to him in the country, where his own is so common-'that the Sheriff had not written about him mair than about other folk, but only about his dogs.' An English lady of high rank and fashion being desirous to possess a brace of the celebrated Mustard and Pepper terriers, expressed her wishes in a letter, which was literally addressed to Dandie Dinmont, under which very general direction it reached Mr. Davidson, who was justly proud of the application, and failed not to comply with a request which did him and his favourite attendants so much honour. I trust I shall not be considered as offending the memory of a kind and worthy man, if I mention a little trait of character which occurred in Mr. Davidson's last illness. I use the words of the excellent clergyman who attended him, who gave the account to a reverend gentleman of the same persuasion: 'I read to Mr. Davidson the very suitable and interesting truths you addressed to him. He listened to them with great seriousness, and has uniformly displayed a deep concern about his soul's salvation. He died on the first Sabbath of the year (1820); an apoplectic stroke deprived him in an instant of all sensation, but happily his brother was at his bed-side, for he had detained him from the meeting-house that day to be near him, although he felt himself not much worse than usual. So you have got the last little Mustard that the hand of Dandie Dinmont bestowed. 'His ruling passion was strong even on the eve of death. Mr. Baillie's fox-hounds had started a fox opposite to his window a few weeks ago, and as soon as he heard the sound of the dogs, his eyes glistened; he insisted on getting out of bed, and with much difficulty got to the window, and there enjoyed the fun, as he called it. When I came down to ask for him, he said, "he had seen Reynard, but had not seen his death. If it had been the will of Providence," he added, "I would have liked to have been after him; but I am glad that I got to the window, and am thankful for what I saw, for it has done me a great deal of good." Notwithstanding these eccentricities, (adds the sensible and liberal clergyman,) I sincerely hope and believe he has gone to a better world, and better company and enjoyments.' If some part of this little narrative may excite a smile, it is one which is consistent with the most perfect respect for the simpleminded invalid, and his kind and judicious religious instructor, who, we hope, will not be displeased with our giving, we trust, a correct edition of an anecdote which has been pretty generally circulated. The race of Pepper and Mustard are in the highest estimation at this day, not only for vermin-killing, but for intelligence and fidelity. Those who, like the author, possess a brace of them, consider them as very desirable companions. CHAPTER XXVI Note C, p. 255.-LUM CLEEKS The cleek here intimated, is the iron hook, or hooks, depending from the chimney of a Scottish cottage, on which the pot is suspended when boiling. The same appendage is often called the crook. The salmon is usually dried by hanging it up, after being split and rubbed with salt, in the smoke of the turf fire above the cleeks, where it is said to reist, that preparation being so termed. The salmon thus preserved is eaten as a delicacy, under the name of kipper, a luxury to which Dr. Redgill has given his sanction as an ingredient of the Scottish breakfast.-See the excellent novel entitled 'Marriage.' Note D, p. 258. CLAN SURNAMES The distinction of individuals by nicknames when they possess no property, is still common on the Border, and indeed necessary, from the number of persons having the same name. In the small village of Lustruther, in Roxburghshire, there dwelt, in the memory of man, four inhabitants, called Andrew, or Dandie, Oliver. They were distinguished as Dandie Eassil-gate, Dandie Wassil-gate, Dandie Thumbie, and Dandie Dumbie. The two first had their names from living eastward and westward in the street of the village; the third from something peculiar in the conformation of his thumb; the fourth from his taciturn habits. It is told as a well-known jest, that a beggar woman, repulsed from door to door as she solicited quarters through a village of Annandale, asked, in her despair, if there were no Christians in the place. To which the hearers, concluding that she inquired for some persons so surnamed, answered, Na, na, there are nae Christians here; we are a' Johnstones and Jardines.' CHAPTER XXVII Note E, p. 269.-GIPSY SUPERSTITIONS All The mysterious rites in which Meg Merrilies is described as engaging, belong to her character as a queen of her race. know that gipsies in every country claim acquaintance with the gift of fortune-telling; but, as is often the case, they are liable to the superstitions of which they avail themselves in others. The correspondent of Blackwood, quoted in the Introduction to this Tale, gives us some information on the subject of their credulity. 'I have ever understood,' he says, speaking of the Yetholm gipsies, 'that they are extremely superstitious-carefully noticing the formation of the clouds, the flight of particular birds, and the soughing of the winds, before attempting any enterprise. They have been known for several successive days to turn back with their loaded carts, asses, and children, on meeting with persons whom they considered of unlucky aspect; nor do they ever proceed on their summer peregrinations without some propitious omen of their fortunate return. They also burn the clothes of their dead, not so much from any apprehension of infection being communicated by them, as the conviction that the very circumstance of wearing them would shorten the days of their living. They likewise carefully watch the corpse by night and day till the time of interment, and conceive that "the deil tinkles at the lyke-wake" of those who felt in their dead-thram the agonies and terrors of remorse.' These notions are not peculiar to the gipsies; but having been once generally entertained among the Scottish common people, are now only found among those who are the most rude in their habits, and most devoid of instruction. The popular idea, that the protracted struggle between life and death is painfully prolonged by keeping the door of the apartment shut, was received as certain by the superstitious eld of Scotland. But neither was it to be thrown wide open. To leave the door ajar, was the plan adopted by the old crones who understood the mysteries of death-beds and lykewakes. In that case, there was room for the imprisoned spirit to escape; and yet an obstacle, we have been assured, was offered to the entrance of any frightful form which might otherwise intrude itself. The threshold of a habitation was in some sort a sacred limit, and the subject of much superstition. A bride, even to this day, is always lifted over it, a rule derived apparently from the Romans. brod, church-plate, 60. cleeks, iron hooks. See pp. 255 and 309. clodded, thrown with violence, 119. clour, smash, thump, 231. cloyed a dud, stolen a rag, 276. collie-shangies, quarrels, 239. brooms, bought so many, got so come o' will, illegitimate child, 21. many warrants out, 278. brought to bed, confined, 22. burn, stream. bye, besides, 23. ca', ca'd, call, called. cannily, easily, 238; canny, pru- 12. canty, lively, cheerful, 6. carle, man, fellow. couldna, could not. cow, humble-, cow without horns, 89. cramp-ring, scouring the, thrown into fetters. craw, crow. cuddy, donkey, 24. cut ben whids, stop uncivil language, daft, silly, crazy, 58; sportive, frolic- darkmans, nights, 278; milling in daur, daurna, dare, dare not. cast, lot, fate, 24; penny-stane cast, day-dawing, dawn, 24. see penny-stane. change-houses, taverns, 233. chapping-sticks, weapons, 56. cheat, trine to the, get imprisoned and hanged, 276. deacon, elected chairman of trade dead-thraw, death agony, 93. deil-be-lickit, devil be beaten, xxxi. cheerers, glasses of spirits with hot deuke, duke, 220. water and sugar, 238. dinging down, throwing down, 60. dinna, do not. chield, fellow, 113. chumlay, chimney, 60. clanjamfray, rabble, 231. clashes, tales, 121. dirk, dagger. dizzen, dozen. doating, in dotage, 284. claught, clutched, snatched violently, dominie, pedagogue, 16. |