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Wilson's Tales of the Borders and of Scotland Novel Chapters
List of most recent chapters published for the Wilson's Tales of the Borders and of Scotland novel. A total of 570 chapters have been translated and the release date of the last chapter is Apr 02, 2024
Latest Release: Chapter 1 : Wilson's Tales of the Borders and of Scotland.Volume I.by Various.PREFACE.This seri
Wilson's Tales of the Borders and of Scotland.Volume I.by Various.PREFACE.This series of Tales, now so well known in this country and also in America, was begun by JOHN MACKAY WILSON, originally a printer, and who subsequently betook himself to liter
- 301 "What are ye gaun to do at the Linthaughs?""Do ye not know," says I, "that I'm about to leave this quarter, for guid and a', for America?" Her heart lap into her mouth at hearing this, and she quickly cast her eyes
- 302 "Richard Blackwell," says I, proudly."Speak after me, then," says he--"I, Richard Blackwell, do take thee, Sophia Cochrane, to be my married wife, and do promise to be a loving husband unto thee until death shall separate us."
- 303 "If it wasna Sir George, ye can maybe tell me wha it was," replied the old nurse, looking cunningly into the face of Matilda."I can tell ye nothing, Bertha, for I heard nothing," said the other.This conversation, which was interrupted
- 304 "A bleeding head did not keep him from my wood-bower," replied Matilda--"a bleeding heart shall not prevent me from seeing him before he dies."This resolution on the part of Matilda, though it did not meet with the entire approbation o
- 305 The two men appeared, by their dress, to be sailors. They were both in the prime of life, and remarkably handsome; but their countenances were of very different expressions. The one, whose short, crisp hair curled over a forehead embrowned by exposure to
- 306 "A strange sail right ahead, sir.""Very well, my boy. Can you make out what she is?""She looks small, sir--not bigger than a boat."The officer made his report to the captain, who kindly entered into the spirit of the thing, t
- 307 "Out of the cable-tier! But how did you get _into_ the cable-tier?""I swam----""Swam into the cable-tier! You must be a clever fellow. Come, none of your tricks upon travellers--tell the truth at once.""I was going to te
- 308 "Thanks, dear Richie!--this is more than I deserved. Now I shall die happy.""Speak nae mair, Ned; ye heard what the doctor said.""But I _must_ speak, Richie, while time is mine. Oh, that a few years were allowed me, to prove my re
- 309 We need not interrupt our narrative at this point, by stopping to describe further Jane's feelings on hearing of this strange and appalling repet.i.tion of her own frightful vision. These feelings were dreadful. She grew pale as death, and shook like
- 310 "In that case," said the soldier, "I would advise you to leave this directly, and go to some place of greater safety."The sisters told him that they had, for some time, meant to do so, and that they intended going to Glasgow to reside.
