New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1853-05-04
ANECDOTES OF WALTER SCOTT.
We take the following from Donald Macleod
life of Sir Walter

We take the following from Donald MacLeods
interesting life of Sir Walter
ScorT's FIRST LovE.-It was Sunday in
Greyfriar's Churchyard, aud the congregation
were just coming out when the rain began to
fall, when to the owner Of pretty face, not
now probably seen for the first time, Walter Of
fered his escort and umbrella. Both were ac-
| cepted, and the walk, notwithstanding the rain,
proved so pleasant, that they tried it the next
Sunday without an umbrella, and by-and by
| it became custom Then the mothers discov-
cred that they had been companions in youth
and Scott soon arrived at what he calls the
"proud moment when pretty young woman
could think it worth her while to sit and talk
with him, hour after hour, in a corner of ball
room, while all the world were capering in their
view"
Suddenly the attention of the worthy writer
to the signet was attracted he rubbed his eyes,
and looking sharply, discovered that his son
was in love. As the young lady was much
richer than Walter, he judged it honorable to
apprize her father of what was going on; but
the latter took the matter coolly, and the young
folk were left to take care of themselves. Thus
the pretty parishioner Of Greyfriars was not
crossed in her love, the course of which ran
smoothly on, and ended in marriage-but not
| with Walter Scott. A worthy man got her, but
not the squire of the rainy Sunday.
| One good effect of this loss-one which often
| IcuucTS yOuuS ulcu CurclcsS uuu TtChlcSS-upOil
Scott, was. to send him sedulously to his legal
studies, where the pain faded, though the mem
ory always fingered and it is said that we owe
| to this not only the tenderest pages of '' Red
gauntlet" but those of '' 'Rokeby" and the
g Lay Of the Last Minstrel"
| The PooR STUDENT.-While attending Dugald
| Stewards lectures on moral philosophy, Scott
safe often beside person considerably older
than himself-of very humble rank appa-
rently, but of great diligence in his studies.
Scott paid him some attention, and they con-
tracted quite an intimacy, and used to take
walks together; but the young man never spoke
of his parentage or residence. One day Scott
stopped to relieve n blue go,cn, or licensed beg
gar, who stood, hat in hand, silently leaning ON
his staff This happened three or four times,
and Scott was beginning TO get acquainted with
the old man, when, one day, he met him in COM
pany with his fellow-student, who showed some
confusion. ''Do you know anything to the old
mans discreditP' asked Walter "0h, no, sir
God Forbid" cried the poor fellow, bursting
into tears; but am poor wretch to be ashamed
to speak to him. He is my own father Ill
has enough laid by to serve him in his old age
but he stands there, bleaching his head in thu
wind, that he may get the means of paying fol
my education !"
from class, and one day Scott met the old blue
gown, who desired to speak to him. {" find
sir" he said, &c that you have been very kind t.
my Willie. He had often spoken Of it before
saw you together. Will you pardon such lib
erty, and give me the honor and pleasure 0
seeing you under my roof Tomorrow is Sat
urday; will you come at two o'clock Will
has not been very well, and it will do him meikl
good to see your face" Scott accepted the in
vitation, and the appointed hour found him at
J cottage near st. Leonards. Willie, pale an
emaciated, was sitting at the door, but rose an,
introduced his friend into n neat room, wher
the old man was giving the last turn to leg o
mutton roasting before the fire. They dine'
together, and mutton, potatoes and whisky wer
all excellent--the old man (who had been a sol
dier) enlivening the meal with many stories
and frequently using an expression which Scot
2 put afterwards into the mouth of Dominic Samp
sons mother: Please God / may yet live :
see my bairu wag his head in pulpit"
When Walter told this at night to his mother
the good lady said, :" Say nothing about it t
your father; if it had been shoulder, he Nigh
, have thought less, but he will say that the ie
. of mutton was sin +-I.r r .s.
man got, through Mrs. Seott's interest, the plat
. of tutor in family, Scott then lost sight
i him, but often hoped that he had at last bes
. able to IS wag his head" where the old blue gov
i desired to see him.
d ScorT AND JEFFREY.-In 1871, Scott was a,
o mitted into the Speculative Society "a sort
= mental gymnasium for the exercise of barri
t ters with leisure, and students at the end
! their course. The same year he was elected
n brarian, and the next, secretary and treasure
" Lord Jeffrey remembers, on his admission, u
odd appearance of the secretary, who safe at
/. table in vast woollen nightcap, and apologize
,s to the president for being obliged oy toothacn
b to wear such a portentous machine. Th'
,. night he read an essay on ballads, which so a
tonished Jeffrey as to induce him to ask for
er INTRODUCTION. Next evening he called on Scot