The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1869-07-17
TALES OF THE BORDERS,
DONALD CORN.
BY ALEXANDER CAMPBELL.

BY ALEXANDER CAMPBELL
In remote corner of Assynt, one OF the
most remote and saVs ge districts in The
Il shlsnds Of Scotland, there s certain
sild and romantic glen, called Edderuahu-
lish. Ia the picturesqueness of this glen,
however, neither WOOL nor rock has any
share and although il may be difficult 70
conceive Of any place possessing that sharac-
ter without these ordinary sdjuncts, il is,
nevertheless, true, that EddernahuIish, with
neither tree nor precipico, is yet strikingly
picturesque. The wide sweep Of the he atb
clad hills whose gradual dsscents from the
spacious glen, and the broad and brawling
stream careering through the center, give
the place an air Of solitude and Of quiet re-
pose that, notwithstanding It's monotouy, is
exceedingly impressive.
On gaining any Of the many points OF
elevation that command view of this DESC
late stratn, you may descry, towards its
western extremity, a small, rude, but massive
stone bridge, grey with age for it was
erected ID the tune Of the laird Or Assynt
who rendered himself for ever infamous By
betraying the Duke If Monuose, who had
sought and obtained the promise Of his pro-
tecti3n, TO bis enemies
Close by this bridge stands little high
I'D cottage, Of, however, a considerably
better order than the common run Of such
dom.cdes in this quarter Of the world aud
6espeaking cou0Iuon, as to circumstances,
on the part Of its occupants, which is by no
means general ia the Highlands.
" Wen, what OF this cottage Z" SAYS the
impatient reader.
What of il ~ say We, with the proud
consciousness Of having something worth
hearing 70 tell oft. Why, was il not the
birthplace vf Donald CORN :"
And, pray, who or what was Donald
CORN p
"W We were just goiag to tell you when
you interrupted Us and We will now pro-
ceed to Tie iuflment Of that intention"
Donald CORN was 3 rough, rafting, out
spoken, bot headed, and warm hearted high
lander, Of about two-and thirty years OF
age. Bold as a lion and strong as a rhino-
ccTos, With great bodily activity, be feared
nobody and, having all the irrascibili.y 81
Bis race, would 6ght with anybody at q
moments notice. Possessing naturally a
great flow of animal spirits and much ready
rlt, Donald was the life aud soul Of every
merry max .ng n which be bore part. 10
the dance bis Ioyous whoop and hslOo might
be heard a nile OF and the hilarious crack
Of his finger ard thumb nearly a third Of
that distance. Donald, in short was one OF
those choice spirits that are always ready for
anything, and who, BY th1 force Of their
individual energies, can keep a whole coun-
try side Id q Stir. As to his occupations,
D0nsid's were sometimes farming,
(assistiug his father, with whom he lived)
sometimes herring fishing, and sometime.
taking a turn at bar yest work in the low
ands-by which industry be had scraped q
few pounds together and, being unmar.
Ticd with no one to care for but himself, be
vas thus comparatively independents cir
cumstance which kept Donald's head 81 Is
highest elevation, and his voice, when be
spoke, at the tor Of it's bent.
The tenor Of our story requires that we
should now advert to another member oi
Donald's family. This is a brother Of the
Iatter's, who bore the euphonious and high
Favored patronymIc Of Duncan Dhu M'TAv.
lsh CORN, or, simply, Duncan CORN, as he
was, for ehortness, called, although certainly
baptised by the formidable last Of names
just given.
This Duncan CORN was man Of totally
different character from bis brother Donald
lie was Of a quiet aud peacesble disposition
and demeanor-st steady, sober, and conscien
tous qualities v hich were thought to adapt
him veil for tic line Of life in which be was
placed. This was az a domestic servant in
the family Of an extensive highland proprie-
tor Of the name Of Grant Ia this capacity
Duncan had, about a year or so previous Io
/ the precise period when our story com
mences-wbich, by the way, we beg the
reader to observe, IS now some ninety year;
+ psst-gone TO the continent, as a persona
attendant on the elder son Of bis master
whose physicians had recommended hi:
going abroad for the benefit Of his health.
1t was, then, about year after the de-
partuTe Of Duncan and his master, thai
Donald's father received letter from nj,
son, intimating the death OF his young mas
ter, which had taken place at Madrid, and
what was much more surprising intelligence
th-. tne Nriter had determined on settling
IN the city .ust named, as keeper Of taverr
or winc-hou sc, in which calling be said ht
/ bad DO dc Ibt he would do well. And b,
I was not IA s AIKEN in about six month.
after, bis family received another letter from
him, informing them that be was succeeding
beyond bis most sanguine expectations
land hereby hangs our tale.
On Donald these letters Of bis brother:
made very strong impression ana final,
had the eject Of inducing him to adopt !.
very strange and very bold resolution Thu.
was neither more ncr less than to DIN hi.
brother in Madrd--a resolution from whict
it was found impossible to dissuade him
/ especially after the receipt Of Duncsn's Sc
con letter, giving intimation Of his sue
cess.
/ With most confused and utterly made
/ quate notions, therefore, Of either the nature
or distance, or position Of the country t
which he was going, Donald made prepara
lions for bis journey. But they were merell
such preparations as re would have mad,
for descent on the Lowlands, at haryes
time. He put up some nght-csps, stocking
aud shirts in q bundle, with quantity o
bread and eLeese, and a small flask Of hi.
native mountain dew. The bundle he pro
posed to suspend, in the usual way, over hii