as the aloe, that blossoms only once in a century; +the beautiful oleander, a native of Spain and Italy, which thrives in +British greenhouses; the prickly pear, which is without a stem, the leaves +growing out of each other; they are large, broad, and thick, and covered +with prickles. In warm climates, this plant grows wild, and may be trained +to form an almost impenetrable fence. It bears a sort of fruit somewhat +resembling a pear, to which the natives are partial, but strangers +generally consider it insipid, and not worth the trouble of getting at it. + +On quitting the greenhouse, they began to wonder at John's not returning. +Mr. Scott advised them, after their fatigue, to enter the house and seat +themselves with his wife, while he would walk towards the _Shaw rigg_ in +search of John. On their entrance they found with Mrs. Scott a little +girl, about seven years old, whom she introduced to them as her daughter +Marion. Helen begged she would go on with her work, she having timidly +risen to quit the room; and as a little encouragement to her, Helen asked +what she was doing; Marion immediately came to her, and showed her part of +a shirt she was making for her father. Helen was surprised to see it so +neatly done, as needlework is very little practised by the peasants in +that country; the children, both girls and boys, being employed till the +age of sixteen or eighteen in tending their father's or their master's +sheep. Mrs. Scott, observing Helen's surprise, said, "Marion is a good +needle-woman, Miss; she has to thank the housekeeper at the hall for +teaching her that and many other useful things. Mrs. Smith is an +Englishwoman, and has taken a great fancy to Marion. She has persuaded her +father and me not to send her to the hills, like the other children +around; assuring us, that if Marion does not forget in the winter what she +has learnt in the summer from her, she has no doubt, when she is old +enough, to be able to get my lady to take her to wait on one of her +daughters; and indeed, Miss, I shall like this much better, if we can make +it out, for Marion is not strong; she is our only child, and it would +break both her father's heart and mine should any evil happen to her; such +as falling down the rocks, being frost-bitten, or lost in the snow, which +happens sometimes to our neighbour's children, who are sent out herding in +the winter." Helen said she was very glad that Marion was not to be sent +to the hills; and Mr. Martin added, if Mr. Scott considered Marion able to +undertake the walk to his house, he would lend her some improving books to +read. For though Mr. Scott was competent to instruct his daughter in +common reading, writing, and arithmetic, which sort of knowledge all +gardeners in that country acquire while young, his collection of books was +not altogether calculated to improve a child's taste or understanding. + +Meanwhile, Mr. Scott had walked nearly a mile without seeing any thing of +John. At last, on turning a corner of the road, he perceived him at a +distance, not mounted in triumph as he had set off on his excursion, but +walking slowly, and leading Bob, who did not seem at all inclined to +quicken his pace. As soon as he thought he could be heard, he called to +John to know what was the matter. John did not answer very readily, but +waited till he had got quite close to Mr. Scott before he said a word. +Then dropping his head, and looking very confused, he gave the following +account of himself. He said that Bob trotted nicely about half a mile, +after which he could not get him to go a pace faster than a walk; he tried +all he could do to make him move, but Bob was so obstinate, that he became +afraid of keeping Mr. Martin waiting. He then wished for a spur, and after +thinking and thinking, he recollected having some large pins stuck in the +sleeve of his coat. He thought they would do, could he contrive to fix +them on his feet, but how to do this he did not very well know, as he had +no shoes to fasten them to; at last he thought he would try to fix them on +with a piece of twine which he had in his pocket, and after many attempts, +succeeded so far as to drive one of his pins into poor Bob's side, who by +no means relishing this method of coercion, set off instantly at a hand +gallop. John courageously kept his seat, holding fast, first by the +bridle, but, as the velocity of the motion increased, at last by the mane; +when perceiving a good wide ditch cut in the road, he flattered himself +that Bob would stop, and would content himself with going at a quieter +pace the rest of the way. Scarcely had he formed this wise resolution, +when Bob cleared the ditch at one spring; the jerk came so suddenly, and +was so little expected by John, that he made the finest somerset in the +world over Bob's head, and was set down quite safely on his feet, about +four yards beyond the ditch. Bob, in the mean time, seemed quite satisfied +with the revenge he had had, and stopped directly; and he was busy +regaling himself on the fresh grass that grew around him by the time John +had regained sufficient composure to know where he was. + +As soon as he could think, he became convinced he had been a very foolish +boy; and, therefore, determined he would mount Bob no more that day, as it +was better for Mr. Martin to wait a little longer for him, than to risk +giving him the trouble of nursing him with a broken leg, like poor David +Little. He therefore took hold of the bridle and led Bob along the road, +till he reached Jenny Kerr's, where he found that Archie was not at home, +but gone up the glen as far as Mr. Hume's, to show him the urn and the +coins. John thought he could not go back and have nothing to tell but his +own disaster. He therefore begged Jenny to direct him towards Mr. Hume's; +and, having fastened Bob up safely, he set out on foot in search of +Archie. As he had to cross the water in order to get to Mr. Hume's house, +Jenny advised him to take Archie's stilts, two long pieces of wood, with a +sort of step fastened on each, about the middle, wide enough to hold a +man's foot, and which are in common use among all ranks in that country +for crossing the river, where the depth will not admit of stepping stones. +She said, he must on no account attempt crossing the river without them, +for the danger was increased by the rains which had swollen the river +considerably. + +John had never before _stilted_ the water, as it is called, but he +determined that, as he had acted very foolishly in the affair of Bob, he +would take great care with the stilts, and, therefore, when he arrived at +the edge of the river, he mounted cautiously, as Jenny had advised him to +do. For the first half of the way, he went very well; but, when in the +middle of the stream, he found her precautions very necessary, for the +water was nearly above his feet, and the current was so rapid as to +require all his strength to move the stilts. As the difficulty increased, +he was obliged to stop and rest himself. "Aha!" said he, "a fall here +would be worse than even over Bob's ears. Surely this is a bad beginning +for my practice in service. I think if I meet with many days like this, I +am likely to have but little comfort in it; however, my poor father has +often told me, there is nothing like perseverance, and I am sure I found +it in learning my letters; for, when I first began, I thought it nearly +impossible that I should remember the names of those crooked ill-shaped +things, and yet I became sooner acquainted with them than I thought I +should; so I will even try again to get out of this scrape." So resolving, +he began to move forward, and at last, by taking great care, reached the +opposite side in safety. + +He soon ran on to Mr. Hume's where he found Archie, and delivered Mr. +Martin's message. Archie said he could not go down so far as Craigie Hall +that day, being obliged to finish his day's work at the Roman Camp. He had +already spent all his spare time with Mr. Hume; but he promised faithfully +to bring his new-found treasure down to Mr. Martin's the next evening, +after work hours; and he bade John tell Mr. Martin that he would not part +with the urn, or any of the coins till he had seen them. He then good +naturedly said he would see John over the river, for it was not safe for +such a little boy as he to cross it alone, while it was so full and +strong. As soon as John got over the water, he set off as fast as he could +walk to Jenny's for the pony, and putting the bridle round his arm, he +contrived to coax Bob into a gentle trot, which he kept up till he came in +sight of Mr. Scott, when remembering what a story he had to relate of his +own mishaps, he slackened his pace, and began to feel very foolish and +unwilling to tell what had happened to him. + +It is but justice to say, that, however unwilling he felt to have his +folly known, he never once thought of disguising the truth. He had been +too well taught for that. At the time when John's father was living, there +was no race of men, of any rank or country, that took more pains, (if +indeed so much,) as the Scottish peasantry did in instructing their +children, both in their moral and religious duties; and John had been +taught early, that the shadow of a lie was contrary to the duty of a +Christian, and that a child who, in the slightest degree, deceived his +parents, masters, or companions, would never merit or obtain the character +of an honest and just man. "Well, my lad," said Mr. Scott, after he had +heard his story, "I think you have got wonderfully well off, considering +your rash conduct; you should be thankful to Providence that you are alive +to relate it: I only hope it will be a warning to you never to be guilty +again of the like folly: so, cheer up, we will say no more about it, if +you promise to behave better the next time you are sent on an errand." +John said, what he very sincerely thought at the time, he would never +again try to wear spurs: he had had quite enough of them, and he hoped Mr. +Martin would not be very angry, or that would be the worst thing he had +met with yet, and what with the pony and the stilts, he had had quite +enough for one day. + +Mr. Martin and Helen now came to meet them, for they had become seriously +alarmed for the boy: but when the disaster was related, Helen could not +refrain from laughing at the comical figure John must have made when +flying over Bob's head; and even Mr. Martin, though he tried to look +grave, found it difficult to keep his countenance while he represented to +him the impropriety and hazard of his late conduct. Little Marion, who had +come out to the door to see the pony, was the only person that seemed to +enter into John's feelings. She sidled up to him, and said, "never mind, +John, Mr. Martin is not very angry, and you are not hurt; but," continued +she in a whisper, "you have torn the sleeve of your coat; I don't think +any of them have seen it yet; slip into the stable, and I will run and get +a needle and thread, and soon mend it, so that it can never be seen. It +will be done before the pony finishes his corn, that I saw my father +taking to him." + +John followed Marion's advice, who, from that day, was enthroned in his +heart, and considered by him as the best little girl he had ever been +acquainted with. Bob having eaten his corn, and Marion having mended +John's coat, quite to her own satisfaction, John led him out, ready +equipped, for Miss Helen, who mounted him directly. "Now, my dears," said +Mr. Martin, "we must make a little haste, for I am afraid your mother, +Helen, will be getting uneasy at our long absence. Only look! there is the +moon rising. We shall be quite late before we reach home." By the time +they got near the holm, the moon was shining in full grandeur. Her rays +played beautifully on the sparkling waters of the Esk, occasionally +intersected by the branches of the trees which grew on the banks of the +river. The night was clear; the stars shone above their heads with +brilliant splendor. Altogether Mr. Martin was so entranced, that, +forgetting the children were his only companions, he broke silence, +repeating the following lines: a translation of his own from Homer's +Iliad: + + As when around the full bright moon, in heaven, + The stars shine glorious; breathless is the air; + The lofty watch-towers, promontories, hills, + Far off are visible; the boundless sky + Opens above, displaying all its host + Of fires; and in the shepherd's heart is joy. + +Mr. Martin, when he had finished, smiled internally at his own enthusiasm: +the children were too much fatigued with the various adventures of the day +to offer any remark. They therefore continued silent till they arrived on +the green plat before the Manse, where they found Mrs. Martin waiting most +anxiously for their appearance. "Where can you have been, my dear Helen?" +asked her mother, as she assisted her to alight. "I really began to be +afraid some accident had happened to some of you." "No accident, my dear +wife, at least none of any consequence," said Mr. Martin, glancing a look +towards John, who made a hasty retreat with Bob into the stable. "But ask +no questions to-night, Helen will tell you all her adventures to-morrow +morning; at present she is too much fatigued to be kept out of her bed +longer than is necessary to eat her supper; let her have it directly, if +you please; and if you will give me a cup of tea, I think it will refresh +me. I am almost tired myself, which is not a usual thing." Helen ate her +supper, Mr. Martin had his tea; and, after a prayer by the Minister, at +which, as was customary, the whole family were present, they all retired +to bed. + + + + +CHAP. IV. + + +As soon as John awoke in the morning, all the occurrences of the previous +day passed in review through his memory; at last he recollected that he +was to give Mr. Martin an answer as to Mr. Laurie. "Well," thought he, "I +suppose I must go to the farm, but I would much rather stay with the +Minister and Miss Helen; for it was very pleasant walking with them +yesterday, and I liked very much to hear them converse and Miss Helen +sing; she surely has a pleasing voice. I wonder whether Marion can sing. I +am not sure whether I shall much like going to the hill every day, for it +is a tiresome life to be so many hours alone; but then," continued he, "I +cannot stay with Mr. Martin, for he has a herd-boy that has lived with him +some time; and I am sure I should not wish to make him lose his place, for +he, poor fellow, has no father any more than I have; and besides," added +he, "I am to have leave to come home every night to learn to read. I shall +take the place, if it be only for that; and again," continued he, after +thinking a little, "if my poor father were alive, he would think it such +an honour for the Minister himself to take the trouble of teaching his +son, and, now that he is dead, I am determined never to do any thing, that +he would have disapproved. However, I am glad that I have got summer +weather to begin with: I shall understand the business better before the +winter comes on, and, perhaps, be more reconciled to it." + +After coming to this wise determination, John sprang out of bed and +dressed himself as quickly as he could. When he came down stairs he was +surprised to find that all the family were up and at work. The study bell +rang, just as he got to the kitchen-door, and the maid said, "it is well, +my man, you are down before the bell has rung for prayers. See what the +Minister would have said, if you had been in your bed then? but come away +now, for we must not keep our master waiting."--Accordingly he followed +her into the study, where all the family were assembled, once more, to +render thanks to their Creator for the blessings of a new day. + +Helen gave her mother, during breakfast, an account of all she had seen +and done the day before; and when she had finished her recital, she said, +"Mamma, I have been thinking this morning that I have a half-guinea that +my grandmamma Elliott gave me, when she was last here, to buy a new gown; +at present I do not particularly want one, and I should like very much +that you would allow me to go down the water as far as Langholm, to buy +some coarse cloth to make frocks for poor David Little's children; they +are almost naked, and I do not think their father will be able to procure +them clothes for some time, while he is lying on a sick bed." "Helen," +said her mother, "you may do exactly as you please with your half-guinea, +it is your own; but I would have you think the subject well over before +you act. You know I have promised that you shall go with your father and +me to Melrose this autumn. Now, perhaps, you would like to have a new gown +to wear whilst you are there. It is but fair to tell you, that I shall not +be able to afford to buy you one this summer, having spent all I can +conveniently spare, in fitting out your brother for school. Therefore, my +dear, you must choose whether you prefer going to Melrose in your old +gown, in order to have the pleasure of dressing these poor little +creatures, or expend your money and appear smart, when you make your first +visit from home." Helen looked very serious for some minutes, and then +said, "my dear mamma, if you please, I will wait till to-morrow before I +give you my answer; for, at present, I really do not know what to do. I +should certainly like to be dressed neatly when I go to see grandmamma; +because I know that that would give her pleasure; but when I think of the +poor little naked children, they make my heart ache." "Very well, my dear, +be it so, go now, and begin your morning lessons." + +Mr. Martin then desired the servant, who was taking away the breakfast +things, to send John into his study, and giving Helen a kiss, and telling +her to be very attentive to her mother's instructions, left the room. On +entering the study, he found John standing ready to receive him. "Well, +John, what answer am I to give to Mr. Laurie?" asked Mr. Martin, "will you +be his servant and my scholar, or have you any objection to the plan? +Speak out, and don't be afraid. If you dislike being a herd-boy, I will +endeavour to think of something else, that may suit you better." "Thank +you, Sir, from my heart; I did intend only to say, yes, I will be Mr. +Laurie's herd-boy; but since you ask me if I have any objection, I will +tell you, Sir, all that has passed in my mind. I have been thinking how +lonely it will be up in the hills all day, and how cold and dreary I shall +feel when the winter comes on; but just as I had determined to tell you, I +would rather not be Mr. Laurie's servant, I remembered my poor father, and +how proud he would be, if he knew that you would teach me to read +yourself. That thought put all about the hill quite out of my head; and, +therefore, if you please, I will go to Mr. Laurie's whenever he wishes +it." "That is acting like a good and sensible boy," said Mr. Martin, "and +I hope you will have no reason to repent of your decision. I shall go now +and call on Mr. Laurie, and make an agreement for your coming to me in the +evening; and I think you had best come along with me and hear what he +wishes you to do." John went for his bonnet directly, and walked after Mr. +Martin, keeping near enough to speak to him, but still far enough behind, +to show his respect. "Sir," said John, as he walked along, "do you think +Mr. Laurie will give me a holiday on Handsel Monday?" (the first Monday in +the year, and the only holiday the Scottish peasantry ever allow +themselves, except, perhaps, in the case of a wedding). "Really, John, +that is a question I cannot answer; but if he does, how would you like to +employ it?" "The thing I should like best to do would be to take another +walk with you and Miss Helen. Oh, indeed, Sir, I never was so happy in my +life as I was yesterday; and besides, somehow it seems to have done me a +great deal of good, for I felt so miserable and unhappy from the time I +lost my father and mother, that I had no heart to do any thing; and it +seemed quite a trouble to me to move. Yesterday, when you first showed me +that great chest of books, and bade me dust them, I had nearly burst into +tears; but now, Sir, I feel as brisk as ever, and am sure I would do any +thing in the world to please you." "I am very glad to hear it, John; only +I think if you take another walk with us, we must bargain to have no +spurs." "No, no," said John, laughing, "you may be sure of that; I had +enough of them yesterday." + +They found Mr. Laurie at home; who very readily agreed to the proposal of +John's learning to read at the Manse, and promised that he should attend +regularly. He said, he must come into his service on the next Tuesday +morning, and, as he required him to set off by four o'clock for the hill, +he thought it would be best for John to sleep at the farm on Monday +evening. He promised to send his own shepherd along with him, for the +first day or two, to show him the method of managing the sheep; and also +to train the dogs to obey him readily. John was greatly pleased with this +promise, and returned to the Manse, in high spirits. Helen had finished +her lessons and was walking out with her mother; but it being Saturday, +Mr. Martin, as was his constant custom on that day, shut himself up in his +study, to prepare for the duty of the Sabbath. John, therefore, amused +himself as well as he could, by running down to the holm, and fishing with +an old fishing-rod, he found in the stable; and though he was not very +successful, he yet found sport enough to be pleased. + +At dinner, Helen complained of a bad headache, and was obliged to go and +lie down. Mrs. Martin was rather uneasy, as she had observed Helen's eyes +to be heavy, and feared it might arise from fever. Helen, however, was +much better after a short sleep, and got up to tea. As they were sitting +round the table, John put his head in the door, and said, Archie Kerr was +come down the dale, with the curiosities which he had found. Mr. Martin +desired him to walk into the parlour; and added "John, my lad, you may +come in, and see them too, if you like." Mr. Martin examined them, and +found them exceedingly curious. He was looking at one of the coins at the +window, when Mrs. Martin kindly enquired of Archie, how all his neighbours +were, up the dale. "Thank ye, ma'am, all are well, excepting Mr. Scott's +family at Craigie Hall, where poor little Marion is very ill. I am going, +when I leave the Minister, to Langholm, for Mr. Armstrong; as her father +was so distressed, that Mrs. Scott was afraid to let her husband come +himself." "If that is the case, Archie," said Mr. Martin, coming forward, +"I won't detain you another minute. Put up all your coins, and leave them +in my care till your return; and if you find Mr. Armstrong at home, tell +him he will oblige me by calling here, on his way, to let us know how the +poor little girl is. For the sake of her parents, I trust she will shortly +recover." + +Archie set off immediately, and Mr. Martin and his family sat conversing +together till the usual hour of going to supper, when one of the servants +looked in, and said, "if you please, Sir, did you send John any where?" +"No, indeed;" answered Mr. Martin; "is he not in the kitchen?" "No, Sir," +answered the maid; "and I cannot find him any where; the herd tells me, +that, as he was driving his sheep home, he saw John run down the lane as +fast as he could, and then down the holm. Colin thought he had forgotten +his fishing-rod, and was gone to fetch it, but he must have been back long +before this time, had that been his errand." This account seriously +alarmed both Mr. and Mrs. Martin; for it was very possible, that, in +looking for the fishing-rod, he might have fallen into the river. Mr. +Martin, therefore, anxiously took his hat and went in search of him. He +had become most truly attached to the boy, and would have been grieved to +the heart had any harm befallen him. After searching all along the river, +for nearly a mile, he was on the point of returning to get some assistance +to drag for him, when he heard the sound of feet as of some one running. +He listened; for the moon was not up, and the night was too dark to enable +him to see at any distance. The steps approached, and in a few seconds, he +was convinced that it was John running as fast as he could. He called to +him, but John was too much out of breath to answer. Mr. Martin's mind now +felt eased on the certainty of the boy's safety. He sat down on the bank, +to recover himself, being completely overpowered, and for some minutes +could not articulate a word; but silently offered up his thanks to +Providence for relieving him from such a state of misery, as well as for +the boy's safety. John, who had stood still, when he reached Mr. Martin, +could not think what was the matter, but seeing his master sitting on the +damp grass, entreated him to tell him if he was ill, and wanted to run on +to the house, for assistance. "No John," said Mr. Martin, "you have run +enough for one night.--Where have you been to give us all such a +fright?"--"Indeed, Sir, I am sorry if I frightened any of the family," +replied John; "I did not think of that, but I will tell you the whole +truth if you will only rise; for I am sadly afraid, you will catch cold by +sitting on the grass."--"You are right, my dear, I will rise immediately; +and do you tell me where you have been, for we thought you were drowned." +"Why, Sir," he said, "I was looking at that curious urn which Archie +found, when I heard him tell my mistress that poor Marion Scott was ill, +and that he was going to Langholm for Mr. Armstrong. Now, sir, when I used +to live with my father and mother, near Langholm, I many times observed +Archie come down there, and though I should be sorry to be a tale-bearer, +yet I cannot help explaining to you my reasons for acting as I did. I +often saw him in the public-house, and my father used to say he was sure +Archie would never do any good, if he did not mend his habits; for his +custom was to stop and drink spirits at every place where a dram was to be +had, all the way down the dale, and repeat the same on his return home +again. I remember once he was a whole day and night getting from Langholm +to the _Shaw rigg_. I thought, therefore, if Archie played his old trick +of stopping by the way, perhaps poor Marion might be dead before Mr. +Armstrong could get near her; so I determined that I would just run +myself; for she was kind to me yesterday, much kinder than you know of; +for, when you were all laughing at me, (which I very well deserved) Marion +came and whispered to me that my coat was torn, and that, if I would go +into the stable, she would mend it. I thought the least I could do, in +return, now that she is in trouble, was to try to get her some advice. + +"I luckily found Mr. Armstrong, and he assured me, that as soon as his +horse was saddled, he would go to her; and only think, Sir, when I came +back again, I saw Archie sitting in Robert Miller's house, drinking with +another man, I was so happy that I had gone myself! but now, Sir, that I +find I have frightened you and my mistress and dear Miss Helen, who was +not very well before, I do not know whether I ought to be glad that I went +or not." "You are a good-hearted grateful boy," said Mr. Martin, "and have +acted very properly, only you should have told some of us where you were +going, and then all would have been right." "I could not do that, Sir, for +I did not wish to tell of Archie's tricks; and I made quite sure that I +should be back long before the hour of prayer; I thought you would not +miss me till then." "Very likely I should not, had not Nelly come in +search of you; but it was very natural for her, and very proper, when she +discovered you were missing, to inform me of it." + +"Here we are, my dear wife, all safe," cried Mr. Martin, when he came near +the green plat, where Mrs. Martin stood with a lantern prepared, and Nelly +ready to search for her master and John also; "all is right. John has been +on a very needful errand, and no harm is done, save the unnecessary alarm +we have been put into; he has promised me, however, to be more careful, in +future, in letting us know before he sets out on any of his errands; so +let us go into the house for some supper, and give me a glass of raspberry +whisky, to keep me from taking cold, as I have been out too long in the +night air, and feel chilled with the damp of the river." Helen was gone to +bed by her mother's advice, but she could not sleep till she heard that +John had returned safely. + + + + + +CHAP. V. + + +Next morning, when the family assembled in the study, for the morning +service, Mrs. Martin observed, that Helen still looked pale and unwell; +but Helen said she did not feel ill, only as if she was very tired, and +had caught a cold. Her mother replied, "then my dear, you must not go to +church this morning; for though I disapprove very much of people absenting +themselves from the public worship of their Maker, upon every light and +trivial excuse, I think it wrong, when they are really ill, to go out, +even to church; as by that means they often endanger their lives. Such a +sacrifice is not required of us; and we act much more wisely by remaining +at home, in such cases, nursing ourselves, and taking care to spend our +time, not in idleness, but in our own private devotions." + +In Scotland, the observance of Sunday is strict, but nor morosely severe. +It is considered by the peasants as their grand day of innocent +recreation. Nothing that is trifling, or that can any how be done on +Saturday, is left for the Sabbath. The men are all shaved on Saturday +evening; and they would even scruple to gather a cabbage out of their +garden, on the Lord's day. + +Mr. Martin's parish church was about half a mile from the Manse. The walk +to it was pleasant, and presented a most lively scene, as Mr. and Mrs. +Martin set out, accompanied by the whole of their household, excepting +only one maid, who was left at home with Helen. John walked at Mr. +Martin's back, carrying the Psalm books and Bible. + +As they turned down the holm, the path, as far as the eye could reach, was +sprinkled with men and women, dressed in the usual costume of the country, +which consists of a woollen plaid, of a black and white small checked +pattern, very simply thrown round the women's shoulders, as a scarf. The +men wear it over the right shoulder only, and tied loosely under the left +arm. The women seldom wear bonnets; they have either a beaver hat, like a +man's, or else wear a snow-white cap, tied under their chin, and usually +ornamented with a showy ribbon. + +As Mr. Martin's family passed, every group stood still, making their bows +and curtsies in silence, for it would be reckoned rude to speak to the +Minister on his way to church; their greetings of enquiry being always +reserved till the service is over, when the older men and heads of +families look upon it as a sort of privilege, which they possess, to shake +hands with their pastor, enquire after his health, talk of the news of the +day, and not unfrequently give their opinion of the sermon he has just +been preaching. And indeed they are often much better qualified to judge +of such subjects, than the same class of society in other countries; which +arises from their having all been taught to read, as their fathers before +them had been, for several generations; and what has a most material +effect upon both their morals and conduct is, that their reading has been +properly directed to the study of the Holy Scriptures. + +After church, Mr. Martin having paid his compliments all around, and Mrs. +Martin having enquired who was sick, and if any one required her +particular attention, the family returned to the Manse, in the same order +in which they left it. They there found Mr. Armstrong, who had called on +his way from Mr. Scott's. He told them that Marion's complaint had turned +out to be the measles; and that, at present, she was extremely ill; but +that he hoped, in a few hours, there might be a favourable change. Mrs. +Scott had desired him to inform Mrs. Martin of these circumstances, as she +was anxious to know whether Miss Helen and John had had the disorder. + +Mrs. Martin immediately became alarmed, for Helen had never had it. Having +been rather a delicate child, she was kept out of the house, with a friend +in Langholm, at the time the disease had affected her brother. She +therefore begged Mr. Armstrong to step up to the bedroom, where Helen was +lying down, as her headache had come on again very violently. Mr. +Armstrong, on seeing her, pronounced that she had undoubtedly caught the +infection, and ordered her to be put to bed. On enquiry about John, they +fortunately found, that he had had the disease; which they were glad of, +as an illness, at present, must have prevented his going to Mr. Laurie's. + +The surgeon now took his leave, promising to call next morning at the same +hour; and saying to John, who stood at the door holding his horse. "You +must take another walk, my lad, to Langholm to-night, to bring some +medicine for Miss Helen, for I cannot well manage to send up myself; and +it is of consequence that she should take it in the evening." "I will do +that, Sir, with the greatest pleasure; or any thing else that is in my +power for Miss Helen; but I hope you do not think that either she or poor +Marion Scott is likely to die," endeavouring to conceal the tears that +were trickling down his cheeks; "I am sure I should feel as much, if that +were to happen, as I did when my own dear father and mother died; and oh, +Sir! that was a dreadful time." "I hope, my little fellow, there will be +no such bad doings as that;" answered Mr. Armstrong, "at least, we must +try all we can to prevent it; so do you come down to me when the +evening-service is over, and I will have every thing ready, that you may +not be detained. He makes a better messenger," continued he, turning to +Mr. Martin, "than Archie Kerr, who has not yet returned from Langholm, +though Mr. Scott sent him off yesterday morning. I suppose I shall meet +him on the road as I ride down, for he will be sure to be home in time for +his work to-morrow morning. To do him justice, he seldom forgets that; +though, when he can find an excuse to leave it, he is a sad tippling +fellow." + +The family now went to dinner, which on Sunday seldom consists of any +thing but eggs, bread and cheese, and such cold meat as may be in the +house. When they had finished their simple meal, Mr. Martin and the +servants returned to evening-service; but Helen's illness prevented her +mother from leaving her. When the service was over, John set out to +Langholm, promising to make all the haste in his power back to the Manse. + +He soon arrived at Mr. Armstrong's, and receiving the medicine, set off on +his return home. He walked very quick till he got upon the green holm, not +having met a single creature the whole way; for walking is considered a +very improper way of spending the Sabbath evening, unless when going upon +necessary business, as that is the greatest portion of time the peasantry +can bestow on catechising their children, and reading portions of +Scripture to their families. John was, therefore, rather surprised to see +a man walking before him, at a distance. As he himself went quick, he soon +came near enough to perceive that the person, whoever he was, instead of +going straight forward, kept moving from side to side of the road, in a +very extraordinary manner. "I do believe," thought John, "that this must +be Archie Kerr. Well! what will become of him, if, by any chance, the +minister should come out to look for me? Though he is a tipsy fellow, and +has behaved so ill about Marion, I should not wish any thing so bad as +_that_ to happen to him. I think I had best run as fast as I can and get +up the lane, and then Mr. Martin, when he sees me, will never think of +coming to the holm to-night." So saying, he began to hasten as fast as he +could; but just as came within a stone's throw of Archie, to John's great +alarm, Archie lost his balance, and fell, with his whole force, across the +road. John ran to endeavour to help him up again, but, when he got close +to him, he perceived that his head had struck against a stone, and that it +was bleeding profusely. "What shall I do now?" said John. "Pray, Archie, +try to raise yourself up, if you can; for I have not strength to move you, +and I cannot leave you lying here; for if a horse or cart were to come by, +you would be crushed to pieces." Archie spoke not, but John continued +pulling him as hard as he could, without the least success; and now, +becoming seriously alarmed, as he found his temple still bleeding in spite +of the neckcloth which John had taken from Archie's neck and tied round +his head, he thought the only thing he could do was to run home and +prevail on old Sandy, the shepherd, to come and help to remove Archie to a +place of safety. "But I will get as quietly as I can in at the back door +of the manse," thought John, "that the minister may know nothing about it; +for I don't know what would be the consequence, if he were to learn that +there was such a disgraceful sight, just before his own door, on a Sunday +evening." + +With this intention, John ran up the lane, and had just got his hand upon +the latch of the back door, which he was lifting gently up, when he heard +the study bell ring for prayers, which on Sunday were always before +supper, in order that the children and servants of the family might be +examined on what they had heard at church; an excellent practice, as it +induces them to be more attentive while there, and gives them an +opportunity of being instructed on points which they may not have +perfectly understood. John had no time to deliberate. He went in, and saw +the tail of the shepherd's coat, just going into the parlour. He sprung +forward, in hopes of drawing him back, without being observed; but Sandy +was too intent on what he had to say to the Minister to understand any of +the signs that John was making. He therefore only thought the boy was +playing some monkey tricks; and being greatly scandalized at such conduct, +so near the presence of his master, he, with one jerk, pushed poor John +into the middle of the room. A shriek, from Mrs. Martin, made her husband, +who was sitting at the table, with the large family Bible open before him, +raise his head. A most terrific sight was presented to him--John standing +directly opposite, as pale as death, his face and hands stained in various +places with blood, his clothes in disorder, and trembling from head to +foot. "What has happened, child?" asked they all with one breath. "What +have you been doing?" John stood undetermined what to say. He stammered; +and, at last, bursting into tears and turning to the shepherd, cried, "Oh, +Sandy! why did you not stop, when I pulled your coat? then I should not +have been obliged to tell upon poor Archie; but now I cannot save him from +disgrace." "Speak distinctly, my dear," said Mr. Martin, taking hold of +his hand, and bidding him compose himself. "Something serious must have +happened. Don't think of Archie's disgrace: but tell me at once what it +is." John now saw that he could not avoid unfolding his tale, and +therefore began, in a very confused way, to relate what had happened. Mr. +Martin, however, soon gathered that Archie had fallen down and was hurt. +He therefore waited no longer than to get a lantern lighted, and with old +Sandy, set out after John, who ran before them to show them where Archie +was. + +When they got near the place, they heard him groaning most piteously. They +raised him up, and tried to get him to walk between them; but though he +was sensible of the pain of his head, as they supposed by his groans, he +was so completely overcome by liquor, that he could not assist himself in +the least; and after various trials, Mr. Martin desired John, as the only +method of getting their burden to the Manse that he could think of, to go +and bring Bob down some difficulty they at last succeeded in conveying +Archie safe to the house; and the maids, in the mean time, having made up +a bed for him in the kitchen, Mrs. Martin proceeded to examine his wound. +She found it was a pretty deep cut; but not likely to be of any serious +consequence. She therefore, after dressing it, ordered Sandy to put her +patient to bed, and leave him to sleep off the effects of his +intoxication. The family then returned to the parlour, Nelly having first +washed John's face and hands, and made him a little more fit to be seen; +and Mrs. Martin observing that he was still pale from the fright, gave him +a glass of currant wine before he began his catechism. + +After the duties of the evening were over, the supper was brought in, +which on Sunday evenings is usually the most abundant meal of any during +the week, and in general the most cheerful; but this night poor Helen's +illness through a damp over the spirits of her parents; and the +nicely-roasted fowl, with fried eggs, Mr. Martin's favourite dish left the +table almost untouched; to the great displeasure of Nelly the cook, who +supposing it arose from a different cause, declared in the kitchen, that +it was scandalous shame for that wicked varlet, Archie Kerr, to disturb +her good master, and keep him from eating his wholesome supper after the +fatigues of the day, by thinking on his great wickedness. "Was there no +other place for him to break his head but just before the Minister's +door?" She was sure if she had seen him fall she would have let him lie. + +"Hush, Nelly," said Sandy, "you would have done no such thing. You are +only angry because your supper has not been eaten to-night; but I dare say +Archie has nothing to do with that; it is more likely to be Miss Helen's +illness." + +"I did not think of that, indeed," said Nelly. "May be Archie is not to +blame about the supper, and he has enough to answer for without laying +that to his charge; but, good night," continued she, "it is time we were +all gone to bed. Remember, Sandy, that Archie must not leave the house +till our master has seen and talked with him. I was desired to tell you to +be very particular about this. I am thinking the Minister will read him a +lecture. I am sure I would not be in his place for the best new gown in +Langholm." So saying, they all separated for the evening. + +Through the night poor Helen suffered considerably; and her anxious mother +never left her till towards morning, when Mr. Martin took his wife's +place, and insisted that she should lie down for a few hours. "We shall +have you ill too, my dear, if you do not take care; and then what will +become of us?" "Pray, mamma," said Helen, (who had heard what her father +said,) "do go to bed. I promise you I will lie quite still, and give papa +no trouble that I can help." Mrs. Martin was at last persuaded to leave +them; and after a sleep of three hours, found, on her return to the room, +that the measles had made their appearance, and that Helen felt rather +better than when she had left her. + +On going down stairs, Mr. Martin enquired for Archie Kerr, of Nelly, who +was laying the cloth for breakfast. "He is pretty well, Sir, this morning, +but wants sadly to get away to his work. At least, that is what he says; +but I think he is afraid to see you, after what happened last night. When +he discovered where he was, Sandy tells me, he grew quite pale, and said, +'This is the worst scrape I have ever got into. I think I would almost as +soon have fallen into the river as have been brought to the Manse, for how +shall I ever face the Minister?'" "Send him in to me, Nelly; and don't +disturb us, till I ring the bell." Nelly did as she was ordered; and +Archie made his appearance with his head bound up, and one of Sandy's +woollen night-caps half drawn over his eyes, as if he wanted to hide them +from the good man, who was now going to address him. As, however, the door +was shut immediately, and there were none present but himself and the +Minister, what Mr. Martin said to him never transpired; only when he left +the study and passed through the kitchen, in his way to go home, Nelly +observed that his eyes were red with weeping; and as he shook hands with +John, he said, "I shall have reason, my little fellow, to bless the night +you found me, and got me brought to the Manse, all my life long, if I can +but remember what the minister has been saying to me; and, after his +kindness, I shall be an ungrateful villain indeed, if ever I forget it; +and that I would not be for all the whiskey in Eskdale. Farewell! And, my +man, if ever you should be tempted to drink more than is good for you, +think on Archie Kerr, last night, and I am sure that will restrain you." + + + + +CHAP. VI. + + +When Mr. Armstrong made his appearance, after breakfast, he said, Helen +was doing as well as he could wish. She was likely to have the disease +very easily; and he hoped, in a few days, would be quite well. "I wish," +added he, "that poor little Marion Scott may do as well. She is a delicate +creature, and her fever ran very high when I left her yesterday." He +added, he was going higher up the dale, and would not return till the +evening, and that he would see Helen on his way back. He spoke this on the +step of the door, as he was going out. John heard it, and, running up to +Mr. Martin, asked him if he might go up with Mr. Armstrong as far as Mr. +Scott's, "just to hear how poor Marion is, this morning, Sir." "Certainly, +my dear, I am glad that you thought of it; for I am very anxious to hear +of her myself. But, stop a moment, I will get you something for her that +may be useful; as it is not likely that Mrs. Scott should have any +herself." So saying, he went up to his wife, and asked her for a pot of +black currant jelly, of which a country clergyman's wife always takes care +to have a good supply, for the benefit of her poorer neighbours. John +having got his affairs carefully packed by Nelly, in a wicker basket, set +out at a good pace after Mr. Armstrong. As he walked along he could not +help remembering in what very different circumstance he had walked that +very road, only three days before. "Dear me," said he to himself, "who +could have thought that so very happy a day should have produced such +melancholy events? Here are we, all in sickness and anxiety, instead of +singing and conversing so pleasantly as we then did. I may just as well be +at the hill now, as with the Minister; for, even though Miss Helen should +get well, (which I hope and trust she will,) there can be no long walks +for a great while again. I remember, when I had this troublesome disease, +I was not able to run about, strongly, for nearly three months." As he +passed by Mr. Elliott's cottage, he gave it a look, and said, "Well, I +wish Miss Helen could live at that pretty place, when she grows to be a +woman; but I don't see how it can well happen, unless, indeed, Master +William should become a great man, (as why should he not? He is my +master's own son; and he is surely the best man in Eskdale;) then, to be +sure, he may very likely buy the farm, to please his sister, and live at +it with her; oh, dear! how I should like to see that day." + +With such like airy castle building John amused himself till he reached +Mr. Scott's where he heard that Marion still continued very ill. + +"I am so glad you have brought us the jelly," said Mrs. Scott, "for her +throat is very sore, and our own minister's family are all gone to +Edinburgh. The General Assembly is coming on, and he is a member this +year." The _General Assembly_ is a meeting of clergymen, chosen from the +different districts of Scotland. They assemble at Edinburgh once a year, +to judge and determine on the church affairs, that are brought before +them, from all parts of the country. + +John only waited to hear how Marion was, and then with a sorrowful heart, +prepared to depart, when he saw Mr. Scott coming towards him. Mr. Scott +had a bunch of cuttings, from the hot-house plants in his hands, and, +holding them out to John, he said, "Here, yonker; You may have these, if +you like to take the trouble of carrying them; and, if you take pains and +put them into pots, they will grow and be very pretty; but you must water +them regularly, and in cold weather keep them within doors. I dare say +Mrs. Martin will thank you for them. If you will step with me into the +tool-house, I will give you some pots; for, perhaps, there may not be any +at the Minister's house." + +John very thankfully accepted this offer, and Mr. Scott putting half a +dozen within each other, contrived to stow them into the wicker basket. At +first the delight which John felt at bringing home such a treasure, +prevented him from feeling the great weight of the basket; but he had not +walked far before he was obliged to put it down and stop to rest. He took +it up again, but the further he walked the oftener was he obliged to stop; +for Mr. Scott had considered more the size of the pots that his plants +required, than the strength of the carrier. "Oh, dear!" said John, at +last, "I do believe I shall be kept as long upon the road, with this heavy +basket, as Archie Kerr was in going to Langholm. What shall I do with it? +I cannot be so very ungrateful as to leave it on the road, after Mr. Scott +has been so kind as to give the pots to me; and how I shall get it home, I +am sure, I do not know. It will be dark night before I can reach the +Manse." + +Just as he took it up, to proceed a little farther, he heard the voice of +some one singing near the spot where he was: he listened, and thought it +came from the river side; but the trees that grew in that direction +prevented him from seeing. He therefore put down his basket and ran across +the road, to try if he could discover whether it was any one he knew; and, +to his great delight, found it was Tom, David Little's son. Tom, as soon +as he saw John, skipped up to him and shook hands most cordially. "I am so +glad to see you," said he, "for you will tell Miss Helen that my chickens +are all alive yet; and mammy says if they live another week, I shall then +be pretty sure of rearing them, if I take care always to shut them up at +night, to prevent the fox from getting at them. They are nasty, greedy, +cruel creatures, these foxes and mammy says, I cannot be too watchful to +preserve my chickens from them; for they are very cunning, and are always +ready to seize the first opportunity of snapping up any thing that is left +in their way." John agreed, that all Tom said was quite true; for he +remembered, he had suffered himself from the depredations; having had a +whole brood of young ducks devoured in one night, when he lived near +Langholm. He then told Tom the distress he was in about his basket. Tom +immediately cried, "O, I will tell you how we will manage. Do you take out +three of the pots, and give them to me; and I will carry them as far as +the Manse for you; for my mammy will not expect me home for two hours. She +bade me go out and give Colly a walk; for he is quite stupid, and even +ill, for want of his usual exercise on the hills; so I thought I would +come down the glen and see the place where my daddy fell; and, do you know +the sensible beast ran directly up to the place, and lifted up in his +mouth my daddy's whip, which had been left there, I suppose, ever since +that terrible night. Look at it. It is a good whip, and my daddy will be +glad to have it back again; for he gave a shilling for it the last time he +went to Langhold with his master's cart; and surely he grudged the price, +but he was obliged to have it, for he could not drive the cart home +without it." "Well," said John, "if you really think, Tom, that your +mammy won't be frightened at your being so long, I shall be much obliged +to you to help me with my load; and I shall perhaps be able, some day, to +do you a favour, when you stand in as much need of assistance as I do +now." + +Having divided the load, they found they could now very easily get along; +and they went on chatting, till all at once John recollected the measles. +"My dear Tom," asked he, "pray, tell me, have you ever had the measles?" + +"No," replied Tom, "I have never had them, and mammy is very particular in +telling me, never go into any of the houses in the glen when they are +there. All the children, round us, had them last summer, but mammy never +let us go down the steps till they were quite gone, and so we escaped; but +why do you ask?" + +John was silent for a minute, thinking how nearly he had led the poor +little fellow into a danger his mother had taken so much pains to guard +him against: he then said, "Tom, we must stop, and you must go home +directly. I dare say I shall manage to get the basket home some way or +other; but you must, on no account, go near the Manse. Miss Helen has got +the measles and is very ill. Besides," continued John, "poor Marion Scott +has got them very bad indeed, and I think you had best go home directly +and tell your mammy, for the disease will soon spread all around, and I +think you will be safest up the steps at this time, as you were last +summer." "I shall not like that at all," said Tom, "I was so tired living +up there. I was just as Colly is, and I dare say it will be the believe, +John, you are right; for it would never do for any of us to be ill when my +daddy is in the bed, and we are all obliged, till he is better, to sleep +on some straw, in the inner room, that we may not disturb him. But tell +Miss Helen all about the chickens, and that I am very sorry to hear she is +ill. Good bye to you, I hope you may meet somebody else who has had the +measles, and then they need not be afraid of helping you home with the +basket." + +John was really glad when he saw Tom fairly gone. The consequences of the +poor child catching the disease, at this time, appeared to him dreadful; +and he began to think how fortunate he had been in recollecting the +measles before he had brought him into the Manse. With this comfortable +reflection, John trudged on with the basket, and, occupied with this own +thoughts, he did not feel the weight so overpowering as he had done before +he met Tom; he was however, obliged at last again to stop. As he was +resting himself, he saw a girl, about twelve years old, running down the +holm towards him. When she came up, she said "You don't know me, John +Telfer; but I am Peggy Oliphant, Mr. Elliott's herd-girl, that lives up in +that cottage, (pointing to the very cottage John had been planning for +Master William,) and Tom Little, whom I met as I was coming down, asked me +to run forward and help you with your basket, as I am going as far as +Langholm, on an errand of my mistress; you need not be afraid to let me go +to the Manse, for I have had the measles, and so has all my master's +children; we all had them last year." + +"Thank you, Peggy," said John, "it is very kind of you, and very +attentive, in such a little boy as Tom is, to think of me and my basket; I +am sure I shall be glad of your assistance, for I am quite tired with it." +"Oh!" answered Peggy, "I shall do it with the greatest pleasure, that, or +any thing else, for any one that belongs to our good Minister; I was +sorely vexed to hear that Miss Helen was so bad. But have you heard the +news?" "No," answered John, "what is it?" "As I was taking away the +breakfast things this morning, Nanny being busy about something in the +kitchen, I heard my master read in the paper, that Capt. Elliott, your +mistress's brother, had been fighting with a French frigate, and had taken +her; and that he had brought her into some port in England, but I forget +the name. My master said he was glad of it, for the Captain was a brave +fellow, and an honour to the name of Elliott: and my mistress added, now +Mrs. Martin will get a sight of her only brother; in the last letter he +wrote to her, he promised that the first time he came into port, he would +endeavour to get leave of absence, to come down and see his old mother, +from whom he had been absent now for ten years." + +"This is news, indeed, Peggy," replied John. "I am sure I wish it may be +true. I only hope he may not come before Miss Helen is better, for that +would spoil all my mistress's pleasure." Peggy and John went chatting +along till they reached the Manse, when they parted, John thanking her +very heartily for the assistance she had given him in carrying the +flowerpots. + +As soon as he got in, he went and tapped at the study door. "Come in, +John," said Mr. Martin, "I heard your voice in the kitchen. Pray, how is +Marion?" "Very bad, indeed, Sir. Mrs. Scott said she had not slept all +night, and was quite delirious this morning. Mr. Armstrong said, that he +hoped the measles would be fully out by the evening, and he thought she +would then be better." After John had finished delivering his message, he +stood still and seemed hesitating whether to go or remain. Mr. Martin at +last observed this, and asked him if he had any thing more to say. "Why, +yes, Sir, if I thought that it would be right to tell you what I have +heard; but as it was only Peggy Oliphant that told me, I am afraid it may +not be true; as, I think, you or my mistress would have had a letter +yourselves, if the news had been really what she says." "What is it, my +dear, that you have heard? Peggy Oliphant's news I think cannot be of any +great consequence." "Yes, but it is, Sir, should it be true; for she says +her master read in the paper this morning that Capt. Elliott has taken a +French ship and has brought her safe to England." "That is indeed +important, John, and I must lose no time in ascertaining the truth of it. +Have you mentioned this story to any one but me?" "No, Sir, not a word; I +thought it best to come and tell it to you directly." "That is right, my +man; now you must promise not to tell any other person a word of the +matter till I return; I shall go up to Mr. Elliott's and see the paper +myself, before I say any thing to my wife, least it should prove some +mistake of Peggy Oliphant's." + +Mr. Martin set out immediately for Mr. Elliott's, saying to his wife, he +was going to take a little walk. And John, having asked how Miss Helen +was, and heard she was continuing better, set about planting his +greenhouse slips. He found he had two or three different kinds of +geraniums, a rose-bush, and one or two myrtles. "O," said he to Nelly, who +stood by while he planted them, "I wish they may thrive, I shall have such +pleasure in giving them to Miss Helen, when she is better. Do you think +the Minister would let them stand in the study window, if I was to ask +him? for the sun shines best there, and I will take great care not to make +any dirt when I water them in the evening; you know, Nelly, I am to come +here every night to read to the Minister, and I can water them then." "You +come here every night to read to the Minister! You are surely dreaming, +child; what can you mean?" "Indeed and in very truth, I am saying nothing +but what he told me himself; and besides that he has settled it all with +Mr. Laurie; I am sure it is very kind of him: but, Nelly, do you know, I +am half afraid to come to him as a scholar, for when my poor father used +to teach me, I was sometimes very stupid and could not understand what he +told me? Now, if I should be so with the Minister, what will become of me? +I cannot expect him to have the patience with me that my father had; and +if he should be very angry with me, I shall be so frightened I shall wish +I had refused his kind offer; it must be a fearful thing to make the +Minister angry." "It is both a fearful thing and a wicked thing," answered +Nelly; "but there is one comfort for you, it is not very easily done. If +it really is as you say, that master his own self will condescend to teach +you, James Telfer, the shoemaker's son, to read! you must try, with all +your might, to learn as fast as you can, that you may give him as little +trouble as possible. Refuse, indeed, such an offer! you would have made +him angry in good earnest then, I believe, and with some reason. But," +continued she, "above all things, be obedient, and do all he desires you." +Then, after being silent a little, she said, as if to herself, "I should +think he might have had enough of teaching, after all the trouble and +sorrow his own son cost him. I am sure, if that little violent monkey had +not been sent to school, he would have been the death of my master. I +never wish to hear of his teaching boys again, so little like sweet Miss +Helen; but it is all out of charity, I see that very well; just like his +kind heart." + +Nelly proceeded now to prepare for dinner, and John, after planting his +slips, carried them to the green, and set them all in a row, that Mr. +Martin might see them, and give him an opportunity of asking his leave to +place them on the outside of his window. He had but just got them all +ready, when seeing Mr. Martin walking very quick up the lane, he ran to +open the gate. "It is all true, John." said his master. "Capt. Elliott has +really gained a great victory. It will be quite a cordial to your mistress +in the midst of her present uneasiness." So saying, without observing +John's plants, he hastened into the house, and went up to rejoice his +wife's heart with the good news. Helen was too unwell to be told any thing +of the matter at that time, as her mother was afraid of agitating her. + +After dinner Mr. Martin observed from his window the flowerpots standing +on the green. "Where can these great flowerpots have come from?" asked he. +"Look at them, my dear, I cannot think who can have put them there." "I am +sure I don't know," said she, "how they came there, but we can soon ring +and ask." John was upon the watch, and as soon as he understood what was +wanted, came forward and made his request. "Certainly, my dear, you may +place them where you please; they are very pretty, and I think from their +appearance, they are likely to do you credit. Helen will be very proud of +her present; but how did you get the pots? I really did not know I had +such a thing in the garden." "I brought them with me from Mr. Scott's," +said John. "He gave me them with the plants." "Why, you surely did not +carry these heavy pots all that long way." "No, Sir, I cannot say that I +carried them _all_ the way, for Tom Little carried some of them, until I +thought of the measles, and then I sent him back. Peggy Oliphant helped me +down the holm, and it was then she told me the story of Capt. Elliott." +"Upon my word, John, you are a very active little fellow, and deserve to +succeed in what you undertake, you are so persevering; I only hope I shall +find you equally industrious when you begin your reading lessons with me; +you remember we are to keep school for the first time tomorrow evening." +"Yes, Sir, I shall be sure to remember," said John as he left the room. + + + + +CHAP. VII. + + +In the evening he took leave of Mr. Martin's family, with a very sorrowful +heart, and set off for Mr. Laurie's. When he reached the house, the maid +bade him come in and sit down near the fire. The other servants began to +assemble, and in about ten minutes the supper was ready. It consisted of +boiled potatoes and whey, the common supper for farm servants. Jeannie, +the cook, then pressed John to eat: "he is shy yet, poor thing; but you +need not be afraid, if you are a good boy. Our master will be very kind to +you; and Will, the shepherd, is one of the drollest and best natured +fellows in the dale, and will keep you laughing all day long, when he goes +to the hill with you. You had best take care of his tricks, however, for +he is very fond of playing them off upon people, but they are always +harmless." Just as she finished this consoling address the door opened, +and in came Will, the shepherd. He was a stout, sun-burnt, good-looking +man of about thirty years of age, fun and good nature being strongly +expressed in his face. "Ah! have you all begun, and not waited for me? I +think that is not very good manners, considering that I am the life of the +company," he said, laughing, as he drew his chair near the table: "and +whom have we among us in this corner, looking so grave? I dare say it is +my new herd-boy, that our master was talking about this morning. Come, +man, cheer up, we shall be as merry as grigs to-morrow on the hill. You'll +never have a grave face in my company, I promise you, long together." "I +have been telling him, Will," said Jeannie, "I was sure you would be kind +to him, so that he had no need to be frightened. And indeed," continued +she, in a sort of whisper, "who would not be kind to a poor orphan boy +like him?" "Now my lad," said Will, "I must try what you are good for, and +send you on your first errand. Go into the stable for me; it stands on the +left hand as you go out, and at the back of the door you will see a coat +hanging up; put your hand in to the pocket, and bring me a whistle you +will find there. I have been making it, Jeannie, for your nephew, Tom +Little; poor fellow, he was so good natured the other day, in running down +to help me to drive the sheep over the hill; he is too young yet to be a +herd; but if he live he will be a fine, active, spirited fellow, some day. +I promised him a whistle, and I never break my word." + +John found the whistle where Will had directed him to look, and brought it +to him. "Now, that is a clever fellow; and I think the least I can do, in +return, is to play you a tune. I hope you like music; it is the chief +pleasure we shepherds have; and it seems to me that it never sounds so +sweetly as it does up among the hills." So saying, he began to play a +pretty Scotch air upon Tom's whistle. When he had finished, John, whose +eyes were sparkling with delight (for he did, indeed, like music), lost +part of his timidity, and starting up said, "And did you make that whistle +all yourself?" "That I did, my man; and I am glad it has made you find +your tongue; for I began to be afraid that master had got a dumb boy for a +herd; and that would not suit me at all. If I find you a brisk, merry +fellow, that can sing a song, and dance a reel at times, you shall have a +whistle too; and, perhaps I may teach you to make it yourself; but it will +all depend upon your good behaviour. If you were always to look as grave +as you were when I first saw you, I don't think I should ever trouble my +head about you; but we had better go to bed. Mind that you be ready for me +tomorrow morning; I do not like to be kept waiting." + +In the morning, John took good care not to keep Will waiting; but was up +and standing at the door when he made his appearance. "So you are ready, I +see, my lad; that's well: but take care you continue alert; for that +stupid boy, Sandy Laing, whom we had last, was the plague of my life, he +never was ready; and somehow he contrived always to put me out of humour +before we began our day's work; and then all went wrong." Will led John +across a little wooden bridge that was near the farm, and after walking +three miles over the hills, they came to the place were the sheep were +penned. Another shepherd had been left with the dogs to guard them through +the night, who, immediately after giving up his charge, set off to bed. +After letting the sheep out to feed, and giving John all the necessary +instructions how to manage both them and the dogs, which, when +well-trained, are of the most singular importance to the shepherd, Will +asked John what he had brought with him to do all day? John very +innocently said, he never had thought of doing any thing, but watching the +sheep. "Watching the sheep!" cried Will, "that to be sure you must do; +but, if you take care to direct the dogs right, they will do that, without +giving you much trouble. It will never answer for you to have nothing but +that to employ yourself on. You must either bring a book with you, if you +can read well enough, or else you must learn to knit, or make a whistle; +or, in short, any thing but being idle. No herd of mine, that I care a +farthing for, shall ever be a lazy fellow if I can help it; so, if you can +keep a secret, I will tell you one. I have in my pocket some knitting +needles and some worsted, which I will lend you. Knitting is easily +learnt, and you may then help me to work some stockings for David Little, +that met with that ugly accident the other day. When he begins to go +about, he will want stockings to keep his poor broken leg warm. But you +need not speak of this down at the farm; mind that, or I shall never trust +you again with any of my secrets; it would spoil all the pleasure of my +present." John promised faithfully to be silent, as to the stockings; and, +having accepted the offer of being taught to knit, succeeded far better +than he had expected himself, as he was a willing boy. "Very well, John," +said Will, "you will make a famous knitter in your time; and you will, +perhaps, thank Will Oliver all your life, for having taught you to be so +useful. When you have become expert at it, you may always keep yourself +neat and tidy about the legs, on Sundays and handsel Mondays. Besides, you +will dance the better, when a wedding comes round; and I should be +ashamed, at my wedding, which will perhaps be sooner than some folks know +of," added he, laughing, "if my herd were to dance in any thing but hose +of his own working." + +Thus encouraged, John persevered; and, by dinner-time, he had learned the +stitch perfectly. Meanwhile, the sheep had wandered farther up the hill, +and Will thought it proper to follow them; so, sometimes whistling, +sometimes singing, he beguiled the time, till they reached the very top of +the highest hill. When John had got thus far, he was surprised, on looking +down, to see that he was almost directly opposite to Mr. Scott's, at +Craigie Hall. "Oh dear," said he, "what would I give to know how poor +Marion is." "What is that you are saying, boy?" said Will, "Do you know +any thing of Mr. Scott's family?" "That I do," said John; and immediately +related all that had passed the day he had been there with Mr. Martin. He +hesitated a good deal when he got to that part of the story about the +spurs; but Will, who saw there was some sort of secret in the way, soon +contrived to get it out of him, and laughed so loud and so long at poor +John's mishap, that the latter was vexed at having said any thing about +it. But when Will had his laugh out, he said, "Well, John, since you are +anxious to hear of Marion, I will wait for you here; and you can easily +run down the hill. You will find stepping stones across the river, almost +exactly opposite the house, so that you may go and be back to me in half +an hour. Off with you, my boy, and let me see if you can be trusted." John +lost no time in reaching Mr. Scott's, where he learnt, to his great +consolation, that Marion was now doing well, and that Mr. Armstrong +considered her out of danger. + +When John returned, Will, making a known signal to the dogs, ordered them +to bring in the sheep, that they might be penned for the night; and John, +to his surprise, saw the two dogs instantly set off to execute their task, +with extraordinary sagacity. The sheep were scattered all about the side +of the hill; and the dogs _wore_ them in (for such is the word used to +express this curious operation), by running all round the outside of the +flock, barking, and driving the stragglers towards the centre, but never +hurting one of them; and thus, at length, every sheep was got safe into +the fold; the shepherd merely overlooking his dogs, and giving them, from +time to time, the necessary word of command. "You are surprised," said +Will, "to see the dogs understand so well what I say to them. They have +been well-trained, and are of a particular breed, only common on these +hills. I can make them bring me any one particular sheep that I describe +to them out of the flock directly. We never should be able to bear the +fatigue, if we had not these faithful creatures with us. The going up and +down the hills so often after the sheep, would wear out any man's +strength, long before the day was over. You will soon learn the way of +managing them; and they, in time, will become accustomed to your voice. At +present, they know the sheep, and will allow no harm to happen to them." + +Will now sent John home, as he himself was to remain till the other +shepherd came to his relief. John reached the farm, when it was nearly +dark, and having washed his face and hands, set out for the Manse. He +found Mr. Martin waiting for him in the study. "Well, John, how do you +like herding?" asked he, as his young scholar entered the room. "Very +well, Sir; much better, indeed, than I expected: the shepherd has been +very kind to me, and shown me every thing I have to do; and I think, Sir, +I shall be able very soon to learn the business." "I have no doubt, if you +take pains, you will very soon do so; but come, let us begin our evening +task." When this was over, John asked how Miss Helen was. "She is much +better, John; and I hope, in a few days, she will be able to come down and +admire your pretty flowers. I really think they are taking root." John was +glad to hear this; and having watered them, and shaken hands with his +friend Nelly, he told her he should never again be afraid to encounter his +reading; "for," said he, "the Minister has so much patience, and explains +every thing to me so clearly, that I must be a dunce indeed not to +understand him, and a very bad boy if I do not take pains to remember what +he says." + +John continued this kind of life without interruption for two months, in +the course of which time he had become very expert in the management of +his sheep; and Will was so much pleased with his diligence, that he taught +him both to make and also to play upon the same sort of whistle on which +he was himself so skilful a performer. John could now play, very +tolerably, the old Scottish air of "_the Ewe-buchts, Marion!