- 311 Wilson's Tales of the Borders and of Scotland.by Various.Volume 14 THE COVENANTING FAMILY.Thirty years ago, there dwelt an old man named Simon c.o.c.kburn, who followed the avocations of parish teacher and precentor. Every Sat.u.r.day afternoon, afte
- 312 But oh, man, ye hae drawn your sword against your king--ye hae fought against him, ye hae been a traitor in the land that gave ye birth; and, as my faither says, they who are rebellious subjects will never mak good husbands, or be regulated by the ties o&
- 313 The officer, who was chief in command o' the party, was none other than Alexander c.o.c.kburn, the young Covenanter, and the doomed spy was Mr Robert Stuart, the father o' Flora."Sir," said Alexander, "my turn is indeed come--it i
- 314 "Well, Ramorgny," cried the prince, as he met the knight in the audience-chamber of the palace, "what progress hast thou made in the south? Thy tarrying indicates enjoyment; for when did Ramorgny wait, when there was not something to afford
- 315 Ramorgny, who knew the volatile nature of the prince, waited patiently until the pleasures of the first moon were experienced and exhausted. He cultivated more than formerly the good opinion of one who retained no longer any suspicion of the treachery of
- 316 Nearly three years had now pa.s.sed away since the receipt of her last letter from Henry; and she had long given up all hopes of ever hearing from him again, or of ever being more to him than she then was. While sitting alone, however, one morning about t
- 317 Guessing, or rather knowing very well, the cause of f.a.n.n.y's outcry and terror, he went towards her, and sternly and angrily asked her, "What she made all this noise for!""O Henry! Henry!" exclaimed the agitated girl, "tak
- 318 "Then fire, villain!" exclaimed Rutherford; and both pistols went off at the same instant, but with very different effect. A retributive power had directed the fatal engines of destruction. Raeburn's bullet struck the wall wide of its mark,
- 319 "Down rush'd a deluge of sonorous hail."Peggy fainted outright, and the child screamed itself into hysterics, when all at once a couple of s.h.a.ggy shepherd's dogs gave tongue in the neighbourhood. A young, yellow haired shepherd lad
- 320 "Let us trust in him who is the orphan's father," replied her sister, "and leave all to his good providence.""Amen!" said the other; but she sobbed bitterly as she spoke.On the second day of their imprisonment, their unc
- 321 "Ay, and for Marion, the maid of Kimmerghame!" cried George, the brother of Sir Patrick; "and the Sinclairs shall wear stout bucklers and belts to boot, that this sword pierce not."The party being marshalled, they took their way across
- 322 They endeavoured to soothe him; and for a few hours he forgot his shame in sleep--though not wholly, for his slumber was troubled, and in the midst of it he groaned, clenched his hands, and grated his teeth together. The remembrance of his folly was stron
- 323 On the other side of the Abbey strand--that is, on the unprivileged side--there was a house kept as a tavern or ale-house by a person of the name of Peter Connal, very well known in those days as a place of resort for the humble retainers about the palace
- 324 He felt unwilling, however, to press his daughter farther, because she seemed quite incapable of supporting any lengthened conversation on this subject, which seemed to be one of great pain to her.The weight upon the mind of Mary increased; for she was no
- 325 Owing to a long continuance of easterly winds, the Cornwallis made a tedious pa.s.sage up the Channel, and our travellers were detained for some days at Gravesend, awaiting her arrival. To Philip this delay was most welcome; the bustling scenes around him
- 326 "Have the quarter cutters clear for lowering, Mr Waring," said the captain. "Away aloft there, topmen; send down whips for the yard tackles, and have the large cutter all clear for tossing out."These orders were instantly and actively
- 327 The moment the general's eyes glanced upon it, his cheek turned deadly pale, he leaned for a moment backward against a tree, and then, with an eager and trembling hand, he touched a spring at the back of the seal, and the s.h.i.+eld flying open, the
- 328 Curtseying as she entered, and blus.h.i.+ng as she spoke--"You are, sir, I believe," said she "a friend of poor M'Intyre's, just now in Glasgow Jail, for--for----" And here her emotion prevented her further utterance."I
