Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1849-07-25

SCOTTISH COTTAGEHsS.
BY PROFESSOR WILSON


There is a cottage in llrat hollow, and you see
the smoke-even the chimney top, but you could
not see The cottage itself, unless you were within
fifty yards of il, So surrounded is it with knobs and
small green eminences in den of its own, d shoot
or scion from the main stem of the valley. Ii is
called the Broom, and there is something singular,
aud not undressing, in the history of its owner
He married very eaIly in life, indeed when quite
boy, which is not by the way, very usual among
the peasantry of Scotland, prudent and calculating
as is their general character. Gabriel Adamson,
before he was thirty years of age, had family of
seven children; and pretty family they were as
might be seen in all the parish. Gabrel's life was
In theirs, and his mind never wandered far from
his fireside. His wife was of a consulnptlve fam-
ly, and that insidious and fatal disease never show
ed In her single symptom during ten years of
marriage; but one cold evening awoke it at her
very heart, and in less than TWO months il hurried
her into the grave. Poor creature, such spectre
when her husband used TO carry her. for the sake of
little temporary relief, from chair to couch, and
from her couch back again TO her bed, twenty times
In a day, he never could help weeping, with all his
consideration, to feel her frame light as bundle
Of leaves. The medical man said, that in all his
practice he never had known soul and body keep
together in such utter attenuation But her soul
was as clear as overland pain, racking PAIN was
in her fleshess bones Even he her loving hus-
band, was relieved from wo when she expired for
no sadness, sorrow, could be equal to the misery
OF groans from one so patient and resigned. Per
haps consumption is infectious so, least it SEEM
ed here for first child began to druop and then
another-the elder ones firSt-and within the two
following years, there alriost as many funer-
ais from this house from all the others in the
parish. Yes-;hey all died-of the whole family
not one was spared. Two, indeed were thought
TO have pinned away in sort Of fearful forebodIne
and fever took off third-but four certainly
died OF the same hereditary complaint with the
mother and not voice was heard in the house.
Gabriel Adamson did not desert the Broom; and
the teamwork was still carried on nobody could
tell how. The servants, to be sure, knew their
duty, and often performed it without orders. Some
times the master put his baud TO the plough, but
ottener he led the life of a shepherd and was by
himself among the hills. He never smed-and at
every meal, he still sat like man about to be led
to die. But what will not retire away-recede-
disappear from the vision OF the souls of us mortals
Tenacious as we are of our griefS, even more than
OF our joys, both e!ude our grasp. We gaze after
them with longing or setupbraiding aspirations for
their return, but they shadows and like shad-
ows evansh. Then human duties, lowly though
they may be, rave their sanative and salutary in
Huence on our whole frame of being Without their
performance conscience cannot be still; with it, con-
science brings peace In extremity of evil. Then
occupation kills grief, and industry abaes all pas
sion. No balm for sorrow like the sweat of the
brow poured into the burrows of the earth, i'm the
open air. and beneath the sunshine of heaven
These truths were felt by Gabriel Adamson. the
childlecs wdower long before they were understood
by him and when two years had gone drearilv.
ay, dsmally, almost desParingy, by-he began at
times TO feel something like happiness when Sitting
among his friends in the kirk, or at their iresides.
or in the labours of the field or even on the market
day, among the worlds concerns. Thus, they who
Knew HIN and his Sutierngs, were pleased 10 re-
cognse what might be called resignation and its
grave tranquility, while strangers discerned in him
nothing more than stald aud solemn demeano,ir
winch might be natural to many a man never Sc
verey tried, and offered no interruption to the cheer
iulness that pervaded their ordinary life.
Gabriel Adamson had cousin, few years
younger than himself, who had also married when
girl, and when little more than girl had been
left widow. Her parents were both dead, and
she had lived for some years, as ansupper servant
or rather companion and friend in the house Of a
relation. As cousins, they had all their lives been
familiar and aflectiouate, and Alice Gray had fire.
quentIy lived for months at a time at the Broom
taking care OF the children, and in all respects one
Of the family. Their conditions were now almost
equally desolate, and deep sympathy made them
now more FIRMLY attached than they ever could have
been In better days. STILL nothing at all resembling
love was IN either OF their hearts, nor did the ho'
OF marriage ever pass across their imaginatnns
they found, however, increasing satisfaction il
each others company and looks and words of sad
and sober endearnent gradually Bound them togeth
er IN affection stronger far than either could have
believed. Their friends saw and spoke OF the at
tachment, and its probable result! long before the,
were aware Of its full nature and nobody was sur
prised, but. on the contrary, all were well pleased
when it was understood that Gabriel Adamson and
Alice Gray were to be man and wife. There wa.
something almost morrnful in their marriaoe-nc
rejoicing-uo merry makng-but yet visible symp
toms Of gratitude, cOntentment, and peace An ali
Of cheerfulness not long of investing the meIan
choIy Broom-the very swallows twittered NOR,
gladly from the window corners, and there was 10,
in the cooling of the pigeons on the sunny roof
The farm awoke through all its fields, and the farm
servants once more sang and whistIed at their work
The wandering beggar, who remembered the char
ity Of other years, looked with no cod expression
on her who now dealt out his dole and as his ole
eyes were dimmed with tears for the sake Of ihos,
who were gone, gave feryent blessing on She nev