_" a very +particular favourite of his, although Will said he thought it rather the +name than the tune which had caught the boy's fancy. His reading had +likewise improved wonderfully. Mr. Martin had lent him a common copy of +Robinson Crusoe (for the elegant one with the plates was too valuable to +be carried to the hill), and this book, which had first excited his desire +of learning, now became the constant companion of his leisure moments. +Indeed it would have entirely driven the whistle, the knitting, and +everything else out of his head, if Will, who was somewhat proud of his +scholar, had not insisted on his continuing to work at his stockings some +part of every day, and to display his progress in music to his +fellow-servants every evening. + +Helen and Marion had by this time both recovered, though Marion was still +delicate. The latter, however, had found out that John's sheep grazed very +often just opposite to her father's house; she therefore, more than once, +made her way across the water to listen to John's whistle, which she +greatly admired; and she at the same time convinced him that she could +sing, and, according to his taste, very sweetly. + +Little offerings of friendship were continually passing, on these +occasions, between the children. Sometimes Marion would save the fruit +which her father was permitted to give her out of the hall garden, and she +would carry it over, in a cabbage-leaf, to share it with John. He, in +return, wishing to procure a basket for her greater accommodation, got his +friend Will to teach him how to make one, like that which the shepherds in +general use for carrying their provisions to the hill, and which is shaped +something like a pouch, and slung by a strap over the shoulder. To make +the basket the more acceptable, John filled it with the prettiest mosses +that he could find on the hills. These mosses are remarkably fine in +Eskdale, and very much in request among the ladies, who ornament their +garden seats and bowers with them. The frames being made of a sort of +basket-work, the moss, when fresh gathered, with the roots unbroken, is +twisted into the frame so as to leave the green part only visible. Thus +they take root, and if carefully watered, in a very little time have the +appearance of having grown there naturally. They are called _fogg +houses_, and are very common. Seats and tables are likewise added, as +furniture to the fogg house, and for this purpose the most beautiful moss +is always reserved. The greater the variety of shades, the more it is +prized; and they are sometimes seen shaded, from the darkest green to the +most beautiful rose-colour. This last colour is the most rare, and is only +found on one particular moor, at the top of a distant hill. John +contrived, one afternoon, to coax Will to take his place with the sheep, +and let him go in search of his much-coveted prize; which, having +succeeded in obtaining, he arranged all the various sorts he had picked up +in the basket, taking care to place the rose-coloured just at the top, and +carried it over to Mr. Scott's. + +On John's arrival, it was unluckily damp, and Marion's mother had desired +her not to go out. He therefore peeped around the house a long time to no +purpose, and was at last obliged to go up and knock boldly at the door, in +order to deliver his present; otherwise he would have had to take it home +and return another day with it, which he thought would be a pity, as the +beauty of the moss would be impaired if immediate precaution were not +taken to prevent it. Mrs. Scott opened the door herself. "John Telfer, I +declare!" cried she. "What can possibly have brought you here so late? I +hope no accident has happened that you are not gone to the Minister's as +usual." "No," said John, "there is no accident; the minister could not +have me to read to-night, for the family are all occupied with the arrival +of Capt. Elliot. He was expected to dine there to day, and I took the +opportunity, with Will Oliver's leave, to go up to the black moor to get +some moss for Marion. She told me she wanted to make a table for her +bower, and I have brought her this, which I hope she will accept." + +"Oh!" cried Marion, who had been reading to her father, "what a beautiful +sight! Did you ever see so much pink moss together?" "Indeed," said Mr. +Scott, taking the basket out of his hand, "I have seldom seen so fine a +specimen. I think, if you take pains with your table, it will surpass that +which the ladies at the lodge have made, and theirs is reckoned the most +beautiful in the country. I am sure, John, you must have had a great deal +of trouble and fatigue to get at this. Pray, wife, give the boy something +to eat, he must be hungry." "I don't mind the trouble a bit," said John, +"if Marion is pleased; but I can't stop to eat any thing, for it is +growing late, and I must run home as fast as I can, that I may be in time +to play to Will, or he will be angry, and never let me go again." So +saying he ran off, and scarcely slackened his pace till he reached Mr. +Laurie's. + + + + +CHAP. VIII. + + +Captain Elliott, mean time, had arrived at the Manse. He was a fine +good-looking young man, excessively attached to his sister and her family; +and having been absent so long from his native country, had so much to +hear and see, that he completely occupied every moment of their time. +Helen was only a baby in arms when he left the country, but William was +between three and four years old. After talking to them all some time, he +turned to Mrs. Martin and said, "but where is young Pickle, that I do not +see him? My mother wrote me something about his being a violent-tempered +boy; but I suppose it is nothing else but that, having a little more +spirit than his father, you think him a dragon. There never was in the +world, I believe, so even-tempered a man as my good brother-in-law, and +Helen looks as if she were his own child." While he was speaking, Mrs. +Martin became quite grave, and her brother fancied she changed colour. Her +husband, however, looked pleased at this remembrance of William; and +taking her hand, said, "Come, come, my dear, you must not, by looking so +serious, make your brother fancy William worse than he really is. The +truth is, he has given us a great deal of uneasiness by the violence of +his temper; but Mr. Lamont, with whom he is, at Kelso, writes me word that +he has good hopes of getting the better of the boy's little failings in +time. He is a most excellent scholar, always at the head of his class, +which is a large one; and, in short, I trust he will do very well by and +bye." "God grant you may not be deceived in your hopes, my dear husband," +said Mrs. Martin, solemnly; "but I have my fears. His little faults, as +you call them, were great ones in a boy of his age; at least they appeared +in that light to me. I hope I may be mistaken." The truth was, William, +when a child, had been the idol of his parents' hearts; quick, lively, and +entertaining, full of trick and fun, they had no idea of contradicting him +in any of his whims, they were so amused with what they called his little +oddities. But, in a short time, his mother, who was of a very superior +understanding, thought she perceived symptoms of a spirit beginning to +appear in him of a most alarming tendency. His father, who was indeed the +mildest of human beings, would not believe that there were the slightest +grounds for her fears; and for several years he retained that most +dangerous of all errors which parents are apt to fall into, namely, +delaying to correct faults, under the notion of a child's being too young +to understand its duties. At last, one morning, his sister, who was three +years his junior, happened to take up one of his playthings, and was +amusing herself with it in one corner of the room, when William, who had a +book of prints to look at from his father, suddenly perceived her, and +called out in a very peremptory tone to order her to lay it down. Poor +Helen, who was not more than three years old, did not immediately obey +him. He suddenly started up; and with eyes and face flaming with rage, he +caught hold of her and dashed her poor little head, with all the strength +he possessed, against the wainscot. His father, who was writing, had +scarcely observed what was going on, till Helen's screams drew his +attention. What a sight met his eyes, when he looked towards where his +children stood! Helen lying on the carpet, her head streaming with blood, +and William standing beside her, silent, and frightened at what he had +done! This was, I may say, the most painful moment that Mr. Martin had +ever endured. It completely opened his eyes to the violence of William's +temper; and from that day, for the next four years of his life, he +laboured indefatigably in endeavouring to control a spirit that was likely +to have so pernicious an effect on his son's future happiness. + +It unfortunately happened, that, about this time, Mr. Martin had a very +serious illness, which rendered it impossible for him to continue his +instructions and watchful vigilance. On this account Mrs. Martin's mother, +who doted on her grandson, persuaded them to send the child to her; and +added, as an inducement, that he might attend the school at Melrose. Mrs. +Martin very strongly opposed the plan. She knew her son, and she feared +the effects of the good old lady's indulgence; but at last, as her husband +seemed to fret, and continually regret that his boy would forget all he +had learned, she was persuaded to send him to his grandmother, an event +which, in all probability, finally fixed the destiny of William. He +remained at Melrose two years, attending the school regularly, and +sleeping and eating at Mrs. Elliott's. For the first year, though often +very obstreperous, he yet stood in some degree of awe both of his master +and grandmother; and on his promising good behaviour for the future, Mrs. +Elliott very unfortunately forbore mentioning to his parents, either by +letter or when they paid their annual visit in August, any part of his bad +conduct; and as he took care to appear to them, whilst they remained, a +very good boy, they went home quite delighted with the thoughts that he +was entirely cured of his bad habits. In the course of the next year he +became so perfectly unmanageable, that at last his grandmother, though +greatly unwilling to complain of him, as well knowing he would be removed +directly, thought it her duty to impart the real state of the case to his +parents. They hastened their visit on this account, and went to Melrose a +month sooner than they were expected; and before William had an +opportunity, by better behaviour, which he had planned in his own mind +(going home being the last thing he desired), to prevail on his indulgent +grandmother to entreat that he might be once more left with her. + +On his return to the Manse, his father again began the arduous task of +subduing a temper, which was likely to be of such fatal consequence, both +to his own happiness, and likewise to all those connected with him. But +William was now twelve years old, and had indulged himself in such +uncontrolled liberty of spirit for the last twelve months, that, though +Mr. Martin tried every means he could think of, endeavouring sometimes to +convince his reason, laying before him the baneful consequences that must +ensue from such conduct, and at other times by more violent methods, yet +he made very little or no progress towards a cure; so that, at last, Mrs. +Martin became perfectly convinced that, if William remained at home much +longer, the father would be sacrificed for the son, as she saw that the +continued struggle and exertion he was obliged to live in began materially +to affect his health. In this state of affairs, she thought at last of +consulting Mr. Lamont, the schoolmaster at Kelso, under whom her brother +had been educated. He was a man of superior understanding, had long been +in the habits of teaching, and had, as he very well merited, acquired +great celebrity. Both Mr. and Mrs. Martin had a high opinion of his +judgment, and knew that, when the truth was full laid before him, he would +give them his candid advice on what was best to be done; and Mrs. Martin +hoped he would be able to convince her husband, that it became a duty in +him not to sacrifice his own health in an attempt which, it was quite +evident, could obtain no success. + +Mr. Lamont's answer was, that without seeing the boy he could not so well +judge; and that, as his holidays were just commencing, he would come over +and spend some days with them at the Manse. Accordingly he came, and +remained a fortnight, during which time he was fully convinced that what +Mrs. Martin apprehended would infallibly be the case; that Mr. Martin's +health was already injured, and that, if a speedy remedy were not found, +in all probability it would end fatally. He therefore one morning, when +walking out with Mr. Martin, took the opportunity of some reference which +his father made to William's unhappy temper, to propose to undertake the +charge of him for the next twelve months. + +"I am well used to all kind of tempers," said he; "and though William has +great and alarming faults to combat, yet I am not without hope that I +shall be able to succeed in managing him better than you are doing. He +knows the mildness and affection of your nature, and most ungenerously +takes advantage of it to torment you, in hopes of wearing you out, and +making you, in the end, cease from opposing him. It will be quite a +different thing with me; he will find one uniform system of restraint and +punishment, in my school, practised towards all those who dare to act +otherwise than they are all directed. No violence or opposition on his +part will ever be able to make me yield in a single instance. One +stipulation, however, I must insist on making, that no excuse is to be +strong enough for taking him away from me, till I can with safety assure +you that I can trust him from under my own eye." Mr. Martin said he would +consider over the subject with his wife, and give him an answer next day; +telling him, at the same time, that he fully appreciated the kindness of +the offer, for he knew too well, that this poor unhappy boy was not a +pupil from whom Mr. Lamont was likely to derive much credit.--"He is, +however," added he, "a good scholar, and, as far as his lessons go, you +will never have any fault to find. It is his temper alone that is in +fault, at least I hope so; I do not think there is any thing wrong in the +heart." "I hope you are right," answered Mr. Lamont, "my dear Sir; by we +must lose no time, for, unless this temper be corrected, it will soon lead +to corrupt both heart and principles." + +Next morning, Mr. Martin informed Mr. Lamont that he found Mrs. Martin so +extremely anxious for removing William, that he would very thankfully +accept his offer. It was therefore settled that Mr. Lamont should remain a +few days longer at the Manse, and that Mrs. Martin would, during that +time, get her son ready to accompany him; which accordingly took place. + +William had now been at Kelso nearly a year, and his conduct, upon the +whole, was rather better than Mr. Lamont had expected; the latter, +however, put a decided negative upon his pupil's visit, either to the +Manse, or, what he more ardently desired, to his grandmother, during the +ensuing holidays; a determination which excited the greatest possible +indignation on the part of William. A day or two after Captain Elliott's +arrival, while they were sitting at breakfast, Nelly came in and said, +"Miss Helen, a little boy wishes to see you. He has a basket in his hand; +but he won't tell me what is his business. He says, he must see you your +own self." Helen rose and went out to speak to him, wondering who it could +be. When she got to the door, she found it was Tom Little. "Ah! Miss +Helen," said the boy, "you see I have kept my word, I have brought the +chicken I promised you; and mammy thought, as you had company at the +Manse, you would like two; so, here they are; and nice plump things +indeed." "I am very glad, Tom," said Helen, "to see you here, and very +much obliged to you for your chickens; but I won't kill them. I shall keep +them to lay eggs; for I am very fond of eggs, though I should not like to +give so much money for them as you say they do at the hall. Come in, and +let mamma see your pretty present." Tom stept forward, and stood at the +study door till Mrs. Martin called to him to come in. He then displayed +his chickens, and told the company that their mother laid more eggs than +any fowl in the dale; and that he was very glad to hear Miss Helen say she +would not kill them, as he thought it would be a pity, they were so very +beautiful. Helen then said, "How lucky it is, mamma, that Tom has come +down here to day; for I was thinking I must find time to ride up to his +father's cottage, with my little present this morning; and I have so much +to do, I did not well know how to manage it. Now Tom will take it, when he +returns, and save me the trouble!" She then went up stairs, and returned, +bringing a couple of frocks, of coarse woollen stuff, which she had made +herself, and a little jacket and trowsers, made out of an old coat of her +brother's which she presented to Tom, telling him that it was for him to +wear when he went to church. The frocks were for his two little sisters; +and Mrs. Martin added an old gown of her own, for his mother. + +Tom was in such an extacy of delight, that it was with great difficulty he +could be prevailed on to stay to eat some breakfast; though he owned he +had come away before his porridge was ready. Helen, however, insisted on +his going with her into the kitchen, and getting Nelly to supply his +wants. Whilst he was eating, Helen enquired after his father. "He is a +great deal better, Miss Helen, and begins now to walk about with the help +of a stick. Only think how kind Will Oliver has been, and John Telfer, +that was with you at the cottage. They came up the glen, last Monday +evening, and brought each of them a pair of nice warm worsted stockings, +for my father, of their own working. Was not that kind? And Will says +that, when I am big enough, he will take me to his herd, and teach me to +knit stockings, just as he had done John. I should like to be Will's herd +better than any other shepherd's in the dale; he is such a merry fellow, +and so good natured. He made me a whistle a little while ago, but I cannot +play on it so well as John does yet. Will says John is very clever, and +can do every thing well. I suppose that is with the Minister's teaching. +Don't you think it is?" Helen laughed; but she very much doubted whether +the Minister's teaching had much to do with John's playing on the whistle. +When she returned to the parlour, her mother said, "Now, my dear Helen, +you must go and pack up your little parcel, that we may be all ready for +our journey early to-morrow morning." + +"Your uncle and I are going in the stage to Kelso, as he wishes to see +your brother, and I am glad of an opportunity, too, my dear, of seeing +William." "Oh," said Helen, "how much I wish that poor William could be +with us; for when he was here, he was always speaking of uncle Elliott, +and what he would do when he came home." On saying these words, Helen left +the room. She soon returned, holding a frock in her hand. "See mamma," +said she, "I have trimmed up my frock with a piece of new ribbon. I think +it looks very neat. I am so glad that I did not buy a new dress, instead +of the frocks for the poor children. How happy they will be when Tom gets +home!" "My dear child," said her mother, "they will be happy, I have no +doubt, with your present; but I think you must feel much more so, from the +reflection that you have clothed them by your own self-denial. I have been +very much pleased with your whole conduct, for you have bought them what +is essential, and nothing more; and, at the same time, have tried to make +yourself neat, to please your good grandmother." "I am glad, mamma, I have +pleased you. I am sure I am a very happy girl;" and she kissed her mamma +as she said so. Two or three years before she would have cried, with the +same feelings she now had; but Helen was quite cured of shedding tears +upon every occasion, and she now only pressed her mamma closely round the +neck, and then ran off to pack up her parcel, and was heard singing all +the morning afterwards. + +In the evening, Mrs. Martin and Captain Elliot proceeded to Langholm, to +wait for the stage; and early the next morning, Mr. Martin, accompanied by +Helen on her pony, and a little boy to carry the parcel, left the Manse; +and, directing their route across the hills which separate Eskdale from +Ewesdale, reached the small village of Ewes in time for breakfast. There +was no inn here, but merely a small public house. Our travellers, however, +did not require to go thither for the clergyman having heard that they +intended coming that way, was upon the look out for them all the morning. +After breakfast, Helen again mounted, and continued talking on many +different subjects all the way to Moss Paul. The road runs along the +course of the Ewes, between a double range of mountains, quite green, and +covered with sheep; but there is very little variety in the scenery; and, +altogether, from scarcely a cottage being to be seen, it has a very +desolate appearance. Moss Paul, where they were obliged to stop, is one of +the poorest small inns that are to be met with in Scotland. The contrast +was so great from the richly wooded cheerful dale which Helen had always +lived in, that she told her father the very looking at those hills made +her melancholy; and she was sure, if Melrose was not more lively than Moss +Paul, her grandmamma had much better come and live in Eskdale altogether. +For her own part, she almost wished herself back again already. After an +hour's rest they again moved on; and, in a little time, the country began +to wear a more favourable appearance. They now descended into the dale, +watered by the river Tiviot; and passed by several gentlemen's country +houses, which, being seen from the road, added much to the beauty of the +view. Mr. Martin pointed out to Helen _Carlinrigg_, the place where, +John's song said, Johnnie Armstrong was executed. Soon afterwards, Helen +beginning to feel fatigued, her father said he thought they had better +stop at the next small inn they should come to, and rest till the +afternoon. They were to sleep at the town of Hawick, and he thought they +had plenty of time. Helen at last, with some difficulty, made out her +day's journey; and was very happy to find herself in a comfortable bed, at +Hawick. In the morning, Mr. Martin thought it best that she should rest +that day, and not proceed to Melrose till the next, as she was more +fatigued than he had expected. Mr. and Mrs. Murray, the clergyman and his +wife, did all they could to make the day pass pleasantly. Mrs. Murray +walked out with our travellers towards Wilton, to admire the banks of the +Tiviot, which are very beautiful. The country is fertile and rich, and the +view more extensive than any that Helen had ever seen. She thought it +pretty; but still it did not seem to her to equal her native Eskdale. Next +morning she and her father left Mr. Murray's early, and reached Melrose to +dinner. Nothing could equal Helen's surprise when she came in sight of the +Abbey. It is deservedly the most admired remain of gothic architecture in +Scotland, and has, indeed, been since celebrated by one of the first +living poets, in one of the most beautiful of his descriptive passages, +which Helen, long afterwards, copied into her memorandum book, as +recalling to her recollection a scene endeared to her, not only by its own +beauty, but by the happy days which she had spent with her beloved +grandmother. The old lady's house was almost close to this venerable pile; +and the window of the little room appropriated to Helen, commanded a view +in which she could distinguish all the striking parts of the building, so +picturesquely described in the _Lay of the last Minstrel_. + + The moon on the east oriel shone, + Through slender shafts of shapely stone, + By foliaged tracery combined; + Thou wouldst have thought, some fairy's hand, + 'Twixt poplars straight, the ozier wand, + In many a freakish knot had twined; + Then framed a spell, when the work was done, + And changed the willow-wreaths to stone. + + + + +CHAP. IX. + + +When Mrs. Martin and Captain Elliott arrived at Kelso, they went directly +to Mr. Lamont's. They were received in his study, by himself and his wife; +and William was immediately summoned to attend them. He was playing at +_golf_ (a game something resembling cricket) on the school green, and +came in glowing with health, and the exercise he had been taking; his +colour, perhaps, a little heightened by the pleasure he felt in seeing his +mother. Mr. Lamont, wishing to give him an agreeable surprise, had not +mentioned Captain Elliott. When William entered the room, his uncle was +perfectly astonished at his appearance. He was tall and proportionably +stout for his age; his features almost too regular and delicate for a boy; +with large sparkling eyes, which spoke the greatest delight and affection +for his mother. Altogether, Captain Elliott thought he had never seen so +fine a creature; and could not help conceiving, in his own mind, that what +had been told him of his nephew's disposition must have been greatly +exaggerated. + +When William had kissed his mother, almost a dozen times, he suddenly +turned round, and said, "but, where is my dear father? I thought he was +here also:" and, looking in his mother's face, with a transient blush, +"would he not even come and see me?" "My dear," answered his mother, "your +father will be here to-morrow, or next day; he is gone to Melrose, with +your sister. It would have been too far for her to ride all this long way +round, and so he will place her in safety first, and then join us here; +but you take no notice of this gentleman, who has kindly brought me to see +you." "I am sure," said William, "I am very much obliged to you, Sir, and +beg your pardon for being so rude as not to speak to you before; but, +really I was so delighted with seeing mamma, and thinking about papa, that +I did not remember there was any one else in the room." "Oh, your apology +quite gains my forgiveness, William; but now, that you have found me out, +let us shake hands and become friends. You have few warmer ones, I assure +you, than I am inclined to become: who do you think I am, that have come +so far to see you?" William looked some time at him. There was a +particular expression in Captain Elliot's face, when he smiled, which +strongly resembled that of his sister. William caught it, as he was +considering; and instantly sprung forward to him. "It is my own uncle +Elliot, I am sure." Charmed by such an artless, affectionate recognition, +his uncle pressed him to his breast with feelings of the warmest +affection; and from that moment an attachment, as strong as it was lasting +(for it was broken only by death) took a firm hold of both their minds. + +William, during the two years he had spent with his grandmother, had been +in the constant habit of listening to the praises of this her only son. He +was the best, the bravest of men; and there was no wonder that he should +have been the principal subject of conversation between the good old lady +and a grandson whom she so much wished to resemble him. It was, therefore, +the first object of William's ambition, to see this wonderful uncle; and +no sooner were his wishes accomplished, than he determined to leave no +means untried to be allowed never to quit him. + +He pretty well knew that both his parents would oppose his going to sea, +but he hoped, by a private application to his uncle, to get him round to +his side of the question; and, in short, he had resolved to gain his point +by some means or other. When Mr. Martin joined them at Kelso, he found +William and his uncle on the best terms possible. He was a very clever +boy, had read a great deal for his age, and, as he possessed a happy turn +for sketching from nature, he had drawn several of the beautiful scenes +near the junction of the Tweed and Tiviot. The venerable abbey of Kelso, +too, though not so light and elegant a structure as that of Melrose, had +also furnished exercise for his pencil; and he presented his uncle with a +very well executed drawing of this ancient pile. These little attentions, +together with the constant good humour and propriety of behaviour which +William was careful to maintain in the presence of a relation whom he so +much wished to please, did not fail of their intended effect. Captain +Elliott was absolutely charmed with his nephew, and was almost affronted +that neither father nor mother could be prevailed on to alter their +determination, of not taking William to Melrose. Mr. Lamont was decided in +his opinion; and therefore they justly thought, that, in fairness to him, +they ought not to yield. They however extended their stay at Kelso to a +day longer than was at first intended. + +That day William and his uncle set out on a walk by themselves, Mr. and +Mrs. Martin being engaged to pay some visits with Mr. and Mrs. Lamont. +They were no sooner out of the town, than William ventured to make his +wishes known to his uncle, of going to sea with him. Captain Elliott was +too much attached to his sister and her worthy husband, to listen a moment +to this proposal. He combated all his nephew's arguments with the greatest +possible gentleness. William, however, remained perfectly unconvinced; and +finding that he could make no impression upon his uncle by any arguments +he could use, he thought it best to pursue the conversation no further, +resolving in his own mind to gain his point in another way. Indeed, he +felt it politic to change the subject, as his passionate temper was within +a hair's breadth of displaying itself; and he was well aware that _that_ +would not tend to accelerate his wishes. He therefore began talking on +different subjects, and managed matters so well, that his uncle, who had +observed his heightened colour, and was prepared for a gust of passion, +was quite convinced he had now gained a command over the only failing he +had ever heard he possessed. When they returned home, Captain Elliott took +an opportunity of congratulating his parents on what he had observed, but +he did not mention the subject which had given him an opportunity of +noticing the improvement. + +On taking leave the next morning, his uncle shook hands with William, +saying he should expect him to be a constant correspondent. "Oh, +certainly," answered William; "but, that is well thought of--pray give me +your address in London, for I shall have plenty of time to write to you in +the vacation; and since I must remain here, it will be the greatest +amusement I can have."--"I am glad, then," answered Captain Elliott, "that +I thought of it; here is my address," giving him his card, "and here is +likewise something to buy paper and pens (slipping a guinea into his +hand). The oftener I hear from you the better I shall be pleased." + +After spending a very happy fortnight at Melrose, old Mrs. Elliott's +visitors were obliged to take their leave, Captain Elliott being to join +his ship by the middle of September. Helen found the journey home more +pleasant than her first excursion across the hills; but when she came in +sight of her native dale, she exclaimed "Oh, my dear papa, there is +nothing after all like our own dear home, in the whole world!" Her father +smiled, and said, "Long may you think so, my sweet child. Had I the power +of choosing for you, I should wish you never to leave it; but as that is +not the case, you should accustom your mind to contemplate the possibility +of a change, and always remember, that the foundation of happiness in this +world, is to reconcile our minds to the events which the great Author of +our being thinks fit to bring to pass, and endeavour to be contented in +whatever situation we may be placed." + +Capt. Elliott remained only a couple of days at the Manse; the parting was +a melancholy one. He expected to be sent to India, where he was sure to +remain at least six years. He had heard twice from William, since leaving +Kelso; and at his departure, he put a letter into Helen's hand directed +for her brother, which he desired her to be sure and forward by the next +day's post. "I promised him, poor fellow, that I would be sure to let him +hear from me the very day I left Eskdale, and I must keep my word." Then, +shaking his sister's hand, he added, "I prophecy that William will be both +an honour and a comfort to you yet, for all his trifling faults and +imperfections." + +About a week after Capt. Elliott had left the Manse, the family were +sitting at tea, conversing very comfortably together, when the study door +opened, and to their astonishment Mr. Lamont walked in. All expressed +their surprise at so unexpected a visitor; Mrs. Martin alone sat still, +her eyes fixed on Mr. Lamont's face, seeming to dread what she was to +hear. Mr. Lamont, however, spoke cheerfully, and after looking round the +room sat down, only saying a little private business required him to come +unexpectedly into Eskdale. Mrs. Martin was not satisfied; she remained +silent a few minutes, and then said, "Mr. Lamont, I know something has +happened: tell me at once what it is, I cannot be deceived; this state of +suspense is intolerable." "Madam, I find it is impossible to blind the +eyes of a mother so anxious and attached as you are; William has given me +a little uneasiness, but I hope there is no occasion for serious alarm." +He was proceeding when he perceived Mr. Martin almost gasping for breath; +he handed him a glass of water, and when Mr. Martin had drank it, he +waited about a minute, and then said, "Pray Mr. Lamont proceed, I am +prepared now to hear what you have to tell us." Mr. Lamont then began by +saying that, from the time they had parted from William at Kelso, he had +observed a most remarkable change in the boy. He no longer opposed any +thing he was desired to do, however disagreeable it might be to him; he +was never out of his place; his lessons were always attended to; in short, +he had flattered himself that an impression had been made on the boy's +mind which promised to be lasting. "About a week ago," continued Mr. +Lamont, "I observed him to be uncommonly grave, and once or twice he +complained of a head-ache, and asked leave to go to bed earlier than his +usual hour. Mrs. Lamont, upon one of these occasions, being anxious about +him, happened to go into his room to enquire how he was before she went to +bed. He told her the next morning he was much obliged to her for her +attention, but that she had awakened him by the light of her candle, and +he had not been able to sleep any more all night. Last Friday evening he +complained in the same way of his head, and went to bed, saying, as he +left the room, 'Pray, madam, don't awake me to-night if you please, for my +head aches more than usual.' Accordingly, when we went to bed, we did not +go into his room, but only in passing shut the door gently, observing, it +was odd he had left it open when he was so much afraid of noise. Next +morning, when the school assembled, William did not make his appearance. I +became alarmed lest his headache had increased, or been the forerunner of +some other complaint, and I therefore hastened in search of him; when, to +my great dismay, I found his room empty, and the bed evidently bearing the +appearance of never having been slept in. After a general search through +the house and the town, and making every possible inquiry of every +creature we could meet with, we heard from a man who had been fishing in +the Tiviot the evening before, that he had seen one of my scholars walking +quickly along the road to Edinburgh, with a small parcel in his hand, much +about the time when William pretended to be going to bed." Mr. Lamont went +on to inform the miserable parents, that, on this information, he had +traced William as far as the end of Princes Street, in Edinburgh, but +there he had lost him; and though both himself and one of the ushers had +continued their search for two days, they had not yet been able to get the +slightest intelligence of him; that he had then thought it his duty to +come himself to inform Mr. Martin, in order that they might consult +together what was best to be done. + + + + +CHAP. X. + + +When Mr. Lamont had made an end of his narration, Mrs. Martin (who had +borne up while he was speaking), seemed so overpowered as to be quite +unable to make any remarks; she sighed heavily, and Mr. Lamont thought she +would have fainted. Mr. Martin spoke to her, but she returned no answer; +at last, after using every means they could think of to get her to shed +tears, they became so alarmed that, though they by no means wished to let +William's disappearance be known, they thought it absolutely necessary to +send for Mr. Armstrong. Helen ran and called John (who was just come in +for his usual lesson) to go off directly to Langholm, as he was a quick +messenger, and could be trusted. + +When Mr. Armstrong arrived, he deemed it proper to have Mrs. Martin bled, +which being done, she seemed to take more notice, but still spoke not, +lying perfectly quiet, only sighing often. Her husband felt that to leave +her in that state was impossible; he was therefore obliged to trust to Mr. +Lamont's exertions to search for the wretched boy who had been the cause +of all this misery. The worthy schoolmaster accordingly left the Manse +early the following morning, by which time Mrs. Martin was in the height +of a brain fever, knowing no one, and screaming every instant for William. +Poor Helen now found the lessons which she had been early taught, of +subduing her feelings, were but too necessary to be put in practice. Her +father never quitted her mother's bed-side; and in all probability would +have fallen a sacrifice to the unremitting fatigue and anxiety he was +enduring, had not Helen, with persevering good sense and composure far +superior to her years, waited on him herself, watching every favourable +moment to bring him nourishment, and using all the little winning ways she +could think of or remember to have seen her mother employ when she thought +he required that sort of attention. + +A whole fortnight passed in this sort of way; Mrs. Martin's disease had in +some measure subsided, but it left her in such a state of exhaustion as to +give them very little hope of ultimately being able to save her life. Her +husband, worn out both with fatigue and misery, almost dreaded to hear her +able to ask a question, for fear that that question should be one which he +could not answer, for no accounts yet came of William. Helen, dear Helen, +was his only comfort; dreading, even more than her father, lest some fatal +accident had happened to her brother, for the innocency of her own mind +did not allow her to think for a moment that he had intentionally +inflicted this misery upon them all, she had nevertheless the courage to +conceal her apprehensions from her father, and kept continually cheering +him, by whispering that she was sure William would be heard of very soon. + +One evening, when almost despairing of being able to comfort him, as he +seemed almost ready to sink under his accumulated misfortunes, a thought +crossed her mind, and she caught her father's arm, saying; "My dear papa, +what if William has gone in search of uncle Elliott's ship?"--"My darling +comforter!" cried her father, starting from the chair in which he was +sitting, and effectually roused from the stupor in which he seemed sunk, +"that thought has never once occurred to me, and yet it appears by far the +most probable thing that has been suggested; but how can the unhappy boy +ever reach his uncle, without money, and without a guide?" said he, +despondingly. "Perhaps, papa," answered Helen, "William was not entirely +without money; for I know that grandmamma sent him a guinea on his +birthday, as an encouragement for the good account you brought her of his +behaviour, and to make up, in some degree, for his disappointment in not +coming to Melrose: and uncle Elliott gave me a guinea when he went--now I +think it very likely that he gave William the same, so that I doubt not he +must have at least two guineas; and perhaps he may have saved up some of +his usual pocket-money besides. It is therefore very probably, that he may +have had money enough to pay his passage up to London, or nearly so, for I +heard the housekeeper at the hall telling Mrs. Scott one day that it cost +her three guineas to come by the smack; perhaps they might take a little +boy for less." Mr. Martin, struck with the good sense of Helen's +reasoning, folded her to his heart, the tears streaming down his cheeks. +"Yes, my Helen, you are right, William has certainly gone to his uncle. +Whether he will succeed in arriving at his intended place of destination +in safety still remains a doubtful point, for there are many difficulties +in his way; at all events, my mind is greatly relieved, by having some +clue to his conduct. I will write to his uncle and Mr. Lamont directly; +the one will make every enquiry in London, the other may perhaps pick up +some information at Leith, whither in all probability he went; Mr. Lamont +at least may learn what ships sailed about that time. Do you sit down here +by your mother, and watch her, while I go and write my letters, for not an +instant must be lost." + +Helen sat down as her father directed, her mind dwelling on the +possibility that William was really gone to her uncle. In thinking thus, +she shuddered, and blamed herself for having so wicked a thought as to +suppose her brother could have been guilty of premeditated cruelty to such +indulgent parents as they were blessed with. Engrossed with her own +thoughts, she was startled by hearing her mother, in a weak low voice, +pronounce her name; she listed, and it was again repeated. It was the +first time she had spoken distinctly from the commencement of her illness. +Helen drew aside the curtain, and perceived that her dear mother knew her. +Mr. Armstrong had warned her father, in Helen's hearing, to be extremely +careful, whenever this should happen, not to allow her to speak more than +could be helped, and to keep the room as still and quiet as possible; she +therefore stooped down and kissed her cheek, and then was going to close +the curtain. Her mother looked anxious, and whispered, "Not yet." Helen +thought she said "your father." Helen immediately answered, "He is +writing, mamma, down stairs; he is quite well." Her mother then +endeavoured to articulate a "William." This was a trying moment for the +poor girl; she scarcely knew how to act; but seeing her mother's eyes +watching her, she said, "We hope with uncle Elliott; but, mamma, I must +not speak." She had said these words so low, that her mother had only +heard the sound of her brother's name, and therefore believed Helen had +said William was really with him; she raised her eyes to heaven, and +seemed inwardly to thank God: no more was said, and she remained quite +quiet. From that moment it was evident that she was gaining strength, but +so slowly as to be scarcely perceptible. Her sweet little girl now became +almost her only nurse; none administered her medicines, none shook her +pillows, none understood her looks so well and so quickly as Helen. Her +father, who was constantly in the room with them, watched his darling's +attention with the most lively feeling of delight, and thanked God he was +the father of such a child. + +Two days after Mr. Martin had written to Capt. Elliott, Helen came up into +her mother's room in the morning. She opened the door very gently, and +made a sign for her father to go down stairs; she then sat down by her +mother, and endeavoured to compose herself. This was no easy task, but she +felt it was necessary, therefore she had the resolution to sit quietly for +nearly half an hour, without ever showing the slightest impatience, though +she knew there was not only a letter from her uncle below in the parlour, +but likewise, she firmly believed, one from William himself. It was a +great trial of patience for a girl little more than eleven years old; but +Helen's mind was so habituated to be ruled by reflection and duty, that +she acted entirely as she thought her mother would have done under similar +circumstances. + +Her father at last came up stairs; he seemed very much agitated, and, as +if afraid to speak he pointed to Helen to leave the room. She almost flew +down stairs into the study, where lay the two letters on the table, which +her father had placed there for her inspection, a confidence she had well +earned by her dutiful and affectionate conduct. + +Capt. Elliott informed Mr. Martin, that on calling at his agent's one +morning, he was told that a boy had been enquiring for him the day before, +and that they had given him his address on board the _Amazon_ frigate, at +Chatham. Upon asking still further, he was told that the boy was a genteel +good-looking lad, and one of the clerks remarked that he spoke with the +Scottish accent. "I know not," continued he, "what put it into my head, +but William rose to my thoughts. I believed it next to impossible that it +could be he, yet I felt a sort of uneasiness, which induced me to return +to Chatham that night, contrary to my intention in the morning. On going +on board, I made enquiry whether a lad of that description had been there. +The lieutenant, who commanded in my absence, said, 'Yes, he has been here, +Sir, but he would neither wait for your arrival nor give his name, but +promised to call again to-morrow morning.' I really could not sleep for +anxiety that night, as the description which I received from all who saw +him almost confirmed my suspicions. I gave orders to be informed the +moment he came next day; and accordingly, about nine o'clock in the +morning I was told he was come alongside. I desired he might be sent into +my cabin, and in a few minutes William himself stood before me." + +"I begged to know what was his business with me, treating him exactly as I +would have done a perfect stranger. My young gentleman was rather +confounded with this reception at first, but he gradually took courage, +and informed me he had made up his mind and nothing would alter his +determination of going to sea; that if I was resolved not to receive him, +nor to allow him to remain in my ship, he could not insist on it, but he +would certainly go on board another, and he had no doubt he would find +other captains who would not reject him. I told him that his conduct had +been so extremely cruel and unfeeling, that it would be serving him as he +richly merited to throw him off, and let him provide for himself in any +way he chose, and that if he alone were considered I would certainly do +so; but as his parents were too dear to my heart to allow me to act in +this manner, the only thing I felt I could do was to write to you +information of what had passed, and be entirely regulated by your answer +in what way he should be disposed of. He has appeared extremely sulky. I +am told, ever since (for he is not permitted to enter my company), but you +may be quite satisfied I take good care he shall not escape." Capt. +Elliott then went on to say that, if he might offer any advice on the +subject, he thought it might perhaps be best to yield to the boy's wishes +of making the sea his profession; nothing else would satisfy him, and in +all probability he would do better in that line than he ever could now do +ashore. He then finished by earnestly desiring an answer as soon as +possible, and by giving his sister every assurance of his care and +affection for the boy; "at the same time," he added, "I must break this +_disobedient_ spirit, or he will do no good any where, and it appears to +me that the discipline of a ship is as good a remedy for bad temper as any +other that can be found." + +Helen shed many tears over this long letter. "Poor William," said she +aloud, "he little knows how nearly he has been the death of mamma, and how +much he has made us all suffer. Oh! if papa do let him go with my uncle, +how much I wish he may be allowed to come home and see us all before he +sails; I am sure he can never be happy to go away for six whole years +without having one kiss of forgiveness from his dear parents." She then +took up the other letter, it was indeed from William; he told his father +that he hoped he would forgive him, but that he had quite resolved to +chuse the sea for his profession; that, having done, so, he despaired of +being able to procure either his or his mother's consent to it, as he had +accidentally overheard a conversation some time before, in which they both +declared that nothing could induce them to agree to such a thing. He +therefore thought it the best and surest way to proceed as he had done, +knowing that, if he lost this opportunity, he would most probably have to +go entirely with strangers, which he supposed would be still more +disagreeable to them than his being with his uncle. He had gone to Leith, +and got on board one of the smacks, which was just sailing as he got to +the pier; and finding that his funds did not allow him to be a cabin +passenger, he had gone into the steerage; in short, he had only one +sixpence left by the time he saw his uncle. He finished by imploring their +forgiveness, promising that if they would in this instance gratify him, he +would never again give them the least reason to complain of him. + +Helen folded up the letters, and sat for a few minutes considering on +their contents. Her own good sense and feelings of _obedience_ to her +parents pointed out to her in how very improper a style her brother wrote; +but her love and affection for William made her try to excuse him. "Boys +are so different from girls!" thought she, "William has been away so much, +too, from home; and besides, he must chose a profession, and it would be +hard not to leave him at liberty to be what he thinks himself fit for." + +In the evening of this day Mrs. Martin felt herself better, and, for the +first time since her illness, spoke to her husband on the subject of +William. Mr. Martin told her he was with her brother, and likewise that he +had heard from himself; he then stated what Captain Elliott had said as to +William's being allowed to remain with him, but owned he was very averse +to this plan. Mrs. Martin answered very calmly: "My dear husband, as far +as my judgment goes, I perfectly agree with my brother. I would not +certainly have chosen that William should be a sailor if I could have +prevented it; but, as he has acted, I think it is the best thing we can +now do. He will be under my dear brother's care; and I shall now," +continued she, looking at her husband with tenderness, "die in peace on +his account, convinced that Elliott will exert every means to correct and +improve my poor boy, the last legacy of a dying sister." Mr. Martin, quite +alarmed by this address, asked her if she felt herself worse, and rose to +send for Mr. Armstrong. She laid her hand gently on his arm; "My dearest +love," said she, "I am not worse; but I own I have been watching for an +opportunity of preparing your mind for what I believe myself to be +inevitable; I do not say I shall die immediately, yet I am convinced my +constitution is so shattered, that a very short time will now be allowed +me to prepare for my awful change. I have thought that, by letting you +know what my own opinion is, your mind would be better able to bear the +stroke when it happens than if it came upon you suddenly; beside, my +beloved husband, I have much to say to you with regard to Helen. At +present, I must have done, my strength will not permit me to continue the +conversation; only write, my dearest love, to my brother, and tell him I +consign my son entirely to his management, and I trust he will endeavour +to guard his father from all future anxiety on his account; he has cost +him quite enough already." The last words were spoken so low, that they +were evidently not meant for her husband's ear. + +He had remained quite motionless all the time she was speaking. When she +ceased, he became almost convulsed with agony for some minutes; but a +violent shower of tears relieved him, and most probably saved either his +reason or his life, or indeed perhaps both. Helen's coming into the room +showed him the necessity of composure; and hastily passing her, saying he +must send answers to his letters, he left the room and shut himself up in +his study, there to implore compassion and resignation from a being, who +is never deaf to the petitions of the humble and sincere believer. + +A few days showed plainly that Mrs. Martin knew her own situation but too +well; she appeared gradually, though slowly sinking. One evening, she +asked her husband to raise her up a little; and then, desiring Helen to +bring her pen and ink, she insisted on being allowed to write a few lines. +"I shall write very little," said she, "but it is a duty that must not be +longer delayed." She then wrote what appeared to be only a short note, +which she sealed, and addressed to William; and putting it into her +husband's hand said, "send this, my love, when all is over, not before. It +may comfort him, poor fellow; he will require comfort then." + +Mr. Martin now felt it his duty to inform his dear Helen, of the state her +mother was really in, but it was some time before he could gain sufficient +courage to break it to her. One evening, however, seeing his wife worse +than usual, he was apprehensive that, should her death take place while +Helen was unprepared, it might have fatal effects upon the poor girl's +health. He therefore followed her into her room, when she went to prepare +for bed, and there in the gentlest manner informed her of the truth. Helen +at first was in such a state of violent grief, that she could listen to +nothing her father said, and indeed for some hours was utterly incapable +either of reasoning or exertion; but at last, lifting up her head, and +seeing her poor father, pale and exhausted, leaning over her, she started +up, and throwing herself into his arms, cried "Forgive me, my dearest +father, for being so selfish! I will indulge in this almost criminal +conduct no longer. Leave me for a few minutes; you may trust me; I will +then join you, and endeavour to perform my duty, both in attending the +last moments of my precious mother, and in being a comfort, not a burthen, +to my equally dear father." Mr. Martin thought it best to comply with her +request, and retired to try and subdue his own feelings, that he might be +able to attend to his wife. + +In half an hour Helen and her father were at Mrs. Martin's bedside; she +smiled faintly when she perceived them. Holding out her hand, she thus +addressed her husband: "My dear, I wish much to see my mother; pray write +for her, she will, I am sure, gratify me." Mr. Martin immediately left the +room, to send off a messenger to Melrose. Mrs. Martin then took hold of +Helen's hand, and said, "My dearest girl, I wish to say a few words to +you, but it must be when you are composed enough to listen to me. I have +endeavoured, both by precept and example, to fortify your mind; and you +will not, I trust, now disappoint my hopes, of having made you capable of +overcoming your feelings for the sake of those most dear to you." + +Helen, whose heart was almost bursting, pressed her mother's hand. "Give +me a few moments, mamma, and then I will attend to all you have to say. I +will not occasion you an uneasy thought, if I can help it; you shall be +convinced, that