- 329 Such was the situation of the worthy farmer, when, one morning in harvest, he went out with the earliest dawn to look after some sheep he had upon a hill in a distant part of the farm. He had counted them, and was returning to join the reapers, accompanie
- 330 "MY DEAR WILLIAM,--You will not have seen this until I am in the world of spirits, and I hope the communion of saints in heaven, through Jesus our Lord. You have ever believed that I am your parent; but I am not. I am only your aunt--your father bein
- 331 THE ORDER OF THE GARTER.A STORY OF WARK CASTLE.A little above Coldstream, on the south side of the Tweed, stands the village of Wark, where a walled mound is all that remains to point out where its proud castle once stood. "We know that," some d
- 332 "King Edward is now in Yorks.h.i.+re," she replied; "could a messenger be despatched to him, the castle might hold out until he hastened to our a.s.sistance.""St George! and 'tis a happy thought!" replied the countess. &
- 333 "My sister!" exclaimed her brother. Her head rested on the bosom of those she loved; and, in the rapture of the moment, the pestilence and the desolation that reigned around were forgotten. At length, the danger to which she had exposed herself
- 334 Wilson's Tales of the Borders and of Scotland.by Various.Volume 15 THE RECOLLECTIONS OF A VILLAGE PATRIARCH.There is no feeling more strongly or more generally implanted in the human breast, than man's love for the place of his nativity. The s.h
- 335 So far as the world could judge, they seemed to live happily together, and Peggy made an exemplary wife; but there was always like a quiet settled melancholy on her countenance. Their farm was too dear taken, and about a year after they were married, it b
- 336 "The cloud throws back its misty faulds, and my eye follows the seim o'the royal chair o' Scone, wherein sits" (a loud scream of surprise broke from the seer) "Walter, Lord o' Brechin that was, Duke o' Athol that is--Kin
- 337 my statement.""The dead body cannot be long there," answered Sir Robert, "without being discovered; and by approaching the spot we may subject ourselves to suspicion, especially if you were previously seen hounding about the place.&quo
- 338 "Nae apology necessary, freend," said the curate, rising from his seat, to allow the poor traveller, who was dripping with wet, to approach nearer to the fire. "Come awa--nae apology at a' necessary. This is a public hostelry; and, if
- 339 Partick? But hoo's this?" he said, more seriously, and now peering into her face--"there's a tear in yer ee, Meenie. What's wrang, la.s.sie? Hae ye lost yer leman? Has Davy no been sae kind's he should hae been?"Poor Mee
- 340 I'll tell you that (replied the curate). Ae morning, pretty early, last summer, there cam a serving man, mounted on horseback, to oor freend Ringan Scouler's door here, and said he belonged to Lord Minto; and that he had been sent forward by his
- 341 The summons that called Sir John into the presence of the marriage-folks was immediately obeyed. In an instant that gentleman entered the apartment, with a smile upon his face, all the party standing up and receiving him with the most marked reverence and
- 342 My uncle kent weel the consequences of standing, and of being taken captive; and ye see, my bairn, life is sweet to us a'; sae he e'en dashed into the thicket, and, in an instant o' time, and ere the dragoon could shoulder his musket, he wa
- 343 "I arrest thee in my Master's name, that none ever enter by thee, save those who enter by the door of Presbytery." So saying, he ascended the wall at the kirk-stile, spread his arms abroad to their utmost stretch, and in the most solemn and
- 344 "Nonsense, Harry," said he, colouring; "I have something else to do than to pine and sigh for a lady's love. What a lovely night it is!""Yes," said I--"lovely enough for a high-flying, sentimental lover, but anythin
- 345 "Why, sir----" said the man, hesitatingly."Go on," said the captain--"I won't bite you.""Why, then, sir," replied the captain of the forecastle, "we've never had no luck since you took that 'ere
- 346 "But I'm thinkin I'm late this mornin, mother," she said, on observing the advanced appearance of the day."Ou, ye're time aneugh, dear," replied her mother; "I didna like to wauken ye sooner, as ye were up sae late
- 347 On the following morning, when he and Middleton met-- "Well, Harry," said the latter, "what's to be done now? What has been the result of your night's reflections regarding Helen? What do you now propose doing with her?""
