, 1864-02-06
rFRoM WILSON'S TAEEs oF THE BORDERS,
ssAe Vacant Chair.

Peter Elliot, Esquire, Of Marchlaw, in
the counties Of Northumberland and Rox-
burg, was for many years the best runner,
leaper, and wrestler between Wooler and
Jedburgh. Whirled from his hand, the
ponderous bullet whizzed through the air
like pigeon on the wing; and the best
putter on the Borders quailed from compe-
tition. As feather in his grasp, he seized
the unweildy hammer, swept it round and
round his head, accompanying with agile
limb its evolutions, and hurled it from his
hands like shot from q, rifle, till antagonists
shrunk back, and the spectators burst into
a shout. "Wcll done, Squire the Squire
forever! once exclaimed servile observer
of titles. esquire! whaa are ye squirting at?'
returned Peter. "Confound ye! where was
ye when was christened Squire? My
name 8 Peter Elliot-your man, or onybody's
man, at whatever they like|
Peters soul was free, bounding and buoy
ant as the wind that carolled in zephyr,
or shouted in hurricane, upon his native
hills; and his body was thirteen stone Of
healthy, substantial flesh, stepped in the
spirits Of life. He had been long married,
but marriage had wrought no change upon
him. They who suppose that wedlock trans
forms the lark into an owl, offer On insult to
the lovely beings who, Frightening our dark
est hours with the smiles Of affection, teach
us that that only is unbecoming in the hus-
band which is disgraceful in the man.
Nearly twenty years had passed over their
union; but Janet was still as kind, and, in
his eyes, as beautiful as when, bestowing
on him her hand, she blushed her VOWS at
the altar; and he was still as happy, as gen.
erous, and as free. Nine fair children sat
around their domestic hearth, and one, the
youngling of the flock, smiled upon its mo-
TIERS knee. Peter had never known sor-
row; he was blest in his wife, in his chill
dren, in his focks. He had become richer
than his fathers. He was beloved by his
neighbors, the tillers Of his ground, and his
herdsmen; yea, no man envied his pros
perity. But blight passed over the harvest
Of his joys, and gall was rained into the cup
Of his felicity.
It was Christmas-day, and more melan-
choly-looking sun never rose on the 25th Of
December. One vast, sable cloud, like a
universal pail, oyerspread the heavens. But
at Marchlaw the FIRE blazed blithely; the
kitchen table groaned beneath the load Of
tPvcpuutiohs foFr joyful feasA, and glad faces
glided from room to room.
Peter Elliot kept Christmas not so much
because il was Christmas as in honor Of its
being the birthday Of Thomas, his first
born, who on that day entered his nineteenth
year. With fathers love, his heart yearncd
for all his children; but Thomas was the
pride Of his eyes. The guests were assem-
bled and, the kitchen being the only apart
ment in the building large enough to con-
tain them, the cloth was spread upon long,
clear, Oaken table, stretching from England
into Scotland On the English end Of the
board were placed ponderous plum pud-
ding, studded with temptation, and asmoking
sirlOin; on the Scotch end, sayOry and we'll
seasoned haggis, with Sleeps head and
trotters; while the intermediate space was
filed with the good things Of this life, COM
mon TO both kingdoms and to the season.
The guests from the north and from the
south were arranged prOmiscuously. Every
seat was flled-save one. The chair BY
Peters right hand remained unoccupied.
He had raised his hands before his eyes, and
besought blessing on what was placed be-
fore them, and was preparing TO carve for
his visitors, when his eyes fell upon the va
cant chair. The knife dropped upon the
table. Anxiety flashed across his counten-
ance like an arrow from an unseen hand.
"Janet, where is Thomas p he inquired ;
"hae name O. ye seen him :" and, without
waiting an answer, he continued: /" How is
IL possible he can be absent at time like
this ? and on such day, tooi Excuse me
ID minute, friends, till ! just step out and
sec If can find him. Since ever l kept
this day, as mony O ye ken, he has always
been at my right hand, in that very chair ;
and / Gamma think o beginning our dinner
while I see Il empty"
"If the filing o the chair be all, said q
pcrt young sheep farmer, named johnson, " I
win step into It till Master Thomas arrives"
HYe're not a father, young man." said
Peter, and walked out Of the room.
Minute succeeded minute, but Peter re-
turned not. The guests became hungry,
peevish and gloomy, whilen excellent din
ner continued spelling before them. Mrs.
Elliot, whose good nature was the prominent
feature in her character, strove, by every
possible effort, to beguile the unpleasant
Impressions she perceived gathering upon
their countenances.
a Peter is just as bad as him" she re-
marked, "to hae game TO seek him when he
kenned the dinner wouldna keep. And I'm
Il 4. = "A 4 l..