your lessons have not been thrown away." She then retired +to the window, and in about five minutes returned to her mother with her +features perfectly composed, and sitting down, said, "Now, mamma, if you +wish to speak to me, I am ready." Her mother made no comments, but +immediately began by saying, it was her ardent desire that she might be +able to prevail with Mrs. Elliott to give up her house at Melrose, and +come and live at the Manse. "She, my dear girl, will best supply my place, +both to you and your dear father. At present, my love, you are too young +to take the charge of the family. My mother is still active, and loves you +both with the truest affection. Should I be so fortunate as to succeed in +settling this plan, I shall be comparatively easy; but you must promise +me, my dear, the most perfect obedience to her wishes and directions in +every particular, even though they may appear to you to differ from what +you have been accustomed to receive from me; and if it please God, my +child, you must likewise promise to supply my place to her in her old age. +I need not, my dear, desire your attention and obedience to your father; +on that point I am easy. Your whole conduct through life, and more +particularly during my long protracted illness, has convinced me that I +have nothing to fear there, and it would be only harassing you to say a +word on the subject; but there is one more point that I must mention, I +mean your feelings towards your brother. Never, my own love, allow +yourself to dwell a single moment on conduct which may appear to have +shortened my life: I have forgiven him from my heart, and left him a +mother's blessing. I make it my last request to you, that you never will +either evince by your behaviour, or harbour in your inmost thoughts, the +slightest resentment towards him. And now, my love," continued she, +preventing Helen from speaking, "I have only to add my advice as to your +own personal conduct. In all circumstances be guided by your father's +wishes and opinions, at least as long as it pleases Providence to spare +him to you; and never, my beloved girl, separate from him or your +grandmother, while they require your dutiful attention." + +Helen now, in a quiet composed voice, went over every circumstance her +mother had enumerated, and added a sacred promise never to disobey her +last commands, in thought or deed. When she had so done, her mother, +clasping her in her arms, gave her in a solemn manner that most precious +of all gifts to a dutiful child, a dying mother's blessing. She then asked +for a little jelly; and, on her husband's coming into the room, advised +Helen to take a turn in the garden and recruit herself by getting a little +fresh air. She obeyed, and after a shower of tears became composed enough +to return to her mournful duties within doors. + +Mrs. Elliott arrived the next day, when Mrs. Martin had the satisfaction +of gaining her consent to give up her house at Melrose, and come to live +at the Manse. Mr. Martin assured her that she should ever be considered by +him as his own mother. His wife joined their hands, exclaiming, "My work +is finished in this world, I have now only to look forward to another and +a better." Her work in this world did indeed seem finished. The next day, +without any apparent change for the worse, as her mother and Helen were +sitting by the bed-side, and her kind anxious husband was supporting her +in his arms, she laid her head on his shoulder and seemed to fall asleep: +it was some minutes before he was aware that she was gone for ever. + +Thus perished one of the best and most exemplary of mothers, entirely from +anxious solicitude about a son, who, in spite of all admonition and +remonstrance, had allowed the growth and practice of _disobedience_ for +several years to embitter his kind parents' lives; and whose headstrong +violence and self-will at last brought the being whom he most loved on +earth to a premature grave! + + + + +CHAP. XI. + + +For some days after this melancholy event had taken place, the family, and +indeed all the inhabitants of the dale, were in the utmost state of +distress. Mrs. Martin had been universally beloved by all ranks in the +neighbourhood of her residence; and there was not a single individual for +ten miles round, that did not, in some way or other, show a sympathy in +the minister's affliction. + +Helen struggled with her feelings; and this exertion was of infinite +service both to herself and her father, who, struck by seeing so much +fortitude in so young a girl, felt it his duty to encourage her by +example, at least in her presence; and Helen, aware of this, took good +care to be with him continually. + +Her grandmother was perfectly astonished at her conduct; and took every +opportunity of praising her when they were alone. "My Helen," would she +say, "you will be the means, through the blessing of God, of saving your +father's life. I really feared for him for the first week or two; but he +begins now to look more like himself, and I think, by a continuance of the +same attention and unobtrusive kindness, you will in time reconcile him in +some degree to his loss, and bring him again into his former habits of +employment and usefulness." + +On one of these occasions, Helen caught her grandmother's hand, saying +"Hush! no more, dear madam; I cannot hear praise on this subject. I am +only endeavouring to follow the precepts and example of the best and most +beloved of mothers. Her advice, and the solemn promise I gave her a few +hours before her death, are never out of my mind; but it is a subject too +sacred for me to bear hearing it talked of;" and straining her clasped +hands across her chest, she added solemnly, "No! that I cannot do." Her +grandmother folded her to her breast, saying, "My Helen, pardon me, I will +never distress you on this subject again; we now perfectly understand each +other." + +Helen for many months continued the same mild, quiet, but unceasing +attention to her father; who at length had acquired composure, and even +began to smile at his daughter's little sallies of humour. She had became +his pupil in drawing, and this tempted him to resume their usual walks and +rides when the weather would permit, so that by the end of the summer, +content, and even cheerfulness, had in some degree again appeared at the +Manse. Helen, however could never bring her mind to mention her mother's +name to any one but her father; and only to him, from observing that it +would deprive him of a great enjoyment, which he evidently had, in talking +of her and her virtues. + +William had sailed before he heard of his mother's death. For the present, +therefore, he had been spared the punishment of his disobedience; but Mr. +Martin had written both to him and his uncle, and inclosed his mother's +last legacy. Helen likewise had thought it her duty to write to William, +and assure him how kindly and affectionately her mother had spoken of him +before her death, and how much she wished to impress on both their minds +love and confidence in each other. She then entreated him to write soon, +and often, as their father was not in a state to bear much anxiety; she +durst not say a word about her grandmother, for the old lady had +positively refused to allow her name to be mentioned to him, and it +evidently gave her pain whenever she heard Helen and her father conversing +about him. + +At this time, Mrs. Scott, the gardener's wife at Craigie Hall, was +obliged, by the sudden illness of her father, to go to Edinburgh. Her +husband was to accompany her, and leave her there if necessary, but they +knew not exactly what to do with little Marion. Mr. Martin and Helen +happening to call in one of their daily walks, he asked them to send +Marion to the Manse. "She will be much better with us, Mrs. Scott, than +being left here; and I am sure my daughter will take care to make her +attend to all that she has learnt from you during your absence." Helen, +also, was quite pleased with the plan, and pressed Mrs. Scott to agree to +it. "I am sure, Sir," said Mr. Scott, "my wife can have no objection, +unless it be the thought of giving you and Miss Helen trouble: but Marion +is a good little girl, and will trouble you as little as possible; and +therefore, as you are kind enough to ask her, Sir, I really think we ought +to accept the offer; the advantage of being near so good a daughter, and +seeing how she conducts herself, may be of use to her all her life." +Accordingly, the next day Marion was brought down to the Manse by her +father; and John was not a little surprised and pleased to find her +established there when he came in the evening. Marion was but a short +while under Helen's care, when her grandmother perceived she was of the +greatest use, both to her health and spirits; she was a tractable child, +with a very feeling heart. She had heard from her parents the continued +praises of Miss Martin's conduct, from the time of her mother's death, and +Marion fancied her the first of human beings; she therefore had the +greatest ambition to please her. She watched even her looks to anticipate +which she thought might be her wishes, and if ever a cloud of sorrow came +over Helen's face, Marion was sure, by some little winning attention, to +endeavour to direct her thoughts into a different channel. She remained at +the Manse nearly three months, and returned home, to the great regret of +all the family; from that time, however, she was a constant visitor, and a +sincere attachment took root between her and Helen, which has lasted all +their lives. + +Very little change took place in the dale after this, for the space of +several years. Mr. Martin had in some degree recovered his health and +spirits; but a shock had been given to his nerves, which rendered him more +delicate, and requiring more care than he did before; and it was not +likely, Mr. Armstrong said, that he would ever be otherwise. Mrs. Elliott +still enjoyed good health, though from rheumatism she was obliged to live +more within doors. Helen was their comfort and support; she was now fast +approaching womanhood, and never was there a more amiable creature; her +dear mother's lessons and instructions had _indeed_ not been thrown away. +She had unfortunately known sorrow in early youth; but it had acted upon +her for good, in teaching her the proper regulation of her mind and she +now felt the comfort of having done so, by being the friend and confident +both of her father and grandmother. + +John had gone on under Will the shepherd, performing his duty as a servant +in the day, and improving his mind with Mr. Martin in the evening; for +though he had learned all that was necessary for him to know, yet Helen +encouraged his constant attendance in the study, as she thought it amused +her father's mind. John was now becoming a stout lad, almost too big for +the hills, and on some occasion, when Mr. Martin happened to mention that +he thought he must begin to consider whether he meant to be a shepherd all +his life, John answered directly, "No, Sir, not if I can help it;" but +recollecting himself immediately, he added, "in that as in every thing +else, I feel it is my duty to be regulated by your advice. I certainly +have formed a wish to see a little more of the world, and if I could go +into the service of some gentleman who would have patience with my +awkwardness, I think I should prefer that, at least for a few years, to +settling here immediately for life. I have wished to speak to you, Sir, +upon this subject, as my time is out next summer with Mr. Laurie; but if +you think I am wrong, I will give up all thoughts of leaving the dale, and +hire myself out as a shepherd. I have no doubt any of the farmers around +will engage me, as I am well known among the hills; and Will's herd-boys +are always preferred, as he takes so much pains to teach us our duty." Mr. +Martin replied, "My dear John, I am rather unprepared to give you an +answer; but I will think of the subject, and talk it over with you before +your time is out with Mr. Laurie. You are a good lad, and will, I am sure, +be guided by reason." + +The day after this conversation took place a letter arrived from Capt. +Elliott, saying that he was safely arrived in England; that he was now at +Portsmouth, and he hoped in a very few weeks to be in Eskdale. He gave a +most flattering account of William, who was now all that his warmest +friends could wish. His poor mother's death had had a most astonishing +effect upon his whole conduct. When he first received the sad tidings, he +was so affected, that his uncle feared for his reason, and could scarcely +ever trust him out of sight; but at length he became calm and composed, +and from that time was never seen, even in a single instance, out of +humour. For the first two years this appeared to cost him great mental +exertion, his colour often rising when any thing displeased him; but he +always on those occasions left the cabin, or retired to a corner away from +every one, and on his joining the company again appeared with a placid +countenance. Now all appearance of passion, or any thing approaching to +it, had entirely vanished; his uncle entreated that his father, for his +own sake, would allow him to come down with him to the dale, as he was +quite sure he would be delighted to witness so complete a reformation. + +Mr. Martin immediately answered this letter, by requesting William to come +to him as soon as he could be spared from the duties of his ship. As Capt. +Elliott found he should be detained in town longer than he at first +expected, he thought it cruel to keep William from going to his father a +day longer than was necessary; he therefore despatched him off by the +mail, about a week after he had heard from Mr. Martin. + +As soon as this news had reached the Manse, both Helen and her father felt +the greatest anxiety; wishing, yet fearing to see one who would recall so +many bitter thoughts to their minds. The having a few days to prepare +themselves for this meeting was of great service to them: for, long before +the time of his arrival was come, the delight of once more seeing a being +so beloved had overcome in their minds all unpleasant reflections. Not so +with Mrs. Elliott. When his arrival in England was first mentioned to her +she made no remark, not even when it was told her that he was coming down +with her son; but, as soon as she understood that he was coming alone, she +informed Helen she was determined to go away before he arrived, and would +take that time for paying a long promised visit to some friends at +Melrose. Helen was absolutely in despair when she heard this. Her +grandmother had been very far from well for some time, and was in her +opinion quite unable to take such a journey; she therefore used every +argument she could think of herself, being very unwilling to let her +father know any thing of the matter if she could possibly help it, but all +was in vain. She was therefore obliged, at last, to tell him what was her +grandmother's intention. Mr. Martin was excessively distressed. He joined +Helen in her entreaties, representing, in the mildest way, the great +necessity we all have for forgiveness from our heavenly father, and that +therefore it becomes a first-rate duty to forgive those who injure us. +Poor William, now that he was sensible of his former bad conduct, was in +fact an object rather of pity than of dislike; since in all probability he +would never in this life be able to forgive himself. All their arguments +were however vain, till Helen said, "Well, my dear grandmother, since you +really are determined to act in this cruel manner, it must deprive me of +the pleasure of enjoying my brother's society whilst he is here; for, in +the state of your health, I consider my self bound, both by affection and +the solemn promise I gave my dearest mother on her death-bed, never to +separate from you while you require any assistance; and I never will, +however much it may cost me. My father will receive William, and I hope +will explain to him the great sacrifice I am taking in not remaining to +welcome him; I have no doubt my brother will come and see me at the inn at +Melrose; for I know not how I could bear to be entirely deprived of seeing +an object, endeared to me, both by natural affection, and by the strong +injunctions of one whom, I trust, I have never yet intentionally +disobeyed."--"You are right, my dearest girl," said her father, "your +grandmother must not be permitted to go alone in the present state of her +health. It is a great sacrifice we must all make to part at this time; but +to you, my sweet child, it is even of more importance than to any of us, +as it must in a great degree prevent that intimacy and friendship taking +place with your brother, which I think of essential consequence to the +happiness of you both, and which you may not have another opportunity of +forming for many years; but we must act (according to our best judgment) +up to our duty, however much that duty may be unpleasant to us." Mrs. +Elliott said she would on no account agree to this arrangement; but +finding that nothing could shake Helen's resolution, she then proposed +going only into Langholm, where she thought she might easily procure +lodgings. "I can, I am sure," said she, "get Marion Scott to come and be +with me, when you are in the Manse; and by this plan you can both see me +every day. And besides, Mrs. Armstrong will then be near me, if any thing +should be the matter. Will you, my dear son, agree to this plan? I cannot, +indeed I cannot see William and live," added she, in great agitation: "at +least I feel quite unable to bring my mind to it: I bear him no ill will; +on the contrary, I shall ever be thankful to God for his reformation and +prosperity, but I feel I was myself greatly to blame in my conduct towards +him whilst under my charge; and to see him now would bring the +recollection of my own culpability so strongly to my mind, that I am +persuaded my life would fall a sacrifice to the acuteness of my feelings." +Mr. Martin and Helen now thought it improper to press her further upon the +subject; but they agreed that it would be much more satisfactory to them +to adopt the plan of going into Langholm, than that at the present season +(for it was now December) she should take so long a journey as Melrose. +Helen proposed speaking to Mr. Armstrong on the subject who, as he was an +unmarried man and had a good house, she did not doubt, for the few weeks +her grandmother might require it, would offer to receive her at his own +home. + +Mr. Martin liked the idea very much, and said he would walk into Langholm +and endeavour to arrange something immediately, as they had very little +time, William being expected in the course of two days. Helen in the mean +time got her pony and rode up to Mr. Scott's, to make her request +concerning Marion. She felt that if she could succeed in this her mind +would be quite at ease, as Marion was extremely handy and attentive, and +what was of equal importance, a great favourite of Mrs. Elliott's; she +might therefore with safety and satisfaction to herself be able to be a +great deal at the Manse, without feeling any anxiety at leaving her +grandmother. Mrs. Scott cheerfully agreed to her request. "I am sure, Miss +Helen," said she, "any thing that Marion can ever be able to do for you or +your worthy father she will have the greatest pleasure in doing; and I +cannot, my dear miss, wonder much at the old lady's disliking to meet her +grandson. Being a mother myself," continued she, looking at Marion with +affection, "I do not think I could ever bear to see any one who, however +innocently, occasioned the loss of my child. Oh, no! (shuddering at the +bare thought of it). I am sure I could not." "We must and ought to forget +and forgive, Mrs. Scott," answered Helen. "Poor William was but a boy when +he brought so much distress upon us; but he is quite an altered character +now I do assure you, and I am certain would not give any of us a minute's +uneasiness."--"I am rejoiced to hear you say so; the sight of him will +then be a cordial and a blessing to our dear and esteemed friend the +minister; pardon my presumption in styling him so, but a friend in the +truest sense of the word he is to us, and indeed to all that are in the +dale." Helen now wished her good morning, she having promised to send +Marion down in the evening. "I shall send John up early," said Helen, +"that he may carry her parcel, and take care of her, for it gets soon dark +at this time of the year."--"That will do nicely," said Mrs. Scott; "I was +just thinking how unlucky it was her father was not at home to-day; he is +gone down as far as Canonby this morning, and it will be late before he +returns." + +Mr. Martin had settled with Mr. Armstrong, that Mrs. Elliott and Marion +were to be his visitors, as he would not for a moment hear of their going +anywhere else; and Mrs. Elliott, when informed of the arrangements, +expressed herself perfectly satisfied. "I am glad it has happened, my +dear," said she to Helen, "that Mr. Armstrong can take me into his own +house, for now you and your dear father will feel satisfied that I am +quite comfortable. It has given me the greatest distress that I have been +obliged to vex you both as I have done, but you must pardon an old woman, +who has not strength now left, either of body or mind, to make the +exertion that would have been necessary to have acted otherwise. Had I +attempted it, I think it would have brought on you more serious evils than +the little inconvenience of my changing my residence for a few weeks." + +The following morning, a chaise, which Mr. Martin had ordered from +Langholm, arrived to carry Mrs. Elliott and Marion to Mr. Armstrong's. +Helen went along with them, and having stayed to see them safely settled, +and all her grandmother's little comforts placed around her, she returned +home to her dear father, well knowing that he required her society at that +moment even more than the old lady. + + + + +CHAP. XII. + + +About six o'clock in the evening, William arrived, with a countenance, oh, +how unlike that which we formerly described, when he entered Mr. Lamont's +parlour to meet his dear mother and uncle! Instead of that elastic step +which expresses health and happiness, instead of the sparkling eye and +rosy cheek which he possessed when they last parted with him, Helen, who +had flown out on the green to meet him, as much to give her father time to +compose himself as to show her brother her eagerness to see him, beheld by +the light which John held up a dark sun-burnt young man, standing as if he +was trying to gain courage to come forward, with his arms folded and his +eyes fixed on the ground. On hearing Helen's voice, he started forward and +caught her in his arms, "My own sister! this is kind indeed. I do not +deserve this reception; but you was ever kind and good from your earliest +days. Where is my father? Oh!" said he, convulsively, "how can I enter +that door? how can I see my much-injured parent?" "My dearest brother," +said Helen, recalled in a moment to her self-possession, "for that +parent's sake endeavour to be composed. Let this much-desired meeting be +conducted with as little agitation as you can possibly give him. He is not +able to endure violent emotion, not even suspense; let me therefore hasten +you into his presence. You will find him all goodness and affection +towards a so-long absent son." Thus saying, she hurried him into the +study, and before he had time to know almost where he was, he found +himself clasped to his father's heart. He soon disengaged himself, and +falling on his knees covering his face with his hands, implored his father +would pronounce his forgiveness and blessing before he would dare to look +him in the face. Mr. Martin immediately, in a most emphatic way, and with +much more composure than his daughter believed he could command, +pronounced both; and having done so held out his hand, saying, "Now, my +dear boy, for my sake as well as your own, and as you value the blessing +you have just received, let no reference to past circumstances ever be +made during your short visit here. We must now endeavour to be happy, and +enjoy the blessing which is granted to us by a kind Providence, of once +more meeting together, without embittering our present hours by +reflections which can answer no good purpose, and only tend to make us +wretched." So saying, he added, cheerfully, "look at your sister, William; +she is much grown since you saw her, and I shall be quite disappointed if +you do not admire her."--"No fear, my dearest father, that I shall fail +either in admiration or love to such a sister," answered William; "I owe +her too much gratitude not to be prepared to find her little short of +perfection; she has been," continued he, kissing her, "my comforter and +adviser for the last six years; and I am sure her correspondence with me +during that time deserves to be published, to show sisters how to treat +with effect a brother who required admonition coupled with tenderness." +They now sat down to tea; and upon the whole spent a more cheerful evening +than Helen had dared to hope. + +William was still extremely handsome: his complexion had suffered by +exposure to the sea-air and the heat of the climate he had been in, but +this circumstance, in his sister's eyes, seemed to have improved him, by +giving him a more manly appearance than his years would otherwise have +admitted of, as he was now barely twenty. His large sparkling eyes, which +formerly used to flash at every sudden turn of temper, where now softened +down to a mild, placid expression, occasionally brightened by good humour +and warm feelings to those around him, particularly to his sister, whom +each succeeding day rendered more dear to him; but the common expression +of his face was decidedly mournful, and Helen saw plainly, that his +lamented mother was never for one moment absent from his mind. + +Captain Elliott arrived about ten days after William. He was inexpressibly +surprised to find his mother not at the Manse. "Where is my mother," +exclaimed he, as he looked round, "that she does not come to welcome her +long absent son? is she ill?" asked he, turning to Helen. "No, my dear +brother," answered Mr. Martin, "I will explain to you the reason of her +absence when we are alone; you will see her soon." So saying, he led him +into the next room to inform him where she was; for Helen had entreated +that her brother might be spared the agony of knowing she had refused to +see him. As she had never been mentioned, by her own particular desire, in +any of their letters, further than that she continued well, he had not an +idea but that she remained at Melrose, and he felt rather surprised that +his father had not proposed his going over to see her; but he satisfied +himself that he was waiting till his uncle arrived, and therefore asked to +questions about it. When his father and uncle retired, he looked at Helen, +and said, "My dear sister, what is this secret about our grandmother? How +came my uncle to fancy she was here? Has she left you lately?" Helen was +much distressed, but with infinite presence of mind answered, "My brother +heard that my father did not choose to explain before him my uncle's +questions; therefore, I am sure, he will not press me to say any thing my +father did not wish known. All I can tell you is, that our good +grandmother is well, and that she was here lately, but is now gone." +William remained silent a few moments; then, taking his sister's hand, +said, "My grandmother will not see the wretched cause of so much sorrow; +she has not forgiven me; I see and understand the whole now. I am sure I +do not blame her, poor dear woman; she may, perhaps, be brought to forgive +me in time, but it is what I never can hope or even wish to do myself." +Helen was silent; she could not deny that what her brother suspected was +indeed the truth, but she would not confirm it, by which means he remained +in ignorance of the near residence of Mrs. Elliott. Helen and her uncle +spent usually the greatest part of the day at Langholm, whilst Mr. Martin, +delighted with his son, seldom ever separated from him till their return. +William had been made by his uncle to attend to his studies every moment +he could be spared from his duty in the ship, and being naturally clever, +and in fact fond of his book, had gained considerable information on most +subjects. + +The father and son now seemed exactly formed for giving pleasure and +delight to each other; and it plainly appeared to Captain Elliott, that it +would be difficult to say which of them would suffer most when a +separation became necessary. One very stormy evening, Mr. Martin and +William were sitting alone in the study, Helen and her uncle having +remained to dine with Mrs. Elliott; as the wind howled in the chimney; +William said, "I cannot think what takes Helen so much into Langholm; I am +glad, however, that my uncle is with her, for I really do not think it is +a night for her to be out in."--"I am not uneasy," answered her father; +"your uncle will bring her safe, in some way or other. Helen does not mind +a little wind or rain; she is not a fine lady."--"I shall return her, +however," answered William, laughing, "one of her lessons to me on +prudence. It is not often I can catch an opportunity of showing my +superior wisdom, and I won't lose this one, I can tell her." + +Just as he finished this speech, John opened the door. "Sir, if you +please," said he, in the utmost agitation, "I know not what to do: in +coming down the hill I called at Mr. Scott's to walk to Langholm with +Marion, as Miss Helen gave her leave to go and spend the morning with her +mother. It was so boisterous a night, I meant to try to persuade her to +stay there, and allow me to go and tell Miss Helen she had done so; but +her mother told me, when I got into the house, that Marion, seeing the +storm coming, insisted on setting off, as she said her absence would vex +Miss Helen very much; I therefore ran down the road, as fast as the wind +and drifting snow would allow me, but she has never arrived at Langholm, +Sir, nor can I hear a word of her at any of the houses, all along the +dale. The very thought of what may have happened to her drives me almost +distracted; what can I do, Sir? I have come to you, as perhaps you may be +able to think of something that I may yet do to save her." Both William +and his father started up, and began buttoning their coats to go in search +of the poor little girl. William, however, remonstrated against his +father's attempting to expose himself to such a storm; but Mr. Martin, +more intent upon doing what he conceived to be his duty than mindful of +his own health, still persevered in his preparations, till William firmly, +though respectfully, said "My dearest father, it is a thing I cannot +possibly consent to. John and I are strong healthy lads, that are both +used to disregard either wind or weather. You may be certain that we shall +both make every possible exertion for this girl's safety; but if you +persevere in your intention of exposing so precious a life, where, I am +sure, your strength can be but of little use, I feel it be my duty to +remain where I am, and guard my father from distressing both myself and my +excellent sister. Could she ever pardon me, were I to permit you to quit +your house on such an errand, and on such a night? Even were it herself +that was to be sought for, I would act exactly as I am now doing; +therefore, unless you give me a solemn promise not to quit this room till +I return, I cannot assist John in his search." Mr. Martin, seeing he was +resolved, wisely took off the great coat he had been buttoning on, whilst +his son was speaking. "Well, William, I believe you are right," said he, +"I am not at liberty to expose a life so precious to my children. Go with +John; I promise you, I will not stir from this fireside till you return. I +need not entreat of you to make every exertion for poor Marion. She is +little less dear to me that my own child, and it is in our service that +she has got into this difficulty. I know I can trust to John to do all +that is in his power, in this cause." + +William and John left the house, well wrapt up in maudes, and each +carrying a lantern. For nearly two hours they searched all along the holm, +which they thought the most likely place to find poor Marion; for there +the wind seemed to beat with such violence, as to render it impossible for +a girl of her years to have strength to withstand it. The snow by this +time was a foot deep, and in some places it was drifted so much as to be +nearly up to their knees. Again they returned up the river, but still +without the slightest success. At this time John thought he heard a dog +howl, near a turn of the road about half way between Langholm and the +Manse; and following the sound, William sprung forward, and with very +great difficulty forced his way through some brushwood entirely covered +with snow, towards an excavation in the rock which terminated the holm, +and almost reached the river, only leaving room for the road to wind round +it. As he approached this place the dog was distinctly heard; and John, +exclaiming, "It is Trusty's voice, Marion must be here," pushed before +William, who was not so well acquainted with the ground as he was. When he +got quite close to the excavation, Trusty, who had heard footsteps, sprung +out and barked, running back again. John followed, calling on Marion, and +at length, holding up his lantern, he beheld Marion indeed, but she +appeared to him to be quite dead. She lay under the rock, her head resting +on a stone, and a small bundle firmly clasped in her hands. John stooped +to try to raise her, but he trembled so much, and was so persuaded that +they had come too late, that his strength entirely failed him; he could +only cry, "Mr. William, she is gone for ever!" and sunk almost insensible +by her side. William by this time had raised up her head, and felt her +pulse, and perceiving that it still beat, though very languidly, was +persuaded that if they could get immediate assistance she might be saved; +he therefore said, "Rise, John, and let us lose no time in reaching +Langholm; there is need for the greatest exertion; Marion may yet be +saved, if we can only manage to carry her to Mr. Armstrong's. Do you take +the lantern, and I will carry her in my arms; I am stronger than you, and +not quite so nervous: so move, and remember, her life may depend upon a +very few minutes' delay." John, recalled to himself by the prospect of +saving her, went on as fast as the wind and the snow, drifting in his +face, would allow him, and with incredible fatigue and difficulty they +succeeded in reaching Mr. Armstrong's door in less than half an hour, with +their apparently lifeless burthen. John knocked, and the door being +opened, William waited not an instant, but pushed forward into the first +room he could find, calling loudly for Mr. Armstrong. He laid Marion on a +sofa that stood near the door, and then threw himself on the carpet, quite +exhausted from the fatigue he had undergone. On opening his eyes, he found +his sister rubbing his face and hands, with every mark of alarm in her +countenance; and directly opposite to him sat his grandmother, gazing on +him so earnestly that her countenance seemed absolutely convulsed with +agitation. "Where, oh where have you brought me," exclaimed he, "my dear +Helen! Why did you let my grandmother see me? Look, she is dying; the +sight of me has killed her." + +On William's fainting, Helen was too much frightened to think any thing +about her grandmother, but had continued bathing her brother's temples and +rubbing his hands till he became sensible and uttered the above sentence. +His words recalled her to her recollection, and looking up, she was indeed +frightened to see the agitation of her countenance. "My dearest +grandmother, speak to me I beseech you," said she; "William shall leave +the room the moment he is able to stand; he knew not that you were here." +Mrs. Elliott at last struggled to speak, and said, "Oh! I thought never +again to have seen that face, as a punishment for my own faulty +indulgence; but now that an unforeseen accident has thrown him before me, +I have not strength to resist, and I hope I do not act very criminally in +indulging myself once more by clasping my idolized unfortunate boy in my +withered arms; God knows what I have suffered by refusing myself this +consolation." William did not wait to hear her finish the sentence, but +threw himself on his knees before her, imploring her once more to receive +and forgive him all his offences. + +This reconciliation seemed to remove a load from her mind; for from the +time she had left the Manse she never had been seen to smile, and a +restless watchfulness, instead of her usual quiet and composed manners, +had led Helen sometimes to suspect she had repented of having persevered +in leaving her home; but still she would not allow the slightest hint to +that effect, and had never even asked a word about William. + +Meantime Marion had been laid on a bed, and every means having been used +to bring her out of the trance into which she had fallen, after nearly two +hours' exertion she showed signs of recovery. Mr. Armstrong insisted on +her being left perfectly quiet; and they now thought it would be best for +John to return to the Manse and ease Mr. Martin's mind as to her safety. +"I will do that with pleasure," said John, "and I must likewise try to get +up to Craigie Hall, for her poor mother will be almost distracted if she +hears by any accident that she was missing. I went twice and looked in at +her window to see if her daughter had returned home, but I did not go into +the house for fear of alarming her, so I hope as yet she knows nothing of +the matter." William now rose and said he must go home to his father; "I +pledged myself to return," said he, "as soon as Marion was in safety, and +I must keep my word; good night, my dear madam, I hope to-morrow morning +Helen may prevail with you to return to the Manse." So saying he kissed +her, and then taking an affectionate leave of his sister, left the house +accompanied by John, who was not perfectly satisfied at being obliged to +go without seeing Marion himself; however, Mr. Armstrong promised that he +should have that gratification the next morning. + +They found Mr. Martin and Captain Elliott waiting impatiently for their +return. The accounts William gave them of what had passed imparted the +greatest satisfaction to Mr. Martin, who, after making them eat something, +insisted upon their going to bed immediately. He would not allow John to +go to Craigie Hall that night, but promised to send his own herd-boy up to +Mrs. Scott's in the morning. + +Nothing very particular, from this time, happened during William's stay in +Eskdale. Mrs. Elliot was prevailed on to return to the Manse, and spent +three weeks in the midst of all that was now dear to her. Marion +recovered, after a few days' illness. She told them, when she was able to +come to the Manse, that, on leaving her father's house that dreadful +evening, she thought from the look of the skies she should be able to get +to Langholm before the storm began; but it increased so rapidly, that, +after she was beyond the Manse, she repented not having gone in there, yet +still she had no great alarm. However, about half way down the holm, the +snow fell so thick as completely to blind her, and the wind drove her +backwards and forwards so violently, that at last, she did not know where +she was. The last thing she recollected, was finding herself under the +rock; and as it sheltered her a little, she thought it best to sit down +and regain her strength before she attempted to turn round the point of +the rock. As she was doing so, she felt Trusty close beside her, which, +she said, comforted her in her distress. She supposed that she fell asleep +while she was sitting, and fell down, for she had no recollection of lying +down, where, if assistance had not arrived, in a very little time longer +all aid would have been in vain. + +Captain Elliott now began to say he must think of leaving Eskdale. William +dreaded the very thoughts of a separation from his father; but he had +carved out his own destiny, and there was now no alternative. Poor Mr. +Martin seemed to fear, every time his brother opened his mouth, that he +was to hear the sentence of William's banishment. It had been settled some +time, that John was to accompany them, as Captain Elliot wished to have a +servant from that country, and Mr. Martin immediately thought of John. +"You can never," said he, "have a more careful, active lad, nor one who +will conduct himself with greater propriety and honesty than my poor +orphan boy will do; but you must expect a certain degree of awkwardness at +first, which I really believe he will soon get the better of; and I +confess," added he, "since I must part from my dear son, I shall be more +comfortable in knowing that he will have another attached, though humble +friend, in the ship with him, on whom I can in all difficulties rely for +attention and fidelity to any one who belongs to me." + +Every thing was now prepared for our travellers; and, much as Helen felt +in separating from her friends, she even now wished that they were gone, +on her father's account. He neither ate nor slept, and seemed in a +continual state of agitation. At last, the day was finally fixed for their +departure; Mr. Martin heard it in silence, but, from that moment, never +suffered William out of his sight; indeed, poor William was equally +unwilling to move from his side. They often sat together for hours, +holding each other's hand, not daring to utter a sentence. The morning of +the departure produced a most affecting scene, and it required almost all +Captain Elliott's strength of mind and resolution to separate the father +and son. They clung to each other again and again, as if they had a +presentiment that they should meet no more. Poor John was almost as +violently affected: his master, as he always called Mr. Martin, was as +dear to him as a father. He stood by, witnessing this heartbreaking +struggle, overpowered with his own feelings, and wretched at seeing his +dear respected master undergoing such a trial. "Ah, Miss Helen," whispered +he, "what would I give to get one kiss of my master's hand before I leave +him! But do not intrude on him: I would not add to his distress for any +satisfaction it might give me. Do not tell him I ever mentioned it." Helen +thought, however, it might perhaps divert her father's attention into +another channel. She therefore said, loud enough for him to hear her, +"John, Sir, wishes to take leave of you, will not you let him kiss your +hand?"--"My poor fellow," replied Mr. Martin, "come to me and receive my +blessing. A dutiful and affectionate boy I have ever found you, since you +have been under my care; and now remember, all the love and affection you +have shown me I entreat maybe continued to my son; be a dutiful and +obedient servant to your master; be sure and write to me on every +opportunity; and now, God bless you!" So saying, before John was aware of +his intention, he clasped him in his arms and kissed him. John from that +moment fancied himself raised in his own estimation, far above any thing +he could have looked to. He flew out of the room to conceal his feelings; +and, in a few seconds, the travellers had left the Manse. + + + + +CHAP. XIII. + + +Soon after their arrival in London an order for sailing arrived, and they +were all obliged to get on board, without having time to show John much of +the wonders of the metropolis. They however had the satisfaction of +receiving good accounts from the Manse. Helen wrote to this effect, that, +within a few days after the parting was once fairly over, her father +recovered in a great degree his spirits, and that she had great hopes of +seeing him soon as cheerful as ever. Marion wrote to John, and told him +that she had been with Miss Helen for some days, and that she thought they +were all much better than she had expected to find them; "but," she added, +"the dale now looks so melancholy, I can scarcely believe it the same +place." + +The Amazon was now sent into the Mediterranean, therefore it was seldom +that letters could pass between our navigators and their friends in +Eskdale. About a year after they had left England, Captain Elliott +received a letter, on putting into Gibraltar, from Mr. Martin, informing +him of the sudden death of his mother. He said she had been complaining a +few days, but they were not in the least alarmed till the day before her +death, when Helen thought she perceived a change in her manner of +speaking, and sent for Mr. Armstrong, who immediately saw she had had a +stroke of the palsy. Nothing could be done; and before the next morning, +another stroke carried her off. From the time she became seriously ill, +she never quitted Helen's hand; having her near her seemed her only +consolation. + +Every letter that Mr. Martin received was filled with John's praises, +Captain Elliott affirming he was a perfect treasure to him as a servant, +as well as a great acquisition to the ship's company, and that he was such +a happy good-tempered fellow that he was beloved by every one on board. +William wrote regularly to his father, and his letters constituted the +chief enjoyment of Mr. Martin's life. John sent him an account of all he +saw and heard, that he thought would in any way serve to amuse either him +or Helen; and, at the same time, he never forgot to send a letter to +Marion in every packet. + +This kind of communication had continued about two years, when one +afternoon the sailors on board the Amazon discovered a strange sail at a +distance, and Captain Elliott gave orders to give chase to her directly. +As she was but a slow sailer they soon gained on her, and when they came +near enough, William was ordered into the boat, to go alongside and +discover what she was. The wind blew rather fresh, and the clouds looked +lowering. John, who was standing on deck, took alarm at the weather, and +coming up to William as he was preparing to enter the boat, endeavoured to +persuade him to speak to the Captain before he went. "He has not looked at +the sky, I am sure," said John, "or he would never send you on such an +expedition"--"Pho! pho!" answered William, "we must have no fresh-water +sailors here. Go I must; so there is no alternative. My orders are +explicit."--"Then, Sir, permit me to go with you," said John. "I am an +expert swimmer, which you are not; and I really feel so very wretched and +uncomfortable at seeing my master's son go out in such a night, that if +you won't take me otherwise, I will run and get the Captain's orders to be +of the party, and then you cannot refuse."--"No, John," said William, "if +there really is danger, I shall not needlessly expose more lives than I +can help. God bless you, my lad. See that you have a dry shirt for me, +when I come back; for I think we are likely to have wet jackets. Here is +my key. Mind your orders!" So saying, he jumped into the boat; and though +John ran as quick as he could, to get the Captain's permission to +accompany him, the boat had left the ship by the time he came back. John +staid on deck, watching with a glass all the boat's movements; he saw it +safe alongside the other vessel, where it was detained nearly +half-an-hour, he then had just light enough to see it leave the ship on +its way back. + +Oh! what an anxious hour was the next! The wind had been gradually rising, +and by this time nearly blew a hurricane. John could conceal his +uneasiness no longer; he ran down below to the Captain, who had been +unwell, and was lying in his cot. "Captain Elliott," exclaimed he, "for +God's sake get up, and see if any thing can be done to save Mr. +William."--"Good God! John," said Captain Elliott, starting up from a +sound sleep, "it blows a hurricane. How long has the boat been out? Why +was I not called before?" John said that the sailors on deck, even now, +did not consider there was any danger; but that the boat had been parted +from the other ship above an hour, and he could not help feeling very +uneasy. The night was excessively dark, and it rained in torrents. + +Captain Elliott got on deck instantly; he was perfectly convinced that +John had not been alarmed without good cause. Every expedient that could +be thought of was tried. They hung out lights at every part of the ship, +to direct the boat in its course; but alas! no boat appeared. Such a night +of wretchedness did Captain Elliott and John spend, as cannot possibly be +related. When day broke, it required force to prevent John from throwing +himself into the sea, as if he meant to search the ocean for his dear +master's son. He absolutely screamed with agony, when a boat that had been +sent out in search of the one missing returned, bringing a hat, with poor +William's name inside of it. There was not a shadow of hope. Captain +Elliott, who till now had never quitted the deck, fainted away at this +confirmation of the ruin of all his poor brother's happiness, and indeed +of his own. + +William had been as dear to him as a son, almost from the moment he had +seen him; and for the last eight years they had scarcely ever been +separated. He was carried down to his cabin insensible, whilst poor John's +equal, though more violent grief, attracted the attention of the first +lieutenant, who had him taken to his own cabin, and endeavoured in every +way he could think of to soften the misery he could not remove. + +Several weeks passed over their heads, and no opportunity offered of +writing to England. Indeed both Captain Elliott and John dreaded the +thoughts of putting pen to paper to give this intelligence. "It will kill +his father," said the Captain; "but I shall never live to hear it, most +probably." John asked him if he felt unwell; "I am not well, John," +answered he; "my complaints were but trifling till this unlucky affair; my +head and soul were wrapt up in that boy, and to lose him in such a way has +quite ruined my constitution. Take my advice, John," added he, "return to +Eskdale as soon as you have an opportunity. Now that poor William is gone, +you will be a comfort to his father, should he survive the blow, which I +do not believe; but in all events, you may be of serious use to my poor +niece, who, God knows, will require a friend. Promise me, John, that you +will be this friend, and I shall feel more comfortable in looking forward +to my own death." John gave him the promise required; and there was no +opportunity of resuming the subject. + +The very next morning after this conversation, an engagement took place +with two large French frigates. Captain Elliott and his crew performed +prodigies of valour; but at last, unfortunately, Captain Elliott received +a shot through the heart, which killed him on the spot. He fell into the +arms of John, who stood behind him, and was carried below, in hopes that +the wound was not mortal; but the surgeon only shook his head; all was +over. + +When the ship was taken possession of by the French, John was found +sitting on the floor of the cabin, by the side of his captain's body, +perfectly insensible to all that was passing around him. He took no notice +of any thing, till they attempted to move the body. He then threw himself +on it, and entreated they would bury them together; saying he now no +object to live for. As he repeated this, a sudden flash of recollection +crossed his mind. "Yes," exclaimed he, "I have still a great and important +duty to perform to Miss Helen and my master!" He then suffered them to +remove the captain, and became more composed from that moment. + +When the ship was carried into Toulon, John and the other prisoners were +ordered immediately to Thoulouse. Mr. Murray, the first lieutenant, who +had been so kind to John at the time of William's death, still felt a +great interest for him. He was a kind-hearted young man, and seemed to +enter into all John's feelings. He endeavoured, on their long and +wearisome march, to keep him near himself; and when they reached +Thoulouse, he prevailed on his guard to allow John to remain with him as +his servant. He was a man of considerable property, and being allowed to +draw on England for remittances, had it in his power to obtain many +favours and advantages denied to his poorer companions. + +Meantime Mr. Martin and Helen were looking forward with the hope of seeing +their sailor friends very shortly. William, in the last letter his father +had from him, said he thought the ship would most probably be sent home in +the course of the next autumn, and that his uncle had promised to give him +leave of absence for a fortnight; "and in that time," he added, "I shall +try hard to get another peep at my friends in Eskdale." + +One morning, as they were at breakfast, Helen said, "Surely that is Mr. +Scott, from Craigie Hall; what can have brought him here?" and rising, she +opened the glass door. Mr. Scott came in and sat down. He did not seem to +have any thing particular to say beyond common occurrences, yet still he +remained; and Helen wondered what could be the meaning of the visit. As +she rose to move something from the table, she observed him make her a +sign to leave the room unobserved by her father: a cold chill came over +her. "What can be the matter?" thought she, as she entered the parlour. + +In a few minutes Mr. Scott quitted the study, and going out at the front +door, beckoned at the parlour window for her to follow him. + +"What can you have to say, Mr. Scott?" said Helen, as she approached him; +and, suddenly struck with the look of woe that was in his face, would have +fallen if he had not supported her. "William?" uttered she, and could say +no more. Mr. Scott then said, "the family at the hall receive many of the +London newspapers, and sometimes the housekeeper sends them in for me to +read. The family are all gone on a visit from home for some days, +consequently the paper was sent me early. I have, my dear Miss Helen, read +a very unpleasant account of the Amazon: but it may not be correct; and +even if it is so, Mr. William may yet be safe, for his name is not +mentioned." "My uncle's is then," said Helen, greatly agitated; "Thank +God! my grandmother did not live to hear this: but wait a moment, Mr. +Scott, I shall be able to hear it all presently." She leant against the +gate for a few seconds, and then begged Mr. Scott to read the paragraphs. +He did so; and then said, "I thought, Miss Helen, it was best to tell you +this dreadful news in the first place, that you might consider how our +good Minister can be informed of it; for he will certainly hear it in the +dale from somebody, and I think it will be better to break it to him by +degrees." Helen thought so too. "But how can I tell him," said she, +weeping, "both my dear uncle's death and William's imprisonment, all at +once? It seems more than he can ever bear," and recollecting John, +suddenly said, "poor Marion, too, will feel for John. All, all our friends +at once, is too much to bear." Mr. Scott was a very sensible man. He +allowed her to weep for some time and then, seeing her a little more +composed, said, "You must, my dear Miss Helen, endeavour to moderate your +grief, for the sake of your father. I see him coming toward the green, and +if he observe us he will be alarmed." Helen replied, "I will do all I can, +but I cannot possibly see him just yet; so I shall get into the house +without meeting him, if possible. Leave me the paper, and good morning!" + +It required all Helen's gentleness and caution to inform her poor father +of this afflicting news. Notwithstanding all the precaution and care with +which she broke it to him, he fainted before she could finish the +narration; and though he endeavoured to regain composure, it was evident +to Helen that his strength was sinking. Nothing, however, seemed to bear +so hard upon him as the uncertainty of the fate of William. Nothing had +been mentioned of him, and indeed nothing could be known, for there had +been no communication from the ship between the time of his accident and +that of their being all taken prisoners. The winter passed on: a long a +dreary one it was to Helen and her father. Marion, likewise, looked ill +and melancholy; she had loved John as a brother, and his loss was severely +felt. Early in the spring, Mr. Martin had occasion to go to Langholm; +Helen insisted on accompanying him. After finishing his business, they +were passing the inn where the mail stops. Just as they got to the door of +it, the landlord was standing speaking to a sailor, a good-looking man, +and seeing Mr. Martin, he said, hastily, "Oh, Mr. Martin, this person is +just returned from Thoulouse, in France; he has made his escape. Perhaps +he may be able to give you some account of Mr. William!" Mr. Martin, on +hearing this, turned to the man, and asked him what ship he had belonged +to, and how he became a prisoner. "I belonged, Sir, to the Amazon, and was +taken with the whole ship's company that remained after the +battle."