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THE ESKDALE HERD-BOY
THE ESKDALE HERD-BOY MRS BLACKFORD 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
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