- 348 She paused, and looked at me, as if her heart had been overpowered with pity. I expected now the long-dreaded announcement, and lay motionless, almost senseless, to hear the p.r.o.nunciation of my doom."Your aunt was no sooner laid under the ground,&
- 349 Mary was now for running home as fast as possible, but the gallantry of her new acquaintance would not permit him to think of allowing her to go alone; he therefore proposed that she should go with them to Heatherinch, which was but a short way out of her
- 350 Mary would have remonstrated with him as to the rashness of his conduct--she would have told him what she knew. The warmth of a lately awakened affection, a woman's pride, a woman's delicacy, and a feeling of indignation at being thus suspected,
- 351 The fourteen days were not yet past, when the prison-doors flew open, and the old Earl of Dundonald rushed to the arms of his son. His intercession with the confessor had been at length successful; and, after twice signing the warrant for the execution of
- 352 "I would ask you to forgive your enemies," replied she, mildly; "but not for my sake.""Yet it can only be for _your_ sake," said I; "but tell me, lady, are you the _wife_ of the man who has pursued me to death?"&quo
- 353 "The oath is recorded in heaven, and may not be recalled," was the answer of the young lord.Lord Maxwell, after receiving a maternal benediction, retired to his chamber; and, notwithstanding the difficulties which he knew it would be his lot imm
- 354 "Wha's this, Charlie, think ye?" said the soldier, laconically."I canna say I ken," replied Charlie, closely scrutinising the stranger."Hae ye nae guess wha he is?" repeated the soldier.Charlie shook his head."Am I
- 355 "Dinna anger me," vociferated Charlie, in a nettled tone, looking at his pistol; "I tauld ye ye would get yer ser'in. There's nocht to hinder me frae giein ye't noo. There--tak that!" And in a moment the freebooter raise
- 356 Wilson's Tales of the Borders and of Scotland.by Various.Volume 16 THE LEVELLER.How far the term, "A Leveller," is provincial, or confined to the Borders, I am not certain; for before I had left them, to become as a pilgrim on the earth, th
- 357 "Odd! I dinna ken," said one of the crowd, "but there's a deal o' truth in what he says.""It was too bad to touch his windows," said another; "his son George has been in the wars, and the life o' a son is
- 358 "Catherine!--my sister!--my own sister!" he exclaimed, grasping the hand of the supplicant."Oh, George!--my brother!" cried Catherine, and wept.The flute-player looked around. The instrument fell from his hand."What!--William!--an
- 359 The circ.u.mstance did not alarm the royal prisoner, though he could not but think it strange that, on the first night of his installation, his palace should be converted into a jail, and the king of his country should be the jail-bird of the seneschal of
- 360 "You got a good sight of the old man, then, I presume?" continued Gray."A far better sight than thae closed shutters will allow me to hae o'his majesty, wha sits there," replied she.James started, and looked fearfully at the witne
- 361 says Burns, "Poor Hughoc like a statue stands."It would be impossible, by any similitude or quotation, to give an accurate picture of Archy Campbell, when he saw Doddy, free as air, taking the bent and crooning defiance, and his own brother lyin
- 362 These were the last words which she spoke, at least which were heard; for, in the beautiful language of Scripture, "she bowed her head, and gave up the ghost." She was not drowned, but chilled to death. The case was different with youth, strengt
- 363 Such a contest as this, however, when it was one to fifty, could be but of short duration. In a few minutes, Sir John was severely wounded, unhorsed, and borne, or rather dragged down, bleeding and exhausted, to the earth. The moment he fell, the points o
- 364 "Marion," said her lover, now greatly agitated and perplexed, "what in all the earth is wrong? Will you not tell _me_, Marion?""O Richard, Richard, do not ask me. I cannot, I will not tell you," said the distracted girl."