--"Tell me," said Mr. Martin, quickly, "was William Martin, +Captain Elliott's nephew, at Thoulouse when you left it?" "Oh, no!" said +the man, "he was drowned six weeks before the battle." Mr. Martin heard no +more; he fell as if a shot had passed through his heart. The landlord +carried him into the inn, and sent for Mr. Armstrong; his poor daughter, +almost in as pitiable a state as he was, still endeavoured to exert +herself to save her father. She undid his stock, rubbed his face and hands +with vinegar, and tried every means her experience had ever found useful, +at last Mr. Armstrong made his appearance. He was excessively alarmed, and +begged Helen would leave the room; but she answered, firmly, "No, Mr. +Armstrong, I never will quit my father whilst a spark of life remains. He +is not dead yet, for I feel his pulse; therefore do not talk of my leaving +him, even for an instant." In the evening Mr. Martin just opened his eyes, +fixed them on Helen, and said, "My poor girl:" and drawing a long sigh, +was removed from all his sufferings. + + + + +CHAP. XIV. + + +Poor Helen, having no longer any motive for exertion, sank down by her +father's side. Mr. Armstrong had her removed while she remained +insensible; and knowing her attachment to Marion Scott, he sent off a +messenger with the fatal news, and requested Mrs. Scott would allow her +daughter to come down and be with Miss Martin. Mrs. Scott not only gave +permission to her daughter, but came herself, and for many days watched by +the bedside of Helen. When she became composed enough to think and act, +she found that her dear father had been buried by the side of her mother +and grandmother; Mr. Armstrong had acted for her, and settled all matters +of business, that she might have no trouble on that account, further than +going to the Manse for a little while, till a successor was appointed to +her worthy father. Mr. Scott insisted on her permitting Marion to remain +with her for some time, though Helen said she should feel happier, she +thought, if she could be left alone. It is impossible to describe what the +poor desolate girl felt on returning to her melancholy home. "The time is +now indeed come," said she to herself, "when I must prepare to look out +for another place of residence; and when that will be, God alone knows." +Her grandmother, before her death, had been very uneasy on account of +Helen's prospects in case of her father's death; and more than once +mentioned to her, that she wished she could make up her mind to go to +Edinburgh, and apprentice herself either as a dress-maker or as a +milliner; as she knew her father had very little to leave her, she herself +had only an annuity, which would cease with her life. Her father did not +like the plan, and told her that her uncle had promised to support her +till William was enabled, by promotion or prize-money, to do it himself. +Now both these resources were cut off for ever; and, after mature +deliberation she thought her grandmother's plan was the only rational +thing she could do; she therefore, in her own mind, determined, as soon as +she knew who was to be her father's successor, to adopt it. + +Having come to this resolution, she communicated it to Mr. Scott, who +offered to go himself into Edinburgh and endeavour to find a situation for +such as she wanted. Accordingly, he went on this errand, about three +months after Mr. Martin's death. On enquiry, he was recommended to a Miss +Maxwell, a lady who had very meritoriously in her youth followed the same +plan that Helen meant now to pursue, and had succeeded so well as to be +able to support an aged father and mother, and give great assistance to +the rest of a numerous family. The agreement was soon settled, and Helen +was to be received as an apprentice the following October. She was to live +in the house with Miss Maxwell, who even held out hopes to Mr. Scott, that +if Miss Martin gave satisfaction during her four years of learning the +business, she would have a good chance of being taken into partnership in +the concern, as Miss Maxwell thought she might be inclined to retire much +about that time, provided no unforeseen accident occurred to prevent it. +Early in September, Mr. Johnson was appointed to succeed Mr. Martin. He +was a young man of good connections and excellent character. He came to +the Manse on his nomination, merely to look at the house, and see what +preparations it might require, as he was on the point of marriage with an +amiable young woman to whom he had been long attached. He behaved in the +kindest manner possible to Helen, and saved her a great deal of trouble +and difficulty, by proposing to take the whole of the furniture just as it +stood, and at a fair valuation. Mr. Armstrong, who had managed all her +business, accepted the proposal; and Helen, at his particular request, +agreed to remain in the house till the time she had fixed for removing to +Edinburgh. He seemed anxious to settle every thing the way that would be +most pleasing to her feelings. Nelly and Sandy were to be retained in his +service, and left in charge of the Manse, as he did not expect to be able +to take possession himself much before Christmas. On going away he shook +hands with Helen, and said he hoped she would allow him a continuance of +her friendship, and assured her, that as the daughter of so respectable a +father as well as from what he had seen of herself, he should ever feel +the interest of a brother for her. Poor Helen's spirits gradually sunk as +the time rapidly approached for her to quit her native dale, and take +leave of all those amongst whom she had lived from her birth. Marion Scott +had remained constantly with her from her father's death, and was now so +endeared to her, that to separate from her appeared as if breaking the +last earthly tie she possessed. She saw, however, it was inevitable; the +whole of her property, when every thing was sold, only amounted to three +hundred pounds; and even if she could have lived on this in her native +dale, she thought, on reflection, it was her duty to go into a more active +line of life, at least for some years. Mr. Armstrong was decidedly of the +same opinion; a change of scene and of habits he thought would amuse her +mind, and prevent her dwelling on events which, from the melancholy +attending their recollection, and the retirement in which she would live, +might have a pernicious effect on her health. + +On the tenth day of October Helen left her once happy home, to engage in +new scenes and occupations, so different from any thing she had ever +formed an idea of, that for some days after her arrival at Miss Maxwell's, +she could scarcely believe it possible she could endure such a subordinate +state of existence and laborious fatigue. Miss Maxwell was kind to her on +her arrival, and whenever she had a moment to spare endeavoured to cheer +Helen, by telling her that she would soon get accustomed to the +confinement, and that she had no doubt, with her application and perfect +command of her needle, she would be able to promote her in the course of a +twelvemonth to a less laborious department of the business. Helen felt the +kindness, but believed, from the present state of her feelings, that she +would never live that twelvemonth out. Broken-hearted and dispirited, shut +up in a small uncomfortable room with half a dozen silly uneducated girls, +with whom she had not a single idea in unison, she began to feel her life +a burthen, and had almost resolved to give up her situation and return to +Eskdale. The first Sunday morning, however, gave her better hopes. Miss +Maxwell, who had a great respect for Mr. Scott, and from whom she had +heard the whole of Helen's meritorious conduct while she resided in her +father's house, was much interested for her; and though, from the great +pressure of business in which she was constantly engaged, she could spare +very little time to amuse or comfort her through the weeks, she was ready +on Sunday morning, as soon as she came out of her room, to receive her in +the parlour, and said, with a cheerful smile, as she entered, "Come, my +dear Miss Martin, this is our own day, and I promise to myself a great +deal of pleasure for the future in having a companion with whom I can +converse, and who will join me in spending the Sabbath, as it is +undoubtedly intended we should do, in making a day of rest and sober +enjoyment. The other young people all go home to their friends, we shall +therefore be at liberty to enjoy ourselves in our own way." Helen +endeavoured to return a smile to this address, but her heart was heavy, +and her head ached from want of sleep. Miss Maxwell, who well understood +her feelings, took no notice, but filled her out a nice comfortable cup of +tea, and began telling her of the churches that she meant to show her, and +the merits of the different clergymen. This was a subject to interest +Helen, as she was well acquainted with most of their characters, from +having heard her father talk of them on his return from Edinburgh, when he +had been a member of the General Assembly. She therefore very readily +agreed to accompany Miss Maxwell to the morning service at St. Andrew's +church, and in the evening she attended likewise at the West church, for +the clergymen of both these churches had been particular friends of her +father. + +On her return home in the evening, she expressed herself much pleased with +all she had seen and heard through the day, and thanked Miss Maxwell for +giving her so great a gratification. They then sat down to tea, after +which Miss Maxwell opened a closet which stood at one end of her little +parlour, and displayed a small but well-selected library. As she pointed +to it, she said, "I never, my dear Miss Martin, permit myself to open this +my greatest treasure except on this day; for I am so fond of reading, that +I could not insure my own attention to the duties of business were I to +allow myself the same gratification through the week. I have had a second +key made which I mean for you, as I well know, from experience, that you +require, in your present irksome employment, as much relaxation as the +nature of the business will admit, to reconcile you to the great change in +your situation and habits; but I think I can trust that you will never +abuse this kind of confidence, but confine your use of it to the few spare +hours which occur to you in the course of the season; and Sunday in my +house is invariably your own." She then gave Helen the key, and desired +her to select what she pleased for her evening's reading. This was a great +addition to Helen's comfort. She found there were many spare moments that +would, without this resource, have been spent in vain regrets and +recollections of the past, which only served to weaken her mind and +prevent her performing her present duties. + +With the prospect of this enjoyment before her, she found the hardship of +sitting at work for so many hours daily appear less formidable, and her +Sundays always passed so pleasantly and so much to own satisfaction, that +in a letter which wrote to Mr. Scott, about a month after she had been +absent in Edinburgh, she expressed herself much more reconciled to her +situation than her friends in Eskdale had dared to hope. + +She received a letter soon after this from Marion, saying that Mrs. Smith, +her friend at the hall, had been ill, and felt herself not quite able to +get through her business in the family so well as she used to do, and had +therefore got permission from her lady, with whom she had lived many +years, to hire an assistant; that Mrs. Smith had at last prevailed with +her father and mother to spare her, and it was now fixed that she was to +accompany the family to London soon after Christmas. Her mother added a +postscript, in which she said that poor Marion had fretted so much since +Miss Helen had left the country, that both her father and she were more +reconciled to her going under Mrs. Smith's care than they otherwise would +have been; "and besides," added Mrs. Scott, "I really am afraid Marion +will never get over John Telfer's loss, at least till something certain is +heard of him. She often tells us she would feel much happier if she knew +he was dead, than she does by being in such a state of uncertainty. She +fancies she will be more likely to hear from him by going to London, than +by remaining here in the dale." Helen was too much attached to Marion not +to feel greatly interested in this new arrangement for her. "Dear girl;" +said she, as she read the postscript, "I am afraid nothing but +disappointment awaits you on the subject of poor John. He must have been +killed with his master, or more likely, perhaps, drowned with my dear +William. John, I am sure, would not willingly separate from him, and may +perhaps have lost his life in trying to save that of his master's son; at +all events, I have not the slightest hope of his being alive, and wish +most earnestly I could make Marion as much convinced of this as I am +myself." "I think," answered Miss Maxwell, "her parents are acting very +prudently in sending her from home. A change of scene is the best thing +for her in the present state of her mind; and perhaps, by making +inquiries, she may come to hear something certain about the young man, +though I am inclined to be of your way of thinking as to his death." + +Nothing particular occurred during the four years of Helen's +apprenticeship: she daily improved in knowledge of the business she was +learning, and between her and Miss Maxwell so entire an attachment was +formed, that it would have been a severe trial to either had they been +obliged to separate. + +When Helen's time was out, Miss Maxwell determined to take her into +partnership. The business was a very good one, though, from various +causes, Miss Maxwell had been able to save very little money. For twenty +years she had supported her parents, who had been unfortunate in life: she +had also assisted several brothers, who were now all dead; and two +sisters, after having been associated with her in the business, had died +of declines. + +The first object she had now in view was, to secure a friend on whom she +might rely for assistance and kindness in her declining years. She made no +secret of her motives; and Helen, who loved her with truest affection, +agreed to become that friend. + +Marion had continued under Mrs. Smith for three years, living in London +one half of the year, and returning to Craigie Hall in the summer. She +corresponded constantly with Helen, but they had never met from the time +of their first separation. Still Marion wrote of John, though she could +obtain no information of him, even in London; and though Helen, almost in +every letter, endeavoured to convince her that all hopes of his being +alive must by this time be over. Marion, on the contrary, declared that +her mind would not admit a belief of this, without more positive proof +than any she had yet obtained. Her last letter said, that the lady's maid +had lately been married, and that, on Mrs. Smith's recommendation, she was +promoted to the vacant place. + +We must new revert to poor John Telfer, who remained in captivity, and +still in the service of Mr. Murray. The prisoners of war were treated with +extraordinary rigour; and the officers, instead of being indulged, as is +usual in such cases, with residing in a town on their parole, or word of +honour not to escape, were separately confined under a military guard, in +the old chateaux, or country seats of the ancient nobility, who had been +expelled during the Revolution. This harsh treatment induced many of them +to attempt their escape, which, of course, they would not have done if +they had promised not to do so, for a promise voluntarily given to an +enemy ought to be held as sacred as if given to the dearest friend. +However, the success of a few eluding the vigilance of their guards, +increased the severity afterwards shown to the others. No interest that +could be used was of sufficient weight to procure Mr. Murray his liberty, +or even information as to his family or friends. His draughts, however, +for money, were always answered; and he hoped, from this circumstance, +that his friends were well. John tried many ways of endeavouring to send a +letter to the dale, but never received a line in return; indeed, as has +been seem, not one of his numerous letters ever reached their intended +destination. Years rolled on in the same unvaried kind of existence; +sometimes he fancied that Mr. Martin had entirely forgotten him; sometimes +the recollection of Captain Elliott's assertion, that William's death +would kill his father, threw him into the most violent state of misery. +What would become of Miss Helen if her father was indeed dead, was +continually in his mind; and at one time had made so strong an impression +on him as to convince him it was his duty to endeavour, even at the risk +of his life, to make his escape. + +The situation in which he and his master were confined, was in some +respects not unfavourable to the prosecution of such a scheme. It was in a +very old and ruined building, on the banks of one of those rivers which +rise in the Pyrenean mountains and fall into the Upper Garonne. The turret +allotted to the prisoners commanded a view which, under other +circumstances, John would have admired as reminding him of the wild scenes +in his native country. Almost close to the building was a noble cascade, +formed by the river rushing over the rocks which it encountered in its +course; and beyond the woods on the opposite bank arose abrupt +declivities, overtopped by the lofty summits of the distant mountains. +John had laid his plan, and meant to have put it into execution, when, on +the very morning of the day he intended to have made the attempt, Mr. +Murray complained of being very ill. This was a severe blow to John: he +had been under too many obligations to Mr. Murray to think of leaving him +while in want of his care; at the same time, the opportunity of escape +might never again offer. He had a severe struggle; but Mr. Murray's +illness increasing rapidly, determined him to delay at least his intended +flight, and finally fixed him to the side of his sick couch for nearly +five years. How often, during his long and painful illness, did the +suffering lieutenant bless God that he had been favoured, in the midst of +his distress, with such a good and faithful servant as John was to him! +How often did he assure him, that if they ever reached England he would +make him comfortable for life! Alas! every day lessened the chance of his +living to fulfil these promises; and John, in the event of his death, +durst scarcely hope now to be able to effect an escape, as the prisoners +were watched with redoubled vigilance. + +One morning, after John had been absent in search of some dainty, which he +fancied Mr. Murray particularly wished for; on his return his master put +into his hand a sealed paper, saying, "John, I feel that my situation +becomes every day more critical, I have no individual, besides yourself, +on whom I can rely; will you, my kind friend, take charge of this packet; +it contains some papers of infinite consequence to my family. I wish you +to promise me never to part from them out of your possession, till you +deliver them in safety to my brother's own hand; I have given you his +address: he lives in Portman Square, in London. If you ever reach England, +lose no time in seeing him should he be still alive; and in the event of +his death find out my sister, and give the packet to her. Will you promise +me to do this? It will greatly add to the comfort of my dying moments." +John gave the required promise, and took the packet immediately under his +care. Mr. Murray lived a very few days after this; and John, by his death, +once more felt himself left alone in the world. Mr. Murray had with kind +consideration given him twenty guineas, which he desired him to conceal, +as it might be of use to facilitate his escape, and in all probability he +would not be permitted to retain it if it were seen after his death. The +event proved that this precaution was very necessary, for Mr. Murray was +no sooner dead than every article about him was seized by his inhuman +jailors. + +When John had seen his master laid in the grave, he immediately set about +contriving means to get to England; and, in six months afterwards, he +succeeded in quitting his place of confinement, in the disguise of an old, +tattered French soldier. + + + + +CHAP XV. + + +After many hair-breadth escapes from detection, John reached Boulogne in +safety, and in a small open boat crossed over to Dover, having very nearly +expended the whole of his little store in bribing the fishermen to carry +him out of the French dominions. Upon his landing, he found his finances +would not allow him any other mode of conveyance than his feet to reach +London; and though worn out and exhausted with his long march through +France, he determined to pursue his walk to the metropolis without delay. +He reached London in three days, and found no difficulty in obtaining a +direction to Portman Square. Sir James Murray's name was still on the +door, which the direction on the packet pointed out. John knocked very +humbly, and in a moment it was opened by a well-dressed footman. John +asked if Sir James was at home and could be seen? He answered very +civilly, that Sir James was at home, but particularly engaged with +company, and he did not think he could possibly see him that night. "My +business," answered John, "is very particular. I am just arrived in London +and have something of great consequence to deliver into his own hand. I +very much wish I could see him to night, as I am a perfect stranger in +this great city, and, to tell you the truth, I am afraid of keeping it in +my possession longer than I can help." While he stood talking at the door, +a well-dressed genteel-looking upper servant maid came up the steps, and +was hastily passing them when, turning round to answer some question that +her fellow-servant asked her, she fixed her eyes on John, and giving a +violent scream, exclaimed "John Telfer, I am sure!" John was too much +surprised to be able to answer; but the man-servant held a light up and +said, "I am sure you must be mistaken, recollect yourself," and was going +to lead her away. John, however, no sooner heard her voice, than all his +senses returned in full power, and straining her to his breast, he said, +"Marion Scott alone could recognize a poor worn-out wretch, after so many +long mournful years of absence, and in such a miserable plight as I am +now." The servant, when he heard John pronounce her name, was convinced +that it must be the very John Telfer he had heard her lament the loss of +so often, and very kindly begged him to walk into a small parlour near the +door. Marion had fainted at the sound of his well remembered voice, and it +was some time before she became sensible; but when she did, nothing could +equal the transport and delight they both felt in once more so +unexpectedly having met. She informed him, that one of the young ladies of +the Hall, had married Sir James Murray, and that her mother wished Marion +to live with her, as she could be trusted, and her daughter was very +young. She had been in her service nearly two years; but, continued she, +"I mean to leave this place soon, for I am now deprived of the pleasure of +seeing my dear parents in the summer, as I used to do with my old lady; +and though I am in other respects very comfortable, I cannot on any +account remain here much longer. Just as she had given this little history +of herself, the footman came in and said that he had informed his master +that John wished to see him; and, as soon as I told him who it was, he +desired me to send you up to him immediately, as he said he knew you +belonged to the same ship as his brother did, and therefore he concluded +you could give him some information concerning him." John followed the +servant into a superb room, where he found Sir James anxiously waiting for +him. The moment he entered, Sir James asked him if he knew any thing of +his brother. John said, "Indeed I do Sir: I have come to you by your kind +brother's desire. He made me promise to deliver this packet into your own +hands. He died about nine months ago, and I have never suffered it to be +out of my bosom since he gave it to me." Sir James was excessively +affected. He took the packet, and telling John to wait where he was, went +into the next room to examine it. In about half an hour he returned, and +taking John's hand said, "My dear unfortunate brother has left it in my +charge to repay his debt of gratitude to you, for your faithful services +and long attendance upon him in his severe illness. You shall ever be +considered by me, in the light of his comforter, and from this moment you +must make this house your home. He has left you in his will five hundred +pounds, which shall be paid you whenever you please to draw upon me for +it; but in the meantime, I must see to get you properly nursed and +recovered from the fatigue you must have undergone in your long march. The +papers you have brought me are indeed, of very great importance, and come +at a particular fortunate moment, as they in all probability, will save me +from a very vexatious lawsuit, with which I have been threatened." So +saying, he rang the bell, and desired the servant to take John into the +housekeeper's room, and to see that every possible attention was paid him. +John, after having had some refreshments, began to wonder that he did not +see Marion again. He asked where she was, and the housekeeper told him she +would be there presently, and desired one of the other maids to call her. +When she appeared, it was evident she had been in tears. She spoke however +cheerfully to John; and the housekeeper rising said, "I am sure you must +have much to say to each other, after so long an absence, so we shall +leave you together till supper time, which I think Marion must be earlier +to night than usual, as your friend must require rest after all his +fatigues." With these words she left the room. + +They were no sooner left alone, than John, taking Marion's hand, said +"tell me, my dear friend, how are my master and Miss Helen?" Marion, in a +faultering voice, related the melancholy detail of poor Mr. Martin's +death. She was going on to tell him about Miss Helen, when surprised that +he had made no remark on what she had told him she looked up, and to her +great alarm, she saw him leaning against the wall, pale and ghastly, his +eyes fixed, and evidently gasping for breath. She spoke to him, and at +last, after making a violent effort, he pronounced his master's name. The +truth was, that though Captain Elliott had suggested the probability of +Mr. Martin's death, John, in the bottom of his own heart, would not allow +himself to believe that he never should see his dear master again; and, +even unknown to himself, the hope of being able to comfort and attend upon +him in his old age, had been the chief support and motives for exertion +through so many years of trial and suffering. To be in a moment fatally +convinced, that all such hopes were at an end quite overcame him, and for +some time he wept like a child, and could not be comforted, even by +Marion. At last he became more composed, and begged Marion to tell him +some tidings of dear Miss Helen. Marion repeated what we have before +mentioned, and then added, that Miss Helen had joined in the partnership +with Miss Maxwell, and for some time they went on very well; but that, +about two years past, Miss Maxwell had fallen into bad health, which had +gradually increased so much as to confine Miss Helen almost constantly to +her bedside; the consequence of which she said, had been that their +business had decreased very much. Miss Maxwell was just dead, and had left +Miss Helen all that she died possessed of; but, from what she had written +her, the property was very small. "However, she writes me," added Marion, +"that she has serious thoughts of getting out of business, as soon as she +can wind up her affairs, and living in retirement, upon what little +property she may find herself possessed of; but I am much afraid that her +health is the cause of this determination, for I think there is a degree +of despondency in the style of her last letter, which I never observed in +any other, notwithstanding the various afflictions she has gone through." + +In a few days, John had quite recovered from all his fatigues, and +appeared, in Marion's eyes, the best looking man she had ever seen. One +evening, when they were conversing about Miss Helen, and talking over +various plans that could be followed, to assist in recovering her health, +"Marion," said John, "there is a plan I have thought of, and which would +certainly be the very best thing I could do, to be of use to her; it is to +get married, and go down and settle in Eskdale. Mr. Murray's legacy gives +me the means of taking a farm, and I have no doubt that with the knowledge +I possess of the management of sheep and cattle, I shall be perfectly able +to support a wife, and have a comfortable home for Miss Helen. What do you +think of my plan? Will you be my sweet little wife, and help me to show my +gratitude to my dear master's daughter?" Marion's heart was full, she +could not speak, but her eyes did not say no; and John was delighted to +find he had at last hit upon so admirable an expedient. He instantly wrote +to Mr. and Mrs. Scott, soliciting their consent to the marriage, and +begging of Mr. Scott to look out for a small farm, such as he thought +would suit him; and added, that he wished much to marry and bring down his +wife as soon as possible, that they might get a home ready for Miss Helen, +before they let her know of his arrival in England: for Marion thought she +was not in a state of health to be kept in suspense. If she knew he was +arrived, she might wish to see him sooner than it was possible for them to +get their affairs settled, so as to marry, and he did not like to separate +any more from Marion, but meant to bring her down himself to Eskdale as +his wife. + +Great was the surprise and joy this letter occasioned to the worthy couple +in Craigie Hall; and it would scarcely have gained complete credit, had it +not been accompanied by one from Marion herself, confirming all its +intelligence. Mr. Scott answered it by return of post, giving his +unqualified consent to the match, which he thought the sooner it took +place the better, and added, "Have no concern about your farm, I know of +one that will exactly suit, and shall take care to have it in proper +order, both for yourselves and our dear young lady, whom, I trust, you +will be able to prevail with to return amongst us again; and then I think +I may once more see Eskdale look cheerful before I die, which I am sure it +has never done since you left it." Marion and John were accordingly +married, and took leave of Sir James and Lady Murray, loaded with every +mark of kindness and good wishes. + +Mr. Scott had desired that they might come directly to Craigie Hall, and +said he would take them to their own house in the evening. Accordingly +they managed to drive up the dale, in the morning, both with a wish to +please Mr. Scott, and to gratify themselves by a view of all the +well-known scenes, among which their infant years had been spent. John, +even in the midst of happiness, wept bitterly, when he came within sight +of that house, which had been a home to him in his orphan state; and which +from the kind treatment and instruction he had received within its walls +must ever be dear to him. Marion, though possessing an equal warm heart, +was just at that moment too much ingrossed with the delight of seeing her +parents, and of presenting to them, as her husband, that very John they +had so often tried to persuade her was no more, to enter exactly into his +feelings. She sat looking out of the carriage, from side to side, watching +every turn and bush she formerly knew, to see if they looked as they did +when she left them; and at last, when they were approaching Mr. Elliott's +cottage, she could keep silence no longer. "Look, dear John," cried she, +"what a beautiful place this is made! Surely there must be new comers +there now. Mr. Elliott would never have built these two pretty bow +windows; and only see what lovely flowers are placed in them! It looks +like a perfect paradise."--"It really does," answered John, with a sigh, +thinking at the moment of poor Helen's wishes, on that memorable walk, +which he first took with his dear master. I should have preferred living +at that house, thought he, if I could have afforded it; but he did not +express this, as he was determined to be contented with whatever house Mr. +Scott had chosen for him. + +All was happiness on their arrival at Mr. Scott's; an excellent dinner was +prepared for them, which they were too happy to do much justice to. Soon +after dinner, Mr. Scott proposed going with them to their own house; and +said he hoped they had not forgotten how to walk, as he should expect a +visit from them every day, and their house was a little distance from +Craigie Hall. They laughed, and continued chatting with him and Mrs. Scott +all down the river, till they came to the very cottage they had admired so +much in the morning. "Pray, Sir," asked John, "who lives here now? Mr. +Elliott I think must have left it, for he was not very famous for keeping +his house in such excellent order."--"He is dead," answered Mr. Scott, +"and it has been lately sold to a gentleman that has come from foreign +parts. The family are not yet come down to it, but I believe are shortly +expected. Would you like to look at the inside of the house? it is very +well worth seeing; for, according to my taste, it is as pretty a neat box +as you will meet with any where." Marion said she should like to see it of +all things; they therefore turned up the little path that led to the door. +Mr. Scott knocked, and it was opened by Peggy Oliphant, dressed in her +best Sunday's gown; she curtesied and looked eagerly at John, who shook +hands with her on entering. + +They went over every room, and all the different adjoining offices, Mr. +Scott seeming to take particular pleasure in pointing out all its superior +qualities. John thought he never had seen so complete a thing and almost +wished he had not examined it, for fear of finding his own much inferior. +At length when every thing had been admired, Mr. Scott taking John's hand, +said, "Now, my dear son, Marion, long ago, let me into a secret about this +cottage, and when your joyful letter arrived, a thought came into my head, +that I would surprise you. Mr. Elliott had been dead some time, and I knew +his heirs wanted to dispose of the farm; I therefore made them an offer, +which was accepted. I have fitted it up according to what I think will be +pleasing, both to you, my dear children, and even to your intended guest. +I have only to add, it is my wedding gift to my daughter, who I hope, will +never again quit her native dale, at least during her mother's life and +mine." John and Marion were so overcome with their own happiness and Mr. +Scott's kindness, that they could only answer him with their tears; Marion +threw herself into his arms, calling him the best and kindest of fathers. +"Oh," at last said John, "had I known what a fortune Marion was, I +scarcely think I could have had courage to ask her to be my wife." "I am +very glad you knew nothing about it then," said Mr. Scott, "for we should +have been all in the wrong without you, Marion would never have had any +other man; you know she has been in love with you ever since you jumped +over Bob's ears; and to own the truth, I approve her taste from the bottom +of my heart; and I would rather see her your wife than any other man's in +Eskdale." + +Two day after they were settled in their favourite cottage, John left +Marion to get every thing in order, and proceeded to Edinburgh, with a +firm determination of not quitting that city, without conducting back to +her native dale the last surviving remnant of his dear master's family. + +On his arrival in Edinburgh, he wrote a few lines to Helen, saying that +one of the crew of the unfortunate Amazon had been so lucky as to find his +way back to his native country, after many years of captivity; and +expressing a desire to be permitted to see her, if it were not too painful +to her feelings. Helen had just come to the final resolution of retiring +from business her health had been greatly injured by the close attention +and fatigue she had undergone during Miss Maxwell's illness; and she now +found herself unable to sustain the kind of life she was forced to lead, +in order to make it an object worth her while to pursue. + +On the receipt of John's note she was greatly agitated; at last, summoning +all her resolution, she said, "I will see this person, if it be only for +Marion Scott's sake; he may, perhaps, be able to set her mind at rest +about poor John;" so saying, she answered his note, desiring to see him +immediately. John trusted she would not recognize him, for he was greatly +altered, had grown considerably taller and stouter, and his complexion, +from being fair, was now almost as dark as an Indian's. "She cannot +possibly know me," thought he, "Nobody, but Marion, could ever know me, I +am quite sure;" and in this hope, he walked boldly into the little +parlour, in Prince's Street, where sat Helen ready to receive him. On his +entrance, he almost betrayed himself by his surprise; for in her, he +almost thought he saw his own dear master himself, Helen's features +resembled, in so strong a degree, those of her father; but she was now +thin and pale, and evidently out of health. + +John looked at her a few minutes without speaking, but at last made some +apology for his intrusion. He said he had promised Captain Elliott to +deliver her a small miniature of her mother. He then approached her, and +kneeling presented her picture. Helen was surprised, but she put out her +hand to receive it; on her arm she wore as a bracelet, a miniature of her +father; John saw it, and for a moment prudence was forgotten; he snatched +her hand, and kissed the resemblance of his master. Helen, astonished, +fixed her eyes upon him, and the next moment, exclaiming, "Oh! it is John +himself!" leant upon his shoulder and wept bitterly. John succeeded in +soothing her into composure, and spent the evening in relating all the +particulars of the loss of her poor brother and uncle, which till now were +unknown to her; he then proceeded to prefer his request that she would +return with him to Eskdale. "I consider myself, dear Miss Helen, as +pledged to your uncle (independently of all I owe to my own master, and +that is far more than I ever can express), never to leave you nor separate +from you so long as you have no other protector; I have a comfortable home +to offer you, and a wife who will strive with me to see which of us can +pay you most attention; oh, do not deprive us of the delight of having you +under our roof." "You are married, then," said Helen mournfully, thinking +of poor Marion's constant attachment, "pray who is your wife? a foreigner, +I suppose."--"And could my master's daughter know so little of John +Telfer? Could she think he would ever do such a foolish thing as to bring +a foreigner into Eskdale, or ask Miss Helen to live with a stranger? No +lady, it is your friend, Marion Scott that was, now my own Marion Telfer, +that invites you through me to come to her, and let us all once more be +happy; you will not surely refuse us, Miss Helen, you cannot be so cruel." +Helen felt she could not be so cruel, either to herself or to the honest +affectionate couple, who now offered her a home. "I will come to you, +John," said she, "the moment I have finished the arrangement of my +affairs: in a few weeks I shall be at liberty; I am not much richer than +when I quitted Eskdale, yet I have enough to prevent my being a burden to +you and uncomfortable to myself: I have only one agreement to make with +you: you must both, from the moment I enter your house, consider me in the +light of a sister, nothing more, or I cannot remain with you."--"It shall +be in that and every thing else," said John, "exactly as you please; our +only wish is to see you comfortable." + +John insisted on remaining in Edinburgh while Helen was detained, and she +found him of the greatest service in assisting her to arrange her +business; she had her precious library carefully packed up and sent on +before her to Eskdale, and at the end of three weeks was ready to attend +John to his peaceful home. + +With what a variety of different feelings did Helen once more enter her +native dale! She wept violently all the way, till she had passed the +Manse, when, recollecting that she was actually unkindly to the good and +proved friend who sat beside her, she endeavoured to compose herself and +to appear cheerful on meeting his wife, the long attached and faithful +Marion. "How Mr. Elliott's cottage is improved!" said Helen, but she had +scarcely uttered the sentence, when on the green before the house Marion +appeared running towards the gate to let them in. "And do you indeed, my +kind friends, live here?" said she, almost overpowered. Marion flew into +her arms, exclaiming, "I was sure he would bring you; you would never +refuse to come to us; now we shall be happy again;" so saying, she led +Helen into a neat little room, with a bow-window at one end, and a +book-case, well filled with books, at the other; the furniture perfectly +neat and comfortable, but nothing fine nor out of its place; and what +amazed and pleased Helen more than can be described, over the +chimney-piece hung, in a small size, the portraits of her father and +mother. John had, when in Edinburgh, borrowed from her the miniatures of +her parents, and carrying them to Mr. Raeburn, the celebrated artist, +prevailed on him to take copies of them, and afterwards forwarded them to +Eskdale. "This is kind, indeed," said she, and taking John's hand, while +she laid her head on Marion's bosom, "now I do feel I am again at home." + +In a few months, John and Marion's care of their dear guest was amply +rewarded by seeing her health completely re-established; her spirits had +resumed their former cheerfulness, and the dale did indeed look more like +itself, as Marion expressed it, than it had ever done since poor William's +elopement. + +Meantime Mr. Johnstone, the clergyman, paid them daily visits; he had +become a widower, and was left with one child, a little girl; but how to +bring her up was a great source of anxiety to him. On becoming acquainted +with Helen, he thought it would be very desirable that she should +undertake the charge of his little girl's education; with this view, he +made a point of seeing her constantly, that he might be able to judge of +her abilities; on a more intimate knowledge of her good qualities, he +began to wish he could give his child such a mother, and in a very short +time made her proposals of marriage. Helen both loved and respected him; +she frankly told him so, and, in little more than a year after her return +to Eskdale, she became Mrs. Johnstone, and was conducted to the home of +her childhood, by her happy and affectionate husband, amidst the +rejoicings of the inhabitants throughout the whole dale. + +John and Marion continue now to live in the cottage in the greatest +comfort and happiness; they have three children, the eldest, named William +Martin, is the idol of Helen, and from choice she would scarcely ever let +him leave the Manse; but the recollection of her poor brother's fate +prevents her from indulging her favourite wish. "No," said she to his +father, "I will not trust myself with the care of that dear infant; he +will be much safer under your and Marion's eye; and remember, my dear +friend, to train him from his earliest days in the habits of _obedience_, +and then in your old age he will be your comfort and support. Oh! what +misery did one act of _disobedience_ produce in this cheerful happy dale, +as well as to my dear unfortunate brother himself! May we, in rearing our +children, never forget the mournful, but instructive lesson!" + + * * * * * + +And now, my dear young readers, let the author of this little tale address +you as a friend and a mother. What think you of the Eskdale Herd-boy? You +have become acquainted with him, from the time that he was a poor +distressed little orphan, fatherless, motherless, without means of +support, with nothing but the first rudiments of instruction, not enough +to enable him to read the Holy Scriptures, and to learn his duty to his +neighbour, or his duty to his God. He had only those little seeds of +virtue, from which, if they are steadily and constantly cultivated, good +actions spring up in after life; I mean affection, gratitude, industry, +and obedience. God Almighty raised up to him a friend in the worthy +Minister of the parish; but that friend could do little or nothing for him +in the way of money; he could only teach him to read and direct him in +reading what was suited to his capacity; he could recommend him to a +master, to be employed in such work as was fit for his age and station in +life; what would all this have availed, if he had been indolent and +inattentive, if he had been sulky, ill-tempered, ungrateful, or +disobedient? The wretched little creature would then have been entirely +lost; perhaps have fallen into temptation, crime, and infamy in this +world, and endless misery hereafter. Instead of this, you see him going on +gently and quietly, but steadily and firmly, in the path of his duty; +rendering himself beloved and respected by all who knew him, gradually +raising himself in life by good behaviour in every station that he filled; +and at last made happy in his native dale, by discharging the debt of +gratitude to his benefactor's daughter, obtaining the respect and esteem +of all his friends and neighbours, and enjoying the pure affection of one +whom he had loved in childhood, as the sweet-voiced and kind hearted +little Marion. + + + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Eskdale Herd-boy, by Mrs Blackford + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ESKDALE HERD-BOY *** + +***** This file should be named 7963.txt or 7963.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/7/9/6/7963/ + +Produced by Ted Garvin, S.R. 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Do not change or edit the +header without written permission. + +Please read the "legal small print," and other information about the +eBook and Project Gutenberg at the bottom of this file. Included is +important information about your specific rights and restrictions in +how the file may be used. You can also find out about how to make a +donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!***** + + +Title: The Eskdale Herd-boy + +Author: Mrs Blackford + +Release Date: April, 2005 [EBook #7963] +[This file was first posted on June 6, 2003] + +Edition: 10 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: US-ASCII + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, THE ESKDALE HERD-BOY *** + + + + +EBook prepared by Ted Garvin, S.R. Ellison, Charles Franks, and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team + + + +THE ESKDALE HERD-BOY + +A Scottish Tale + +FOR THE INSTRUCTION AND AMUSEMENT OF YOUNG PERSONS + +BY MRS. BLACKFORD + + + + + + + +CONTENTS + +INTRODUCTION + +CHAP. I. + + +Description of Eskdale.--History of Marion Scott and John Telfer.--He +loses his Parents.--Mr. Martin, the Pastor, befriends him.--John engaged +by Mr. Laurie as his herd-boy.--Helen Martin's first attempt at +horsemanship.--Her mother points out the advantages of perseverance and +self-command. + +CHAP. II. + +Excursion towards the Glen.--Beautiful scenery.--Account of the +_Borderers_.--The Minister visits David Little's cottage--Rustic +manners.--Canine sagacity.--The visitors take their departure. + +CHAP. III. + +John gains the approbation of the Pastor.--Visit to Mr. Elliott.--His +cottage delightfully situated.--Helen cautioned by her father against +affectation.--Arrival at Minkirk.--Visit at Craigie Hall.--Mrs. Scott's +hospitality.--John dispatched on an errand.--His unlucky disaster.--The +party returns by moonlight.--Their arrival at the Manse relieves Mrs. +Martin's anxiety. + +CHAP. IV. + +John's reflexions on entering service.--Receives advice from the Minister +for his future conduct.--John's good intentions the cause of great +anxiety. + +CHAP. V. + +Sunday morning.--The family assembled for morning prayer.--Interesting +description of the villagers' manners on the Sabbath.--Serious +illnesses.--John in an awkward dilemma.--Hateful effects of +intoxication.--Miss Helen taken seriously ill.--A curtain lecture. + +CHAP. VI. + +Uncertainty of human events.--News of Captain Elliott.--An agreeable +present.--John gains the approbation of the Minister for his activity. + +CHAP. VII. + +John enters Mr. Laurie's service.--New companions.--He receives +instruction in his new employ.--Surprising sagacity of the shepherds' +dogs.--Marion recovered. + +CHAP. VIII. + +Arrival of Capt. Elliott.--Unfavourable character of William Martin.--His +hasty temper the cause of uneasiness to his parents.--He is placed under +the care of Mr. Lamont.--Helen's amiability.--The party take their +departure for Kelso. + +CHAP. IX. + +Hospitable reception at Kelso.--Interview between Capt. Elliott and his +nephew William.--The party return to the _Manse_.--Helen's attachment to +home.--Capt. Elliott joins his vessel.--Alarm of the family at the sudden +disappearance of William Martin. + +CHAP. X. + +Mrs. Martin greatly distressed by William's thoughtless and undutiful +conduct.--Helen shrewdly guesses her brother's plans.--Information +received from Capt. Elliott that William has joined him.--William solicits +permission to accompany his uncle to sea.--His parents reluctantly +consent.--Mrs. Martin's death ensues. + +CHAP. XI. + +Helen's grandmother takes charge of the household.--Marion Scott resides +with Helen at the Manse.--John Telfer gradually improves himself.--Capt. +Elliott and his nephew arrive in England.--Their anxiety to visit Eskdale +again.--Mrs. Elliott's repugnance at seeing her undutiful grandson causes +her departure to Mr. Armstrong's. + +CHAP. XII. + +William's arrival, and interview with his sister.--Affectionately received +by his father.--Marion narrowly escapes perishing in a snow +storm.--Intrepidity of William and John.--The departure of Capt. Elliott +and William the cause of distress and fearful forebodings.--John +accompanies them. + +CHAP XIII. + +Their arrival in the metropolis.--And voyage to the Mediterranean.--Sudden +disappearance of William and the boat's crew at sea.--A sea fight.--Capt. +Elliott killed, the vessel taken by the enemy, and the crew made +prisoners.--The news of these disasters cause the death of Mr. Martin. + +CHAP XIV. + +Helen vacates the parsonage, and joins Miss Maxwell's millinery +establishment.--They become greatly attached.--John Telfer, after several +years' captivity, makes his escape. + +CHAP XV. + +John's unexpected interview with Marion.--They are married, and settle in +Eskdale.--His interview with Helen.--She is induced to accompany him to +Eskdale; and is finally married to Mr. Johnstone, the Minister of Eskdale. + + + + +INTRODUCTION + + +The Author of this little Work, many years ago, spent a few weeks in +Eskdale, the scene where she has placed the principal events of her tale. +The beauty of the country made a deep impression on her mind, at the time; +perhaps the more so, from its being the farthest excursion to the +southward, that she had then made from her native home. She, however, by +no means pretends to pourtray the scenery in the course of her narrative, +with minute accuracy. Too long a period has since elapsed, and she has +seen in the interval too great a variety of places, to retain an exact +recollection of every spot in this delightful dale; but its general +features remain strongly fixed in her memory; and she hopes that her young +readers will not find her tale less interesting from any slight inaccuracy +which they may discover in the local description. + +The general character and manners of the inhabitants are, she believes, +more correctly represented; for there is scarcely an incident, +exemplifying these in the following pages, of which she has not known a +counterpart in real life. The respect universally paid by the parishioners +to their clergyman, and the familiar intercourse and great influence which +the latter possesses, in forming their minds and morals, are circumstances +which have fallen under her own observation, not only in Eskdale, but in +various other parts of Scotland; and she has felt a peculiar satisfaction +in describing the simple and useful life of MR. and MRS. MARTIN, from the +remembrance of many worthy couples in similar situations, who might have +sat for the resemblance. She has endeavoured, in relating the adventures +of JOHN TELFER, the Eskdale Herd-boy, to impress on the minds of her young +readers, the permanent advantages of early integrity and gratitude. In the +short and unfortunate life of WILLIAM MARTIN, she has attempted to show +the duty that is incumbent on all young people, to subdue that disobedient +and self-willed temper, which may otherwise undermine, not only their own +comfort and happiness, but those of their parents and friends, of all whom +they love, and of all to whom they are dear. The character of HELEN is +meant, on the contrary, to illustrate the inestimable value that a dutiful +daughter may be of, both to father and mother; the prudence, the +steadiness, and even the energy which Helen displays, on some trying +occasions, will not, it is hoped, appear to be overstrained, when her +conduct is considered as the result of an education conducted on these +steady principles, which insure the love and obedience of the child, by +inspiring a firm reliance on the justice and affection of the parent. + + + + +THE ESKDALE HERD-BOY + + + + +CHAP. I. + + +In the year 1807 there stood on the beautiful banks of the river Esk, in +Dumfriesshire, one of the most southern counties in Scotland, a small +cottage. The neat white walls, well-thatched roof, and clean +casement-windows, ornamented as they were with honeysuckles and roses, +attracted the admiration of a few strangers, who, from the uncommon beauty +and grandeur of the scenery, were tempted to turn off the direct road from +Langholm to Edinburgh, and follow the windings of the river to its source. +The cottages in general, in that part of the country, present a very +different appearance; having too frequently a look of neglect, the windows +broken, the walls dirty, and instead of a pretty garden, a heap of mud +before the door. The contrast, therefore, rendered this building the more +remarkable; and led people to suppose, what indeed was the case, that its +inhabitants were more industrious, and had seen a little more of the +customs of other countries, than their less neat and cleanly neighbours. + +The names of the couple who resided on this spot, were John and Marion +Telfer: their history I am now going to relate. John was the only son of +an honest, industrious couple, who lived in the neighbourhood of Langholm, +but who unfortunately both died of a fever, when he was little more than +ten years old, leaving him nothing but their blessing, and the virtuous +habits of integrity and obedience, in which they had trained him from his +earliest youth. On their death-bed they entreated that the excellent +clergyman, who, in spite of the malignity of the disease, continued to +comfort and pray by them in their last moments, would take compassion on +their poor little orphan, and find him employment among the neighbouring +farmers, either as a herd-boy to some of the numerous flocks of sheep +which are common in Eskdale, or as a plough-boy in their fields. Mr. +Martin, for such was the name of the pious pastor, assured them that he +would do all in his power for their child: and he kept his word; for as +soon as they were dead, he took the boy home to his own house, and there +endeavoured, by kindness and sympathy, to console him for his great and +irreparable loss. For some days, all his endeavours were unsuccessful. +John, though sensible of the kind attentions of Mr. Martin, still felt +miserable and unhappy. All his dear mother's care and tenderness; all the +pains and trouble that his kind father used to take in teaching him to +read his Bible, after, perhaps, a hard day's work; the delight with which +they both watched his improvement--all, all rose to poor John's mind, and +made him believe he never more could be happy. + +Mr. Martin, at last, seeing the boy's melancholy continue, thought that a +little employment might serve to rouse him. He therefore one morning +called John into his study, and asked him if he would be so good as to +assist in dusting and arranging some books, which were in a large chest in +the corner of the room. John, from lowness of spirits, did not much like +to be employed; but as he had been taught by his father always to be +obedient, and to do at once whatever he was desired, he immediately set +about dusting the books. The first two or three he merely wiped, and put +them down without looking at them; but at last, in rubbing one, a leaf +fell out, which obliged him to open the book to put it back again. The +work happened to be a handsome edition of Robinson Crusoe, with very +beautiful prints. Mr. Martin, who was watching him unobserved, called to +him to bring the book, and then told him he might look at the pictures if +he pleased. John, who had never seen any thing of the kind before, was +delighted with this permission, and placing himself at a little distance, +so as not to disturb Mr. Martin, began turning over the leaves; his eyes +sparkling, and his little hands trembling with increased delight, at every +new scene that was represented. At last he came to the one where Man +Friday is saved from the savages. Here his curiosity got the better of the +natural awe he felt for Mr. Martin; and he cried out, "Pray, Sir, be so +good as to tell me what this means!"--for though John had been taught to +read his Bible, as well as his poor father was capable of teaching, yet +this was in so imperfect a way, that he could by no means read easily, and +was obliged to spell more than half his words. Mr. Martin smiled +good-naturedly, as John's exclamation made him raise his head from the +book he was reading; and desiring him to come near his chair, he +explained, at some length, what the print represented; after which he +asked John if he would not like to be able to read the story himself. John +immediately answered, "O dear! yes Sir, that I should; but," looking down, +and the tears starting into his eyes, "that can never be now; for my dear +father is dead and gone; and nobody else will ever take the trouble to +teach so poor a boy as I am. And yet," continued he, looking in Mr. +Martin's face, and brightening a little with a kind of hope, "don't you +think, Sir, that if I succeed in getting a place, and if I am _very, +very_ attentive, and always take pains to please my master, I may in time +be able to save, out of my wages, as much as a penny a week, for I know if +I could do that, I might go to the school at Langholm. I remember hearing +my poor dear father wish very much that he could afford to pay so much +money for me; as he said he was sure that Mr. Campbell would teach me to +read much better than he could." + +John here stopped, and seemed to wait anxiously to hear what Mr. Martin +would say to his little plan. After a few minutes' consideration, this +worthy man replied, "my dear John, I am afraid it would be a long time +before you would be able to save so much out of the very small sum that +such a little boy as you can earn;" but, seeing the poor fellow look +disappointed, he went on to say, that he had a little scheme to propose, +which he hoped John would like as well as going to Langholm school. He +then added, "my dear John, when your parents were dying, I promised them +to take care of you, and to endeavour to find a master who would be +willing to take you into his service, and treat you kindly. With that +view, I have been inquiring all around, amongst my parishioners, whether +any of them were in want of such a little fellow; and this morning my +neighbour, Mr. Laurie, has called to ask me if I think you may be trusted +with the care of a flock of sheep, up behind the hills, on the other side +of the river. I told him you might certainly be trusted, as I was sure you +were an honest boy; and that if you undertook the charge, after he had +explained to your what your duty was to consist in, I had no doubt you +would do all in your power to perform it. But, at the same time, I told +him you must determine for yourself; as I would on no account press you to +leave me sooner than was quite agreeable to your own feelings. Now," +continued he, seeing John beginning to speak, "hear what I have to propose +to you. It is, that if you go to live with Mr. Laurie, I will make an +agreement with him, provided you are a careful and industrious boy in his +service through the day, that he shall allow you, after you have penned +your sheep, to come to me for an hour in the evening; and in that hour, if +we both, my dear boy, make a good use of our time, I in teaching, and you +in learning, I have little doubt but that in a very short time you will be +able to read perfectly, both this book and many other useful and +entertaining stories. Take time to reflect on what I have been saying to +you," continued Mr. Martin, "and be sure that you are resolved in your own +mind to be an honest and industrious servant to Mr. Laurie, so far as your +strength and years will allow, before you engage with him; and if, after +thinking over the subject, you believe that you can promise me to be very +attentive, and strive to learn what I shall be most willing to teach you, +then, my dear John, I shall consider the plan as nearly settled, and shall +only wait till I have seen Mr. Laurie to make it completely so." + +Mr. Martin then pointed to the green plat before the window, where his +little daughter was standing looking at some beautiful crocuses, which had +made their first appearance that season; and said, "Go, John, now; and let +me see if you are a handy lad, and can get Master William's pony ready for +Helen; as I have promised her a ride up the glen, if she has pleased her +mother by attention to her morning lessons; and I think, by her merry +face, she must have earned her reward. I am going a couple of miles to see +David Little, who, you know, broke his leg last week by a fall from his +horse; and if you will go and get the pony ready, I will desire Mrs. +Martin to put up a loaf of wheaten bread, which will be a rarity to him, +and which he may perhaps relish more than his oaten cakes whilst he is +sick; and you, John, get your bonnet (boys always wear Highland bonnets, +instead of hats, in the hilly part of Scotland) and come along with us; as +you can carry the basket and open the gates for Helen. To-morrow morning +will be time enough for you to give me your answer about Mr. Laurie." John +made an awkward bow, and a scrape with his foot, and then set off in +search of the pony, which was feeding on a green flat plain by the side of +a river, which sort of meadow in that country is called a _holm_. The +animal appeared very quiet, and suffered John to come close to him, +without attempting to move; but the moment he tried to put out his hand to +take hold of him, off went the pony as fast as he could scamper. When he +got at a little distance, he stopped and looked back at John, who again +approached and attempted to lay hold of him, but with no better success. +All this was observed by Helen, for the green plat, where she stood, +overlooked the holm; and though she could not help laughing at first, on +seeing John's awkward attempts to catch the pony, yet, as she was a +good-natured little girl, she soon ran into the house, and begged a little +corn of her papa, and having put it in her pinafore, she skipped down the +lane with it to the holm, where holding it out to let Bob (for that was +the pony's name) see it, he instantly began trotting towards her, neighing +with pleasure. She then told John to throw the halter over Bob's neck +while he was eating, and he might jump on his back and ride him up to the +stable, where he would find the side-saddle. John very soon appeared in +front of the house with the pony neatly combed, brushed, and ornamented +with a very pretty little white side-saddle and bridle, a present which +Helen had received from her grand-mamma the last time she had visited +Eskdale. "My dear Helen," said the old lady, when she presented them to +her, "I have brought you this side-saddle, in hopes that it may induce you +to conquer your fears of mounting a horse. I am very anxious, considering +the part of the world in which you live, that you should learn to ride +well; as it may be of essential consequences to you through life. +Besides," added she, smiling, "you know, my dear, that unless you are a +good horsewoman, I can never have the pleasure of seeing you at Melrose; +for your dear papa cannot afford to send you by any other mode of +conveyance. Nothing but practice will ever give you the confidence that is +necessary to enable you to accomplish this; and I hope that, whenever you +see pony dressed in his new saddle and bridle, it will remind you of the +great delight that I shall have in seeing my dear girl riding up to my +door at Melrose." Helen thanked her grandmother, and said she would try if +she could learn; but she hoped her papa would walk close by her side, and +make Bob go very slowly at first. Nothing, she was sure, would give her so +much pleasure as to go and visit her dear grandmamma. Her mother took an +opportunity of speaking to her when they were alone, and told her that if, +in the course of the summer, she had gained a sufficient command of her +pony and a firm seat in her side-saddle, she should accompany both her +parents to Melrose in August, the time when they usually made their annual +visit to the good old lady. + +Helen was quite delighted with this promise, and for the moment forgot +what she had to accomplish before her journey could take place. However, +next morning, on going down stairs, after she had finished her lessons, +she found that, though she had forgotten all about learning to ride, her +father had not; for before the little glass door of the study stood Bob, +the pony, ready saddled and bridled, and her papa waiting anxiously for +his little girl's appearance. As soon as he saw her, he called out, "come +Helen, my dear, I am quite ready to give you your first lesson in riding, +and I hope I shall have an expert little scholar." Helen walked rather +slowly towards her papa; and when he took her in his arms to put her on +the pony, she looked a little pale, but as she had promised to try to +learn, she endeavoured to conquer her fears, and suffered herself to be +placed on the saddle very quietly. Her father took a great deal of pains +to show her how to hold her bridle, and how to manage Bob; and after +making him walk gently two or three times round the green, in front of the +house, whilst he himself held her on, Mr. Martin ventured to leave her +seated alone, and only walked by her side. + +After repeating this for two or three days, Helen began to feel more +comfortable, and even was glad when her riding hour arrived. In the course +of a week she had ridden as far as the end of the green holm, and had +begun to allow Bob to trot home. In another week she had ventured on a +canter: and for the last month had improved so much as to become her +father's constant companion in all his walks through the parish, when he +went either to visit the sick, or comfort the afflicted; duties which are +conscientiously performed by the Scottish clergy in general, and by none +more regularly than they were by Mr. Martin. Helen now felt that she was +rewarded for all the trouble she had had in conquering her fears; for, +besides the pleasure she enjoyed in the exercise, she was by these means +enabled to see much more of the beautiful country in which she lived, than +she could ever have accomplished by walking; and besides, her dear father +was always by her side, to point out and explain all the beauties of the +surrounding scenery, as well as to relate to her many of the little local +stories, which abound in that part of the country, and possess peculiar +interest to the young mind. Her mother, on her return, quite delighted, +from one of these charming excursions, took the opportunity of pointing +out to her the advantages of perseverance and self-command, and Helen +promised, and indeed firmly resolved, never again to allow herself to give +way to foolish fears; nor ever to fancy it impossible to conquer what +might at first sight appear difficult, until she had at least tried with +her whole mind to overcome the difficulty. + + + + +CHAP II. + + +We must now return to our little party, who were setting out on their +excursions towards the _glen_, that is to say, a deep and narrow opening +between the hills which bound the dale. + +John had no sooner assisted Helen to mount Bob, than Mr. Martin made his +appearance, accompanied by Mrs. Martin, who came to see them set off, she +being detained at home that morning, arranging some household affairs, +which required her presence, and which would not admit of delay. After +wishing them good bye, and giving Helen many charges to be careful, and +keep a firm hold of her bridle, Mrs. Martin returned into the house, and +the travellers proceeded to follow the windings up towards the glen, where +David Little's cottage stood. Nothing can exceed the beauty of this walk. +The holm extends above a mile above Mr. Martin's house, divided by a large +and rapid river, on each side of which hills rise, almost as high as the +eye can reach, covered with rich, smooth verdure, up to the very top, and +seeming to shut out the inhabitants of the valley from all communication +with the rest of the world. As Mr. Martin and the young people proceeded +leisurely along the road, he related to them several stories, which +occurred to him at the moment, and which he thought would interest and +amuse them. He told them that, in former times, before Scotland and +England were united, there were continual wars between the _Borderers_, +or inhabitants of the country on each side of the border dividing the two +kingdoms; and that, in order to check the English from coming over, and +plundering the Scotch of their sheep and cattle, one of the Scottish +kings, named James, was said to have brought a family of seven brothers, +of the name of ELLIOTT, from the Highlands, a stout and hardy race, whom +he settled all along the borders of Scotland; "and the Elliotts," said he, +"my dears, who, you know are now so numerous all through the Dale, are +said to be descended from these seven brothers." Mr. Martin was going on +to tell of Johnnie Armstrong, who was one of the great chieftains of those +times, and was a sad enemy to the English, when John, who had been +listening with great eagerness to all he had heard, cried out, "Oh! +Johnnie Armstrong! I have heard of him sir, all the Dale knows about him. +He was a great robber, was he not? I remember, my father used to sing some +old songs about him to me; and I think I could repeat parts of the verses +myself, if Miss Helen would like to hear them, and you, sir, would give me +leave." "Certainly John," answered Mr. Martin, "I am sure Helen will like +to hear them much." + +John cleared his voice, and after considering a little while, began the +following old ballad:-- + + Some speak of lords, some speak of lairds, + And such like men of high degree; + Of a gentleman I sing a song, + Sometime called Laird of Gilnockie. + + The King he writes a loving letter, + With his own hand so tenderly, + And he hath sent it to Johnnie Armstrong, + To come and speak with him speedily. + + The Elliotts and Armstrongs did convene, + They were a gallant company; + "We'll ride and meet our lawful king, + And bring him safe to Gilnockie." + + They ran their steeds on the Langholm holm, + They ran their steeds with might and main; + The ladies looked from their high windows, + God bring our men well back again. + +John stopped here and said, "he did not remember the whole ballad, for it +was very long, but he knew that the story was that Johnnie was deceived by +the king, who only wanted to get him into his power, by enticing him out +of his own country; and having succeeded in this, he caused poor Armstrong +and all his followers to be hanged. He would try," he said, and "remember +the last two verses, which gave an account of Armstrong's death." + + Farewell, my bonny Gilnockhall, + Where on Esk side thou standest stout! + If I had lived but seven years more, + I would have gilt thee round about. + + Because they saved their country dear + From Englishmen, none were so bold, + While Johnnie lived on the border side, + None of them durst come near his hold. + +Just as John had finished his ballad, they turned out of the main road, up +a narrow path, into the glen. On their right hand a small clear brook, or, +as it is called in Scotland, a _burn_, ran down among the brush-wood; now +hid from view, now showing its white foam, bursting over the stones which +obstructed its passage. The walk from this till our little party reached +David's cottage was extremely beautiful, amongst natural woods, varied +hills, and bold rocks, over which the burn kept continually pouring, with +a loud but pleasing noise. A wooden bridge, which might, indeed, more +properly be called a plank, was thrown across the burn at the narrowest +part, and rested upon the rock on each side, a little above which stood +the remains of an old watch-tower. Altogether the scene was so beautiful, +that, whilst Helen dismounted, and John endeavoured to coax Bob across the +bridge, Mr. Martin took out his sketch-book and made a drawing of it. + +When they had crossed to the other side, the road took a winding turn +amongst the hills; and their minds were so impressed with the grandeur of +the scenery, that, from the time they quitted the bridge, they ceased +speaking; only pointing out to each other, as they advanced, any new +beauty that suddenly presented itself. The cottage was built about half a +mile above the bridge, on a shelving bank, which they could only reach by +ascending a little path with steps cut in the rock. At the bottom of these +rude stairs Mr. Martin desired John to fasten Bob to the stump of an old +tree, which grew conveniently near it. When they reached the top of this +ascent, they found a small clay-built hut, thatched with furze, erected +close under the shelter of an immense rock, which hung with frowning +grandeur over it, and seemed to threaten to crush it and its inhabitants +to pieces. About a hundred square yards of ground were cleared from the +surrounding brushwood, part of which David had cultivated, as a little +garden, and had planted it with vegetables, as an assistance in the +support of his family. The rest formed a pasture, in the middle of which +was feeding a goat, confined from ranging far by a cord fastened to one of +its feet, and tied to a piece of wood driven into the ground. + +On Mr. Martin's appearance, the shepherd's dog set up a loud and shrill +bark. Two or three ragged children ran into the house, calling out, that +"the _Minister_ was come," (the name which the Scottish clergy generally +receive from their parishioners). On hearing this joyful information, +their mother soon appeared, and having obtained silence, both from the dog +and the children, proceeded to welcome her visitors in the most hospitable +manner, assuring Mr. Martin that her husband had greatly desired this +favour. She added, that the surgeon had seen him that morning, and had +assured her that, could he refrain from fretting, and be left undisturbed, +he did not doubt of David's being able to walk in a few months as well as +ever. "That, I fear," continued she, "is next to impossible; for when he +sees his dear little children going without their usual food, which they +are now obliged to do, as I cannot get more for my work than will supply +them with one good meal a day, he must fret and regret his being laid +aside, and prevented from going to the hill to earn their suppers for +them. However, Sir, I am glad that you are come, for I am sure a word from +you will comfort him, and make him easier than he has been since he met +with this unlucky accident." Mr. Martin immediately went into the hut, +desiring his daughter and John to wait for him on the outside. + +While the worthy clergyman was with David, Helen remained talking with his +wife. The children were so shy, that they could not be prevailed on to +come forward and speak to her, but stood wrapping their little heads up in +the corner of their mother's apron, taking a sly peep at the strangers, +when they thought they were not observed. Helen at last recollected her +basket, and asked John to give it to her. As soon as she began to unfold +the snow-white napkin in which her present was wrapped, the little heads +gradually approached nearer and nearer to the basket; and when Helen took +out a few cakes of _parliament_(a kind of gingerbread very common in +Scotland), and gave each of them one, the little creatures began jumping, +shouting, and clapping their hands with delight. She then presented to +their mother a loaf of bread and a bottle of currant wine, which last, she +said, she was desired to tell her was for herself, as wine was not good +for David. "No, no, Miss Helen," said Mrs. Little, "that will never do. I +cannot think of drinking our good madam's wine myself, I assure you; I +will just put it by the spence, (_spence_ means _cupboard_) till David +is beginning to get about again, and then I think it will help to +strengthen him." "Do what will give you most pleasure, Mrs. Little," said +Helen; "I dare say my mother will be satisfied." + +She had scarcely finished speaking, when she felt a little hand take hold +of hers. It was the eldest of the shepherd's children, a boy about seven +years old. When he found that she observed him, he pulled her gently down, +to whisper to her, that if she would like to see his hen and chickens, he +would show them to her. "The chickens," he said, "were only two days old, +and were very pretty creatures." Helen replied, that she should like to +see them much. Away skipped Tom, as fast as he could run, to the end of +the cottage, and lifting up an old rug, that lay over a coop, displayed +the young brood and their mother to the admiring eyes of the visitors. Tom +was quite delighted to find the lady amused with any thing he had to +exhibit, and told her, that if he succeeded in rearing them, he would ask +his mammy's leave to come down himself to the _Manse_ (the name always +given to the parsonage house in Scotland), and bring her a chicken as a +present; for they were all his own; his daddy had given him the hen long +ago, and he had watched and fed her, all the time she was sitting, with +part of the porridge which he got for his own breakfast. Helen asked him +how he could spare any of his porridge, as she supposed that, now his +father was sick, he got nothing else to eat all day. "Oh," said he, "it is +but little she eats; and though, to be sure, I am sometimes very hungry, +and could eat it all myself. I keep thinking how happy I shall be if I can +have some pretty chickens to give my mammy to lay eggs; for, then, you +know she can sell them up at the hall, next August, when the English +gentry come. The English," continued he, looking up at Helen with a very +grave face, "must be very fond of eggs; for do you know they gave my mammy +a whole white shilling for a dozen last year." Helen thought as Tom did, +that the English must indeed be fond of eggs, if they gave so much money +for them. She had never seen her mother give more than fourpence or +fivepence a dozen; and she thought she would ask, when she got home, +whether it could really be as Tom said. + +Whilst they were looking at the chickens, the dog, that had been lying at +the door, rose leisurely, shook himself, and walked after them. He stood +close by Helen, wagging his tail and looking pleased; but when she stooped +down to take one of the chickens in her hand, he began to growl at a +terrible rate. "Down, Colly, down!" said Tom; "he won't bit you, Miss, for +he is the best natured creature in the world; he is only afraid you may +hurt the chicken. We always liked Colly very much, but now more than ever; +for it was he, poor fellow, that came and told mammy that daddy had fallen +down." "Stop, Tom," cried Helen, "take care what you say. How could a dog +_tell_ any body what had happened to your father? Do you know what a +naughty thing it is to fib?" "Yes, I do know very well, Miss, that it is +wicked to tell fibs;" answered Tom, stoutly, "but mammy can assure you, +that what I am saying is true." "Yes, indeed," said his mother, "Tom +speaks the truth; though perhaps he should not have used exactly the word +_told_, for the dog certainly did not speak, he only barked. If you +please, I will tell you what he did; and then I think you will believe +Tom, and love poor Colly too." + +"It was in the evening of last Wednesday se'nnight: David was just come +home from the hill, where he had been with his sheep. He was wet and tired +with being out in the rain all day; and I had just got him some dry +clothes, and made up a nice blazing fire, to boil some potatoes for his +supper. The two youngest children had climbed up on his knee, poor things! +Tom and Colly were lying at his feet on the hearth. We were saying, what a +dreadful night it was. The rain and wind were beating against the cottage, +and making it almost shake; when, between the blasts, I thought I heard +the sound of a voice, calling David. I listened, and very soon there came +a violent knocking at the door. Who can be out at this time of night, and +in such weather? said I, as I went to open it. 