The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1857-12-23
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NEIL MAcLAREN.
A TALE OF THE SCOTTISH REBELLION

| The little lonely inn of Crook, near the
| source Of the Tweed, is spot we'll known
20 travellers and tourists, and withal one
much admired by them. This place, or
Gather it's seighborhood,. was the scene of
strange adventure about century ago
One misty msrning, in the Autumn of
/ I746, George Black, the landlord of the
crook Inn, stood at the door Of his iso.
iateG dwelling, eyeing the heavens above
aim and the mountains around him, for
want, it may be, of anything better to do.
Confound these mists!n muttersd he /;
they'll no clear up the whole day." The
| landlords observations vers suddenly cut
short. His eyes caught sight of q party
of soldiers, and he hurried to prepare for
| their anticipated visit.
Meanwhile, the little military party
whom be had espied marched slowly up
the vale, along the soft and splashy road
that ran yearly parallel with the Tweed.
Such detacbments were no uncommon
visitors Of the Crook fer this little ho-
tel lay on the direct road from the High.
lands to Carlisle, whittier the Northern
rebels we're at this time regularly sent,
as taken, in order that they might be
tried at cool distance from all partial
Influence, and where, at this particular
time, scarcely week passed without see-
ing numbers of them executed according
to the approved style dictated by the
English law of high treason. The well
armed partY now advancing to the Crook
were bound on such an erraDd. They
we're six or seven in number, with lieu
tenant at their head, and in the midst of
them walked tall aud finely formed
IT ~ Ia sErx ,obf
pinned for security, to his side. Though
on bis way to certain death, and though
suffering tartans and thin cheek spoke of
suffering and priyation, the prisoner moved
with as firm tread as his eaptors, and,
but for his bonds might have been taken
for their ckief. OF very different cpin-
ion, however, was Lieutenant Howison,
the actual leader of the band, a pompous
middle-sged man. Everything which this
person said was sin the kings name."-
This was indeed Lieutenant Howison's 8
tower of strength.
Such was the person who halted on the
morning alluded to, to refresh himself and
men at the Crook Inn, having marched
some Eve or six miles since daybreak.-
After commanding bis soldiers to go with
the prisoner into one room, and take some
bread and cheese, the lieutenant himself
retired to another apartment, thereto re-
fresh himself with something of a more
sayery nature, if it was tosbe had. The
landlord in person waited on the officer,
and supplied him with the best tie house
contained When this duty had been
performed, he turned his attention to the
soldiers, in fact, anxious to get glimpse
of the person who had fallen into their
hands. In this object he was at first dis
appointed, the Highlander's face being
averted from the rest of the party, and
steadily directed towards the window
At last one of the soldiers, &ith more
Kindness than any of the others, seemed
disposed to show, exclaimed, icome, my I
lad, here's share of my bit and sup. / |
shan't see poor fellow starved neither,
rebel though be has been" The prisoner,
seemingly, was touched by the mans good
nature aud turned partly around TO bsne-
fl by the offer. The landlord, the mo
ment he got glimpse of the Highland
er's face, was overwhelmed With alarm
and vexation. His heart failed him, and |
it wrs With feeling of faintness that be
shruBk from the apartment--it was his
own son -in-law.
1t was not until the soldiers were fairly
out of sight that the heart,stricken man
dared 10 give vent to his feelings He
then informed his wife Of the terrible dis
covery that be had made.
The afternoon, il may we'll be conceiy-