- 365 John ran towards his sister, and clasped her in his arms. She did not recognise him for a second or two; but when she did, she burst into tears, and-- "O John, John," she said, "this is a sorrowfu hoose ye hae come to; but yer faither '
- 366 "This is a dreadful business, Mr Thriven," said she, as she ran forward in the confusion of unfeigned anguish."Dreadful, indeed, my good lady," answered he; "and who can feel it more than myself--that is, after you.""You
- 367 "I beg your pardon, Mr Sharp!" continued his friend; "but I felt a little pained, sir, at the high-flown expression of the great good that awaits me, as if I were not already conscious of being, and known to be, that n.o.blest work of natur
- 368 The three merchants, stimulated at the same moment by the same impulse of joy, laid hold of the good widow, and whirled her like a top round the room, snapping their fingers the while, and exhibiting other perfectly innocent demonstrations of gladness.&qu
- 369 "Then there is no alternative?" rejoined Samuel."None," replied Sharp. "I have it on good authority that the warrant against you was in the act of being written out, when I hurried here, as you find, to save you. Shall I prepare t
- 370 And by the time the Frenchman fired his first volley, we were ready. The salute was simultaneous and fearful. The enemy did awful execution: five of our gun-ports were torn into one, and several of our men killed and wounded. I have little recollection of
- 371 THE ANGLER'S TALE.Never did boy long more anxiously for the arrival of the happy day which was to free him from the trammels of school discipline than I, a grey-haired man, always do for the return of bright and beautiful summer--that happy season when a
- 372 Now, though Geordie and I were baith keen to gang to sea, yet we wanted to choose oor ain s.h.i.+p; and, besides, we had resolved no to gang in ane o' the East India Company's s.h.i.+ps; for the lads on board the smack, coming frae Leith, had tell't us
- 373 Eh, but I thocht it a bonny sicht, when I lookit frae the rigging, where I was hauding on wi' a' my fingers, like a fleyed kitlin, to see the men a' lying oot on the different yards, loosening the rapes that keep the sails rowed up--(they ca' them gas
- 374 And, before I had time to question him as to the whereabouts of his home, and how or when I was to meet him again, he bounded over the gate, and disappeared.That same evening, I was sitting in Edward Thompson's comfortable parlour, reading my favourite,
- 375 As I rushed away, I turned round for a moment to exclaim, "Farewell, Jessy!--we shall meet again!" Me-thought, as I hurried onward, I heard the accents of broken-hearted agony following after me; and through all, and over all, her voice was there. But I
- 376 "That," replied he, "your brief, which is as clearly and fully drawn up as if you had done it yourself, will explain to you. In the meantime, I may state, that your client, the defendant, is a young lady of matchless beauty, great fortune and accomplis
- 377 GRACE CAMERON.In the centre of a remote glen or strath, in the West Highlands of Scotland, stands the old mansion-house of the family of Duntruskin. At the time of the rebellion of 1745-6, this house was the residence of Ewan Cameron, Esq., a gentleman of
- 378 "For Heaven's sake," she exclaimed, in the agony of her feelings, and seizing him almost convulsively by the hand as she spoke, "do not commit murder! Do not send the soldiers after him, captain. I will do anything for you--I will go on my bended knee
- 379 "That's a question, father," said his daughter, "that relates to a part of the bargain I mean to drive with you which I have not yet arrived at, and which will seem to you the most unreasonable of the whole, I daresay. You must not ask me where I am g
- 380 M'Gregor went to the window, to see what he had no doubt was the last of his poor friend, Sullivan--and he soon had this melancholy satisfaction.In a few minutes, the party appeared proceeding down the avenue, with Terence in the centre, mounted on one o
- 381 Wilson's Tales of the Borders and of Scotland.Volume 17.by Alexander Leighton.ROGER GOLDIE'S NARRATIVE.A TALE OF THE FALSE ALARM.Ye have heard of the false alarm, (said Roger Goldie,) which, for the s.p.a.ce of wellnigh four and twenty hours, filled the
- 382 "P.S." said his mother; "who does that mean?""Oh!" said I, "it means n.o.body. It means that we have not read all the letter.""Read it a', then--read it a'!" she cried.And I turned to the last page, on the fold above the direction, and read--