'Make haste, David,' said +Peggy Oliphant, our master's little herd-girl, as she stepped into the +house. 'Come away as fast as you can: there is a horse ready saddled for +you, down at the farm; for our master is taken dangerously ill, and my +mistress thinks, if he has not immediate advice, he will die before +morning; so she begs you will lose no time in riding to Langholm, for Mr. +Armstrong. It is a dreadful night, to be sure, she says, to send you out; +but it is a work of necessity.' David scarcely waited to hear her out. He +took his _maude_ (a woollen plaid cloak which the shepherds wear), and +wrapping it closely round him, set off as fast as he could run, telling me +to put the children to bed, and he would be back as soon as he could. He +would soon ride to Langholm; it was not more than four miles and a half; +and he would gallop all the way. Well, Miss, away he and Peggy went; and I +sat waiting and listening all night, but no David appeared. + +"I had just dropped into a kind of sleep, when I was awakened by Colly +barking most piteously. Up I jumped, glad to think that David was come +back; but, on opening the door, only Colly was to be seen. The moment he +beheld me, he took hold of my apron, and tried to draw me out of the +house. I could not think what he wanted; and pulling my apron from him, +went back towards the fire to stir it; but before I could get half way to +the fire place, Colly had laid hold of me again, pulling very hard, and +looking up in my face, howling. I then began to think that something must +be the matter; so I determined I would go with him, and see what it was. +He held me fast till he got me down the steps, and then he ran a little +before me, looking back every minute, to see if I followed him, and +running on again, till we were about half a mile down the glen. Oh, Miss! +I shall never forget the fright I felt when I saw my master's horse +standing grazing by the road side, and the saddle turned quite round under +him. I began, then, to run after Colly, as fast as my trembling limbs +would let me; and in about five minutes I came to the place where my poor +husband was lying on the grass. Colly was standing close to him, licking +his hand, just as if he had been telling him that help would soon come to +his relief. David tried to make the best of his misfortune to me, and said +he did not think he was very much hurt; only his leg was sprained, he +believed, for he could not walk. He bade me go directly to the farm, and +get some of the men to come and carry him home. I did as he desired me; +and the men servants very readily went to his assistance. Just as I was +leaving the farm, Mr. Armstrong, who had been up with our master, came out +into the yard, and seeing the men running, asked me what was the matter. +He very kindly said he would go with me to the cottage, and see where +David was hurt; and very well it was that he did so, for when we got +thither we found that David had fainted from the acute pain he felt when +they began to move him. As soon as we got him into bed, he recovered +himself a little, and Mr. Armstrong then found that his leg was _broken_, +not sprained as he had told me. You may be sure that this was bad news for +me. The setting of the bone put him to great torture, but he bore it +better than could have been expected; and Mr. Armstrong now says he will +do very well, if he be properly taken care of; and to help us to get what +was necessary, he was so kind as to give us half a crown out of his own +pocket; God bless him for his goodness to poor distressed creatures as we +are! He has seen him every day since; and I am sure I do not know what +David and I can ever do to shew our gratitude towards him." + +"Now," cried Tom, "Miss Helen, what do you think of Colly? Did I not tell +the truth?" "Yes, my dear, I think you meant to do so; but my mamma always +bids me be sure to be very particular how I express myself when I am +relating a story, for fear of being misunderstood; and if you had said +Colly barked to let your mother know that your father was hurt, then I +should have understood you better, and not have suspected you of an +untruth, which I am very sorry for having done. I think Colly deserving to +be loved very much, by every body that hears the story. I will tell it to +papa and mamma; and I am sure they will admire Colly's sagacity and +affection for his master." + +Mr. Martin now made his appearance at the door of the cottage, and called +to John to make haste and get the pony ready, as he thought they would +have time to go up the river, as far as Craigie Hall, one of the oldest +family seats in Eskdale. The gardener had promised to give him some +curious flower seeds, and the time was now come for saving them. He +therefore, took leave of Mrs. Little; Helen shook hands with Tom, and bade +him be sure to remember his promise of coming to the Manse to see her. +"That I will," cried Tom, "and bring my chicken with me whenever it is big +enough to leave its mother, if mammy will give me permission."-- + + + + +CHAP. III. + + +When Mr. Martin and the young folks had got to the bottom of the steps, +Helen once more mounted her pony, and they proceeded down the glen till +they nearly reached the beginning of the green holm, when they again +turned up the public road, by the side of the river; Bob chose here to +make a stop, to drink some of the clear sweet water of the burn, before he +crossed it; and while he was gratifying his taste, John observing that the +late rains had washed away some of the stepping stones, which served to +prevent passengers from wetting their feet in getting to the other side, +began to bring the largest he could carry, for Mr. Martin's accommodation; +and by the time that Bob had finished his drink, had made quite a dry path +for him to cross. As for himself, poor fellow, stepping stones were not +necessary; for the boys in his rank in life in Scotland wear neither +stockings nor shoes during the week; only on Sundays are they indulged +with this piece of finery. Mr. Martin looked pleased with this attention. +"Thank you, John," said he; "that is being both a useful and observing +boy. Such little civilities to those around you, my dear, will make you +beloved by everybody;" and turning to Helen, he continued, "This is what +your dear mother calls natural politeness, and which she loves so much to +see in young people; as she says it is the mark of a good disposition." +Bob now moved on, Mr. Martin and John by his side, conversing upon +different subjects. Just after they had crossed the burn, they reached the +farm-house of David Little's master, Mr. Elliott, which stood on a rising +ground, at no great distance. + +There was nothing remarkable in the house itself; but its situation was +extremely beautiful: the little burn running on one side of it, and the +more majestic Esk on the other; the garden in front extending quite to the +edge of the rock, at the bottom of which a narrow path had been cut, +barely sufficient to allow the small carts of the country to pass along. +"Here," said Helen to her father, pointing to it, "is the loveliest spot +in the whole dale for a residence. Were I rich, I should like to buy that +house and garden, and live in it with you and mamma; would you like to +live there, papa?" asked she. "Why," returned he, "my dear Helen, I think +you have certainly shown your taste by making choice, in the event of +being rich, of Mr. Elliott's cottage; for I have often thought as you do, +that it is the most beautiful situation in the dale; but I am not sure, +for myself, that I should like to live there, in preference to the snug +comforts of my own little manse. Custom has endeared my present home to +me, and I own that to me it would be a painful sacrifice, to be obliged to +move out of it; even were it to go to a rich home of yours. However, my +dear," continued he, "though I may, with the blessing of God, hope to end +my days in my present peaceful abode, yet, in the natural course of +events, you probably will have to look out, at some future time, for +another place of residence; and should you become rich, which at present +is not very likely, you then may be able to gratify your ambition, if a +knowledge of the world should not produce in you a change of mind, in +regard to this object." + +Helen was silent for some minutes, considering what was meant by saying +she might be obliged to change her place of residence; and when her +father's meaning broke upon her mind, the tears stole gently down her +cheeks. Poor girl! it was almost the first painful thought her dear parent +had ever raised in her mind; and it was with great difficulty she +suppressed her emotion. She knew, however, that her kind mother was +extremely anxious, and indeed had spared no pains to teach her the +necessity of controlling her feelings, as she had a great dislike to that +sickly kind of sensibility which many children are in the habit of +indulging, by giving way to tears on trivial occasions; a habit which two +years before she herself had found great difficulty in overcoming. The +judicious management of her mother, aided by her own sincere desire to +please so good a parent, had now nearly corrected this habit. Of what +great and essential service this was to her happiness through life, will +appear in the course of this little tale. John had heard all that passed, +but did not quite comprehend what was meant. He walked on, however, in +silence, considering in his mind how much he should like to be rich enough +to gratify Miss Helen. Little did he think, poor boy, that the day would +come, when, in that very cottage, he would receive Miss Helen, and watch +over her declining health, with all the respect and affection of a +brother. + +Mr. Martin, observing that his conversation had thrown a little gloom over +the faces of the young folks, said cheerfully, "Come, my dears! let us +think of something that will amuse us. Helen! suppose you sing us a song! +John has given us one already; and I heard you telling your mamma last +night that you had learnt a pretty new one; I should like to hear you sing +it very much." "Well, papa," said Helen, "I will try to please you; but I +am afraid I am not quite perfect yet. I hope you will excuse me, if I make +any blunders." She then began the following lines, which she sang in a +sweet, clear and natural voice: + +I. + + My brother's a shepherd, so artless and gay, + Whose flock ranges over yon mountain, + And sweet is his song at the close of the day, + By the echoing rock of the fountain. + +II. + + With him, how delightful, to stray o'er the lawn, + When spring all its odours is blending! + Together to mark the sweet blush of the dawn, + Or the sun in his glory descending! + +Soon after her little song was finished, Helen's attention was caught by a +green plat of ground, about fifty or sixty feet in breadth, surrounded by +circular earthen walls; and pointing to it, she asked her father what +_that_ was. He told her it was called a _birren_ in that country, where +there were several of them, and that they were supposed to have been +intended for places of safety for the cattle at the time of the border +wars. They were now arrived at Muirkirk, a small church, which belongs to +the parish adjoining Mr. Martin's. It is pleasantly situated on the banks +of the river, near a stone bridge, consisting of three arches. The +building is very neat, and adds greatly to the beauty of the country. Near +it is the mausoleum of the family of Craigie Hall, a very elegant piece of +architecture. The manse stands at a little distance from the church. Mr. +Martin called on his friend the clergyman, but found the family were all +gone on a visit farther up the dale;--so our party did not stop, but went +on to Craigie Hall to get the flower-seeds. + +When they reached the hall, they fortunately found Mr. Scott, the +gardener, at home, who received them with great pleasure, and invited +them, as the family were not at home, to walk into his own house and take +some refreshment before he showed them the garden and grounds. Our young +people were glad to find him so considerate, for they began, particularly +John, to be rather hungry. Mrs. Scott produced a nice bason of cream, some +excellent butter, oaten cakes, and a beautiful large ewe-milk cheese. She +invited Mr. Martin and Helen to sit down and partake of her humble fare, +which they very readily complied with. John was not forgotten, for she had +put a pretty good portion for him on a seat at the outside of the door, +her small house not affording two sitting apartments, and she conceived it +would not be respectful to the Minister to bring the herd-boy inside the +house. Mr. Scott, as they sat eating their luncheon, told them that a +curious thing had occurred that morning, about a mile up the dale, at the +_Roman camp_. This is a place, the like of which is to be found in many +parts both of England and Scotland, being a small grassy hill, on the top +of which are long ditches and mounds of earth, seemingly intended for +fortifications, and supposed to have been made by the Romans, when they +first invaded Britain. Near this spot, some labourers had been employed +digging a piece of ground, and one of them, in the course of his work, +struck upon something hard, which, after much labour, he succeeded in +raising, when it proved to be an urn, or large sort of earthen vessel, in +which were a number of gold and silver coins and other rarities. Mr. +Martin, who had found great amusement in his retired manner of living, in +collecting whatever was curious in the neighbourhood, said, he should much +like to see this urn, and inquired of Mr. Scott if he thought it were +possible to get a sight of the labourer who found it. "Oh yes, Sir," +answered Mrs. Scott, "that you may easily do, for it was Archie Kerr who +found it, and his mother lives only about a mile and a half from this +place; but I think, if your honour wants to see it, you had better send up +to him at once, for it is most likely that some of the neighbouring gentry +will buy it from him, as soon as they hear of it." Mr. Martin thought she +was very right, and began considering how he could send a message, as he +felt it was rather further than he liked to walk. At last he determined on +sending John upon the pony, Mrs. Scott assuring him he could not miss his +way to Jenny Kerr's, it being the first house he came to after passing the +_Shaw rigg_, where a large stone stood on his left hand. John was no +sooner applied to, than he willingly undertook to deliver the message, and +taking Miss Helen's side-saddle off, and throwing one of Mrs. Scott's +horse-rugs over the pony's back, jumped upon it very alertly, and trotted +off with a grin of delight on his face, proud at heart in being trusted to +ride Miss Helen's pony. As soon as it was gone, Helen asked her father +what was the reason of calling the place where the great stone described +by Mrs. Scott stood, the Shaw rigg? Her father told her the tradition of +the country was, that it took its name from _Shaw_, a Pictish king, to +whom that part of the land belonged. "I am glad, my dear," added he, "that +you take care to ask about what you do not perfectly understand. Many +children are so foolish as to be ashamed to let those they converse with +discover that they do not comprehend every thing said to them, by which +means they often imbibe erroneous ideas, and perhaps remain in a state of +ignorance on many essential subjects, when, by questioning their relatives +or friends, they might easily have obtained correct information." + +Mr. Scott now proposed a walk in the garden, which was planted in the +Dutch style of stiff walks with high hedges, and was, according to the +present taste, any thing but admirable. Its appearance, however, was +extremely curious, contrasted with the natural and luxuriant beauties of +the country by which it was surrounded. The house was small, considering +the rank and consequence of the family to whom it belonged. It is said +that they originally came from Clydesdale, and brought with them a thorn, +which still grows on a little mount before the door, though they have been +settled there several centuries. The gardener, after leading them through +the garden and grounds, took them into the greenhouse to notice some +curious plants, such as the aloe, that blossoms only once in a century; +the beautiful oleander, a native of Spain and Italy, which thrives in +British greenhouses; the prickly pear, which is without a stem, the leaves +growing out of each other; they are large, broad, and thick, and covered +with prickles. In warm climates, this plant grows wild, and may be trained +to form an almost impenetrable fence. It bears a sort of fruit somewhat +resembling a pear, to which the natives are partial, but strangers +generally consider it insipid, and not worth the trouble of getting at it. + +On quitting the greenhouse, they began to wonder at John's not returning. +Mr. Scott advised them, after their fatigue, to enter the house and seat +themselves with his wife, while he would walk towards the _Shaw rigg_ in +search of John. On their entrance they found with Mrs. Scott a little +girl, about seven years old, whom she introduced to them as her daughter +Marion. Helen begged she would go on with her work, she having timidly +risen to quit the room; and as a little encouragement to her, Helen asked +what she was doing; Marion immediately came to her, and showed her part of +a shirt she was making for her father. Helen was surprised to see it so +neatly done, as needlework is very little practised by the peasants in +that country; the children, both girls and boys, being employed till the +age of sixteen or eighteen in tending their father's or their master's +sheep. Mrs. Scott, observing Helen's surprise, said, "Marion is a good +needle-woman, Miss; she has to thank the housekeeper at the hall for +teaching her that and many other useful things. Mrs. Smith is an +Englishwoman, and has taken a great fancy to Marion. She has persuaded her +father and me not to send her to the hills, like the other children +around; assuring us, that if Marion does not forget in the winter what she +has learnt in the summer from her, she has no doubt, when she is old +enough, to be able to get my lady to take her to wait on one of her +daughters; and indeed, Miss, I shall like this much better, if we can make +it out, for Marion is not strong; she is our only child, and it would +break both her father's heart and mine should any evil happen to her; such +as falling down the rocks, being frost-bitten, or lost in the snow, which +happens sometimes to our neighbour's children, who are sent out herding in +the winter." Helen said she was very glad that Marion was not to be sent +to the hills; and Mr. Martin added, if Mr. Scott considered Marion able to +undertake the walk to his house, he would lend her some improving books to +read. For though Mr. Scott was competent to instruct his daughter in +common reading, writing, and arithmetic, which sort of knowledge all +gardeners in that country acquire while young, his collection of books was +not altogether calculated to improve a child's taste or understanding. + +Meanwhile, Mr. Scott had walked nearly a mile without seeing any thing of +John. At last, on turning a corner of the road, he perceived him at a +distance, not mounted in triumph as he had set off on his excursion, but +walking slowly, and leading Bob, who did not seem at all inclined to +quicken his pace. As soon as he thought he could be heard, he called to +John to know what was the matter. John did not answer very readily, but +waited till he had got quite close to Mr. Scott before he said a word. +Then dropping his head, and looking very confused, he gave the following +account of himself. He said that Bob trotted nicely about half a mile, +after which he could not get him to go a pace faster than a walk; he tried +all he could do to make him move, but Bob was so obstinate, that he became +afraid of keeping Mr. Martin waiting. He then wished for a spur, and after +thinking and thinking, he recollected having some large pins stuck in the +sleeve of his coat. He thought they would do, could he contrive to fix +them on his feet, but how to do this he did not very well know, as he had +no shoes to fasten them to; at last he thought he would try to fix them on +with a piece of twine which he had in his pocket, and after many attempts, +succeeded so far as to drive one of his pins into poor Bob's side, who by +no means relishing this method of coercion, set off instantly at a hand +gallop. John courageously kept his seat, holding fast, first by the +bridle, but, as the velocity of the motion increased, at last by the mane; +when perceiving a good wide ditch cut in the road, he flattered himself +that Bob would stop, and would content himself with going at a quieter +pace the rest of the way. Scarcely had he formed this wise resolution, +when Bob cleared the ditch at one spring; the jerk came so suddenly, and +was so little expected by John, that he made the finest somerset in the +world over Bob's head, and was set down quite safely on his feet, about +four yards beyond the ditch. Bob, in the mean time, seemed quite satisfied +with the revenge he had had, and stopped directly; and he was busy +regaling himself on the fresh grass that grew around him by the time John +had regained sufficient composure to know where he was. + +As soon as he could think, he became convinced he had been a very foolish +boy; and, therefore, determined he would mount Bob no more that day, as it +was better for Mr. Martin to wait a little longer for him, than to risk +giving him the trouble of nursing him with a broken leg, like poor David +Little. He therefore took hold of the bridle and led Bob along the road, +till he reached Jenny Kerr's, where he found that Archie was not at home, +but gone up the glen as far as Mr. Hume's, to show him the urn and the +coins. John thought he could not go back and have nothing to tell but his +own disaster. He therefore begged Jenny to direct him towards Mr. Hume's; +and, having fastened Bob up safely, he set out on foot in search of +Archie. As he had to cross the water in order to get to Mr. Hume's house, +Jenny advised him to take Archie's stilts, two long pieces of wood, with a +sort of step fastened on each, about the middle, wide enough to hold a +man's foot, and which are in common use among all ranks in that country +for crossing the river, where the depth will not admit of stepping stones. +She said, he must on no account attempt crossing the river without them, +for the danger was increased by the rains which had swollen the river +considerably. + +John had never before _stilted_ the water, as it is called, but he +determined that, as he had acted very foolishly in the affair of Bob, he +would take great care with the stilts, and, therefore, when he arrived at +the edge of the river, he mounted cautiously, as Jenny had advised him to +do. For the first half of the way, he went very well; but, when in the +middle of the stream, he found her precautions very necessary, for the +water was nearly above his feet, and the current was so rapid as to +require all his strength to move the stilts. As the difficulty increased, +he was obliged to stop and rest himself. "Aha!" said he, "a fall here +would be worse than even over Bob's ears. Surely this is a bad beginning +for my practice in service. I think if I meet with many days like this, I +am likely to have but little comfort in it; however, my poor father has +often told me, there is nothing like perseverance, and I am sure I found +it in learning my letters; for, when I first began, I thought it nearly +impossible that I should remember the names of those crooked ill-shaped +things, and yet I became sooner acquainted with them than I thought I +should; so I will even try again to get out of this scrape." So resolving, +he began to move forward, and at last, by taking great care, reached the +opposite side in safety. + +He soon ran on to Mr. Hume's where he found Archie, and delivered Mr. +Martin's message. Archie said he could not go down so far as Craigie Hall +that day, being obliged to finish his day's work at the Roman Camp. He had +already spent all his spare time with Mr. Hume; but he promised faithfully +to bring his new-found treasure down to Mr. Martin's the next evening, +after work hours; and he bade John tell Mr. Martin that he would not part +with the urn, or any of the coins till he had seen them. He then good +naturedly said he would see John over the river, for it was not safe for +such a little boy as he to cross it alone, while it was so full and +strong. As soon as John got over the water, he set off as fast as he could +walk to Jenny's for the pony, and putting the bridle round his arm, he +contrived to coax Bob into a gentle trot, which he kept up till he came in +sight of Mr. Scott, when remembering what a story he had to relate of his +own mishaps, he slackened his pace, and began to feel very foolish and +unwilling to tell what had happened to him. + +It is but justice to say, that, however unwilling he felt to have his +folly known, he never once thought of disguising the truth. He had been +too well taught for that. At the time when John's father was living, there +was no race of men, of any rank or country, that took more pains, (if +indeed so much,) as the Scottish peasantry did in instructing their +children, both in their moral and religious duties; and John had been +taught early, that the shadow of a lie was contrary to the duty of a +Christian, and that a child who, in the slightest degree, deceived his +parents, masters, or companions, would never merit or obtain the character +of an honest and just man. "Well, my lad," said Mr. Scott, after he had +heard his story, "I think you have got wonderfully well off, considering +your rash conduct; you should be thankful to Providence that you are alive +to relate it: I only hope it will be a warning to you never to be guilty +again of the like folly: so, cheer up, we will say no more about it, if +you promise to behave better the next time you are sent on an errand." +John said, what he very sincerely thought at the time, he would never +again try to wear spurs: he had had quite enough of them, and he hoped Mr. +Martin would not be very angry, or that would be the worst thing he had +met with yet, and what with the pony and the stilts, he had had quite +enough for one day. + +Mr. Martin and Helen now came to meet them, for they had become seriously +alarmed for the boy: but when the disaster was related, Helen could not +refrain from laughing at the comical figure John must have made when +flying over Bob's head; and even Mr. Martin, though he tried to look +grave, found it difficult to keep his countenance while he represented to +him the impropriety and hazard of his late conduct. Little Marion, who had +come out to the door to see the pony, was the only person that seemed to +enter into John's feelings. She sidled up to him, and said, "never mind, +John, Mr. Martin is not very angry, and you are not hurt; but," continued +she in a whisper, "you have torn the sleeve of your coat; I don't think +any of them have seen it yet; slip into the stable, and I will run and get +a needle and thread, and soon mend it, so that it can never be seen. It +will be done before the pony finishes his corn, that I saw my father +taking to him." + +John followed Marion's advice, who, from that day, was enthroned in his +heart, and considered by him as the best little girl he had ever been +acquainted with. Bob having eaten his corn, and Marion having mended +John's coat, quite to her own satisfaction, John led him out, ready +equipped, for Miss Helen, who mounted him directly. "Now, my dears," said +Mr. Martin, "we must make a little haste, for I am afraid your mother, +Helen, will be getting uneasy at our long absence. Only look! there is the +moon rising. We shall be quite late before we reach home." By the time +they got near the holm, the moon was shining in full grandeur. Her rays +played beautifully on the sparkling waters of the Esk, occasionally +intersected by the branches of the trees which grew on the banks of the +river. The night was clear; the stars shone above their heads with +brilliant splendor. Altogether Mr. Martin was so entranced, that, +forgetting the children were his only companions, he broke silence, +repeating the following lines: a translation of his own from Homer's +Iliad: + + As when around the full bright moon, in heaven, + The stars shine glorious; breathless is the air; + The lofty watch-towers, promontories, hills, + Far off are visible; the boundless sky + Opens above, displaying all its host + Of fires; and in the shepherd's heart is joy. + +Mr. Martin, when he had finished, smiled internally at his own enthusiasm: +the children were too much fatigued with the various adventures of the day +to offer any remark. They therefore continued silent till they arrived on +the green plat before the Manse, where they found Mrs. Martin waiting most +anxiously for their appearance. "Where can you have been, my dear Helen?" +asked her mother, as she assisted her to alight. "I really began to be +afraid some accident had happened to some of you." "No accident, my dear +wife, at least none of any consequence," said Mr. Martin, glancing a look +towards John, who made a hasty retreat with Bob into the stable. "But ask +no questions to-night, Helen will tell you all her adventures to-morrow +morning; at present she is too much fatigued to be kept out of her bed +longer than is necessary to eat her supper; let her have it directly, if +you please; and if you will give me a cup of tea, I think it will refresh +me. I am almost tired myself, which is not a usual thing." Helen ate her +supper, Mr. Martin had his tea; and, after a prayer by the Minister, at +which, as was customary, the whole family were present, they all retired +to bed. + + + + +CHAP. IV. + + +As soon as John awoke in the morning, all the occurrences of the previous +day passed in review through his memory; at last he recollected that he +was to give Mr. Martin an answer as to Mr. Laurie. "Well," thought he, "I +suppose I must go to the farm, but I would much rather stay with the +Minister and Miss Helen; for it was very pleasant walking with them +yesterday, and I liked very much to hear them converse and Miss Helen +sing; she surely has a pleasing voice. I wonder whether Marion can sing. I +am not sure whether I shall much like going to the hill every day, for it +is a tiresome life to be so many hours alone; but then," continued he, "I +cannot stay with Mr. Martin, for he has a herd-boy that has lived with him +some time; and I am sure I should not wish to make him lose his place, for +he, poor fellow, has no father any more than I have; and besides," added +he, "I am to have leave to come home every night to learn to read. I shall +take the place, if it be only for that; and again," continued he, after +thinking a little, "if my poor father were alive, he would think it such +an honour for the Minister himself to take the trouble of teaching his +son, and, now that he is dead, I am determined never to do any thing, that +he would have disapproved. However, I am glad that I have got summer +weather to begin with: I shall understand the business better before the +winter comes on, and, perhaps, be more reconciled to it." + +After coming to this wise determination, John sprang out of bed and +dressed himself as quickly as he could. When he came down stairs he was +surprised to find that all the family were up and at work. The study bell +rang, just as he got to the kitchen-door, and the maid said, "it is well, +my man, you are down before the bell has rung for prayers. See what the +Minister would have said, if you had been in your bed then? but come away +now, for we must not keep our master waiting."--Accordingly he followed +her into the study, where all the family were assembled, once more, to +render thanks to their Creator for the blessings of a new day. + +Helen gave her mother, during breakfast, an account of all she had seen +and done the day before; and when she had finished her recital, she said, +"Mamma, I have been thinking this morning that I have a half-guinea that +my grandmamma Elliott gave me, when she was last here, to buy a new gown; +at present I do not particularly want one, and I should like very much +that you would allow me to go down the water as far as Langholm, to buy +some coarse cloth to make frocks for poor David Little's children; they +are almost naked, and I do not think their father will be able to procure +them clothes for some time, while he is lying on a sick bed." "Helen," +said her mother, "you may do exactly as you please with your half-guinea, +it is your own; but I would have you think the subject well over before +you act. You know I have promised that you shall go with your father and +me to Melrose this autumn. Now, perhaps, you would like to have a new gown +to wear whilst you are there. It is but fair to tell you, that I shall not +be able to afford to buy you one this summer, having spent all I can +conveniently spare, in fitting out your brother for school. Therefore, my +dear, you must choose whether you prefer going to Melrose in your old +gown, in order to have the pleasure of dressing these poor little +creatures, or expend your money and appear smart, when you make your first +visit from home." Helen looked very serious for some minutes, and then +said, "my dear mamma, if you please, I will wait till to-morrow before I +give you my answer; for, at present, I really do not know what to do. I +should certainly like to be dressed neatly when I go to see grandmamma; +because I know that that would give her pleasure; but when I think of the +poor little naked children, they make my heart ache." "Very well, my dear, +be it so, go now, and begin your morning lessons." + +Mr. Martin then desired the servant, who was taking away the breakfast +things, to send John into his study, and giving Helen a kiss, and telling +her to be very attentive to her mother's instructions, left the room. On +entering the study, he found John standing ready to receive him. "Well, +John, what answer am I to give to Mr. Laurie?" asked Mr. Martin, "will you +be his servant and my scholar, or have you any objection to the plan? +Speak out, and don't be afraid. If you dislike being a herd-boy, I will +endeavour to think of something else, that may suit you better." "Thank +you, Sir, from my heart; I did intend only to say, yes, I will be Mr. +Laurie's herd-boy; but since you ask me if I have any objection, I will +tell you, Sir, all that has passed in my mind. I have been thinking how +lonely it will be up in the hills all day, and how cold and dreary I shall +feel when the winter comes on; but just as I had determined to tell you, I +would rather not be Mr. Laurie's servant, I remembered my poor father, and +how proud he would be, if he knew that you would teach me to read +yourself. That thought put all about the hill quite out of my head; and, +therefore, if you please, I will go to Mr. Laurie's whenever he wishes +it." "That is acting like a good and sensible boy," said Mr. Martin, "and +I hope you will have no reason to repent of your decision. I shall go now +and call on Mr. Laurie, and make an agreement for your coming to me in the +evening; and I think you had best come along with me and hear what he +wishes you to do." John went for his bonnet directly, and walked after Mr. +Martin, keeping near enough to speak to him, but still far enough behind, +to show his respect. "Sir," said John, as he walked along, "do you think +Mr. Laurie will give me a holiday on Handsel Monday?" (the first Monday in +the year, and the only holiday the Scottish peasantry ever allow +themselves, except, perhaps, in the case of a wedding). "Really, John, +that is a question I cannot answer; but if he does, how would you like to +employ it?" "The thing I should like best to do would be to take another +walk with you and Miss Helen. Oh, indeed, Sir, I never was so happy in my +life as I was yesterday; and besides, somehow it seems to have done me a +great deal of good, for I felt so miserable and unhappy from the time I +lost my father and mother, that I had no heart to do any thing; and it +seemed quite a trouble to me to move. Yesterday, when you first showed me +that great chest of books, and bade me dust them, I had nearly burst into +tears; but now, Sir, I feel as brisk as ever, and am sure I would do any +thing in the world to please you." "I am very glad to hear it, John; only +I think if you take another walk with us, we must bargain to have no +spurs." "No, no," said John, laughing, "you may be sure of that; I had +enough of them yesterday." + +They found Mr. Laurie at home; who very readily agreed to the proposal of +John's learning to read at the Manse, and promised that he should attend +regularly. He said, he must come into his service on the next Tuesday +morning, and, as he required him to set off by four o'clock for the hill, +he thought it would be best for John to sleep at the farm on Monday +evening. He promised to send his own shepherd along with him, for the +first day or two, to show him the method of managing the sheep; and also +to train the dogs to obey him readily. John was greatly pleased with this +promise, and returned to the Manse, in high spirits. Helen had finished +her lessons and was walking out with her mother; but it being Saturday, +Mr. Martin, as was his constant custom on that day, shut himself up in his +study, to prepare for the duty of the Sabbath. John, therefore, amused +himself as well as he could, by running down to the holm, and fishing with +an old fishing-rod, he found in the stable; and though he was not very +successful, he yet found sport enough to be pleased. + +At dinner, Helen complained of a bad headache, and was obliged to go and +lie down. Mrs. Martin was rather uneasy, as she had observed Helen's eyes +to be heavy, and feared it might arise from fever. Helen, however, was +much better after a short sleep, and got up to tea. As they were sitting +round the table, John put his head in the door, and said, Archie Kerr was +come down the dale, with the curiosities which he had found. Mr. Martin +desired him to walk into the parlour; and added "John, my lad, you may +come in, and see them too, if you like." Mr. Martin examined them, and +found them exceedingly curious. He was looking at one of the coins at the +window, when Mrs. Martin kindly enquired of Archie, how all his neighbours +were, up the dale. "Thank ye, ma'am, all are well, excepting Mr. Scott's +family at Craigie Hall, where poor little Marion is very ill. I am going, +when I leave the Minister, to Langholm, for Mr. Armstrong; as her father +was so distressed, that Mrs. Scott was afraid to let her husband come +himself." "If that is the case, Archie," said Mr. Martin, coming forward, +"I won't detain you another minute. Put up all your coins, and leave them +in my care till your return; and if you find Mr. Armstrong at home, tell +him he will oblige me by calling here, on his way, to let us know how the +poor little girl is. For the sake of her parents, I trust she will shortly +recover." + +Archie set off immediately, and Mr. Martin and his family sat conversing +together till the usual hour of going to supper, when one of the servants +looked in, and said, "if you please, Sir, did you send John any where?" +"No, indeed;" answered Mr. Martin. "is he not in the kitchen?" "No, Sir," +answered the maid; "and I cannot find him any where; the herd tells me, +that, as he was driving his sheep home, he saw John run down the lane as +fast as he could, and then down the holm. Colin thought he had forgotten +his fishing-rod, and was gone to fetch it, but he must have been back long +before this time, had that been his errand." This account seriously +alarmed both Mr. and Mrs. Martin; for it was very possible, that, in +looking for the fishing-rod, he might have fallen into the river. Mr. +Martin, therefore, anxiously took his hat and went in search of him. He +had become most truly attached to the boy, and would have been grieved to +the heart had any harm befallen him. After searching all along the river, +for nearly a mile, he was on the point of returning to get some assistance +to drag for him, when he heard the sound of feet as of some one running. +He listened; for the moon was not up, and the night was too dark to enable +him to see at any distance. The steps approached, and in a few seconds, he +was convinced that it was John running as fast as he could. He called to +him, but John was too much out of breath to answer. Mr. Martin's mind now +felt eased on the certainty of the boy's safety. He sat down on the bank, +to recover himself, being completely overpowered, and for some minutes +could not articulate a word; but silently offered up his thanks to +Providence for relieving him from such a state of misery, as well as for +the boy's safety. John, who had stood still, when he reached Mr. Martin, +could not think what was the matter, but seeing his master sitting on the +damp grass, entreated him to tell him if he was ill, and wanted to run on +to the house, for assistance. "No John," said Mr. Martin, "you have run +enough for one night.--Where have you been to give us all such a +fright?"--"Indeed, Sir, I am sorry if I frightened any of the family," +replied John; "I did not think of that, but I will tell you the whole +truth if you will only rise; for I am sadly afraid, you will catch cold by +sitting on the grass."--"You are right, my dear, I will rise immediately; +and do you tell me where you have been, for we thought you were drowned." +"Why, Sir," he said, "I was looking at that curious urn which Archie +found, when I heard him tell my mistress that poor Marion Scott was ill, +and that he was going to Langholm for Mr. Armstrong. Now, sir, when I used +to live with my father and mother, near Langholm, I many times observed +Archie come down there, and though I should be sorry to be a tale-bearer, +yet I cannot help explaining to you my reasons for acting as I did. I +often saw him in the public-house, and my father used to say he was sure +Archie would never do any good, if he did not mend his habits; for his +custom was to stop and drink spirits at every place where a dram was to be +had, all the way down the dale, and repeat the same on his return home +again. I remember once he was a whole day and night getting from Langholm +to the _Shaw rigg_. I thought, therefore, if Archie played his old trick +of stopping by the way, perhaps poor Marion might be dead before Mr. +Armstrong could get near her; so I determined that I would just run +myself; for she was kind to me yesterday, much kinder than you know of; +for, when you were all laughing at me, (which I very well deserved) Marion +came and whispered to me that my coat was torn, and that, if I would go +into the stable, she would mend it. I thought the least I could do, in +return, now that she is in trouble, was to try to get her some advice. + +"I luckily found Mr. Armstrong, and he assured me, that as soon as his +horse was saddled, he would go to her; and only think, Sir, when I came +back again, I saw Archie sitting in Robert Miller's house, drinking with +another man, I was so happy that I had gone myself! but now, Sir, that I +find I have frightened you and my mistress and dear Miss Helen, who was +not very well before, I do not know whether I ought to be glad that I went +or not." "You are a good-hearted grateful boy," said Mr. Martin, "and have +acted very properly, only you should have told some of us where you were +going, and then all would have been right." "I could not do that, Sir, for +I did not wish to tell of Archie's tricks; and I made quite sure that I +should be back long before the hour of prayer; I thought you would not +miss me till then." "Very likely I should not, had not Nelly come in +search of you; but it was very natural for her, and very proper, when she +discovered you were missing, to inform me of it." + +"Here we are, my dear wife, all safe," cried Mr. Martin, when he came near +the green plat, where Mrs. Martin stood with a lantern prepared, and Nelly +ready to search for her master and John also; "all is right. John has been +on a very needful errand, and no harm is done, save the unnecessary alarm +we have been put into; he has promised me, however, to be more careful, in +future, in letting us know before he sets out on any of his errands; so +let us go into the house for some supper, and give me a glass of raspberry +whisky, to keep me from taking cold, as I have been out too long in the +night air, and feel chilled with the damp of the river." Helen was gone to +bed by her mother's advice, but she could not sleep till she heard that +John had returned safely. + + + + + +CHAP. V. + + +Next morning, when the family assembled in the study, for the morning +service, Mrs. Martin observed, that Helen still looked pale and unwell; +but Helen said she did not feel ill, only as if she was very tired, and +had caught a cold. Her mother replied, "then my dear, you must not go to +church this morning; for though I disapprove very much of people absenting +themselves from the public worship of their Maker, upon every light and +trivial excuse, I think it wrong, when they are really ill, to go out, +even to church; as by that means they often endanger their lives. Such a +sacrifice is not required of us; and we act much more wisely by remaining +at home, in such cases, nursing ourselves, and taking care to spend our +time, not in idleness, but in our own private devotions." + +In Scotland, the observance of Sunday is strict, but nor morosely severe. +It is considered by the peasants as their grand day of innocent +recreation. Nothing that is trifling, or that can any how be done on +Saturday, is left for the Sabbath. The men are all shaved on Saturday +evening; and they would even scruple to gather a cabbage out of their +garden, on the Lord's day. + +Mr. Martin's parish church was about half a mile from the Manse. The walk +to it was pleasant, and presented a most lively scene, as Mr. and Mrs. +Martin set out, accompanied by the whole of their household, excepting +only one maid, who was left at home with Helen. John walked at Mr. +Martin's back, carrying the Psalm books and Bible. + +As they turned down the holm, the path, as far as the eye could reach, was +sprinkled with men and women, dressed in the usual costume of the country, +which consists of a woollen plaid, of a black and white small checked +pattern, very simply thrown round the women's shoulders, as a scarf. The +men wear it over the right shoulder only, and tied loosely under the left +arm. The women seldom wear bonnets; they have either a beaver hat, like a +man's, or else wear a snow-white cap, tied under their chin, and usually +ornamented with a showy ribbon. + +As Mr. Martin's family passed, every group stood still, making their bows +and curtsies in silence, for it would be reckoned rude to speak to the +Minister on his way to church; their greetings of enquiry being always +reserved till the service is over, when the older men and heads of +families look upon it as a sort of privilege, which they possess, to shake +hands with their pastor, enquire after his health, talk of the news of the +day, and not unfrequently give their opinion of the sermon he has just +been preaching. And indeed they are often much better qualified to judge +of such subjects, than the same class of society in other countries; which +arises from their having all been taught to read, as their fathers before +them had been, for several generations; and what has a most material +effect upon both their morals and conduct is, that their reading has been +properly directed to the study of the Holy Scriptures. + +After church, Mr. Martin having paid his compliments all around, and Mrs. +Martin having enquired who was sick, and if any one required her +particular attention, the family returned to the Manse, in the same order +in which they left it. They there found Mr. Armstrong, who had called on +his way from Mr. Scott's. He told them that Marion's complaint had turned +out to be the measles; and that, at present, she was extremely ill; but +that he hoped, in a few hours, there might be a favourable change. Mrs. +Scott had desired him to inform Mrs. Martin of these circumstances, as she +was anxious to know whether Miss Helen and John had had the disorder. + +Mrs. Martin immediately became alarmed, for Helen had never had it. Having +been rather a delicate child, she was kept out of the house, with a friend +in Langholm, at the time the disease had affected her brother. She +therefore begged Mr. Armstrong to step up to the bedroom, where Helen was +lying down, as her headache had come on again very violently. Mr. +Armstrong, on seeing her, pronounced that she had undoubtedly caught the +infection, and ordered her to be put to bed. On enquiry about John, they +fortunately found, that he had had the disease; which they were glad of, +as an illness, at present, must have prevented his going to Mr. Laurie's. + +The surgeon now took his leave, promising to call next morning at the same +hour; and saying to John, who stood at the door holding his horse. "You +must take another walk, my lad, to Langholm to-night, to bring some +medicine for Miss Helen, for I cannot well manage to send up myself; and +it is of consequence that she should take it in the evening." "I will do +that, Sir, with the greatest pleasure; or any thing else that is in my +power for Miss Helen; but I hope you do not think that either she or poor +Marion Scott is likely to die," endeavouring to conceal the tears that +were trickling down his cheeks; "I am sure I should feel as much, if that +were to happen, as I did when my own dear father and mother died; and oh, +Sir! that was a dreadful time." "I hope, my little fellow, there will be +no such bad doings as that;" answered Mr. Armstrong, "at least, we must +try all we can to prevent it; so do you come down to me when the +evening-service is over, and I will have every thing ready, that you may +not be detained. He makes a better messenger," continued he, turning to +Mr. Martin, "than Archie Kerr, who has not yet returned from Langholm, +though Mr. Scott sent him off yesterday morning. I suppose I shall meet +him on the road as I ride down, for he will be sure to be home in time for +his work to-morrow morning. To do him justice, he seldom forgets that; +though, when he can find an excuse to leave it, he is a sad tippling +fellow." + +The family now went to dinner, which on Sunday seldom consists of any +thing but eggs, bread and cheese, and such cold meat as may be in the +house. When they had finished their simple meal, Mr. Martin and the +servants returned to evening-service; but Helen's illness prevented her +mother from leaving her. When the service was over, John set out to +Langholm, promising to make all the haste in his power back to the Manse. + +He soon arrived at Mr. Armstrong's, and receiving the medicine, set off on +his return home. He walked very quick till he got upon the green holm, not +having met a single creature the whole way; for walking is considered a +very improper way of spending the Sabbath evening, unless when going upon +necessary business, as that is the greatest portion of time the peasantry +can bestow on catechising their children, and reading portions of +Scripture to their families. John was, therefore, rather surprised to see +a man walking before him, at a distance. As he himself went quick, he soon +came near enough to perceive that the person, whoever he was, instead of +going straight forward, kept moving from side to side of the road, in a +very extraordinary manner. "I do believe," thought John, "that this must +be Archie Kerr. Well! what will become of him, if, by any chance, the +minister should come out to look for me? Though he is a tipsy fellow, and +has behaved so ill about Marion, I should not wish any thing so bad as +_that_ to happen to him. I think I had best run as fast as I can and get +up the lane, and then Mr. Martin, when he sees me, will never think of +coming to the holm to-night." So saying, he began to hasten as fast as he +could; but just as came within a stone's throw of Archie, to John's great +alarm, Archie lost his balance, and fell, with his whole force, across the +road. John ran to endeavour to help him up again, but, when he got close +to him, he perceived that his head had struck against a stone, and that it +was bleeding profusely. "What shall I do now?" said John. "Pray, Archie, +try to raise yourself up, if you can; for I have not strength to move you, +and I cannot leave you lying here; for if a horse or cart were to come by, +you would be crushed to pieces." Archie spoke not, but John continued +pulling him as hard as he could, without the least success; and now, +becoming seriously alarmed, as he found his temple still bleeding in spite +of the neckcloth which John had taken from Archie's neck and tied round +his head, he thought the only thing he could do was to run home and +prevail on old Sandy, the shepherd, to come and help to remove Archie to a +place of safety. "But I will get as quietly as I can in at the back door +of the manse," thought John, "that the minister may know nothing about it; +for I don't know what would be the consequence, if he were to learn that +there was such a disgraceful sight, just before his own door, on a Sunday +evening." + +With this intention, John ran up the lane, and had just got his hand upon +the latch of the back door, which he was lifting gently up, when he heard +the study bell ring for prayers, which on Sunday were always before +supper, in order that the children and servants of the family might be +examined on what they had heard at church; an excellent practice, as it +induces them to be more attentive while there, and gives them an +opportunity of being instructed on points which they may not have +perfectly understood. John had no time to deliberate. He went in, and saw +the tail of the shepherd's coat, just going into the parlour. He sprung +forward, in hopes of drawing him back, without being observed; but Sandy +was too intent on what he had to say to the Minister to understand any of +the signs that John was making. He therefore only thought the boy was +playing some monkey tricks; and being greatly scandalized at such conduct, +so near the presence of his master, he, with one jerk, pushed poor John +into the middle of the room. A shriek, from Mrs. Martin, made her husband, +who was sitting at the table, with the large family Bible open before him, +raise his head. A most terrific sight was presented to him--John standing +directly opposite, as pale as death, his face and hands stained in various +places with blood, his clothes in disorder, and trembling from head to +foot. "What has happened, child?" asked they all with one breath. "What +have you been doing?" John stood undetermined what to say. He stammered; +and, at last, bursting into tears and turning to the