- 383 "Hery, Hary, Hubblischow, See ye not quha is come now!"ringing in one's ears during the whole night. The young were out; the old were in; but all were equally up and doing the honours of the occasion. At auld Wat Wabster's door, one minstrel company w
- 384 And he held out the bottle to Rob, after having put it bodily to his mouth, and taking a long draught as an example to the latter, who was known to despise flasks. Rob turned up his eyes to the Virgin, and got from her some confidence, if not courage. He
- 385 "Come from thy langsettle, jolly Kate Webster," continued he of the red cravat, "and let us, as thou wert wont to say, have a little laughing and drinking deray in this last night of the old year. I see, by the very mouths thou makest, thy throat is as
- 386 The old man's hairs gradually whitened and became more scanty, whilst this loss was made up for by an increase of wrinkles. The only change in his habits were not unfrequent visits which he payed to an old friend, he said, in Whitehaven, and from which h
- 387 XIII.--PORTER'S HOLE.In the west corner of the churchyard of Dalgarno--now a section of the parish of Closeburn--there is a small, but neat headstone, with two figures joining hands, as if in the att.i.tude of marrying. Beneath is written, and still legi
- 388 "Have you any objection to try?" said the stranger, with a gentle smile."None whatever," replied the hospitable yeoman."Well, Mr Adair," said the stranger, with more gravity of manner, "to convert jest into earnest, I have a proposal to make to you
- 389 Leaving the lovers in discussion on these very agreeable points, and others connected therewith, we will follow Mr Adair on the errand on which he went, after Mr Mowbray had left him. This was to communicate to his wife the unexpected and important propos
- 390 When the party had seated themselves--"Shall I serve up some refreshment, sir?" said the servant to Mr Mowbray, with great respect of manner, but with that perplexing smile on his face."Yes, John, do," said Mr Mowbray; "and as quick's you like; for
- 391 "It is on Dr M----'s table!" cried the youth, starting to his feet, and again throwing himself violently on the chair. "I purchased it; paid the price for it; and recognised it only when the dissecting-knife was in my hand!" Every one started aghast;
- 392 "Let him die!--let him die!" she exclaimed. "Is not his doom inevitable?You will torture my Eugene by keeping in his life till the law demands its victim, and he may be carried--carried! O G.o.d!--to a second death, ten times more cruel than that which
- 393 Thrice a hundred tapers burned suspended from the roof, and on each side of the hall stood twenty men with branches of blazing pine. Now came the morris dance, with the antique dress and strange att.i.tudes of the performers, which was succeeded by a danc
- 394 'Weel, Mr Swanston, I have no objections to sign my name, if, as you say, that be all that is in it, and if my doing so will be of service to you.'"He grasped hold o' my hand wi' both o' his, and he squeezed it until I thought he would have caused t
- 395 "'Let me look at it,' says he."So, as honesty never needs to be feared for what it does, I handed him the bit paper. But after looking at it for a moment, he held it up between his finger and thumb, and wi' a kind o' sarcastic laugh, inquired--'Whe
- 396 "'Really, sir,' said I, 'I acknowledge that I must pay ye, though everybody said at the time that I was a very simple man for entering into ony such agreement wi' ye; but it is not in my power to pay ye just now. In the course o' a twalmonth I hope
- 397 On the 26th of August, the Duke of Newcastle, one of the secretaries of state, wrote a letter to the right honourable the lord justice-general, justice-clerk, and other lords of justiciary, of which the following is a copy:--"My lords, application having
- 398 "Oh, how can you say so?" she returned, and bending down her head, became visibly agitated. And yet poor Christina knew not, even now, that she loved Charles Gordon: she understood not the true cause of the beatings of her disturbed heart. He looked at
- 399 "My name is William Wallace," answered William, with a beating heart. "I never had the honour to see you until to-day.""Wallace? Wallace?" said the old gentleman, musing. "No---my friend's name was not Wallace; we were both of Monro's regiment--h
- 400 "Thank G.o.d!" cried William; "he is, I trust, then, still alive." And he pressed the stranger's hand with a warmth that surprised him. "Where do you mean to stay," resumed William, "until the vessel sails?""I have no relations," replied he, "