shepherd, cried, "Oh, +Sandy! why did you not stop, when I pulled your coat? then I should not +have been obliged to tell upon poor Archie; but now I cannot save him from +disgrace." "Speak distinctly, my dear," said Mr. Martin, taking hold of +his hand, and bidding him compose himself. "Something serious must have +happened. Don't think of Archie's disgrace: but tell me at once what it +is." John now saw that he could not avoid unfolding his tale, and +therefore began, in a very confused way, to relate what had happened. Mr. +Martin, however, soon gathered that Archie had fallen down and was hurt. +He therefore waited no longer than to get a lantern lighted, and with old +Sandy, set out after John, who ran before them to show them where Archie +was. + +When they got near the place, they heard him groaning most piteously. They +raised him up, and tried to get him to walk between them; but though he +was sensible of the pain of his head, as they supposed by his groans, he +was so completely overcome by liquor, that he could not assist himself in +the least; and after various trials, Mr. Martin desired John, as the only +method of getting their burden to the Manse that he could think of, to go +and bring Bob down some difficulty they at last succeeded in conveying +Archie safe to the house; and the maids, in the mean time, having made up +a bed for him in the kitchen, Mrs. Martin proceeded to examine his wound. +She found it was a pretty deep cut; but not likely to be of any serious +consequence. She therefore, after dressing it, ordered Sandy to put her +patient to bed, and leave him to sleep off the effects of his +intoxication. The family then returned to the parlour, Nelly having first +washed John's face and hands, and made him a little more fit to be seen; +and Mrs. Martin observing that he was still pale from the fright, gave him +a glass of currant wine before he began his catechism. + +After the duties of the evening were over, the supper was brought in, +which on Sunday evenings is usually the most abundant meal of any during +the week, and in general the most cheerful; but this night poor Helen's +illness through a damp over the spirits of her parents; and the +nicely-roasted fowl, with fried eggs, Mr. Martin's favourite dish left the +table almost untouched; to the great displeasure of Nelly the cook, who +supposing it arose from a different cause, declared in the kitchen, that +it was scandalous shame for that wicked varlet, Archie Kerr, to disturb +her good master, and keep him from eating his wholesome supper after the +fatigues of the day, by thinking on his great wickedness. "Was there no +other place for him to break his head but just before the Minister's +door?" She was sure if she had seen him fall she would have let him lie. + +"Hush, Nelly," said Sandy, "you would have done no such thing. You are +only angry because your supper has not been eaten to-night; but I dare say +Archie has nothing to do with that; it is more likely to be Miss Helen's +illness." + +"I did not think of that, indeed," said Nelly. "May be Archie is not to +blame about the supper, and he has enough to answer for without laying +that to his charge; but, good night," continued she, "it is time we were +all gone to bed. Remember, Sandy, that Archie must not leave the house +till our master has seen and talked with him. I was desired to tell you to +be very particular about this. I am thinking the Minister will read him a +lecture. I am sure I would not be in his place for the best new gown in +Langholm." So saying, they all separated for the evening. + +Through the night poor Helen suffered considerably; and her anxious mother +never left her till towards morning, when Mr. Martin took his wife's +place, and insisted that she should lie down for a few hours. "We shall +have you ill too, my dear, if you do not take care; and then what will +become of us?" "Pray, mamma," said Helen, (who had heard what her father +said,) "do go to bed. I promise you I will lie quite still, and give papa +no trouble that I can help." Mrs. Martin was at last persuaded to leave +them; and after a sleep of three hours, found, on her return to the room, +that the measles had made their appearance, and that Helen felt rather +better than when she had left her. + +On going down stairs, Mr. Martin enquired for Archie Kerr, of Nelly, who +was laying the cloth for breakfast. "He is pretty well, Sir, this morning, +but wants sadly to get away to his work. At least, that is what he says; +but I think he is afraid to see you, after what happened last night. When +he discovered where he was, Sandy tells me, he grew quite pale, and said, +'This is the worst scrape I have ever got into. I think I would almost as +soon have fallen into the river as have been brought to the Manse, for how +shall I ever face the Minister?'" "Send him in to me, Nelly; and don't +disturb us, till I ring the bell." Nelly did as she was ordered; and +Archie made his appearance with his head bound up, and one of Sandy's +woollen night-caps half drawn over his eyes, as if he wanted to hide them +from the good man, who was now going to address him. As, however, the door +was shut immediately, and there were none present but himself and the +Minister, what Mr. Martin said to him never transpired; only when he left +the study and passed through the kitchen, in his way to go home, Nelly +observed that his eyes were red with weeping; and as he shook hands with +John, he said, "I shall have reason, my little fellow, to bless the night +you found me, and got me brought to the Manse, all my life long, if I can +but remember what the minister has been saying to me; and, after his +kindness, I shall be an ungrateful villain indeed, if ever I forget it; +and that I would not be for all the whiskey in Eskdale. Farewell! And, my +man, if ever you should be tempted to drink more than is good for you, +think on Archie Kerr, last night, and I am sure that will restrain you." + + + + +CHAP. VI. + + +When Mr. Armstrong made his appearance, after breakfast, he said, Helen +was doing as well as he could wish. She was likely to have the disease +very easily; and he hoped, in a few days, would be quite well. "I wish," +added he, "that poor little Marion Scott may do as well. She is a delicate +creature, and her fever ran very high when I left her yesterday." He +added, he was going higher up the dale, and would not return till the +evening, and that he would see Helen on his way back. He spoke this on the +step of the door, as he was going out. John heard it, and, running up to +Mr. Martin, asked him if he might go up with Mr. Armstrong as far as Mr. +Scott's, "just to hear how poor Marion is, this morning, Sir." "Certainly, +my dear, I am glad that you thought of it; for I am very anxious to hear +of her myself. But, stop a moment, I will get you something for her that +may be useful; as it is not likely that Mrs. Scott should have any +herself." So saying, he went up to his wife, and asked her for a pot of +black currant jelly, of which a country clergyman's wife always takes care +to have a good supply, for the benefit of her poorer neighbours. John +having got his affairs carefully packed by Nelly, in a wicker basket, set +out at a good pace after Mr. Armstrong. As he walked along he could not +help remembering in what very different circumstance he had walked that +very road, only three days before. "Dear me," said he to himself, "who +could have thought that so very happy a day should have produced such +melancholy events? Here are we, all in sickness and anxiety, instead of +singing and conversing so pleasantly as we then did. I may just as well be +at the hill now, as with the Minister; for, even though Miss Helen should +get well, (which I hope and trust she will,) there can be no long walks +for a great while again. I remember, when I had this troublesome disease, +I was not able to run about, strongly, for nearly three months." As he +passed by Mr. Elliott's cottage, he gave it a look, and said, "Well, I +wish Miss Helen could live at that pretty place, when she grows to be a +woman; but I don't see how it can well happen, unless, indeed, Master +William should become a great man, (as why should he not? He is my +master's own son; and he is surely the best man in Eskdale;) then, to be +sure, he may very likely buy the farm, to please his sister, and live at +it with her; oh, dear! how I should like to see that day." + +With such like airy castle building John amused himself till he reached +Mr. Scott's where he heard that Marion still continued very ill. + +"I am so glad you have brought us the jelly," said Mrs. Scott, "for her +throat is very sore, and our own minister's family are all gone to +Edinburgh. The General Assembly is coming on, and he is a member this +year." The _General Assembly_ is a meeting of clergymen, chosen from the +different districts of Scotland. They assemble at Edinburgh once a year, +to judge and determine on the church affairs, that are brought before +them, from all parts of the country. + +John only waited to hear how Marion was, and then with a sorrowful heart, +prepared to depart, when he saw Mr. Scott coming towards him. Mr. Scott +had a bunch of cuttings, from the hot-house plants in his hands, and, +holding them out to John, he said, "Here, yonker; You may have these, if +you like to take the trouble of carrying them; and, if you take pains and +put them into pots, they will grow and be very pretty; but you must water +them regularly, and in cold weather keep them within doors. I dare say +Mrs. Martin will thank you for them. If you will step with me into the +tool-house, I will give you some pots; for, perhaps, there may not be any +at the Minister's house." + +John very thankfully accepted this offer, and Mr. Scott putting half a +dozen within each other, contrived to stow them into the wicker basket. At +first the delight which John felt at bringing home such a treasure, +prevented him from feeling the great weight of the basket; but he had not +walked far before he was obliged to put it down and stop to rest. He took +it up again, but the further he walked the oftener was he obliged to stop; +for Mr. Scott had considered more the size of the pots that his plants +required, than the strength of the carrier. "Oh, dear!" said John, at +last, "I do believe I shall be kept as long upon the road, with this heavy +basket, as Archie Kerr was in going to Langholm. What shall I do with it? +I cannot be so very ungrateful as to leave it on the road, after Mr. Scott +has been so kind as to give the pots to me; and how I shall get it home, I +am sure, I do not know. It will be dark night before I can reach the +Manse." + +Just as he took it up, to proceed a little farther, he heard the voice of +some one singing near the spot where he was: he listened, and thought it +came from the river side; but the trees that grew in that direction +prevented him from seeing. He therefore put down his basket and ran across +the road, to try if he could discover whether it was any one he knew; and, +to his great delight, found it was Tom, David Little's son. Tom, as soon +as he saw John, skipped up to him and shook hands most cordially. "I am so +glad to see you," said he, "for you will tell Miss Helen that my chickens +are all alive yet; and mammy says if they live another week, I shall then +be pretty sure of rearing them, if I take care always to shut them up at +night, to prevent the fox from getting at them. They are nasty, greedy, +cruel creatures, these foxes and mammy says, I cannot be too watchful to +preserve my chickens from them; for they are very cunning, and are always +ready to seize the first opportunity of snapping up any thing that is left +in their way." John agreed, that all Tom said was quite true; for he +remembered, he had suffered himself from the depredations; having had a +whole brood of young ducks devoured in one night, when he lived near +Langholm. He then told Tom the distress he was in about his basket. Tom +immediately cried, "O, I will tell you how we will manage. Do you take out +three of the pots, and give them to me; and I will carry them as far as +the Manse for you; for my mammy will not expect me home for two hours. She +bade me go out and give Colly a walk; for he is quite stupid, and even +ill, for want of his usual exercise on the hills; so I thought I would +come down the glen and see the place where my daddy fell; and, do you know +the sensible beast ran directly up to the place, and lifted up in his +mouth my daddy's whip, which had been left there, I suppose, ever since +that terrible night. Look at it. It is a good whip, and my daddy will be +glad to have it back again; for he gave a shilling for it the last time he +went to Langhold with his master's cart; and surely he grudged the price, +but he was obliged to have it, for he could not drive the cart home +without it." "Well," said John, "if you really think, Tom, that your +mammy won't be frightened at your being so long, I shall be much obliged +to you to help me with my load; and I shall perhaps be able, some day, to +do you a favour, when you stand in as much need of assistance as I do +now." + +Having divided the load, they found they could now very easily get along; +and they went on chatting, till all at once John recollected the measles. +"My dear Tom," asked he, "pray, tell me, have you ever had the measles?" + +"No," replied Tom, "I have never had them, and mammy is very particular in +telling me, never go into any of the houses in the glen when they are +there. All the children, round us, had them last summer, but mammy never +let us go down the steps till they were quite gone, and so we escaped; but +why do you ask?" + +John was silent for a minute, thinking how nearly he had led the poor +little fellow into a danger his mother had taken so much pains to guard +him against: he then said, "Tom, we must stop, and you must go home +directly. I dare say I shall manage to get the basket home some way or +other; but you must, on no account, go near the Manse. Miss Helen has got +the measles and is very ill. Besides," continued John, "poor Marion Scott +has got them very bad indeed, and I think you had best go home directly +and tell your mammy, for the disease will soon spread all around, and I +think you will be safest up the steps at this time, as you were last +summer." "I shall not like that at all," said Tom, "I was so tired living +up there. I was just as Colly is, and I dare say it will be the believe, +John, you are right; for it would never do for any of us to be ill when my +daddy is in the bed, and we are all obliged, till he is better, to sleep +on some straw, in the inner room, that we may not disturb him. But tell +Miss Helen all about the chickens, and that I am very sorry to hear she is +ill. Good bye to you, I hope you may meet somebody else who has had the +measles, and then they need not be afraid of helping you home with the +basket." + +John was really glad when he saw Tom fairly gone. The consequences of the +poor child catching the disease, at this time, appeared to him dreadful; +and he began to think how fortunate he had been in recollecting the +measles before he had brought him into the Manse. With this comfortable +reflection, John trudged on with the basket, and, occupied with this own +thoughts, he did not feel the weight so overpowering as he had done before +he met Tom; he was however, obliged at last again to stop. As he was +resting himself, he saw a girl, about twelve years old, running down the +holm towards him. When she came up, she said "You don't know me, John +Telfer; but I am Peggy Oliphant, Mr. Elliott's herd-girl, that lives up in +that cottage, (pointing to the very cottage John had been planning for +Master William,) and Tom Little, whom I met as I was coming down, asked me +to run forward and help you with your basket, as I am going as far as +Langholm, on an errand of my mistress; you need not be afraid to let me go +to the Manse, for I have had the measles, and so has all my master's +children; we all had them last year." + +"Thank you, Peggy," said John, "it is very kind of you, and very +attentive, in such a little boy as Tom is, to think of me and my basket; I +am sure I shall be glad of your assistance, for I am quite tired with it." +"Oh!" answered Peggy, "I shall do it with the greatest pleasure, that, or +any thing else, for any one that belongs to our good Minister; I was +sorely vexed to hear that Miss Helen was so bad. But have you heard the +news?" "No," answered John, "what is it?" "As I was taking away the +breakfast things this morning, Nanny being busy about something in the +kitchen, I heard my master read in the paper, that Capt. Elliott, your +mistress's brother, had been fighting with a French frigate, and had taken +her; and that he had brought her into some port in England, but I forget +the name. My master said he was glad of it, for the Captain was a brave +fellow, and an honour to the name of Elliott: and my mistress added, now +Mrs. Martin will get a sight of her only brother; in the last letter he +wrote to her, he promised that the first time he came into port, he would +endeavour to get leave of absence, to come down and see his old mother, +from whom he had been absent now for ten years." + +"This is news, indeed, Peggy," replied John. "I am sure I wish it may be +true. I only hope he may not come before Miss Helen is better, for that +would spoil all my mistress's pleasure." Peggy and John went chatting +along till they reached the Manse, when they parted, John thanking her +very heartily for the assistance she had given him in carrying the +flowerpots. + +As soon as he got in, he went and tapped at the study door. "Come in, +John," said Mr. Martin, "I heard your voice in the kitchen. Pray, how is +Marion?" "Very bad, indeed, Sir. Mrs. Scott said she had not slept all +night, and was quite delirious this morning. Mr. Armstrong said, that he +hoped the measles would be fully out by the evening, and he thought she +would then be better." After John had finished delivering his message, he +stood still and seemed hesitating whether to go or remain. Mr. Martin at +last observed this, and asked him if he had any thing more to say. "Why, +yes, Sir, if I thought that it would be right to tell you what I have +heard; but as it was only Peggy Oliphant that told me, I am afraid it may +not be true; as, I think, you or my mistress would have had a letter +yourselves, if the news had been really what she says." "What is it, my +dear, that you have heard? Peggy Oliphant's news I think cannot be of any +great consequence." "Yes, but it is, Sir, should it be true; for she says +her master read in the paper this morning that Capt. Elliott has taken a +French ship and has brought her safe to England." "That is indeed +important, John, and I must lose no time in ascertaining the truth of it. +Have you mentioned this story to any one but me?" "No, Sir, not a word; I +thought it best to come and tell it to you directly." "That is right, my +man; now you must promise not to tell any other person a word of the +matter till I return; I shall go up to Mr. Elliott's and see the paper +myself, before I say any thing to my wife, least it should prove some +mistake of Peggy Oliphant's." + +Mr. Martin set out immediately for Mr. Elliott's, saying to his wife, he +was going to take a little walk. And John, having asked how Miss Helen +was, and heard she was continuing better, set about planting his +greenhouse slips. He found he had two or three different kinds of +geraniums, a rose-bush, and one or two myrtles. "O," said he to Nelly, who +stood by while he planted them, "I wish they may thrive, I shall have such +pleasure in giving them to Miss Helen, when she is better. Do you think +the Minister would let them stand in the study window, if I was to ask +him? for the sun shines best there, and I will take great care not to make +any dirt when I water them in the evening; you know, Nelly, I am to come +here every night to read to the Minister, and I can water them then." "You +come here every night to read to the Minister! You are surely dreaming, +child; what can you mean?" "Indeed and in very truth, I am saying nothing +but what he told me himself; and besides that he has settled it all with +Mr. Laurie; I am sure it is very kind of him: but, Nelly, do you know, I +am half afraid to come to him as a scholar, for when my poor father used +to teach me, I was sometimes very stupid and could not understand what he +told me? Now, if I should be so with the Minister, what will become of me? +I cannot expect him to have the patience with me that my father had; and +if he should be very angry with me, I shall be so frightened I shall wish +I had refused his kind offer; it must be a fearful thing to make the +Minister angry." "It is both a fearful thing and a wicked thing," answered +Nelly; "but there is one comfort for you, it is not very easily done. If +it really is as you say, that master his own self will condescend to teach +you, James Telfer, the shoemaker's son, to read! you must try, with all +your might, to learn as fast as you can, that you may give him as little +trouble as possible. Refuse, indeed, such an offer! you would have made +him angry in good earnest then, I believe, and with some reason. But," +continued she, "above all things, be obedient, and do all he desires you." +Then, after being silent a little, she said, as if to herself, "I should +think he might have had enough of teaching, after all the trouble and +sorrow his own son cost him. I am sure, if that little violent monkey had +not been sent to school, he would have been the death of my master. I +never wish to hear of his teaching boys again, so little like sweet Miss +Helen; but it is all out of charity, I see that very well; just like his +kind heart." + +Nelly proceeded now to prepare for dinner, and John, after planting his +slips, carried them to the green, and set them all in a row, that Mr. +Martin might see them, and give him an opportunity of asking his leave to +place them on the outside of his window. He had but just got them all +ready, when seeing Mr. Martin walking very quick up the lane, he ran to +open the gate. "It is all true, John." said his master. "Capt. Elliott has +really gained a great victory. It will be quite a cordial to your mistress +in the midst of her present uneasiness." So saying, without observing +John's plants, he hastened into the house, and went up to rejoice his +wife's heart with the good news. Helen was too unwell to be told any thing +of the matter at that time, as her mother was afraid of agitating her. + +After dinner Mr. Martin observed from his window the flowerpots standing +on the green. "Where can these great flowerpots have come from?" asked he. +"Look at them, my dear, I cannot think who can have put them there." "I am +sure I don't know," said she, "how they came there, but we can soon ring +and ask." John was upon the watch, and as soon as he understood what was +wanted, came forward and made his request. "Certainly, my dear, you may +place them where you please; they are very pretty, and I think from their +appearance, they are likely to do you credit. Helen will be very proud of +her present; but how did you get the pots? I really did not know I had +such a thing in the garden." "I brought them with me from Mr. Scott's," +said John. "He gave me them with the plants." "Why, you surely did not +carry these heavy pots all that long way." "No, Sir, I cannot say that I +carried them _all_ the way, for Tom Little carried some of them, until I +thought of the measles, and then I sent him back. Peggy Oliphant helped me +down the holm, and it was then she told me the story of Capt. Elliott." +"Upon my word, John, you are a very active little fellow, and deserve to +succeed in what you undertake, you are so persevering; I only hope I shall +find you equally industrious when you begin your reading lessons with me; +you remember we are to keep school for the first time tomorrow evening." +"Yes, Sir, I shall be sure to remember," said John as he left the room. + + + + +CHAP. VII. + + +In the evening he took leave of Mr. Martin's family, with a very sorrowful +heart, and set off for Mr. Laurie's. When he reached the house, the maid +bade him come in and sit down near the fire. The other servants began to +assemble, and in about ten minutes the supper was ready. It consisted of +boiled potatoes and whey, the common supper for farm servants. Jeannie, +the cook, then pressed John to eat: "he is shy yet, poor thing; but you +need not be afraid, if you are a good boy. Our master will be very kind to +you; and Will, the shepherd, is one of the drollest and best natured +fellows in the dale, and will keep you laughing all day long, when he goes +to the hill with you. You had best take care of his tricks, however, for +he is very fond of playing them off upon people, but they are always +harmless." Just as she finished this consoling address the door opened, +and in came Will, the shepherd. He was a stout, sun-burnt, good-looking +man of about thirty years of age, fun and good nature being strongly +expressed in his face. "Ah! have you all begun, and not waited for me? I +think that is not very good manners, considering that I am the life of the +company," he said, laughing, as he drew his chair near the table: "and +whom have we among us in this corner, looking so grave? I dare say it is +my new herd-boy, that our master was talking about this morning. Come, +man, cheer up, we shall be as merry as grigs to-morrow on the hill. You'll +never have a grave face in my company, I promise you, long together." "I +have been telling him, Will," said Jeannie, "I was sure you would be kind +to him, so that he had no need to be frightened. And indeed," continued +she, in a sort of whisper, "who would not be kind to a poor orphan boy +like him?" "Now my lad," said Will, "I must try what you are good for, and +send you on your first errand. Go into the stable for me; it stands on the +left hand as you go out, and at the back of the door you will see a coat +hanging up; put your hand in to the pocket, and bring me a whistle you +will find there. I have been making it, Jeannie, for your nephew, Tom +Little; poor fellow, he was so good natured the other day, in running down +to help me to drive the sheep over the hill; he is too young yet to be a +herd; but if he live he will be a fine, active, spirited fellow, some day. +I promised him a whistle, and I never break my word." + +John found the whistle where Will had directed him to look, and brought it +to him. "Now, that is a clever fellow; and I think the least I can do, in +return, is to play you a tune. I hope you like music; it is the chief +pleasure we shepherds have; and it seems to me that it never sounds so +sweetly as it does up among the hills." So saying, he began to play a +pretty Scotch air upon Tom's whistle. When he had finished, John, whose +eyes were sparkling with delight (for he did, indeed, like music), lost +part of his timidity, and starting up said, "And did you make that whistle +all yourself?" "That I did, my man; and I am glad it has made you find +your tongue; for I began to be afraid that master had got a dumb boy for a +herd; and that would not suit me at all. If I find you a brisk, merry +fellow, that can sing a song, and dance a reel at times, you shall have a +whistle too; and, perhaps I may teach you to make it yourself; but it will +all depend upon your good behaviour. If you were always to look as grave +as you were when I first saw you, I don't think I should ever trouble my +head about you; but we had better go to bed. Mind that you be ready for me +tomorrow morning; I do not like to be kept waiting." + +In the morning, John took good care not to keep Will waiting; but was up +and standing at the door when he made his appearance. "So you are ready, I +see, my lad; that's well: but take care you continue alert; for that +stupid boy, Sandy Laing, whom we had last, was the plague of my life, he +never was ready; and somehow he contrived always to put me out of humour +before we began our day's work; and then all went wrong." Will led John +across a little wooden bridge that was near the farm, and after walking +three miles over the hills, they came to the place were the sheep were +penned. Another shepherd had been left with the dogs to guard them through +the night, who, immediately after giving up his charge, set off to bed. +After letting the sheep out to feed, and giving John all the necessary +instructions how to manage both them and the dogs, which, when +well-trained, are of the most singular importance to the shepherd, Will +asked John what he had brought with him to do all day? John very +innocently said, he never had thought of doing any thing, but watching the +sheep. "Watching the sheep!" cried Will, "that to be sure you must do; +but, if you take care to direct the dogs right, they will do that, without +giving you much trouble. It will never answer for you to have nothing but +that to employ yourself on. You must either bring a book with you, if you +can read well enough, or else you must learn to knit, or make a whistle; +or, in short, any thing but being idle. No herd of mine, that I care a +farthing for, shall ever be a lazy fellow if I can help it; so, if you can +keep a secret, I will tell you one. I have in my pocket some knitting +needles and some worsted, which I will lend you. Knitting is easily +learnt, and you may then help me to work some stockings for David Little, +that met with that ugly accident the other day. When he begins to go +about, he will want stockings to keep his poor broken leg warm. But you +need not speak of this down at the farm; mind that, or I shall never trust +you again with any of my secrets; it would spoil all the pleasure of my +present." John promised faithfully to be silent, as to the stockings; and, +having accepted the offer of being taught to knit, succeeded far better +than he had expected himself, as he was a willing boy. "Very well, John," +said Will, "you will make a famous knitter in your time; and you will, +perhaps, thank Will Oliver all your life, for having taught you to be so +useful. When you have become expert at it, you may always keep yourself +neat and tidy about the legs, on Sundays and handsel Mondays. Besides, you +will dance the better, when a wedding comes round; and I should be +ashamed, at my wedding, which will perhaps be sooner than some folks know +of," added he, laughing, "if my herd were to dance in any thing but hose +of his own working." + +Thus encouraged, John persevered; and, by dinner-time, he had learned the +stitch perfectly. Meanwhile, the sheep had wandered farther up the hill, +and Will thought it proper to follow them; so, sometimes whistling, +sometimes singing, he beguiled the time, till they reached the very top of +the highest hill. When John had got thus far, he was surprised, on looking +down, to see that he was almost directly opposite to Mr. Scott's, at +Craigie Hall. "Oh dear," said he, "what would I give to know how poor +Marion is." "What is that you are saying, boy?" said Will, "Do you know +any thing of Mr. Scott's family?" "That I do," said John; and immediately +related all that had passed the day he had been there with Mr. Martin. He +hesitated a good deal when he got to that part of the story about the +spurs; but Will, who saw there was some sort of secret in the way, soon +contrived to get it out of him, and laughed so loud and so long at poor +John's mishap, that the latter was vexed at having said any thing about +it. But when Will had his laugh out, he said, "Well, John, since you are +anxious to hear of Marion, I will wait for you here; and you can easily +run down the hill. You will find stepping stones across the river, almost +exactly opposite the house, so that you may go and be back to me in half +an hour. Off with you, my boy, and let me see if you can be trusted." John +lost no time in reaching Mr. Scott's, where he learnt, to his great +consolation, that Marion was now doing well, and that Mr. Armstrong +considered her out of danger. + +When John returned, Will, making a known signal to the dogs, ordered them +to bring in the sheep, that they might be penned for the night; and John, +to his surprise, saw the two dogs instantly set off to execute their task, +with extraordinary sagacity. The sheep were scattered all about the side +of the hill; and the dogs _wore_ them in (for such is the word used to +express this curious operation), by running all round the outside of the +flock, barking, and driving the stragglers towards the centre, but never +hurting one of them; and thus, at length, every sheep was got safe into +the fold; the shepherd merely overlooking his dogs, and giving them, from +time to time, the necessary word of command. "You are surprised," said +Will, "to see the dogs understand so well what I say to them. They have +been well-trained, and are of a particular breed, only common on these +hills. I can make them bring me any one particular sheep that I describe +to them out of the flock directly. We never should be able to bear the +fatigue, if we had not these faithful creatures with us. The going up and +down the hills so often after the sheep, would wear out any man's +strength, long before the day was over. You will soon learn the way of +managing them; and they, in time, will become accustomed to your voice. At +present, they know the sheep, and will allow no harm to happen to them." + +Will now sent John home, as he himself was to remain till the other +shepherd came to his relief. John reached the farm, when it was nearly +dark, and having washed his face and hands, set out for the Manse. He +found Mr. Martin waiting for him in the study. "Well, John, how do you +like herding?" asked he, as his young scholar entered the room. "Very +well, Sir; much better, indeed, than I expected: the shepherd has been +very kind to me, and shown me every thing I have to do; and I think, Sir, +I shall be able very soon to learn the business." "I have no doubt, if you +take pains, you will very soon do so; but come, let us begin our evening +task." When this was over, John asked how Miss Helen was. "She is much +better, John; and I hope, in a few days, she will be able to come down and +admire your pretty flowers. I really think they are taking root." John was +glad to hear this; and having watered them, and shaken hands with his +friend Nelly, he told her he should never again be afraid to encounter his +reading; "for," said he, "the Minister has so much patience, and explains +every thing to me so clearly, that I must be a dunce indeed not to +understand him, and a very bad boy if I do not take pains to remember what +he says." + +John continued this kind of life without interruption for two months, in +the course of which time he had become very expert in the management of +his sheep; and Will was so much pleased with his diligence, that he taught +him both to make and also to play upon the same sort of whistle on which +he was himself so skilful a performer. John could now play, very +tolerably, the old Scottish air of "_the Ewe-buchts, Marion!_" a very +particular favourite of his, although Will said he thought it rather the +name than the tune which had caught the boy's fancy. His reading had +likewise improved wonderfully. Mr. Martin had lent him a common copy of +Robinson Crusoe (for the elegant one with the plates was too valuable to +be carried to the hill), and this book, which had first excited his desire +of learning, now became the constant companion of his leisure moments. +Indeed it would have entirely driven the whistle, the knitting, and +everything else out of his head, if Will, who was somewhat proud of his +scholar, had not insisted on his continuing to work at his stockings some +part of every day, and to display his progress in music to his +fellow-servants every evening. + +Helen and Marion had by this time both recovered, though Marion was still +delicate. The latter, however, had found out that John's sheep grazed very +often just opposite to her father's house; she therefore, more than once, +made her way across the water to listen to John's whistle, which she +greatly admired; and she at the same time convinced him that she could +sing, and, according to his taste, very sweetly. + +Little offerings of friendship were continually passing, on these +occasions, between the children. Sometimes Marion would save the fruit +which her father was permitted to give her out of the hall garden, and she +would carry it over, in a cabbage-leaf, to share it with John. He, in +return, wishing to procure a basket for her greater accommodation, got his +friend Will to teach him how to make one, like that which the shepherds in +general use for carrying their provisions to the hill, and which is shaped +something like a pouch, and slung by a strap over the shoulder. To make +the basket the more acceptable, John filled it with the prettiest mosses +that he could find on the hills. These mosses are remarkably fine in +Eskdale, and very much in request among the ladies, who ornament their +garden seats and bowers with them. The frames being made of a sort of +basket-work, the moss, when fresh gathered, with the roots unbroken, is +twisted into the frame so as to leave the green part only visible. Thus +they take root, and if carefully watered, in a very little time have the +appearance of having grown there naturally. They are called _fogg +houses_, and are very common. Seats and tables are likewise added, as +furniture to the fogg house, and for this purpose the most beautiful moss +is always reserved. The greater the variety of shades, the more it is +prized; and they are sometimes seen shaded, from the darkest green to the +most beautiful rose-colour. This last colour is the most rare, and is only +found on one particular moor, at the top of a distant hill. John +contrived, one afternoon, to coax Will to take his place with the sheep, +and let him go in search of his much-coveted prize; which, having +succeeded in obtaining, he arranged all the various sorts he had picked up +in the basket, taking care to place the rose-coloured just at the top, and +carried it over to Mr. Scott's. + +On John's arrival, it was unluckily damp, and Marion's mother had desired +her not to go out. He therefore peeped around the house a long time to no +purpose, and was at last obliged to go up and knock boldly at the door, in +order to deliver his present; otherwise he would have had to take it home +and return another day with it, which he thought would be a pity, as the +beauty of the moss would be impaired if immediate precaution were not +taken to prevent it. Mrs. Scott opened the door herself. "John Telfer, I +declare!" cried she. "What can possibly have brought you here so late? I +hope no accident has happened that you are not gone to the Minister's as +usual." "No," said John, "there is no accident; the minister could not +have me to read to-night, for the family are all occupied with the arrival +of Capt. Elliot. He was expected to dine there to day, and I took the +opportunity, with Will Oliver's leave, to go up to the black moor to get +some moss for Marion. She told me she wanted to make a table for her +bower, and I have brought her this, which I hope she will accept." + +"Oh!" cried Marion, who had been reading to her father, "what a beautiful +sight! Did you ever see so much pink moss together?" "Indeed," said Mr. +Scott, taking the basket out of his hand, "I have seldom seen so fine a +specimen. I think, if you take pains with your table, it will surpass that +which the ladies at the lodge have made, and theirs is reckoned the most +beautiful in the country. I am sure, John, you must have had a great deal +of trouble and fatigue to get at this. Pray, wife, give the boy something +to eat, he must be hungry." "I don't mind the trouble a bit," said John, +"if Marion is pleased; but I can't stop to eat any thing, for it is +growing late, and I must run home as fast as I can, that I may be in time +to play to Will, or he will be angry, and never let me go again." So +saying he ran off, and scarcely slackened his pace till he reached Mr. +Laurie's. + + + + +CHAP. VIII. + + +Captain Elliott, mean time, had arrived at the Manse. He was a fine +good-looking young man, excessively attached to his sister and her family; +and having been absent so long from his native country, had so much to +hear and see, that he completely occupied every moment of their time. +Helen was only a baby in arms when he left the country, but William was +between three and four years old. After talking to them all some time, he +turned to Mrs. Martin and said, "but where is young Pickle, that I do not +see him? My mother wrote me something about his being a violent-tempered +boy; but I suppose it is nothing else but that, having a little more +spirit than his father, you think him a dragon. There never was in the +world, I believe, so even-tempered a man as my good brother-in-law, and +Helen looks as if she were his own child." While he was speaking, Mrs. +Martin became quite grave, and her brother fancied she changed colour. Her +husband, however, looked pleased at this remembrance of William; and +taking her hand, said, "Come, come, my dear, you must not, by looking so +serious, make your brother fancy William worse than he really is. The +truth is, he has given us a great deal of uneasiness by the violence of +his temper; but Mr. Lamont, with whom he is, at Kelso, writes me word that +he has good hopes of getting the better of the boy's little failings in +time. He is a most excellent scholar, always at the head of his class, +which is a large one; and, in short, I trust he will do very well by and +bye." "God grant you may not be deceived in your hopes, my dear husband," +said Mrs. Martin, solemnly; "but I have my fears. His little faults, as +you call them, were great ones in a boy of his age; at least they appeared +in that light to me. I hope I may be mistaken." The truth was, William, +when a child, had been the idol of his parents' hearts; quick, lively, and +entertaining, full of trick and fun, they had no idea of contradicting him +in any of his whims, they were so amused with what they called his little +oddities. But, in a short time, his mother, who was of a very superior +understanding, thought she perceived symptoms of a spirit beginning to +appear in him of a most alarming tendency. His father, who was indeed the +mildest of human beings, would not believe that there were the slightest +grounds for her fears; and for several years he retained that most +dangerous of all errors which parents are apt to fall into, namely, +delaying to correct faults, under the notion of a child's being too young +to understand its duties. At last, one morning, his sister, who was three +years his junior, happened to take up one of his playthings, and was +amusing herself with it in one corner of the room, when William, who had a +book of prints to look at from his father, suddenly perceived her, and +called out in a very peremptory tone to order her to lay it down. Poor +Helen, who was not more than three years old, did not immediately obey +him. He suddenly started up; and with eyes and face flaming with rage, he +caught hold of her and dashed her poor little head, with all the strength +he possessed, against the wainscot. His father, who was writing, had +scarcely observed what was going on, till Helen's screams drew his +attention. What a sight met his eyes, when he looked towards where his +children stood! Helen lying on the carpet, her head streaming with blood, +and William standing beside her, silent, and frightened at what he had +done! This was, I may say, the most painful moment that Mr. Martin had +ever endured. It completely opened his eyes to the violence of William's +temper; and from that day, for the next four years of his life, he +laboured indefatigably in endeavouring to control a spirit that was likely +to have so pernicious an effect on his son's future happiness. + +It unfortunately happened, that, about this time, Mr. Martin had a very +serious illness, which rendered it impossible for him to continue his +instructions and watchful vigilance. On this account Mrs. Martin's mother, +who doted on her grandson, persuaded them to send the child to her; and +added, as an inducement, that he might attend the school at Melrose. Mrs. +Martin very strongly opposed the plan. She knew her son, and she feared +the effects of the good old lady's indulgence; but at last, as her husband +seemed to fret, and continually regret that his boy would forget all he +had learned, she was persuaded to send him to his grandmother, an event +which, in all probability, finally fixed the destiny of William. He +remained at Melrose two years, attending the school regularly, and +sleeping and eating at Mrs. Elliott's. For the first year, though often +very obstreperous, he yet stood in some degree of awe both of his master +and grandmother; and on his promising good behaviour for the future, Mrs. +Elliott very unfortunately forbore mentioning to his parents, either by +letter or when they paid their annual visit in August, any part of his bad +conduct; and as he took care to appear to them, whilst they remained, a +very good boy, they went home quite delighted with the thoughts that he +was entirely cured of his bad habits. In the course of the next year he +became so perfectly unmanageable, that at last his grandmother, though +greatly unwilling to complain of him, as well knowing he would be removed +directly, thought it her duty to impart the real state of the case to his +parents. They hastened their visit on this account, and went to Melrose a +month sooner than they were expected; and before William had an +opportunity, by better behaviour, which he had planned in his own mind +(going home being the last thing he desired), to prevail on his indulgent +grandmother to entreat that he might be once more left with her. + +On his return to the Manse, his father again began the arduous task of +subduing a temper, which was likely to be of such fatal consequence, both +to his own happiness, and likewise to all those connected with him. But +William was now twelve years old, and had indulged himself in such +uncontrolled liberty of spirit for the last twelve months, that, though +Mr. Martin tried every means he could think of, endeavouring sometimes to +convince his reason, laying before him the baneful consequences that must +ensue from such conduct, and at other times by more violent methods, yet +he made very little or no progress towards a cure; so that, at last, Mrs. +Martin became perfectly convinced that, if William remained at home much +longer, the father would be sacrificed for the son, as she saw that the +continued struggle and exertion he was obliged to live in began materially +to affect his health. In this state of affairs, she thought at last of +consulting Mr. Lamont, the schoolmaster at Kelso, under whom her brother +had been educated. He was a man of superior understanding, had long been +in the habits of teaching, and had, as he very well merited, acquired +great celebrity. Both Mr. and Mrs. Martin had a high opinion of his +judgment, and knew that, when the truth was full laid before him, he would +give them his candid advice on what was best to be done; and Mrs. Martin +hoped he would be able to convince her husband, that it became a duty in +him not to sacrifice his own health in an attempt which, it was quite +evident, could obtain no success. + +Mr. Lamont's answer was, that without seeing the boy he could not so well +judge; and that, as his holidays were just commencing, he would come over +and spend some days with them at the Manse. Accordingly he came, and +remained a fortnight, during which time he was fully convinced that what +Mrs. Martin apprehended would infallibly be the case; that Mr. Martin's +health was already injured, and that, if a speedy remedy were not found, +in all probability it would end fatally. He therefore one morning, when +walking out with Mr. Martin, took the opportunity of some reference which +his father made to William's unhappy temper, to propose to undertake the +charge of him for the next twelve months. + +"I am well used to all kind of tempers," said he; "and though William has +great and alarming faults to combat, yet I am not without hope that I +shall be able to succeed in managing him better than you are doing. He +knows the mildness and affection of your nature, and most ungenerously +takes advantage of it to torment you, in hopes of wearing you out, and +making you, in the end, cease from opposing him. It will be quite a +different thing with me; he will find one uniform system of restraint and +punishment, in my school, practised towards all those who dare to act +otherwise than they are all directed. No violence or opposition on his +part will ever be able to make me yield in a single instance. One +stipulation, however, I must insist on making, that no excuse is to be +strong enough for taking him away from me, till I can with safety assure +you that I can trust him from under my own eye." Mr. Martin said he would +consider over the subject with his wife, and give him an answer next day; +telling him, at the same time, that he fully appreciated the kindness of +the offer, for he knew too well, that this poor unhappy boy was not a +pupil from whom Mr. Lamont was likely to derive much credit.--"He is, +however," added he, "a good scholar, and, as far as his lessons go, you +will never have any fault to find. It is his temper alone that is in +fault, at least I hope so; I do not think there is any thing wrong in the +heart." "I hope you are right," answered Mr. Lamont, "my dear Sir; by we +must lose no time, for, unless this temper be corrected, it will soon lead +to corrupt both heart and principles." + +Next morning, Mr. Martin informed Mr. Lamont that he found Mrs. Martin so +extremely anxious for removing William, that he would very thankfully +accept his offer. It was therefore settled that Mr. Lamont should remain a +few days longer at the Manse, and that Mrs. Martin would, during that +time, get her son ready to accompany him; which accordingly took place. + +William had now been at Kelso nearly a year, and his conduct, upon the +whole, was rather better than Mr. Lamont had expected; the latter, +however, put a decided negative upon his pupil's visit, either to the +Manse, or, what he more ardently desired, to his grandmother, during the +ensuing holidays; a determination which excited the greatest possible +indignation on the part of William. A day or two after Captain Elliott's +arrival, while they were sitting at breakfast, Nelly came in and said, +"Miss Helen, a little boy wishes to see you. He has a basket in his hand; +but he won't tell me what is his business. He says, he must see you your +own self." Helen rose and went out to speak to him, wondering who it could +be. When she got to the door, she found it was Tom Little. "Ah! Miss +Helen," said the boy, "you see I have kept my word, I have brought the +chicken I promised you; and mammy thought, as you had company at the +Manse, you would like two; so, here they are; and nice plump things +indeed." "I am very glad, Tom," said Helen, "to see you here, and very +much obliged to you for your chickens; but I won't kill them. I shall keep +them to lay eggs; for I am very fond of eggs, though I should not like to +give so much money for them as you say they do at the hall. Come in, and +let mamma see your pretty present." Tom stept forward, and stood at the +study door till Mrs. Martin called to him to come in. He then displayed +his chickens, and told the company that their mother laid more eggs than +any fowl in the dale; and that he was very glad to hear Miss Helen say she +would not kill them, as he thought it would be a pity, they were so very +beautiful. Helen then said, "How lucky it is, mamma, that Tom has come +down here to day; for I was thinking I must find time to ride up to his +father's cottage, with my little present this morning; and I have so much +to do, I did not well know how to manage it. Now Tom will take it, when he +returns, and save me the trouble!" She then went up stairs, and returned, +bringing a couple of frocks, of coarse woollen stuff, which she had made +herself, and a little jacket and trowsers, made out of an old coat of her +brother's which she presented to Tom, telling him that it was for him to +wear when he went to church. The frocks were for his two little sisters; +and Mrs. Martin added an old gown of her own, for his mother. + +Tom was in such an extacy of delight, that it was with great difficulty he +could be prevailed on to stay to eat some breakfast; though he owned he +had come away before his porridge was ready. Helen, however, insisted on +his going with her into the kitchen, and getting Nelly to supply his +wants. Whilst he was eating, Helen enquired after his father. "He is a +great deal better, Miss Helen, and begins now to walk about with the help +of a stick. Only think how kind Will Oliver has been, and John Telfer, +that was with you at the cottage. They came up the glen, last Monday +evening, and brought each of them a pair of nice warm worsted stockings, +for my father, of their own working. Was not that kind? And Will says +that, when I am big enough, he will take me to his herd, and teach me to +knit stockings, just as he had done John. I should like to be Will's herd +better than any other shepherd's in the dale; he is such a merry fellow, +and so good natured. He made me a whistle a little while ago, but I cannot +play on it so well as John does yet. Will says John is very clever, and +can do every thing well. I suppose that is with the Minister's teaching. +Don't you think it is?" Helen laughed; but she very much doubted whether +the Minister's teaching had much to do with John's playing on the whistle. +When she returned to the parlour, her mother said, "Now, my dear Helen, +you must go and pack up your little parcel, that we may be all ready for +our journey early to-morrow morning." + +"Your uncle and I are going in the stage to Kelso, as he wishes to see +your brother, and I am glad of an opportunity, too, my dear, of seeing +William." "Oh," said Helen, "how much I wish that poor William could be +with us; for when he was here, he was always speaking of uncle Elliott, +and what he would do when he came home." On saying these words, Helen left +the room. She soon returned, holding a frock in her hand. "See mamma," +said she, "I have trimmed up my frock with a piece of new ribbon. I think +it looks very neat. I am so glad that I did not buy a new dress, instead +of the frocks for the poor children. How happy they will be when Tom gets +home!" "My dear child," said her mother, "they will be happy, I have no +doubt, with your present; but I think you must feel much more so, from the +reflection that you have clothed them by your own self-denial. I have been +very much pleased with your whole conduct, for you have bought them what +is essential, and nothing more; and, at the same time, have tried to make +yourself neat, to please your good grandmother." "I am glad, mamma, I have +pleased you. I am sure I am a very happy girl;" and she kissed her mamma +as she said so. Two or three years before she would have cried, with the +same feelings she now had; but Helen was quite cured of shedding tears +upon every occasion, and she now only pressed her mamma closely round the +neck, and then ran off to pack up her parcel, and was heard singing all +the morning afterwards. + +In the evening, Mrs. Martin and Captain Elliot proceeded to Langholm, to +wait for the stage; and early the next morning, Mr. Martin, accompanied by +Helen on her pony, and a little boy to carry the parcel, left the Manse; +and, directing their route across the hills which separate Eskdale from +Ewesdale, reached the small village of Ewes in time for breakfast. There +was no inn here, but merely a small public house. Our travellers, however, +did not require to go thither for the clergyman having heard that they +intended coming that way, was upon the look out for them all the morning. +After breakfast, Helen again mounted, and continued talking on many +different subjects all the way to Moss Paul. The road runs along the +course of the Ewes, between a double range of mountains, quite green, and +covered with sheep; but there is very little variety in the scenery; and, +altogether, from scarcely a cottage being to be seen, it has a very +desolate appearance. Moss Paul, where they were obliged to stop, is one of +the poorest small inns that are to be met with in Scotland. The contrast +was so great from the richly wooded cheerful dale which Helen had always +lived in, that she told her father the very looking at those hills made +her melancholy; and she was sure, if Melrose was not more lively than Moss +Paul, her grandmamma had much better come and live in Eskdale altogether. +For her own part, she almost wished herself back again already. After an +hour's rest they again moved on; and, in a little time, the country began +to wear a more favourable appearance. They now descended into the dale, +watered by the river Tiviot; and passed by several gentlemen's country +houses, which, being seen from the road, added much to the beauty of the +view. Mr. Martin pointed out to Helen _Carlinrigg_, the place where, +John's song said, Johnnie Armstrong was executed. Soon afterwards, Helen +beginning to feel fatigued, her father said he thought they had better +stop at the next small inn they should come to, and rest till the +afternoon. They were to sleep at the town of Hawick, and he thought they +had plenty of time. Helen at last, with some difficulty, made out her +day's journey; and was very happy to find herself in a comfortable bed, at +Hawick. In the morning, Mr. Martin thought it best that she should rest +that day, and not proceed to Melrose till the next, as she was more +fatigued than he had expected. Mr. and Mrs. Murray, the clergyman and his +wife, did all they could to make the day pass pleasantly. Mrs. Murray +walked out with our travellers towards Wilton, to admire the banks of the +Tiviot, which are very beautiful. The country is fertile and rich, and the +view more extensive than any that Helen had ever seen. She thought it +pretty; but still it did not seem to her to equal her native Eskdale. Next +morning she and her father left Mr. Murray's early, and reached Melrose to +dinner. Nothing could equal Helen's surprise when she came in sight of the +Abbey. It is deservedly the most admired remain of gothic architecture in +Scotland, and has, indeed, been since celebrated by one of the first +living poets, in one of the most beautiful of his descriptive passages, +which Helen, long afterwards, copied into her memorandum book, as +recalling to her recollection a scene endeared to her, not only by its own +beauty, but by the happy days which she had spent with her beloved +grandmother. The old lady's house was almost close to this venerable pile; +and the window of the little room appropriated to Helen, commanded a view +in which she could distinguish all the striking parts of the building, so +picturesquely described in the _Lay of the last Minstrel_. + + The moon on the east oriel shone, + Through slender shafts of shapely stone, + By foliaged tracery combined; + Thou wouldst have thought, some fairy's hand, + 'Twixt poplars straight, the ozier wand, + In many a freakish knot had twined; + Then framed a spell, when the work was done, + And changed the willow-wreaths to stone. + + + + +CHAP. IX. + + +When Mrs. Martin and Captain Elliott arrived at Kelso, they went directly +to Mr. Lamont's. They were received in his study, by himself and his wife; +and William was immediately summoned to attend them. He was playing at +_golf_ (a game something resembling cricket) on the school green, and +came in glowing with health, and the exercise he had been taking; his +colour, perhaps, a little heightened by the pleasure he felt in seeing his +mother. Mr. Lamont, wishing to give him an agreeable surprise, had not +mentioned Captain Elliott. When William entered the room, his uncle was +perfectly astonished at his appearance. He was tall and proportionably +stout for his age; his features almost too regular and delicate for a boy; +with large sparkling eyes, which spoke the greatest delight and affection +for his mother. Altogether, Captain Elliott thought he had never seen so +fine a creature; and could not help conceiving, in his own mind, that what +had been told him of his nephew's disposition must have been greatly +exaggerated. + +When William had kissed his mother, almost a dozen times, he suddenly +turned round, and said, "but, where is my dear father? I thought he was +here also:" and, looking in his mother's face, with a transient blush, +"would he not even come and see me?" "My dear," answered his mother, "your +father will be here to-morrow, or next day; he is gone to Melrose, with +your sister. It would have been too far for her to ride all this long way +round, and so he will place her in safety first, and then join us here; +but you take no notice of this gentleman, who has kindly brought me to see +you." "I am sure," said William, "I am very much obliged to you, Sir, and +beg your pardon for being so rude as not to speak to you before; but, +really I was so delighted with seeing mamma, and thinking about papa, that +I did not remember there was any one else in the room." "Oh, your apology +quite gains my forgiveness, William; but now, that you have found me out, +let us shake hands and become friends. You have few warmer ones, I assure +you, than I am inclined to become: who do you think I am, that have come +so far to see you?" William looked some time at him. There was a +particular expression in Captain Elliot's face, when he smiled, which +strongly resembled that of his sister. William caught it, as he was +considering; and instantly sprung forward to him. "It is my own uncle +Elliot, I am sure." Charmed by such an artless, affectionate recognition, +his uncle pressed him to his breast with feelings of the warmest +affection; and from that moment an attachment, as strong as it was lasting +(for it was broken only by death) took a firm hold of both their minds. + +William, during the two years he had spent with his grandmother, had been +in the constant habit of listening to the praises of this her only son. He +was the best, the bravest of men; and there was no wonder that he should +have been the principal subject of conversation between the good old lady +and a grandson whom she so much wished to resemble him. It was, therefore, +the first object of William's ambition, to see this wonderful uncle; and +no sooner were his wishes accomplished, than he determined to leave no +means untried to be allowed never to quit him. + +He pretty well knew that both his parents would oppose his going to sea, +but he hoped, by a private application to his uncle, to get him round to +his side of the question; and, in short, he had resolved to gain his point +by some means or other. When Mr. Martin joined them at Kelso, he found +William and his uncle on the best terms possible. He was a very clever +boy, had read a great deal for his age, and, as he possessed a happy turn +for sketching from nature, he had drawn several of the beautiful scenes +near the junction of the Tweed and Tiviot. The venerable abbey of Kelso, +too, though not so light and elegant a structure as that of Melrose, had +also furnished exercise for his pencil; and he presented his uncle with a +very well executed drawing of this ancient pile. These little attentions, +together with the constant good humour and propriety of behaviour which +William was careful to maintain in the presence of a relation whom he so +much wished to please, did not fail of their intended effect. Captain +Elliott was absolutely charmed with his nephew, and was almost affronted +that neither father nor mother could be prevailed on to alter their +determination, of not taking William to Melrose. Mr. Lamont was decided in +his opinion; and therefore they justly thought, that, in fairness to him, +they ought not to yield. They however extended their stay at Kelso to a +day longer than was at first intended. + +That day William and his uncle set out on a walk by themselves, Mr. and +Mrs. Martin being engaged to pay some visits with Mr. and Mrs. Lamont. +They were no sooner out of the town, than William ventured to make his +wishes known to his uncle, of going to sea with him. Captain Elliott was +too much attached to his sister and her worthy husband, to listen a moment +to this proposal. He combated all his nephew's arguments with the greatest +possible gentleness. William, however, remained perfectly unconvinced; and +finding that he could make no impression upon his uncle by any arguments +he could use, he thought it best to pursue the conversation no further, +resolving in his own mind to gain his point in another way. Indeed, he +felt it politic to change the subject, as his passionate temper was within +a hair's breadth of displaying itself; and he was well aware that _that_ +would not tend to accelerate his wishes. He therefore began talking on +different subjects, and managed matters so well, that his uncle, who had +observed his heightened colour, and was prepared for a gust of passion, +was quite convinced he had now gained a command over the only failing he +had ever heard he possessed. When they returned home, Captain Elliott took +an opportunity of congratulating his parents on what he had observed, but +he did not mention the subject which had given him an opportunity of +noticing the improvement. + +On taking leave the next morning, his uncle shook hands with William, +saying he should expect him to be a constant correspondent. "Oh, +certainly," answered William; "but, that is well thought of--pray give me +your address in London, for I shall have plenty of time to write to you in +the vacation; and since I must remain here, it will be the greatest +amusement I can have."--"I am glad, then," answered Captain Elliott, "that +I thought of it; here is my address," giving him his card, "and here is +likewise something to buy paper and pens (slipping a guinea into his +hand). The oftener I hear from you the better I shall be pleased." + +After spending a very happy fortnight at Melrose, old Mrs. Elliott's +visitors were obliged to take their leave, Captain Elliott being to join +his ship by the middle of September. Helen found the journey home more +pleasant than her first excursion across the hills; but when she came in +sight of her native dale, she exclaimed "Oh, my dear papa, there is +nothing after all like our own dear home, in the whole world!" Her father +smiled, and said, "Long may you think so, my sweet child. Had I the power +of choosing for you, I should wish you never to leave it; but as that is +not the case, you should accustom your mind to contemplate the possibility +of a change, and always remember, that the foundation of happiness in this +world, is to reconcile our minds to the events which the great Author of +our being thinks fit to bring to pass, and endeavour to be contented in +whatever situation we may be placed." + +Capt. Elliott remained only a couple of days at the Manse; the parting was +a melancholy one. He expected to be sent to India, where he was sure to +remain at least six years. He had heard twice from William, since leaving +Kelso; and at his departure, he put a letter into Helen's hand directed +for her brother, which he desired her to be sure and forward by the next +day's post. "I promised him, poor fellow, that I would be sure to let him +hear from me the very day I left Eskdale, and I must keep my word." Then, +shaking his sister's hand, he added, "I prophecy that William will be both +an honour and a comfort to you yet, for all his trifling faults and +imperfections." + +About a week after Capt. Elliott had left the Manse, the family were +sitting at tea, conversing very comfortably together, when the study door +opened, and to their astonishment Mr. Lamont walked in. All expressed +their surprise at so unexpected a visitor; Mrs. Martin alone sat still, +her eyes fixed on Mr. Lamont's face, seeming to dread what she was to +hear. Mr. Lamont, however, spoke cheerfully, and after looking round the +room sat down, only saying a little private business required him to come +unexpectedly into Eskdale. Mrs. Martin was not satisfied; she remained +silent a few minutes, and then said, "Mr. Lamont, I know something has +happened: tell me at once what it is, I cannot be deceived; this state of +suspense is intolerable." "Madam, I find it is impossible to blind the +eyes of a mother so anxious and attached as you are; William has given me +a little uneasiness, but I hope there is no occasion for serious alarm." +He was proceeding when he perceived Mr. Martin almost gasping for breath; +he handed him a glass of water, and when Mr. Martin had drank it, he +waited about a minute, and then said, "Pray Mr. Lamont proceed, I am +prepared now to hear what you have to tell us." Mr. Lamont then began by +saying that, from the time they had parted from William at Kelso, he had +observed a most remarkable change in the boy. He no longer opposed any +thing he was desired to do, however disagreeable it might be to him; he +was never out of his place; his lessons were always attended to; in short, +he had flattered himself that an impression had been made on the boy's +mind which promised to be lasting. "About a week ago," continued Mr. +Lamont, "I observed him to be uncommonly grave, and once or twice he +complained of a head-ache, and asked leave to go to bed earlier than his +usual hour. Mrs. Lamont, upon one of these occasions, being anxious about +him, happened to go into his room to enquire how he was before she went to +bed. He told her the next morning he was much obliged to her for her +attention, but that she had awakened him by the light of her candle, and +he had not been able to sleep any more all night. Last Friday evening he +complained in the same way of his head, and went to bed, saying, as he +left the room, 'Pray, madam, don't awake me to-night if you please, for my +head aches more than usual.' Accordingly, when we went to bed, we did not +go into his room, but only in passing shut the door gently, observing, it +was odd he had left it open when he was so much afraid of noise. Next +morning, when the school assembled, William did not make his appearance. I +became alarmed lest his headache had increased, or been the forerunner of +some other complaint, and I therefore hastened in search of him; when, to +my great dismay, I found his room empty, and the bed evidently bearing the +appearance of never having been slept in. After a general search through +the house and the town, and making every possible inquiry of every +creature we could meet with, we heard from a man who had been fishing in +the Tiviot the evening before, that he had seen one of my scholars walking +quickly along the road to Edinburgh, with a small parcel in his hand, much +about the time when William pretended to be going to bed." Mr. Lamont went +on to inform the miserable parents, that, on this information, he had +traced William as far as the end of Princes Street, in Edinburgh, but +there he had lost him; and though both himself and one of the ushers had +continued their search for two days, they had not yet been able to get the +slightest intelligence of him; that he had then thought it his duty to +come himself to inform Mr. Martin, in order that they might consult +together what was best to be done. + + + + +CHAP. X. + + +When Mr. Lamont had made an end of his narration, Mrs. Martin (who had +borne up while he was speaking), seemed so overpowered as to be quite +unable to make any remarks; she sighed heavily, and Mr. Lamont thought she +would have fainted. Mr. Martin spoke to her, but she returned no answer; +at last, after using every means they could think of to get her to shed +tears, they became so alarmed that, though they by no means wished to let +William's disappearance be known, they thought it absolutely necessary to +send for Mr. Armstrong. Helen ran and called John (who was just come in +for his usual lesson) to go off directly to Langholm, as he was a quick +messenger, and could be trusted. + +When Mr. Armstrong arrived, he deemed it proper to have Mrs. Martin bled, +which being done, she seemed to take more notice, but still spoke not, +lying perfectly quiet, only sighing often. Her husband felt that to leave +her in that state was impossible; he was therefore obliged to trust to Mr. +Lamont's exertions to search for the wretched boy who had been the cause +of all this misery. The worthy schoolmaster accordingly left the Manse +early the following morning, by which time Mrs. Martin was in the height +of a brain fever, knowing no one, and screaming every instant for William. +Poor Helen now found the lessons which she had been early taught, of +subduing her feelings, were but too necessary to be put in practice. Her +father never quitted her mother's bed-side; and in all probability would +have fallen a sacrifice to the unremitting fatigue and anxiety he was +enduring, had not Helen, with persevering good sense and composure far +superior to her years, waited on him herself, watching every favourable +moment to bring him nourishment, and using all the little winning ways she +could think of or remember to have seen her mother employ when she thought +he required that sort of attention. + +A whole fortnight passed in this sort of way; Mrs. Martin's disease had in +some measure subsided, but it left her in such a state of exhaustion as to +give them very little hope of ultimately being able to save her life. Her +husband, worn out both with fatigue and misery, almost dreaded to hear her +able to ask a question, for fear that that question should be one which he +could not answer, for no accounts yet came of William. Helen, dear Helen, +was his only comfort; dreading, even more than her father, lest some fatal +accident had happened to her brother, for the innocency of her own mind +did not allow her to think for a moment that he had intentionally +inflicted this misery upon them all, she had nevertheless the courage to +conceal her apprehensions from her father, and kept continually cheering +him, by whispering that she was sure William would be heard of very soon. + +One evening, when almost despairing of being able to comfort him, as he +seemed almost ready to sink under his accumulated misfortunes, a thought +crossed her mind, and she caught her father's arm, saying; "My dear papa, +what if William has gone in search of uncle Elliott's ship?"--"My darling +comforter!" cried her father, starting from the chair in which he was +sitting, and effectually roused from the stupor in which he seemed sunk, +"that thought has never once occurred to me, and yet it appears by far the +most probable thing that has been suggested; but how can the unhappy boy +ever reach his uncle, without money, and without a guide?" said he, +despondingly. "Perhaps, papa," answered Helen, "William was not entirely +without money; for I know that grandmamma sent him a guinea on his +birthday, as an encouragement for the good account you brought her of his +behaviour, and to make up, in some degree, for his disappointment in not +coming to Melrose: and uncle Elliott gave me a guinea when he went--now I +think it very likely that he gave William the same, so that I doubt not he +must have at least two guineas; and perhaps he may have saved up some of +his usual pocket-money besides. It is therefore very probably, that he may +have had money enough to pay his passage up to London, or nearly so, for I +heard the housekeeper at the hall telling Mrs. Scott one day that it cost +her three guineas to come by the smack; perhaps they might take a little +boy for less." Mr. Martin, struck with the good sense of Helen's +reasoning, folded her to his heart, the tears streaming down his cheeks. +"Yes, my Helen, you are right, William has certainly gone to his uncle. +Whether he will succeed in arriving at his intended place of destination +in safety still remains a doubtful point, for there are many difficulties +in his way; at all events, my mind is greatly relieved, by having some +clue to his conduct. I will write to his uncle and Mr. Lamont directly; +the one will make every enquiry in London, the other may perhaps pick up +some information at Leith, whither in all probability he went; Mr. Lamont +at least may learn what ships sailed about that time. Do you sit down here +by your mother, and watch her, while I go and write my letters, for not an +instant must be lost." + +Helen sat down as her father directed, her mind dwelling on the +possibility that William was really gone to her uncle. In thinking thus, +she shuddered, and blamed herself for having so wicked a thought as to +suppose her brother could have been guilty of premeditated cruelty to such +indulgent parents as they were blessed with. Engrossed with her own +thoughts, she was startled by hearing her mother, in a weak low voice, +pronounce her name; she listed, and it was again repeated. It was the +first time she had spoken distinctly from the commencement of her illness. +Helen drew aside the curtain, and perceived that her dear mother knew her. +Mr. Armstrong had warned her father, in Helen's hearing, to be extremely +careful, whenever this should happen, not to allow her to speak more than +could be helped, and to keep the room as still and quiet as possible; she +therefore stooped down and kissed her cheek, and then was going to close +the curtain. Her mother looked anxious, and whispered, "Not yet." Helen +thought she said "your father." Helen immediately answered, "He is +writing, mamma, down stairs; he is quite well." Her mother then +endeavoured to articulate a "William." This was a trying moment for the +poor girl; she scarcely knew how to act; but seeing her mother's eyes +watching her, she said, "We hope with uncle Elliott; but, mamma, I must +not speak." She had said these words so low, that her mother had only +heard the sound of her brother's name, and therefore believed Helen had +said William was really with him; she raised her eyes to heaven, and +seemed inwardly to thank God: no more was said, and she remained quite +quiet. From that moment it was evident that she was gaining strength, but +so slowly as to be scarcely perceptible. Her sweet little girl now became +almost her only nurse; none administered her medicines, none shook her +pillows, none understood her looks so well and so quickly as Helen. Her +father, who was constantly in the room with them, watched his darling's +attention with the most lively feeling of delight, and thanked God he was +the father of such a child. + +Two days after Mr. Martin had written to Capt. Elliott, Helen came up into +her mother's room in the morning. She opened the door very gently, and +made a sign for her father to go down stairs; she then sat down by her +mother, and endeavoured to compose herself. This was no easy task, but she +felt it was necessary, therefore she had the resolution to sit quietly for +nearly half an hour, without ever showing the slightest impatience, though +she knew there was not only a letter from her uncle below in the parlour, +but likewise, she firmly believed, one from William himself. It was a +great trial of patience for a girl little more than eleven years old; but +Helen's mind was so habituated to be ruled by reflection and duty, that +she acted entirely as she thought her mother would have done under similar +circumstances. + +Her father at last came up stairs; he seemed very much agitated, and, as +if afraid to speak he pointed to Helen to leave the room. She almost flew +down stairs into the study, where lay the two letters on the table, which +her father had placed there for her inspection, a confidence she had well +earned by her dutiful and affectionate conduct. + +Capt. Elliott informed Mr. Martin, that on calling at his agent's one +morning, he was told that a boy had been enquiring for him the day before, +and that they had given him his address on board the _Amazon_ frigate, at +Chatham. Upon asking still further, he was told that the boy was a genteel +good-looking lad, and one of the clerks remarked that he spoke with the +Scottish accent. "I know not," continued he, "what put it into my head, +but William rose to my thoughts. I believed it next to impossible that it +could be he, yet I felt a sort of uneasiness, which induced me to return +to Chatham that night, contrary to my intention in the morning. On going +on board, I made enquiry whether a lad of that description had been there. +The lieutenant, who commanded in my absence, said, 'Yes, he has been here, +Sir, but he would neither wait for your arrival nor give his name, but +promised to call again to-morrow morning.' I really could not sleep for +anxiety that night, as the description which I received from all who saw +him almost confirmed my suspicions. I gave orders to be informed the +moment he came next day; and accordingly, about nine o'clock in the +morning I was told he was come alongside. I desired he might be sent into +my cabin, and in a few minutes William himself stood before me." + +"I begged to know what was his business with me, treating him exactly as I +would have done a perfect stranger. My young gentleman was rather +confounded with this reception at first, but he gradually took courage, +and informed me he had made up his mind and nothing would alter his +determination of going to sea; that if I was resolved not to receive him, +nor to allow him to remain in my ship, he could not insist on it, but he +would certainly go on board another, and he had no doubt he would find +other captains who would not reject him. I told him that his conduct had +been so extremely cruel and unfeeling, that it would be serving him as he +richly merited to throw him off, and let him provide for himself in any +way he chose, and that if he alone were considered I would certainly do +so; but as his parents were too dear to my heart to allow me to act in +this manner, the only thing I felt I could do was to write to you +information of what had passed, and be entirely regulated by your answer +in what way he should be disposed of. He has appeared extremely sulky. I +am told, ever since (for he is not permitted to enter my company), but you +may be quite satisfied I take good care he shall not escape." Capt. +Elliott then went on to say that, if he might offer any advice on the +subject, he thought it might perhaps be best to yield to the boy's wishes +of making the sea his profession; nothing else would satisfy him, and in +all probability he would do better in that line than he ever could now do +ashore. He then finished by earnestly desiring an answer as soon as +possible, and by giving his sister every assurance of his care and +affection for the boy; "at the same time," he added, "I must break this +_disobedient_ spirit, or he will do no good any where, and it appears to +me that the discipline of a ship is as good a remedy for bad temper as any +other that can be found." + +Helen shed many tears over this long letter. "Poor William," said she +aloud, "he little knows how nearly he has been the death of mamma, and how +much he has made us all suffer. Oh! if papa do let him go with my uncle, +how much I wish he may be allowed to come home and see us all before he +sails; I am sure he can never be happy to go away for six whole years +without having one kiss of forgiveness from his dear parents." She then +took up the other letter, it was indeed from William; he told his father +that he hoped he would forgive him, but that he had quite resolved to +chuse the sea for his profession; that, having done, so, he despaired of +being able to procure either his or his mother's consent to it, as he had +accidentally overheard a conversation some time before, in which they both +declared that nothing could induce them to agree to such a thing. He +therefore thought it the best and surest way to proceed as he had done, +knowing that, if he lost this opportunity, he would most probably have to +go entirely with strangers, which he supposed would be still more +disagreeable to them than his being with his uncle. He had gone to Leith, +and got on board one of the smacks, which was just sailing as he got to +the pier; and finding that his funds did not allow him to be a cabin +passenger, he had gone into the steerage; in short, he had only one +sixpence left by the time he saw his uncle. He finished by imploring their +forgiveness, promising that if they would in this instance gratify him, he +would never again give them the least reason to complain of him. + +Helen folded up the letters, and sat for a few minutes considering on +their contents. Her own good sense and feelings of _obedience_ to her +parents pointed out to her in how very improper a style her brother wrote; +but her love and affection for William made her try to excuse him. "Boys +are so different from girls!" thought she, "William has been away so much, +too, from home; and besides, he must chose a profession, and it would be +hard not to leave him at liberty to be what he thinks himself fit for." + +In the evening of this day Mrs. Martin felt herself better, and, for the +first time since her illness, spoke to her husband on the subject of +William. Mr. Martin told her he was with her brother, and likewise that he +had heard from himself; he then stated what Captain Elliott had said as to +William's being allowed to remain with him, but owned he was very averse +to this plan. Mrs. Martin answered very calmly: "My dear husband, as far +as my judgment goes, I perfectly agree with my brother. I would not +certainly have chosen that William should be a sailor if I could have +prevented it; but, as he has acted, I think it is the best thing we can +now do. He will be under my dear brother's care; and I shall now," +continued she, looking at her husband with tenderness, "die in peace on +his account, convinced that Elliott will exert every means to correct and +improve my poor boy, the last legacy of a dying sister." Mr. Martin, quite +alarmed by this address, asked her if she felt herself worse, and rose to +send for Mr. Armstrong. She laid her hand gently on his arm; "My dearest +love," said she, "I am not worse; but I own I have been watching for an +opportunity of preparing your mind for what I believe myself to be +inevitable; I do not say I shall die immediately, yet I am convinced my +constitution is so shattered, that a very short time will now be allowed +me to prepare for my awful change. I have thought that, by letting you +know what my own opinion is, your mind would be better able to bear the +stroke when it happens than if it came upon you suddenly; beside, my +beloved husband, I have much to say to you with regard to Helen. At +present, I must have done, my strength will not permit me to continue the +conversation; only write, my dearest love, to my brother, and tell him I +consign my son entirely to his management, and I trust he will endeavour +to guard his father from all future anxiety on his account; he has cost +him quite enough already." The last words were spoken so low, that they +were evidently not meant for her husband's ear. + +He had remained quite motionless all the time she was speaking. When she +ceased, he became almost convulsed with agony for some minutes; but a +violent shower of tears relieved him, and most probably saved either his +reason or his life, or indeed perhaps both. Helen's coming into the room +showed him the necessity of composure; and hastily passing her, saying he +must send answers to his letters, he left the room and shut himself up in +his study, there to implore compassion and resignation from a being, who +is never deaf to the petitions of the humble and sincere believer. + +A few days showed plainly that Mrs. Martin knew her own situation but too +well; she appeared gradually, though slowly sinking. One evening, she +asked her husband to raise her up a little; and then, desiring Helen to +bring her pen and ink, she insisted on being allowed to write a few lines. +"I shall write very little," said she, "but it is a duty that must not be +longer delayed." She then wrote what appeared to be only a short note, +which she sealed, and addressed to William; and putting it into her +husband's hand said, "send this, my love, when all is over, not before. It +may comfort him, poor fellow; he will require comfort then." + +Mr. Martin now felt it his duty to inform his dear Helen, of the state her +mother was really in, but it was some time before he could gain sufficient +courage to break it to her. One evening, however, seeing his wife worse +than usual, he was apprehensive that, should her death take place while +Helen was unprepared, it might have fatal effects upon the poor girl's +health. He therefore followed her into her room, when she went to prepare +for bed, and there in the gentlest manner informed her of the truth. Helen +at first was in such a state of violent grief, that she could listen to +nothing her father said, and indeed for some hours was utterly incapable +either of reasoning or exertion; but at last, lifting up her head, and +seeing her poor father, pale and exhausted, leaning over her, she started +up, and throwing herself into his arms, cried "Forgive me, my dearest +father, for being so selfish! I will indulge in this almost criminal +conduct no longer. Leave me for a few minutes; you may trust me; I will +then join you, and endeavour to perform my duty, both in attending the +last moments of my precious mother, and in being a comfort, not a burthen, +to my equally dear father." Mr. Martin thought it best to comply with her +request, and retired to try and subdue his own feelings, that he might be +able to attend to his wife. + +In half an hour Helen and her father were at Mrs. Martin's bedside; she +smiled faintly when she perceived them. Holding out her hand, she thus +addressed her husband: "My dear, I wish much to see my mother; pray write +for her, she will, I am sure, gratify me." Mr. Martin immediately left the +room, to send off a messenger to Melrose. Mrs. Martin then took hold of +Helen's hand, and said, "My dearest girl, I wish to say a few words to +you, but it must be when you are composed enough to listen to me. I have +endeavoured, both by precept and example, to fortify your mind; and you +will not, I trust, now disappoint my hopes, of having made you capable of +overcoming your feelings for the sake of those most dear to you." + +Helen, whose heart was almost bursting, pressed her mother's hand. "Give +me a few moments, mamma, and then I will attend to all you have to say. I +will not occasion you an uneasy thought, if I can help it; you shall be +convinced, that your lessons have not been thrown away." She then retired +to the window, and in about five minutes returned to her mother with her +features perfectly composed, and sitting down, said, "Now, mamma, if you +wish to speak to me, I am ready." Her mother made no comments, but +immediately began by saying, it was her ardent desire that she might be +able to prevail with Mrs. Elliott to give up her house at Melrose, and +come and live at the Manse. "She, my dear girl, will best supply my place, +both to you and your dear father. At present, my love, you are too young +to take the charge of the family. My mother is still active, and loves you +both with the truest affection. Should I be so fortunate as to succeed in +settling this plan, I shall be comparatively easy; but you must promise +me, my dear, the most perfect obedience to her wishes and directions in +every particular, even though they may appear to you to differ from what +you have been accustomed to receive from me; and if it please God, my +child, you must likewise promise to supply my place to her in her old age. +I need not, my dear, desire your attention and obedience to your father; +on that point I am easy. Your whole conduct through life, and more +particularly during my long protracted illness, has convinced me that I +have nothing to fear there, and it would be only harassing you to say a +word on the subject; but there is one more point that I must mention, I +mean your feelings towards your brother. Never, my own love, allow +yourself to dwell a single moment on conduct which may appear to have +shortened my life: I have forgiven him from my heart, and left him a +mother's blessing. I make it my last request to you, that you never will +either evince by your behaviour, or harbour in your inmost thoughts, the +slightest resentment towards him. And now, my love," continued she, +preventing Helen from speaking, "I have only to add my advice as to your +own personal conduct. In all circumstances be guided by your father's +wishes and opinions, at least as long as it pleases Providence to spare +him to you; and never, my beloved girl, separate from him or your +grandmother, while they require your dutiful attention." + +Helen now, in a quiet composed voice, went over every circumstance her +mother had enumerated, and added a sacred promise never to disobey her +last commands, in thought or deed. When she had so done, her mother, +clasping her in her arms, gave her in a solemn manner that most precious +of all gifts to a dutiful child, a dying mother's blessing. She then asked +for a little jelly; and, on her husband's coming into the room, advised +Helen to take a turn in the garden and recruit herself by getting a little +fresh air. She obeyed, and after a shower of tears became composed enough +to return to her mournful duties within doors. + +Mrs. Elliott arrived the next day, when Mrs. Martin had the satisfaction +of gaining her consent to give up her house at Melrose, and come to live +at the Manse. Mr. Martin assured her that she should ever be considered by +him as his own mother. His wife joined their hands, exclaiming, "My work +is finished in this world, I have now only to look forward to another and +a better." Her work in this world did indeed seem finished. The next day, +without any apparent change for the worse, as her mother and Helen were +sitting by the bed-side, and her kind anxious husband was supporting her +in his arms, she laid her head on his shoulder and seemed to fall asleep: +it was some minutes before he was aware that she was gone for ever. + +Thus perished one of the best and most exemplary of mothers, entirely from +anxious solicitude about a son, who, in spite of all admonition and +remonstrance, had allowed the growth and practice of _disobedience_ for +several years to embitter his kind parents' lives; and whose headstrong +violence and self-will at last brought the being whom he most loved on +earth to a premature grave! + + + + +CHAP. XI. + + +For some days after this melancholy event had taken place, the family, and +indeed all the inhabitants of the dale, were in the utmost state of +distress. Mrs. Martin had been universally beloved by all ranks in the +neighbourhood of her residence; and there was not a single individual for +ten miles round, that did not, in some way or other, show a sympathy in +the minister's affliction. + +Helen struggled with her feelings; and this exertion was of infinite +service both to herself and her father, who, struck by seeing so much +fortitude in so young a girl, felt it his duty to encourage her by +example, at least in her presence; and Helen, aware of this, took good +care to be with him continually. + +Her grandmother was perfectly astonished at her conduct; and took every +opportunity of praising her when they were alone. "My Helen," would she +say, "you will be the means, through the blessing of God, of saving your +father's life. I really feared for him for the first week or two; but he +begins now to look more like himself, and I think, by a continuance of the +same attention and unobtrusive kindness, you will in time reconcile him in +some degree to his loss, and bring him again into his former habits of +employment and usefulness." + +On one of these occasions, Helen caught her grandmother's hand, saying +"Hush! no more, dear madam; I cannot hear praise on this subject. I am +only endeavouring to follow the precepts and example of the best and most +beloved of mothers. Her advice, and the solemn promise I gave her a few +hours before her death, are never out of my mind; but it is a subject too +sacred for me to bear hearing it talked of;" and straining her clasped +hands across her chest, she added solemnly, "No! that I cannot do." Her +grandmother folded her to her breast, saying, "My Helen, pardon me, I will +never distress you on this subject again; we now perfectly understand each +other." + +Helen for many months continued the same mild, quiet, but unceasing +attention to her father; who at length had acquired composure, and even +began to smile at his daughter's little sallies of humour. She had became +his pupil in drawing, and this tempted him to resume their usual walks and +rides when the weather would permit, so that by the end of the summer, +content, and even cheerfulness, had in some degree again appeared at the +Manse. Helen, however could never bring her mind to mention her mother's +name to any one but her father; and only to him, from observing that it +would deprive him of a great enjoyment, which he evidently had, in talking +of her and her virtues. + +William had sailed before he heard of his mother's death. For the present, +therefore, he had been spared the punishment of his disobedience; but Mr. +Martin had written both to him and his uncle, and inclosed his mother's +last legacy. Helen likewise had thought it her duty to write to William, +and assure him how kindly and affectionately her mother had spoken of him +before her death, and how much she wished to impress on both their minds +love and confidence in each other. She then entreated him to write soon, +and often, as their father was not in a state to bear much anxiety; she +durst not say a word about her grandmother, for the old lady had +positively refused to allow her name to be mentioned to him, and it +evidently gave her pain whenever she heard Helen and her father conversing +about him. + +At this time, Mrs. Scott, the gardener's wife at Craigie Hall, was +obliged, by the sudden illness of her father, to go to Edinburgh. Her +husband was to accompany her, and leave her there if necessary, but they +knew not exactly what to do with little Marion. Mr. Martin and Helen +happening to call in one of their daily walks, he asked them to send +Marion to the Manse. "She will be much better with us, Mrs. Scott, than +being left here; and I am sure my daughter will take care to make her +attend to all that she has learnt from you during your absence." Helen, +also, was quite pleased with the plan, and pressed Mrs. Scott to agree to +it. "I am sure, Sir," said Mr. Scott, "my wife can have no objection, +unless it be the thought of giving you and Miss Helen trouble: but Marion +is a good little girl, and will trouble you as little as possible; and +therefore, as you are kind enough to ask her, Sir, I really think we ought +to accept the offer; the advantage of being near so good a daughter, and +seeing how she conducts herself, may be of use to her all her life." +Accordingly, the next day Marion was brought down to the Manse by her +father; and John was not a little surprised and pleased to find her +established there when he came in the evening. Marion was but a short +while under Helen's care, when her grandmother perceived she was of the +greatest use, both to her health and spirits; she was a tractable child, +with a very feeling heart. She had heard from her parents the continued +praises of Miss Martin's conduct, from the time of her mother's death, and +Marion fancied her the first of human beings; she therefore had the +greatest ambition to please her. She watched even her looks to anticipate +which she thought might be her wishes, and if ever a cloud of sorrow came +over Helen's face, Marion was sure, by some little winning attention, to +endeavour to direct her thoughts into a different channel. She remained at +the Manse nearly three months, and returned home, to the great regret of +all the family; from that time, however, she was a constant visitor, and a +sincere attachment took root between her and Helen, which has lasted all +their lives. + +Very little change took place in the dale after this, for the space of +several years. Mr. Martin had in some degree recovered his health and +spirits; but a shock had been given to his nerves, which rendered him more +delicate, and requiring more care than he did before; and it was not +likely, Mr. Armstrong said, that he would ever be otherwise. Mrs. Elliott +still enjoyed good health, though from rheumatism she was obliged to live +more within doors. Helen was their comfort and support; she was now fast +approaching womanhood, and never was there a more amiable creature; her +dear mother's lessons and instructions had _indeed_ not been thrown away. +She had unfortunately known sorrow in early youth; but it had acted upon +her for good, in teaching her the proper regulation of her mind and she +now felt the comfort of having done so, by being the friend and confident +both of her father and grandmother. + +John had gone on under Will the shepherd, performing his duty as a servant +in the day, and improving his mind with Mr. Martin in the evening; for +though he had learned all that was necessary for him to know, yet Helen +encouraged his constant attendance in the study, as she thought it amused +her father's mind. John was now becoming a stout lad, almost too big for +the hills, and on some occasion, when Mr. Martin happened to mention that +he thought he must begin to consider whether he meant to be a shepherd all +his life, John answered directly, "No, Sir, not if I can help it;" but +recollecting himself immediately, he added, "in that as in every thing +else, I feel it is my duty to be regulated by your advice. I certainly +have formed a wish to see a little more of the world, and if I could go +into the service of some gentleman who would have patience with my +awkwardness, I think I should prefer that, at least for a few years, to +settling here immediately for life. I have wished to speak to you, Sir, +upon this subject, as my time is out next summer with Mr. Laurie; but if +you think I am wrong, I will give up all thoughts of leaving the dale, and +hire myself out as a shepherd. I have no doubt any of the farmers around +will engage me, as I am well known among the hills; and Will's herd-boys +are always preferred, as he takes so much pains to teach us our duty." Mr. +Martin replied, "My dear John, I am rather unprepared to give you an +answer; but I will think of the subject, and talk it over with you before +your time is out with Mr. Laurie. You are a good lad, and will, I am sure, +be guided by reason." + +The day after this conversation took place a letter arrived from Capt. +Elliott, saying that he was safely arrived in England; that he was now at +Portsmouth, and he hoped in a very few weeks to be in Eskdale. He gave a +most flattering account of William, who was now all that his warmest +friends could wish. His poor mother's death had had a most astonishing +effect upon his whole conduct. When he first received the sad tidings, he +was so affected, that his uncle feared for his reason, and could scarcely +ever trust him out of sight; but at length he became calm and composed, +and from that time was never seen, even in a single instance, out of +humour. For the first two years this appeared to cost him great mental +exertion, his colour often rising when any thing displeased him; but he +always on those occasions left the cabin, or retired to a corner away from +every one, and on his joining the company again appeared with a placid +countenance. Now all appearance of passion, or any thing approaching to +it, had entirely vanished; his uncle entreated that his father, for his +own sake, would allow him to come down with him to the dale, as he was +quite sure he would be delighted to witness so complete a reformation. + +Mr. Martin immediately answered this letter, by requesting William to come +to him as soon as he could be spared from the duties of his ship. As Capt. +Elliott found he should be detained in town longer than he at first +expected, he thought it cruel to keep William from going to his father a +day longer than was necessary; he therefore despatched him off by the +mail, about a week after he had heard from Mr. Martin. + +As soon as this news had reached the Manse, both Helen and her father felt +the greatest anxiety; wishing, yet fearing to see one who would recall so +many bitter thoughts to their minds. The having a few days to prepare +themselves for this meeting was of great service to them: for, long before +the time of his arrival was come, the delight of once more seeing a being +so beloved had overcome in their minds all unpleasant reflections. Not so +with Mrs. Elliott. When his arrival in England was first mentioned to her +she made no remark, not even when it was told her that he was coming down +with her son; but, as soon as she understood that he was coming alone, she +informed Helen she was determined to go away before he arrived, and would +take that time for paying a long promised visit to some friends at +Melrose. Helen was absolutely in despair when she heard this. Her +grandmother had been very far from well for some time, and was in her +opinion quite unable to take such a journey; she therefore used every +argument she could think of herself, being very unwilling to let her +father know any thing of the matter if she could possibly help it, but all +was in vain. She was therefore obliged, at last, to tell him what was her +grandmother's intention. Mr. Martin was excessively distressed. He joined +Helen in her entreaties, representing, in the mildest way, the great +necessity we all have for forgiveness from our heavenly father, and that +therefore it becomes a first-rate duty to forgive those who injure us. +Poor William, now that he was sensible of his former bad conduct, was in +fact an object rather of pity than of dislike; since in all probability he +would never in this life be able to forgive himself. All their arguments +were however vain, till Helen said, "Well, my dear grandmother, since you +really are determined to act in this cruel manner, it must deprive me of +the pleasure of enjoying my brother's society whilst he is here; for, in +the state of your health, I consider my self bound, both by affection and +the solemn promise I gave my dearest mother on her death-bed, never to +separate from you while you require any assistance; and I never will, +however much it may cost me. My father will receive William, and I hope +will explain to him the great sacrifice I am taking in not remaining to +welcome him; I have no doubt my brother will come and see me at the inn at +Melrose; for I know not how I could bear to be entirely deprived of seeing +an object, endeared to me, both by natural affection, and by the strong +injunctions of one whom, I trust, I have never yet intentionally +disobeyed."--"You are right, my dearest girl," said her father, "your +grandmother must not be permitted to go alone in the present state of her +health. It is a great sacrifice we must all make to part at this time; but +to you, my sweet child, it is even of more importance than to any of us, +as it must in a great degree prevent that intimacy and friendship taking +place with your brother, which I think of essential consequence to the +happiness of you both, and which you may not have another opportunity of +forming for many years; but we must act (according to our best judgment) +up to our duty, however much that duty may be unpleasant to us." Mrs. +Elliott said she would on no account agree to this arrangement; but +finding that nothing could shake Helen's resolution, she then proposed +going only into Langholm, where she thought she might easily procure +lodgings. "I can, I am sure," said she, "get Marion Scott to come and be +with me, when you are in the Manse; and by this plan you can both see me +every day. And besides, Mrs. Armstrong will then be near me, if any thing +should be the matter. Will you, my dear son, agree to this plan? I cannot, +indeed I cannot see William and live," added she, in great agitation: "at +least I feel quite unable to bring my mind to it: I bear him no ill will; +on the contrary, I shall ever be thankful to God for his reformation and +prosperity, but I feel I was myself greatly to blame in my conduct towards +him whilst under my charge; and to see him now would bring the +recollection of my own culpability so strongly to my mind, that I am +persuaded my life would fall a sacrifice to the acuteness of my feelings." +Mr. Martin and Helen now thought it improper to press her further upon the +subject; but they agreed that it would be much more satisfactory to them +to adopt the plan of going into Langholm, than that at the present season +(for it was now December) she should take so long a journey as Melrose. +Helen proposed speaking to Mr. Armstrong on the subject who, as he was an +unmarried man and had a good house, she did not doubt, for the few weeks +her grandmother might require it, would offer to receive her at his own +home. + +Mr. Martin liked the idea very much, and said he would walk into Langholm +and endeavour to arrange something immediately, as they had very little +time, William being expected in the course of two days. Helen in the mean +time got her pony and rode up to Mr. Scott's, to make her request +concerning Marion. She felt that if she could succeed in this her mind +would be quite at ease, as Marion was extremely handy and attentive, and +what was of equal importance, a great favourite of Mrs. Elliott's; she +might therefore with safety and satisfaction to herself be able to be a +great deal at the Manse, without feeling any anxiety at leaving her +grandmother. Mrs. Scott cheerfully agreed to her request. "I am sure, Miss +Helen," said she, "any thing that Marion can ever be able to do for you or +your worthy father she will have the greatest pleasure in doing; and I +cannot, my dear miss, wonder much at the old lady's disliking to meet her +grandson. Being a mother myself," continued she, looking at Marion with +affection, "I do not think I could ever bear to see any one who, however +innocently, occasioned the loss of my child. Oh, no! (shuddering at the +bare thought of it). I am sure I could not." "We must and ought to forget +and forgive, Mrs. Scott," answered Helen. "Poor William was but a boy when +he brought so much distress upon us; but he is quite an altered character +now I do assure you, and I am certain would not give any of us a minute's +uneasiness."--"I am rejoiced to hear you say so; the sight of him will +then be a cordial and a blessing to our dear and esteemed friend the +minister; pardon my presumption in styling him so, but a friend in the +truest sense of the word he is to us, and indeed to all that are in the +dale." Helen now wished her good morning, she having promised to send +Marion down in the evening. "I shall send John up early," said Helen, +"that he may carry her parcel, and take care of her, for it gets soon dark +at this time of the year."--"That will do nicely," said Mrs. Scott; "I was +just thinking how unlucky it was her father was not at home to-day; he is +gone down as far as Canonby this morning, and it will be late before he +returns." + +Mr. Martin had settled with Mr. Armstrong, that Mrs. Elliott and Marion +were to be his visitors, as he would not for a moment hear of their going +anywhere else; and Mrs. Elliott, when informed of the arrangements, +expressed herself perfectly satisfied. "I am glad it has happened, my +dear," said she to Helen, "that Mr. Armstrong can take me into his own +house, for now you and your dear father will feel satisfied that I am +quite comfortable. It has given me the greatest distress that I have been +obliged to vex you both as I have done, but you must pardon an old woman, +who has not strength now left, either of body or mind, to make the +exertion that would have been necessary to have acted otherwise. Had I +attempted it, I think it would have brought on you more serious evils than +the little inconvenience of my changing my residence for a few weeks." + +The following morning, a chaise, which Mr. Martin had ordered from +Langholm, arrived to carry Mrs. Elliott and Marion to Mr. Armstrong's. +Helen went along with them, and having stayed to see them safely settled, +and all her grandmother's little comforts placed around her, she returned +home to her dear father, well knowing that he required her society at that +moment even more than the old lady. + + + + +CHAP. XII. + + +About six o'clock in the evening, William arrived, with a countenance, oh, +how unlike that which we formerly described, when he entered Mr. Lamont's +parlour to meet his dear mother and uncle! Instead of that elastic step +which expresses health and happiness, instead of the sparkling eye and +rosy cheek which he possessed when they last parted with him, Helen, who +had flown out on the green to meet him, as much to give her father time to +compose himself as to show her brother her eagerness to see him, beheld by +the light which John held up a dark sun-burnt young man, standing as if he +was trying to gain courage to come forward, with his arms folded and his +eyes fixed on the ground. On hearing Helen's voice, he started forward and +caught her in his arms, "My own sister! this is kind indeed. I do not +deserve this reception; but you was ever kind and good from your earliest +days. Where is my father? Oh!" said he, convulsively, "how can I enter +that door? how can I see my much-injured parent?" "My dearest brother," +said Helen, recalled in a moment to her self-possession, "for that +parent's sake endeavour to be composed. Let this much-desired meeting be +conducted with as little agitation as you can possibly give him. He is not +able to endure violent emotion, not even suspense; let me therefore hasten +you into his presence. You will find him all goodness and affection +towards a so-long absent son." Thus saying, she hurried him into the +study, and before he had time to know almost where he was, he found +himself clasped to his father's heart. He soon disengaged himself, and +falling on his knees covering his face with his hands, implored his father +would pronounce his forgiveness and blessing before he would dare to look +him in the face. Mr. Martin immediately, in a most emphatic way, and with +much more composure than his daughter believed he could command, +pronounced both; and having done so held out his hand, saying, "Now, my +dear boy, for my sake as well as your own, and as you value the blessing +you have just received, let no reference to past circumstances ever be +made during your short visit here. We must now endeavour to be happy, and +enjoy the blessing which is granted to us by a kind Providence, of once +more meeting together, without embittering our present hours by +reflections which can answer no good purpose, and only tend to make us +wretched." So saying, he added, cheerfully, "look at your sister, William; +she is much grown since you saw her, and I shall be quite disappointed if +you do not admire her."--"No fear, my dearest father, that I shall fail +either in admiration or love to such a sister," answered William; "I owe +her too much gratitude not to be prepared to find her little short of +perfection; she has been," continued he, kissing her, "my comforter and +adviser for the last six years; and I am sure her correspondence with me +during that time deserves to be published, to show sisters how to treat +with effect a brother who required admonition coupled with tenderness." +They now sat down to tea; and upon the whole spent a more cheerful evening +than Helen had dared to hope. + +William was still extremely handsome: his complexion had suffered by +exposure to the sea-air and the heat of the climate he had been in, but +this circumstance, in his sister's eyes, seemed to have improved him, by +giving him a more manly appearance than his years would otherwise have +admitted of, as he was now barely twenty. His large sparkling eyes, which +formerly used to flash at every sudden turn of temper, where now softened +down to a mild, placid expression, occasionally brightened by good humour +and warm feelings to those around him, particularly to his sister, whom +each succeeding day rendered more dear to him; but the common expression +of his face was decidedly mournful, and Helen saw plainly, that his +lamented mother was never for one moment absent from his mind. + +Captain Elliott arrived about ten days after William. He was inexpressibly +surprised to find his mother not at the Manse. "Where is my mother," +exclaimed he, as he looked round, "that she does not come to welcome her +long absent son? is she ill?" asked he, turning to Helen. "No, my dear +brother," answered Mr. Martin, "I will explain to you the reason of her +absence when we are alone; you will see her soon." So saying, he led him +into the next room to inform him where she was; for Helen had entreated +that her brother might be spared the agony of knowing she had refused to +see him. As she had never been mentioned, by her own particular desire, in +any of their letters, further than that she continued well, he had not an +idea but that she remained at Melrose, and he felt rather surprised that +his father had not proposed his going over to see her; but he satisfied +himself that he was waiting till his uncle arrived, and therefore asked to +questions about it. When his father and uncle retired, he looked at Helen, +and said, "My dear sister, what is this secret about our grandmother? How +came my uncle to fancy she was here? Has she left you lately?" Helen was +much distressed, but with infinite presence of mind answered, "My brother +heard that my father did not choose to explain before him my uncle's +questions; therefore, I am sure, he will not press me to say any thing my +father did not wish known. All I can tell you is, that our good +grandmother is well, and that she was here lately, but is now gone." +William remained silent a few moments; then, taking his sister's hand, +said, "My grandmother will not see the wretched cause of so much sorrow; +she has not forgiven me; I see and understand the whole now. I am sure I +do not blame her, poor dear woman; she may, perhaps, be brought to forgive +me in time, but it is what I never can hope or even wish to do myself." +Helen was silent; she could not deny that what her brother suspected was +indeed the truth, but she would not confirm it, by which means he remained +in ignorance of the near residence of Mrs. Elliott. Helen and her uncle +spent usually the greatest part of the day at Langholm, whilst Mr. Martin, +delighted with his son, seldom ever separated from him till their return. +William had been made by his uncle to attend to his studies every moment +he could be spared from his duty in the ship, and being naturally clever, +and in fact fond of his book, had gained considerable information on most +subjects. + +The father and son now seemed exactly formed for giving pleasure and +delight to each other; and it plainly appeared to Captain Elliott, that it +would be difficult to say which of them would suffer most when a +separation became necessary. One very stormy evening, Mr. Martin and +William were sitting alone in the study, Helen and her uncle having +remained to dine with Mrs. Elliott; as the wind howled in the chimney; +William said, "I cannot think what takes Helen so much into Langholm; I am +glad, however, that my uncle is with her, for I really do not think it is +a night for her to be out in."--"I am not uneasy," answered her father; +"your uncle will bring her safe, in some way or other. Helen does not mind +a little wind or rain; she is not a fine lady."--"I shall return her, +however," answered William, laughing, "one of her lessons to me on +prudence. It is not often I can catch an opportunity of showing my +superior wisdom, and I won't lose this one, I can tell her." + +Just as he finished this speech, John opened the door. "Sir, if you +please," said he, in the utmost agitation, "I know not what to do: in +coming down the hill I called at Mr. Scott's to walk to Langholm with +Marion, as Miss Helen gave her leave to go and spend the morning with her +mother. It was so boisterous a night, I meant to try to persuade her to +stay there, and allow me to go and tell Miss Helen she had done so; but +her mother told me, when I got into the house, that Marion, seeing the +storm coming, insisted on setting off, as she said her absence would vex +Miss Helen very much; I therefore ran down the road, as fast as the wind +and drifting snow would allow me, but she has never arrived at Langholm, +Sir, nor can I hear a word of her at any of the houses, all along the +dale. The very thought of what may have happened to her drives me almost +distracted; what can I do, Sir? I have come to you, as perhaps you may be +able to think of something that I may yet do to save her." Both William +and his father started up, and began buttoning their coats to go in search +of the poor little girl. William, however, remonstrated against his +father's attempting to expose himself to such a storm; but Mr. Martin, +more intent upon doing what he conceived to be his duty than mindful of +his own health, still persevered in his preparations, till William firmly, +though respectfully, said "My dearest father, it is a thing I cannot +possibly consent to. John and I are strong healthy lads, that are both +used to disregard either wind or weather. You may be certain that we shall +both make every possible exertion for this girl's safety; but if you +persevere in your intention of exposing so precious a life, where, I am +sure, your strength can be but of little use, I feel it be my duty to +remain where I am, and guard my father from distressing both myself and my +excellent sister. Could she ever pardon me, were I to permit you to quit +your house on such an errand, and on such a night? Even were it herself +that was to be sought for, I would act exactly as I am now doing; +therefore, unless you give me a solemn promise not to quit this room till +I return, I cannot assist John in his search." Mr. Martin, seeing he was +resolved, wisely took off the great coat he had been buttoning on, whilst +his son was speaking. "Well, William, I believe you are right," said he, +"I am not at liberty to expose a life so precious to my children. Go with +John; I promise you, I will not stir from this fireside till you return. I +need not entreat of you to make every exertion for poor Marion. She is +little less dear to me that my own child, and it is in our service that +she has got into this difficulty. I know I can trust to John to do all +that is in his power, in this cause." + +William and John left the house, well wrapt up in maudes, and each +carrying a lantern. For nearly two hours they searched all along the holm, +which they thought the most likely place to find poor Marion; for there +the wind seemed to beat with such violence, as to render it impossible for +a girl of her years to have strength to withstand it. The snow by this +time was a foot deep, and in some places it was drifted so much as to be +nearly up to their knees. Again they returned up the river, but still +without the slightest success. At this time John thought he heard a dog +howl, near a turn of the road about half way between Langholm and the +Manse; and following the sound, William sprung forward, and with very +great difficulty forced his way through some brushwood entirely covered +with snow, towards an excavation in the rock which terminated the holm, +and almost reached the river, only leaving room for the road to wind round +it. As he approached this place the dog was distinctly heard; and John, +exclaiming, "It is Trusty's voice, Marion must be here," pushed before +William, who was not so well acquainted with the ground as he was. When he +got quite close to the excavation, Trusty, who had heard footsteps, sprung +out and barked, running back again. John followed, calling on Marion, and +at length, holding up his lantern, he beheld Marion indeed, but she +appeared to him to be quite dead. She lay under the rock, her head resting +on a stone, and a small bundle firmly clasped in her hands. John stooped +to try to raise her, but he trembled so much, and was so persuaded that +they had come too late, that his strength entirely failed him; he could +only cry, "Mr. William, she is gone for ever!" and sunk almost insensible +by her side. William by this time had raised up her head, and felt her +pulse, and perceiving that it still beat, though very languidly, was +persuaded that if they could get immediate assistance she might be saved; +he therefore said, "Rise, John, and let us lose no time in reaching +Langholm; there is need for the greatest exertion; Marion may yet be +saved, if we can only manage to carry her to Mr. Armstrong's. Do you take +the lantern, and I will carry her in my arms; I am stronger than you, and +not quite so nervous: so move, and remember, her life may depend upon a +very few minutes' delay." John, recalled to himself by the prospect of +saving her, went on as fast as the wind and the snow, drifting in his +face, would allow him, and with incredible fatigue and difficulty they +succeeded in reaching Mr. Armstrong's door in less than half an hour, with +their apparently lifeless burthen. John knocked, and the door being +opened, William waited not an instant, but pushed forward into the first +room he could find, calling loudly for Mr. Armstrong. He laid Marion on a +sofa that stood near the door, and then threw himself on the carpet, quite +exhausted from the fatigue he had undergone. On opening his eyes, he found +his sister rubbing his face and hands, with every mark of alarm in her +countenance; and directly opposite to him sat his grandmother, gazing on +him so earnestly that her countenance seemed absolutely convulsed with +agitation. "Where, oh where have you brought me," exclaimed he, "my dear +Helen! Why did you let my grandmother see me? Look, she is dying; the +sight of me has killed her." + +On William's fainting, Helen was too much frightened to think any thing +about her grandmother, but had continued bathing her brother's temples and +rubbing his hands till he became sensible and uttered the above sentence. +His words recalled her to her recollection, and looking up, she was indeed +frightened to see the agitation of her countenance. "My dearest +grandmother, speak to me I beseech you," said she; "William shall leave +the room the moment he is able to stand; he knew not that you were here." +Mrs. Elliott at last struggled to speak, and said, "Oh! I thought never +again to have seen that face, as a punishment for my own faulty +indulgence; but now that an unforeseen accident has thrown him before me, +I have not strength to resist, and I hope I do not act very criminally in +indulging myself once more by clasping my idolized unfortunate boy in my +withered arms; God knows what I have suffered by refusing myself this +consolation." William did not wait to hear her finish the sentence, but +threw himself on his knees before her, imploring her once more to receive +and forgive him all his offences. + +This reconciliation seemed to remove a load from her mind; for from the +time she had left the Manse she never had been seen to smile, and a +restless watchfulness, instead of her usual quiet and composed manners, +had led Helen sometimes to suspect she had repented of having persevered +in leaving her home; but still she would not allow the slightest hint to +that effect, and had never even asked a word about William. + +Meantime Marion had been laid on a bed, and every means having been used +to bring her out of the trance into which she had fallen, after nearly two +hours' exertion she showed signs of recovery. Mr. Armstrong insisted on +her being left perfectly quiet; and they now thought it would be best for +John to return to the Manse and ease Mr. Martin's mind as to her safety. +"I will do that with pleasure," said John, "and I must likewise try to get +up to Craigie Hall, for her poor mother will be almost distracted if she +hears by any accident that she was missing. I went twice and looked in at +her window to see if her daughter had returned home, but I did not go into +the house for fear of alarming her, so I hope as yet she knows nothing of +the matter." William now rose and said he must go home to his father; "I +pledged myself to return," said he, "as soon as Marion was in safety, and +I must keep my word; good night, my dear madam, I hope to-morrow morning +Helen may prevail with you to return to the Manse." So saying he kissed +her, and then taking an affectionate leave of his sister, left the house +accompanied by John, who was not perfectly satisfied at being obliged to +go without seeing Marion himself; however, Mr. Armstrong promised that he +should have that gratification the next morning. + +They found Mr. Martin and Captain Elliott waiting impatiently for their +return. The accounts William gave them of what had passed imparted the +greatest satisfaction to Mr. Martin, who, after making them eat something, +insisted upon their going to bed immediately. He would not allow John to +go to Craigie Hall that night, but promised to send his own herd-boy up to +Mrs. Scott's in the morning. + +Nothing very particular, from this time, happened during William's stay in +Eskdale. Mrs. Elliot was prevailed on to return to the Manse, and spent +three weeks in the midst of all that was now dear to her. Marion +recovered, after a few days' illness. She told them, when she was able to +come to the Manse, that, on leaving her father's house that dreadful +evening, she thought from the look of the skies she should be able to get +to Langholm before the storm began; but it increased so rapidly, that, +after she was beyond the Manse, she repented not having gone in there, yet +still she had no great alarm. However, about half way down the holm, the +snow fell so thick as completely to blind her, and the wind drove her +backwards and forwards so violently, that at last, she did not know where +she was. The last thing she recollected, was finding herself under the +rock; and as it sheltered her a little, she thought it best to sit down +and regain her strength before she attempted to turn round the point of +the rock. As she was doing so, she felt Trusty close beside her, which, +she said, comforted her in her distress. She supposed that she fell asleep +while she was sitting, and fell down, for she had no recollection of lying +down, where, if assistance had not arrived, in a very little time longer +all aid would have been in vain. + +Captain Elliott now began to say he must think of leaving Eskdale. William +dreaded the very thoughts of a separation from his father; but he had +carved out his own destiny, and there was now no alternative. Poor Mr. +Martin seemed to fear, every time his brother opened his mouth, that he +was to hear the sentence of William's banishment. It had been settled some +time, that John was to accompany them, as Captain Elliot wished to have a +servant from that country, and Mr. Martin immediately thought of John. +"You can never," said he, "have a more careful, active lad, nor one who +will conduct himself with greater propriety and honesty than my poor +orphan boy will do; but you must expect a certain degree of awkwardness at +first, which I really believe he will soon get the better of; and I +confess," added he, "since I must part from my dear son, I shall be more +comfortable in knowing that he will have another attached, though humble +friend, in the ship with him, on whom I can in all difficulties rely for +attention and fidelity to any one who belongs to me." + +Every thing was now prepared for our travellers; and, much as Helen felt +in separating from her friends, she even now wished that they were gone, +on her father's account. He neither ate nor slept, and seemed in a +continual state of agitation. At last, the day was finally fixed for their +departure; Mr. Martin heard it in silence, but, from that moment, never +suffered William out of his sight; indeed, poor William was equally +unwilling to move from his side. They often sat together for hours, +holding each other's hand, not daring to utter a sentence. The morning of +the departure produced a most affecting scene, and it required almost all +Captain Elliott's strength of mind and resolution to separate the father +and son. They clung to each other again and again, as if they had a +presentiment that they should meet no more. Poor John was almost as +violently affected: his master, as he always called Mr. Martin, was as +dear to him as a father. He stood by, witnessing this heartbreaking +struggle, overpowered with his own feelings, and wretched at seeing his +dear respected master undergoing such a trial. "Ah, Miss Helen," whispered +he, "what would I give to get one kiss of my master's hand before I leave +him! But do not intrude on him: I would not add to his distress for any +satisfaction it might give me. Do not tell him I ever mentioned it." Helen +thought, however, it might perhaps divert her father's attention into +another channel. She therefore said, loud enough for him to hear her, +"John, Sir, wishes to take leave of you, will not you let him kiss your +hand?"--"My poor fellow," replied Mr. Martin, "come to me and receive my +blessing. A dutiful and affectionate boy I have ever found you, since you +have been under my care; and now remember, all the love and affection you +have shown me I entreat maybe continued to my son; be a dutiful and +obedient servant to your master; be sure and write to me on every +opportunity; and now, God bless you!" So saying, before John was aware of +his intention, he clasped him in his arms and kissed him. John from that +moment fancied himself raised in his own estimation, far above any thing +he could have looked to. He flew out of the room to conceal his feelings; +and, in a few seconds, the travellers had left the Manse. + + + + +CHAP. XIII. + + +Soon after their arrival in London an order for sailing arrived, and they +were all obliged to get on board, without having time to show John much of +the wonders of the metropolis. They however had the satisfaction of +receiving good accounts from the Manse. Helen wrote to this effect, that, +within a few days after the parting was once fairly over, her father +recovered in a great degree his spirits, and that she had great hopes of +seeing him soon as cheerful as ever. Marion wrote to John, and told him +that she had been with Miss Helen for some days, and that she thought they +were all much better than she had expected to find them; "but," she added, +"the dale now looks so melancholy, I can scarcely believe it the same +place." + +The Amazon was now sent into the Mediterranean, therefore it was seldom +that letters could pass between our navigators and their friends in +Eskdale. About a year after they had left England, Captain Elliott +received a letter, on putting into Gibraltar, from Mr. Martin, informing +him of the sudden death of his mother. He said she had been complaining a +few days, but they were not in the least alarmed till the day before her +death, when Helen thought she perceived a change in her manner of +speaking, and sent for Mr. Armstrong, who immediately saw she had had a +stroke of the palsy. Nothing could be done; and before the next morning, +another stroke carried her off. From the time she became seriously ill, +she never quitted Helen's hand; having her near her seemed her only +consolation. + +Every letter that Mr. Martin received was filled with John's praises, +Captain Elliott affirming he was a perfect treasure to him as a servant, +as well as a great acquisition to the ship's company, and that he was such +a happy good-tempered fellow that he was beloved by every one on board. +William wrote regularly to his father, and his letters constituted the +chief enjoyment of Mr. Martin's life. John sent him an account of all he +saw and heard, that he thought would in any way serve to amuse either him +or Helen; and, at the same time, he never forgot to send a letter to +Marion in every packet. + +This kind of communication had continued about two years, when one +afternoon the sailors on board the Amazon discovered a strange sail at a +distance, and Captain Elliott gave orders to give chase to her directly. +As she was but a slow sailer they soon gained on her, and when they came +near enough, William was ordered into the boat, to go alongside and +discover what she was. The wind blew rather fresh, and the clouds looked +lowering. John, who was standing on deck, took alarm at the weather, and +coming up to William as he was preparing to enter the boat, endeavoured to +persuade him to speak to the Captain before he went. "He has not looked at +the sky, I am sure," said John, "or he would never send you on such an +expedition"--"Pho! pho!" answered William, "we must have no fresh-water +sailors here. Go I must; so there is no alternative. My orders are +explicit."--"Then, Sir, permit me to go with you," said John. "I am an +expert swimmer, which you are not; and I really feel so very wretched and +uncomfortable at seeing my master's son go out in such a night, that if +you won't take me otherwise, I will run and get the Captain's orders to be +of the party, and then you cannot refuse."--"No, John," said William, "if +there really is danger, I shall not needlessly expose more lives than I +can help. God bless you, my lad. See that you have a dry shirt for me, +when I come back; for I think we are likely to have wet jackets. Here is +my key. Mind your orders!" So saying, he jumped into the boat; and though +John ran as quick as he could, to get the Captain's permission to +accompany him, the boat had left the ship by the time he came back. John +staid on deck, watching with a glass all the boat's movements; he saw it +safe alongside the other vessel, where it was detained nearly +half-an-hour, he then had just light enough to see it leave the ship on +its way back. + +Oh! what an anxious hour was the next! The wind had been gradually rising, +and by this time nearly blew a hurricane. John could conceal his +uneasiness no longer; he ran down below to the Captain, who had been +unwell, and was lying in his cot. "Captain Elliott," exclaimed he, "for +God's sake get up, and see if any thing can be done to save Mr. +William."--"Good God! John," said Captain Elliott, starting up from a +sound sleep, "it blows a hurricane. How long has the boat been out? Why +was I not called before?" John said that the sailors on deck, even now, +did not consider there was any danger; but that the boat had been parted +from the other ship above an hour, and he could not help feeling very +uneasy. The night was excessively dark, and it rained in torrents. + +Captain Elliott got on deck instantly; he was perfectly convinced that +John had not been alarmed without good cause. Every expedient that could +be thought of was tried. They hung out lights at every part of the ship, +to direct the boat in its course; but alas! no boat appeared. Such a night +of wretchedness did Captain Elliott and John spend, as cannot possibly be +related. When day broke, it required force to prevent John from throwing +himself into the sea, as if he meant to search the ocean for his dear +master's son. He absolutely screamed with agony, when a boat that had been +sent out in search of the one missing returned, bringing a hat, with poor +William's name inside of it. There was not a shadow of hope. Captain +Elliott, who till now had never quitted the deck, fainted away at this +confirmation of the ruin of all his poor brother's happiness, and indeed +of his own. + +William had been as dear to him as a son, almost from the moment he had +seen him; and for the last eight years they had scarcely ever been +separated. He was carried down to his cabin insensible, whilst poor John's +equal, though more violent grief, attracted the attention of the first +lieutenant, who had him taken to his own cabin, and endeavoured in every +way he could think of to soften the misery he could not remove. + +Several weeks passed over their heads, and no opportunity offered of +writing to England. Indeed both Captain Elliott and John dreaded the +thoughts of putting pen to paper to give this intelligence. "It will kill +his father," said the Captain; "but I shall never live to hear it, most +probably." John asked him if he felt unwell; "I am not well, John," +answered he; "my complaints were but trifling till this unlucky affair; my +head and soul were wrapt up in that boy, and to lose him in such a way has +quite ruined my constitution. Take my advice, John," added he, "return to +Eskdale as soon as you have an opportunity. Now that poor William is gone, +you will be a comfort to his father, should he survive the blow, which I +do not believe; but in all events, you may be of serious use to my poor +niece, who, God knows, will require a friend. Promise me, John, that you +will be this friend, and I shall feel more comfortable in looking forward +to my own death." John gave him the promise required; and there was no +opportunity of resuming the subject. + +The very next morning after this conversation, an engagement took place +with two large French frigates. Captain Elliott and his crew performed +prodigies of valour; but at last, unfortunately, Captain Elliott received +a shot through the heart, which killed him on the spot. He fell into the +arms of John, who stood behind him, and was carried below, in hopes that +the wound was not mortal; but the surgeon only shook his head; all was +over. + +When the ship was taken possession of by the French, John was found +sitting on the floor of the cabin, by the side of his captain's body, +perfectly insensible to all that was passing around him. He took no notice +of any thing, till they attempted to move the body. He then threw himself +on it, and entreated they would bury them together; saying he now no +object to live for. As he repeated this, a sudden flash of recollection +crossed his mind. "Yes," exclaimed he, "I have still a great and important +duty to perform to Miss Helen and my master!" He then suffered them to +remove the captain, and became more composed from that moment. + +When the ship was carried into Toulon, John and the other prisoners were +ordered immediately to Thoulouse. Mr. Murray, the first lieutenant, who +had been so kind to John at the time of William's death, still felt a +great interest for him. He was a kind-hearted young man, and seemed to +enter into all John's feelings. He endeavoured, on their long and +wearisome march, to keep him near himself; and when they reached +Thoulouse, he prevailed on his guard to allow John to remain with him as +his servant. He was a man of considerable property, and being allowed to +draw on England for remittances, had it in his power to obtain many +favours and advantages denied to his poorer companions. + +Meantime Mr. Martin and Helen were looking forward with the hope of seeing +their sailor friends very shortly. William, in the last letter his father +had from him, said he thought the ship would most probably be sent home in +the course of the next autumn, and that his uncle had promised to give him +leave of absence for a fortnight; "and in that time," he added, "I shall +try hard to get another peep at my friends in Eskdale." + +One morning, as they were at breakfast, Helen said, "Surely that is Mr. +Scott, from Craigie Hall; what can have brought him here?" and rising, she +opened the glass door. Mr. Scott came in and sat down. He did not seem to +have any thing particular to say beyond common occurrences, yet still he +remained; and Helen wondered what could be the meaning of the visit. As +she rose to move something from the table, she observed him make her a +sign to leave the room unobserved by her father: a cold chill came over +her. "What can be the matter?" thought she, as she entered the parlour. + +In a few minutes Mr. Scott quitted the study, and going out at the front +door, beckoned at the parlour window for her to follow him. + +"What can you have to say, Mr. Scott?" said Helen, as she approached him; +and, suddenly struck with the look of woe that was in his face, would have +fallen if he had not supported her. "William?" uttered she, and could say +no more. Mr. Scott then said, "the family at the hall receive many of the +London newspapers, and sometimes the housekeeper sends them in for me to +read. The family are all gone on a visit from home for some days, +consequently the paper was sent me early. I have, my dear Miss Helen, read +a very unpleasant account of the Amazon: but it may not be correct; and +even if it is so, Mr. William may yet be safe, for his name is not +mentioned." "My uncle's is then," said Helen, greatly agitated; "Thank +God! my grandmother did not live to hear this: but wait a moment, Mr. +Scott, I shall be able to hear it all presently." She leant against the +gate for a few seconds, and then begged Mr. Scott to read the paragraphs. +He did so; and then said, "I thought, Miss Helen, it was best to tell you +this dreadful news in the first place, that you might consider how our +good Minister can be informed of it; for he will certainly hear it in the +dale from somebody, and I think it will be better to break it to him by +degrees." Helen thought so too. "But how can I tell him," said she, +weeping, "both my dear uncle's death and William's imprisonment, all at +once? It seems more than he can ever bear," and recollecting John, +suddenly said, "poor Marion, too, will feel for John. All, all our friends +at once, is too much to bear." Mr. Scott was a very sensible man. He +allowed her to weep for some time and then, seeing her a little more +composed, said, "You must, my dear Miss Helen, endeavour to moderate your +grief, for the sake of your father. I see him coming toward the green, and +if he observe us he will be alarmed." Helen replied, "I will do all I can, +but I cannot possibly see him just yet; so I shall get into the house +without meeting him, if possible. Leave me the paper, and good morning!" + +It required all Helen's gentleness and caution to inform her poor father +of this afflicting news. Notwithstanding all the precaution and care with +which she broke it to him, he fainted before she could finish the +narration; and though he endeavoured to regain composure, it was evident +to Helen that his strength was sinking. Nothing, however, seemed to bear +so hard upon him as the uncertainty of the fate of William. Nothing had +been mentioned of him, and indeed nothing could be known, for there had +been no communication from the ship between the time of his accident and +that of their being all taken prisoners. The winter passed on: a long a +dreary one it was to Helen and her father. Marion, likewise, looked ill +and melancholy; she had loved John as a brother, and his loss was severely +felt. Early in the spring, Mr. Martin had occasion to go to Langholm; +Helen insisted on accompanying him. After finishing his business, they +were passing the inn where the mail stops. Just as they got to the door of +it, the landlord was standing speaking to a sailor, a good-looking man, +and seeing Mr. Martin, he said, hastily, "Oh, Mr. Martin, this person is +just returned from Thoulouse, in France; he has made his escape. Perhaps +he may be able to give you some account of Mr. William!" Mr. Martin, on +hearing this, turned to the man, and asked him what ship he had belonged +to, and how he became a prisoner. "I belonged, Sir, to the Amazon, and was +taken with the whole ship's company that remained after the +battle."--"Tell me," said Mr. Martin, quickly, "was William Martin, +Captain Elliott's nephew, at Thoulouse when you left it?" "Oh, no!" said +the man, "he was drowned six weeks before the battle." Mr. Martin heard no +more; he fell as if a shot had passed through his heart. The landlord +carried him into the inn, and sent for Mr. Armstrong; his poor daughter, +almost in as pitiable a state as he was, still endeavoured to exert +herself to save her father. She undid his stock, rubbed his face and hands +with vinegar, and tried every means her experience had ever found useful, +at last Mr. Armstrong made his appearance. He was excessively alarmed, and +begged Helen would leave the room; but she answered, firmly, "No, Mr. +Armstrong, I never will quit my father whilst a spark of life remains. He +is not dead yet, for I feel his pulse; therefore do not talk of my leaving +him, even for an instant." In the evening Mr. Martin just opened his eyes, +fixed them on Helen, and said, "My poor girl:" and drawing a long sigh, +was removed from all his sufferings. + + + + +CHAP. XIV. + + +Poor Helen, having no longer any motive for exertion, sank down by her +father's side. Mr. Armstrong had her removed while she remained +insensible; and knowing her attachment to Marion Scott, he sent off a +messenger with the fatal news, and requested Mrs. Scott would allow her +daughter to come down and be with Miss Martin. Mrs. Scott not only gave +permission to her daughter, but came herself, and for many days watched by +the bedside of Helen. When she became composed enough to think and act, +she found that her dear father had been buried by the side of her mother +and grandmother; Mr. Armstrong had acted for her, and settled all matters +of business, that she might have no trouble on that account, further than +going to the Manse for a little while, till a successor was appointed to +her worthy father. Mr. Scott insisted on her permitting Marion to remain +with her for some time, though Helen said she should feel happier, she +thought, if she could be left alone. It is impossible to describe what the +poor desolate girl felt on returning to her melancholy home. "The time is +now indeed come," said she to herself, "when I must prepare to look out +for another place of residence; and when that will be, God alone knows." +Her grandmother, before her death, had been very uneasy on account of +Helen's prospects in case of her father's death; and more than once +mentioned to her, that she wished she could make up her mind to go to +Edinburgh, and apprentice herself either as a dress-maker or as a +milliner; as she knew her father had very little to leave her, she herself +had only an annuity, which would cease with her life. Her father did not +like the plan, and told her that her uncle had promised to support her +till William was enabled, by promotion or prize-money, to do it himself. +Now both these resources were cut off for ever; and, after mature +deliberation she thought her grandmother's plan was the only rational +thing she could do; she therefore, in her own mind, determined, as soon as +she knew who was to be her father's successor, to adopt it. + +Having come to this resolution, she communicated it to Mr. Scott, who +offered to go himself into Edinburgh and endeavour to find a situation for +such as she wanted. Accordingly, he went on this errand, about three +months after Mr. Martin's death. On enquiry, he was recommended to a Miss +Maxwell, a lady who had very meritoriously in her youth followed the same +plan that Helen meant now to pursue, and had succeeded so well as to be +able to support an aged father and mother, and give great assistance to +the rest of a numerous family. The agreement was soon settled, and Helen +was to be received as an apprentice the following October. She was to live +in the house with Miss Maxwell, who even held out hopes to Mr. Scott, that +if Miss Martin gave satisfaction during her four years of learning the +business, she would have a good chance of being taken into partnership in +the concern, as Miss Maxwell thought she might be inclined to retire much +about that time, provided no unforeseen accident occurred to prevent it. +Early in September, Mr. Johnson was appointed to succeed Mr. Martin. He +was a young man of good connections and excellent character. He came to +the Manse on his nomination, merely to look at the house, and see what +preparations it might require, as he was on the point of marriage with an +amiable young woman to whom he had been long attached. He behaved in the +kindest manner possible to Helen, and saved her a great deal of trouble +and difficulty, by proposing to take the whole of the furniture just as it +stood, and at a fair valuation. Mr. Armstrong, who had managed all her +business, accepted the proposal; and Helen, at his particular request, +agreed to remain in the house till the time she had fixed for removing to +Edinburgh. He seemed anxious to settle every thing the way that would be +most pleasing to her feelings. Nelly and Sandy were to be retained in his +service, and left in charge of the Manse, as he did not expect to be able +to take possession himself much before Christmas. On going away he shook +hands with Helen, and said he hoped she would allow him a continuance of +her friendship, and assured her, that as the daughter of so respectable a +father as well as from what he had seen of herself, he should ever feel +the interest of a brother for her. Poor Helen's spirits gradually sunk as +the time rapidly approached for her to quit her native dale, and take +leave of all those amongst whom she had lived from her birth. Marion Scott +had remained constantly with her from her father's death, and was now so +endeared to her, that to separate from her appeared as if breaking the +last earthly tie she possessed. She saw, however, it was inevitable; the +whole of her property, when every thing was sold, only amounted to three +hundred pounds; and even if she could have lived on this in her native +dale, she thought, on reflection, it was her duty to go into a more active +line of life, at least for some years. Mr. Armstrong was decidedly of the +same opinion; a change of scene and of habits he thought would amuse her +mind, and prevent her dwelling on events which, from the melancholy +attending their recollection, and the retirement in which she would live, +might have a pernicious effect on her health. + +On the tenth day of October Helen left her once happy home, to engage in +new scenes and occupations, so different from any thing she had ever +formed an idea of, that for some days after her arrival at Miss Maxwell's, +she could scarcely believe it possible she could endure such a subordinate +state of existence and laborious fatigue. Miss Maxwell was kind to her on +her arrival, and whenever she had a moment to spare endeavoured to cheer +Helen, by telling her that she would soon get accustomed to the +confinement, and that she had no doubt, with her application and perfect +command of her needle, she would be able to promote her in the course of a +twelvemonth to a less laborious department of the business. Helen felt the +kindness, but believed, from the present state of her feelings, that she +would never live that twelvemonth out. Broken-hearted and dispirited, shut +up in a small uncomfortable room with half a dozen silly uneducated girls, +with whom she had not a single idea in unison, she began to feel her life +a burthen, and had almost resolved to give up her situation and return to +Eskdale. The first Sunday morning, however, gave her better hopes. Miss +Maxwell, who had a great respect for Mr. Scott, and from whom she had +heard the whole of Helen's meritorious conduct while she resided in her +father's house, was much interested for her; and though, from the great +pressure of business in which she was constantly engaged, she could spare +very little time to amuse or comfort her through the weeks, she was ready +on Sunday morning, as soon as she came out of her room, to receive her in +the parlour, and said, with a cheerful smile, as she entered, "Come, my +dear Miss Martin, this is our own day, and I promise to myself a great +deal of pleasure for the future in having a companion with whom I can +converse, and who will join me in spending the Sabbath, as it is +undoubtedly intended we should do, in making a day of rest and sober +enjoyment. The other young people all go home to their friends, we shall +therefore be at liberty to enjoy ourselves in our own way." Helen +endeavoured to return a smile to this address, but her heart was heavy, +and her head ached from want of sleep. Miss Maxwell, who well understood +her feelings, took no notice, but filled her out a nice comfortable cup of +tea, and began telling her of the churches that she meant to show her, and +the merits of the different clergymen. This was a subject to interest +Helen, as she was well acquainted with most of their characters, from +having heard her father talk of them on his return from Edinburgh, when he +had been a member of the General Assembly. She therefore very readily +agreed to accompany Miss Maxwell to the morning service at St. Andrew's +church, and in the evening she attended likewise at the West church, for +the clergymen of both these churches had been particular friends of her +father. + +On her return home in the evening, she expressed herself much pleased with +all she had seen and heard through the day, and thanked Miss Maxwell for +giving her so great a gratification. They then sat down to tea, after +which Miss Maxwell opened a closet which stood at one end of her little +parlour, and displayed a small but well-selected library. As she pointed +to it, she said, "I never, my dear Miss Martin, permit myself to open this +my greatest treasure except on this day; for I am so fond of reading, that +I could not insure my own attention to the duties of business were I to +allow myself the same gratification through the week. I have had a second +key made which I mean for you, as I well know, from experience, that you +require, in your present irksome employment, as much relaxation as the +nature of the business will admit, to reconcile you to the great change in +your situation and habits; but I think I can trust that you will never +abuse this kind of confidence, but confine your use of it to the few spare +hours which occur to you in the course of the season; and Sunday in my +house is invariably your own." She then gave Helen the key, and desired +her to select what she pleased for her evening's reading. This was a great +addition to Helen's comfort. She found there were many spare moments that +would, without this resource, have been spent in vain regrets and +recollections of the past, which only served to weaken her mind and +prevent her performing her present duties. + +With the prospect of this enjoyment before her, she found the hardship of +sitting at work for so many hours daily appear less formidable, and her +Sundays always passed so pleasantly and so much to own satisfaction, that +in a letter which wrote to Mr. Scott, about a month after she had been +absent in Edinburgh, she expressed herself much more reconciled to her +situation than her friends in Eskdale had dared to hope. + +She received a letter soon after this from Marion, saying that Mrs. Smith, +her friend at the hall, had been ill, and felt herself not quite able to +get through her business in the family so well as she used to do, and had +therefore got permission from her lady, with whom she had lived many +years, to hire an assistant; that Mrs. Smith had at last prevailed with +her father and mother to spare her, and it was now fixed that she was to +accompany the family to London soon after Christmas. Her mother added a +postscript, in which she said that poor Marion had fretted so much since +Miss Helen had left the country, that both her father and she were more +reconciled to her going under Mrs. Smith's care than they otherwise would +have been; "and besides," added Mrs. Scott, "I really am afraid Marion +will never get over John Telfer's loss, at least till something certain is +heard of him. She often tells us she would feel much happier if she knew +he was dead, than she does by being in such a state of uncertainty. She +fancies she will be more likely to hear from him by going to London, than +by remaining here in the dale." Helen was too much attached to Marion not +to feel greatly interested in this new arrangement for her. "Dear girl;" +said she, as she read the postscript, "I am afraid nothing but +disappointment awaits you on the subject of poor John. He must have been +killed with his master, or more likely, perhaps, drowned with my dear +William. John, I am sure, would not willingly separate from him, and may +perhaps have lost his life in trying to save that of his master's son; at +all events, I have not the slightest hope of his being alive, and wish +most earnestly I could make Marion as much convinced of this as I am +myself." "I think," answered Miss Maxwell, "her parents are acting very +prudently in sending her from home. A change of scene is the best thing +for her in the present state of her mind; and perhaps, by making +inquiries, she may come to hear something certain about the young man, +though I am inclined to be of your way of thinking as to his death." + +Nothing particular occurred during the four years of Helen's +apprenticeship: she daily improved in knowledge of the business she was +learning, and between her and Miss Maxwell so entire an attachment was +formed, that it would have been a severe trial to either had they been +obliged to separate. + +When Helen's time was out, Miss Maxwell determined to take her into +partnership. The business was a very good one, though, from various +causes, Miss Maxwell had been able to save very little money. For twenty +years she had supported her parents, who had been unfortunate in life: she +had also assisted several brothers, who were now all dead; and two +sisters, after having been associated with her in the business, had died +of declines. + +The first object she had now in view was, to secure a friend on whom she +might rely for assistance and kindness in her declining years. She made no +secret of her motives; and Helen, who loved her with truest affection, +agreed to become that friend. + +Marion had continued under Mrs. Smith for three years, living in London +one half of the year, and returning to Craigie Hall in the summer. She +corresponded constantly with Helen, but they had never met from the time +of their first separation. Still Marion wrote of John, though she could +obtain no information of him, even in London; and though Helen, almost in +every letter, endeavoured to convince her that all hopes of his being +alive must by this time be over. Marion, on the contrary, declared that +her mind would not admit a belief of this, without more positive proof +than any she had yet obtained. Her last letter said, that the lady's maid +had lately been married, and that, on Mrs. Smith's recommendation, she was +promoted to the vacant place. + +We must new revert to poor John Telfer, who remained in captivity, and +still in the service of Mr. Murray. The prisoners of war were treated with +extraordinary rigour; and the officers, instead of being indulged, as is +usual in such cases, with residing in a town on their parole, or word of +honour not to escape, were separately confined under a military guard, in +the old chateaux, or country seats of the ancient nobility, who had been +expelled during the Revolution. This harsh treatment induced many of them +to attempt their escape, which, of course, they would not have done if +they had promised not to do so, for a promise voluntarily given to an +enemy ought to be held as sacred as if given to the dearest friend. +However, the success of a few eluding the vigilance of their guards, +increased the severity afterwards shown to the others. No interest that +could be used was of sufficient weight to procure Mr. Murray his liberty, +or even information as to his family or friends. His draughts, however, +for money, were always answered; and he hoped, from this circumstance, +that his friends were well. John tried many ways of endeavouring to send a +letter to the dale, but never received a line in return; indeed, as has +been seem, not one of his numerous letters ever reached their intended +destination. Years rolled on in the same unvaried kind of existence; +sometimes he fancied that Mr. Martin had entirely forgotten him; sometimes +the recollection of Captain Elliott's assertion, that William's death +would kill his father, threw him into the most violent state of misery. +What would become of Miss Helen if her father was indeed dead, was +continually in his mind; and at one time had made so strong an impression +on him as to convince him it was his duty to endeavour, even at the risk +of his life, to make his escape. + +The situation in which he and his master were confined, was in some +respects not unfavourable to the prosecution of such a scheme. It was in a +very old and ruined building, on the banks of one of those rivers which +rise in the Pyrenean mountains and fall into the Upper Garonne. The turret +allotted to the prisoners commanded a view which, under other +circumstances, John would have admired as reminding him of the wild scenes +in his native country. Almost close to the building was a noble cascade, +formed by the river rushing over the rocks which it encountered in its +course; and beyond the woods on the opposite bank arose abrupt +declivities, overtopped by the lofty summits of the distant mountains. +John had laid his plan, and meant to have put it into execution, when, on +the very morning of the day he intended to have made the attempt, Mr. +Murray complained of being very ill. This was a severe blow to John: he +had been under too many obligations to Mr. Murray to think of leaving him +while in want of his care; at the same time, the opportunity of escape +might never again offer. He had a severe struggle; but Mr. Murray's +illness increasing rapidly, determined him to delay at least his intended +flight, and finally fixed him to the side of his sick couch for nearly +five years. How often, during his long and painful illness, did the +suffering lieutenant bless God that he had been favoured, in the midst of +his distress, with such a good and faithful servant as John was to him! +How often did he assure him, that if they ever reached England he would +make him comfortable for life! Alas! every day lessened the chance of his +living to fulfil these promises; and John, in the event of his death, +durst scarcely hope now to be able to effect an escape, as the prisoners +were watched with redoubled vigilance. + +One morning, after John had been absent in search of some dainty, which he +fancied Mr. Murray particularly wished for; on his return his master put +into his hand a sealed paper, saying, "John, I feel that my situation +becomes every day more critical, I have no individual, besides yourself, +on whom I can rely; will you, my kind friend, take charge of this packet; +it contains some papers of infinite consequence to my family. I wish you +to promise me never to part from them out of your possession, till you +deliver them in safety to my brother's own hand; I have given you his +address: he lives in Portman Square, in London. If you ever reach England, +lose no time in seeing him should he be still alive; and in the event of +his death find out my sister, and give the packet to her. Will you promise +me to do this? It will greatly add to the comfort of my dying moments." +John gave the required promise, and took the packet immediately under his +care. Mr. Murray lived a very few days after this; and John, by his death, +once more felt himself left alone in the world. Mr. Murray had with kind +consideration given him twenty guineas, which he desired him to conceal, +as it might be of use to facilitate his escape, and in all probability he +would not be permitted to retain it if it were seen after his death. The +event proved that this precaution was very necessary, for Mr. Murray was +no sooner dead than every article about him was seized by his inhuman +jailors. + +When John had seen his master laid in the grave, he immediately set about +contriving means to get to England; and, in six months afterwards, he +succeeded in quitting his place of confinement, in the disguise of an old, +tattered French soldier. + + + + +CHAP XV. + + +After many hair-breadth escapes from detection, John reached Boulogne in +safety, and in a small open boat crossed over to Dover, having very nearly +expended the whole of his little store in bribing the fishermen to carry +him out of the French dominions. Upon his landing, he found his finances +would not allow him any other mode of conveyance than his feet to reach +London; and though worn out and exhausted with his long march through +France, he determined to pursue his walk to the metropolis without delay. +He reached London in three days, and found no difficulty in obtaining a +direction to Portman Square. Sir James Murray's name was still on the +door, which the direction on the packet pointed out. John knocked very +humbly, and in a moment it was opened by a well-dressed footman. John +asked if Sir James was at home and could be seen? He answered very +civilly, that Sir James was at home, but particularly engaged with +company, and he did not think he could possibly see him that night. "My +business," answered John, "is very particular. I am just arrived in London +and have something of great consequence to deliver into his own hand. I +very much wish I could see him to night, as I am a perfect stranger in +this great city, and, to tell you the truth, I am afraid of keeping it in +my possession longer than I can help." While he stood talking at the door, +a well-dressed genteel-looking upper servant maid came up the steps, and +was hastily passing them when, turning round to answer some question that +her fellow-servant asked her, she fixed her eyes on John, and giving a +violent scream, exclaimed "John Telfer, I am sure!" John was too much +surprised to be able to answer; but the man-servant held a light up and +said, "I am sure you must be mistaken, recollect yourself," and was going +to lead her away. John, however, no sooner heard her voice, than all his +senses returned in full power, and straining her to his breast, he said, +"Marion Scott alone could recognize a poor worn-out wretch, after so many +long mournful years of absence, and in such a miserable plight as I am +now." The servant, when he heard John pronounce her name, was convinced +that it must be the very John Telfer he had heard her lament the loss of +so often, and very kindly begged him to walk into a small parlour near the +door. Marion had fainted at the sound of his well remembered voice, and it +was some time before she became sensible; but when she did, nothing could +equal the transport and delight they both felt in once more so +unexpectedly having met. She informed him, that one of the young ladies of +the Hall, had married Sir James Murray, and that her mother wished Marion +to live with her, as she could be trusted, and her daughter was very +young. She had been in her service nearly two years; but, continued she, +"I mean to leave this place soon, for I am now deprived of the pleasure of +seeing my dear parents in the summer, as I used to do with my old lady; +and though I am in other respects very comfortable, I cannot on any +account remain here much longer. Just as she had given this little history +of herself, the footman came in and said that he had informed his master +that John wished to see him; and, as soon as I told him who it was, he +desired me to send you up to him immediately, as he said he knew you +belonged to the same ship as his brother did, and therefore he concluded +you could give him some information concerning him." John followed the +servant into a superb room, where he found Sir James anxiously waiting for +him. The moment he entered, Sir James asked him if he knew any thing of +his brother. John said, "Indeed I do Sir: I have come to you by your kind +brother's desire. He made me promise to deliver this packet into your own +hands. He died about nine months ago, and I have never suffered it to be +out of my bosom since he gave it to me." Sir James was excessively +affected. He took the packet, and telling John to wait where he was, went +into the next room to examine it. In about half an hour he returned, and +taking John's hand said, "My dear unfortunate brother has left it in my +charge to repay his debt of gratitude to you, for your faithful services +and long attendance upon him in his severe illness. You shall ever be +considered by me, in the light of his comforter, and from this moment you +must make this house your home. He has left you in his will five hundred +pounds, which shall be paid you whenever you please to draw upon me for +it; but in the meantime, I must see to get you properly nursed and +recovered from the fatigue you must have undergone in your long march. The +papers you have brought me are indeed, of very great importance, and come +at a particular fortunate moment, as they in all probability, will save me +from a very vexatious lawsuit, with which I have been threatened." So +saying, he rang the bell, and desired the servant to take John into the +housekeeper's room, and to see that every possible attention was paid him. +John, after having had some refreshments, began to wonder that he did not +see Marion again. He asked where she was, and the housekeeper told him she +would be there presently, and desired one of the other maids to call her. +When she appeared, it was evident she had been in tears. She spoke however +cheerfully to John; and the housekeeper rising said, "I am sure you must +have much to say to each other, after so long an absence, so we shall +leave you together till supper time, which I think Marion must be earlier +to night than usual, as your friend must require rest after all his +fatigues." With these words she left the room. + +They were no sooner left alone, than John, taking Marion's hand, said +"tell me, my dear friend, how are my master and Miss Helen?" Marion, in a +faultering voice, related the melancholy detail of poor Mr. Martin's +death. She was going on to tell him about Miss Helen, when surprised that +he had made no remark on what she had told him she looked up, and to her +great alarm, she saw him leaning against the wall, pale and ghastly, his +eyes fixed, and evidently gasping for breath. She spoke to him, and at +last, after making a violent effort, he pronounced his master's name. The +truth was, that though Captain Elliott had suggested the probability of +Mr. Martin's death, John, in the bottom of his own heart, would not allow +himself to believe that he never should see his dear master again; and, +even unknown to himself, the hope of being able to comfort and attend upon +him in his old age, had been the chief support and motives for exertion +through so many years of trial and suffering. To be in a moment fatally +convinced, that all such hopes were at an end quite overcame him, and for +some time he wept like a child, and could not be comforted, even by +Marion. At last he became more composed, and begged Marion to tell him +some tidings of dear Miss Helen. Marion repeated what we have before +mentioned, and then added, that Miss Helen had joined in the partnership +with Miss Maxwell, and for some time they went on very well; but that, +about two years past, Miss Maxwell had fallen into bad health, which had +gradually increased so much as to confine Miss Helen almost constantly to +her bedside; the consequence of which she said, had been that their +business had decreased very much. Miss Maxwell was just dead, and had left +Miss Helen all that she died possessed of; but, from what she had written +her, the property was very small. "However, she writes me," added Marion, +"that she has serious thoughts of getting out of business, as soon as she +can wind up her affairs, and living in retirement, upon what little +property she may find herself possessed of; but I am much afraid that her +health is the cause of this determination, for I think there is a degree +of despondency in the style of her last letter, which I never observed in +any other, notwithstanding the various afflictions she has gone through." + +In a few days, John had quite recovered from all his fatigues, and +appeared, in Marion's eyes, the best looking man she had ever seen. One +evening, when they were conversing about Miss Helen, and talking over +various plans that could be followed, to assist in recovering her health, +"Marion," said John, "there is a plan I have thought of, and which would +certainly be the very best thing I could do, to be of use to her; it is to +get married, and go down and settle in Eskdale. Mr. Murray's legacy gives +me the means of taking a farm, and I have no doubt that with the knowledge +I possess of the management of sheep and cattle, I shall be perfectly able +to support a wife, and have a comfortable home for Miss Helen. What do you +think of my plan? Will you be my sweet little wife, and help me to show my +gratitude to my dear master's daughter?" Marion's heart was full, she +could not speak, but her eyes did not say no; and John was delighted to +find he had at last hit upon so admirable an expedient. He instantly wrote +to Mr. and Mrs. Scott, soliciting their consent to the marriage, and +begging of Mr. Scott to look out for a small farm, such as he thought +would suit him; and added, that he wished much to marry and bring down his +wife as soon as possible, that they might get a home ready for Miss Helen, +before they let her know of his arrival in England: for Marion thought she +was not in a state of health to be kept in suspense. If she knew he was +arrived, she might wish to see him sooner than it was possible for them to +get their affairs settled, so as to marry, and he did not like to separate +any more from Marion, but meant to bring her down himself to Eskdale as +his wife. + +Great was the surprise and joy this letter occasioned to the worthy couple +in Craigie Hall; and it would scarcely have gained complete credit, had it +not been accompanied by one from Marion herself, confirming all its +intelligence. Mr. Scott answered it by return of post, giving his +unqualified consent to the match, which he thought the sooner it took +place the better, and added, "Have no concern about your farm, I know of +one that will exactly suit, and shall take care to have it in proper +order, both for yourselves and our dear young lady, whom, I trust, you +will be able to prevail with to return amongst us again; and then I think +I may once more see Eskdale look cheerful before I die, which I am sure it +has never done since you left it." Marion and John were accordingly +married, and took leave of Sir James and Lady Murray, loaded with every +mark of kindness and good wishes. + +Mr. Scott had desired that they might come directly to Craigie Hall, and +said he would take them to their own house in the evening. Accordingly +they managed to drive up the dale, in the morning, both with a wish to +please Mr. Scott, and to gratify themselves by a view of all the +well-known scenes, among which their infant years had been spent. John, +even in the midst of happiness, wept bitterly, when he came within sight +of that house, which had been a home to him in his orphan state; and which +from the kind treatment and instruction he had received within its walls +must ever be dear to him. Marion, though possessing an equal warm heart, +was just at that moment too much ingrossed with the delight of seeing her +parents, and of presenting to them, as her husband, that very John they +had so often tried to persuade her was no more, to enter exactly into his +feelings. She sat looking out of the carriage, from side to side, watching +every turn and bush she formerly knew, to see if they looked as they did +when she left them; and at last, when they were approaching Mr. Elliott's +cottage, she could keep silence no longer. "Look, dear John," cried she, +"what a beautiful place this is made! Surely there must be new comers +there now. Mr. Elliott would never have built these two pretty bow +windows; and only see what lovely flowers are placed in them! It looks +like a perfect paradise."--"It really does," answered John, with a sigh, +thinking at the moment of poor Helen's wishes, on that memorable walk, +which he first took with his dear master. I should have preferred living +at that house, thought he, if I could have afforded it; but he did not +express this, as he was determined to be contented with whatever house Mr. +Scott had chosen for him. + +All was happiness on their arrival at Mr. Scott's; an excellent dinner was +prepared for them, which they were too happy to do much justice to. Soon +after dinner, Mr. Scott proposed going with them to their own house; and +said he hoped they had not forgotten how to walk, as he should expect a +visit from them every day, and their house was a little distance from +Craigie Hall. They laughed, and continued chatting with him and Mrs. Scott +all down the river, till they came to the very cottage they had admired so +much in the morning. "Pray, Sir," asked John, "who lives here now? Mr. +Elliott I think must have left it, for he was not very famous for keeping +his house in such excellent order."--"He is dead," answered Mr. Scott, +"and it has been lately sold to a gentleman that has come from foreign +parts. The family are not yet come down to it, but I believe are shortly +expected. Would you like to look at the inside of the house? it is very +well worth seeing; for, according to my taste, it is as pretty a neat box +as you will meet with any where." Marion said she should like to see it of +all things; they therefore turned up the little path that led to the door. +Mr. Scott knocked, and it was opened by Peggy Oliphant, dressed in her +best Sunday's gown; she curtesied and looked eagerly at John, who shook +hands with her on entering. + +They went over every room, and all the different adjoining offices, Mr. +Scott seeming to take particular pleasure in pointing out all its superior +qualities. John thought he never had seen so complete a thing and almost +wished he had not examined it, for fear of finding his own much inferior. +At length when every thing had been admired, Mr. Scott taking John's hand, +said, "Now, my dear son, Marion, long ago, let me into a secret about this +cottage, and when your joyful letter arrived, a thought came into my head, +that I would surprise you. Mr. Elliott had been dead some time, and I knew +his heirs wanted to dispose of the farm; I therefore made them an offer, +which was accepted. I have fitted it up according to what I think will be +pleasing, both to you, my dear children, and even to your intended guest. +I have only to add, it is my wedding gift to my daughter, who I hope, will +never again quit her native dale, at least during her mother's life and +mine." John and Marion were so overcome with their own happiness and Mr. +Scott's kindness, that they could only answer him with their tears; Marion +threw herself into his arms, calling him the best and kindest of fathers. +"Oh," at last said John, "had I known what a fortune Marion was, I +scarcely think I could have had courage to ask her to be my wife." "I am +very glad you knew nothing about it then," said Mr. Scott, "for we should +have been all in the wrong without you, Marion would never have had any +other man; you know she has been in love with you ever since you jumped +over Bob's ears; and to own the truth, I approve her taste from the bottom +of my heart; and I would rather see her your wife than any other man's in +Eskdale." + +Two day after they were settled in their favourite cottage, John left +Marion to get every thing in order, and proceeded to Edinburgh, with a +firm determination of not quitting that city, without conducting back to +her native dale the last surviving remnant of his dear master's family. + +On his arrival in Edinburgh, he wrote a few lines to Helen, saying that +one of the crew of the unfortunate Amazon had been so lucky as to find his +way back to his native country, after many years of captivity; and +expressing a desire to be permitted to see her, if it were not too painful +to her feelings. Helen had just come to the final resolution of retiring +from business her health had been greatly injured by the close attention +and fatigue she had undergone during Miss Maxwell's illness; and she now +found herself unable to sustain the kind of life she was forced to lead, +in order to make it an object worth her while to pursue. + +On the receipt of John's note she was greatly agitated; at last, summoning +all her resolution, she said, "I will see this person, if it be only for +Marion Scott's sake; he may, perhaps, be able to set her mind at rest +about poor John;" so saying, she answered his note, desiring to see him +immediately. John trusted she would not recognize him, for he was greatly +altered, had grown considerably taller and stouter, and his complexion, +from being fair, was now almost as dark as an Indian's. "She cannot +possibly know me," thought he, "Nobody, but Marion, could ever know me, I +am quite sure;" and in this hope, he walked boldly into the little +parlour, in Prince's Street, where sat Helen ready to receive him. On his +entrance, he almost betrayed himself by his surprise; for in her, he +almost thought he saw his own dear master himself, Helen's features +resembled, in so strong a degree, those of her father; but she was now +thin and pale, and evidently out of health. + +John looked at her a few minutes without speaking, but at last made some +apology for his intrusion. He said he had promised Captain Elliott to +deliver her a small miniature of her mother. He then approached her, and +kneeling presented her picture. Helen was surprised, but she put out her +hand to receive it; on her arm she wore as a bracelet, a miniature of her +father; John saw it, and for a moment prudence was forgotten; he snatched +her hand, and kissed the resemblance of his master. Helen, astonished, +fixed her eyes upon him, and the next moment, exclaiming, "Oh! it is John +himself!" leant upon his shoulder and wept bitterly. John succeeded in +soothing her into composure, and spent the evening in relating all the +particulars of the loss of her poor brother and uncle, which till now were +unknown to her; he then proceeded to prefer his request that she would +return with him to Eskdale. "I consider myself, dear Miss Helen, as +pledged to your uncle (independently of all I owe to my own master, and +that is far more than I ever can express), never to leave you nor separate +from you so long as you have no other protector; I have a comfortable home +to offer you, and a wife who will strive with me to see which of us can +pay you most attention; oh, do not deprive us of the delight of having you +under our roof." "You are married, then," said Helen mournfully, thinking +of poor Marion's constant attachment, "pray who is your wife? a foreigner, +I suppose."--"And could my master's daughter know so little of John +Telfer? Could she think he would ever do such a foolish thing as to bring +a foreigner into Eskdale, or ask Miss Helen to live with a stranger? No +lady, it is your friend, Marion Scott that was, now my own Marion Telfer, +that invites you through me to come to her, and let us all once more be +happy; you will not surely refuse us, Miss Helen, you cannot be so cruel." +Helen felt she could not be so cruel, either to herself or to the honest +affectionate couple, who now offered her a home. "I will come to you, +John," said she, "the moment I have finished the arrangement of my +affairs: in a few weeks I shall be at liberty; I am not much richer than +when I quitted Eskdale, yet I have enough to prevent my being a burden to +you and uncomfortable to myself: I have only one agreement to make with +you: you must both, from the moment I enter your house, consider me in the +light of a sister, nothing more, or I cannot remain with you."--"It shall +be in that and every thing else," said John, "exactly as you please; our +only wish is to see you comfortable." + +John insisted on remaining in Edinburgh while Helen was detained, and she +found him of the greatest service in assisting her to arrange her +business; she had her precious library carefully packed up and sent on +before her to Eskdale, and at the end of three weeks was ready to attend +John to his peaceful home. + +With what a variety of different feelings did Helen once more enter her +native dale! She wept violently all the way, till she had passed the +Manse, when, recollecting that she was actually unkindly to the good and +proved friend who sat beside her, she endeavoured to compose herself and +to appear cheerful on meeting his wife, the long attached and faithful +Marion. "How Mr. Elliott's cottage is improved!" said Helen, but she had +scarcely uttered the sentence, when on the green before the house Marion +appeared running towards the gate to let them in. "And do you indeed, my +kind friends, live here?" said she, almost overpowered. Marion flew into +her arms, exclaiming, "I was sure he would bring you; you would never +refuse to come to us; now we shall be happy again;" so saying, she led +Helen into a neat little room, with a bow-window at one end, and a +book-case, well filled with books, at the other; the furniture perfectly +neat and comfortable, but nothing fine nor out of its place; and what +amazed and pleased Helen more than can be described, over the +chimney-piece hung, in a small size, the portraits of her father and +mother. John had, when in Edinburgh, borrowed from her the miniatures of +her parents, and carrying them to Mr. Raeburn, the celebrated artist, +prevailed on him to take copies of them, and afterwards forwarded them to +Eskdale. "This is kind, indeed," said she, and taking John's hand, while +she laid her head on Marion's bosom, "now I do feel I am again at home." + +In a few months, John and Marion's care of their dear guest was amply +rewarded by seeing her health completely re-established; her spirits had +resumed their former cheerfulness, and the dale did indeed look more like +itself, as Marion expressed it, than it had ever done since poor William's +elopement. + +Meantime Mr. Johnstone, the clergyman, paid them daily visits; he had +become a widower, and was left with one child, a little girl; but how to +bring her up was a great source of anxiety to him. On becoming acquainted +with Helen, he thought it would be very desirable that she should +undertake the charge of his little girl's education; with this view, he +made a point of seeing her constantly, that he might be able to judge of +her abilities; on a more intimate knowledge of her good qualities, he +began to wish he could give his child such a mother, and in a very short +time made her proposals of marriage. Helen both loved and respected him; +she frankly told him so, and, in little more than a year after her return +to Eskdale, she became Mrs. Johnstone, and was conducted to the home of +her childhood, by her happy and affectionate husband, amidst the +rejoicings of the inhabitants throughout the whole dale. + +John and Marion continue now to live in the cottage in the greatest +comfort and happiness; they have three children, the eldest, named William +Martin, is the idol of Helen, and from choice she would scarcely ever let +him leave the Manse; but the recollection of her poor brother's fate +prevents her from indulging her favourite wish. "No," said she to his +father, "I will not trust myself with the care of that dear infant; he +will be much safer under your and Marion's eye; and remember, my dear +friend, to train him from his earliest days in the habits of _obedience_, +and then in your old age he will be your comfort and support. Oh! what +misery did one act of _disobedience_ produce in this cheerful happy dale, +as well as to my dear unfortunate brother himself! May we, in rearing our +children, never forget the mournful, but instructive lesson!" + + * * * * * + +And now, my dear young readers, let the author of this little tale address +you as a friend and a mother. What think you of the Eskdale Herd-boy? You +have become acquainted with him, from the time that he was a poor +distressed little orphan, fatherless, motherless, without means of +support, with nothing but the first rudiments of instruction, not enough +to enable him to read the Holy Scriptures, and to learn his duty to his +neighbour, or his duty to his God. He had only those little seeds of +virtue, from which, if they are steadily and constantly cultivated, good +actions spring up in after life; I mean affection, gratitude, industry, +and obedience. God Almighty raised up to him a friend in the worthy +Minister of the parish; but that friend could do little or nothing for him +in the way of money; he could only teach him to read and direct him in +reading what was suited to his capacity; he could recommend him to a +master, to be employed in such work as was fit for his age and station in +life; what would all this have availed, if he had been indolent and +inattentive, if he had been sulky, ill-tempered, ungrateful, or +disobedient? The wretched little creature would then have been entirely +lost; perhaps have fallen into temptation, crime, and infamy in this +world, and endless misery hereafter. Instead of this, you see him going on +gently and quietly, but steadily and firmly, in the path of his duty; +rendering himself beloved and respected by all who knew him, gradually +raising himself in life by good behaviour in every station that he filled; +and at last made happy in his native dale, by discharging the debt of +gratitude to his benefactor's daughter, obtaining the respect and esteem +of all his friends and neighbours, and enjoying the pure affection of one +whom he had loved in childhood, as the sweet-voiced and kind hearted +little Marion. + + + + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, THE ESKDALE HERD-BOY *** + +This file should be named eskhb10.txt or eskhb10.zip +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks get a new NUMBER, eskhb11.txt +VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, eskhb10a.txt + +Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US +unless a copyright notice is included. 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