The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1869-09-25
tALES OF THE BORDERS.
THE ADOPTED son.
rALE OF THE TAAe o. rnE covEnAmrras.
BY ALExANDER cAHPBELL-

BY ALExAEDER cAHPBELLs
4" Oh, for the sword Of GideoS, 20 rad the
l1nd oftyrants, TO bring down the pride Of
akostates, and to smite the uneodiy with
cAniusIon ~ muttered John Bryd0ne 10 him
sklf, as he went into the fields on the Sep
Amber of 1645, and behelj that the greater
ptrt of q crop of oats, which had been cut
dkwn a few days before, was carried OF.
Jkhn was the proprietor Of about sixty acres
Q the south bank of the Ettrick. little
sbove its junction with the Tweed. At the
r&riod we speak Of the talented and ambi-
\ lbUs Marquis of Montrose, who chad long
len an apostate to the cause Of the Cove
Thnt-and not only an apostate-but irs
tost powerful enemy-having, as he thought
tmpletely crushed its adherents in Scot
1nd, in the pride Of his heart led his fol.
wers towards England, to support the tot
firing class Of Charles in the south, and was
1bw with his cavalry quartered at Selkirk,
xhile his infantry were encamped at Philip
thugh, on the opposite side Of the river.
Every reader has heard of Melrose Abbey
which is still venerated in its decay, ma
kstic IN its ruins-and they have read, too,
the abode Of the northern wizard, who
led the halo of his genius over the sur
bunding scenery. But many have heard of
elrose, Of Scott, and Ct Abbotsford, to
hom the existence Of Pniliphaugh is un-
Xnown. 1t, however, is one of those places
There our fOrefAthers laid the foundation of
Aur freedom with the bones Of Its enemies,
Rnd cemented it with their own blood. Ii
he stranger who visits Melrose and Abbots-
lbrd pursues his journey a few miles farther,
e may imagine that he is still following the
Rcurce Of the Tweed, until he arrive at Sell
as been upon the banks Of tho Ettrick, and
hat the Tweed is lost among the wooded
iills TO The north. Immediately below Sell
kirk, where the fOrked river forms sort of
sland, on the opposite 81 le of the stream he
RwIll see a spacious haugh, surrounded by
WOODED hills, and forming, if we may 90
speak, an amphithestre bonded by the
l2tIrck. between the Yarrow and the Tweed.
Such is Philiphaugh, where the arms OF the
EoVerant triumphed, and where the sword
|0f Montrose was blunted for ever.
Now, the sun has not yet risen, and q
IthIck, dark mist covered the face OF the
earth. when, as we have said, John Brydone
went out into his fields, and found that a
quantity Of bis eats had been carried away.
al, doubted not but that they had been taken
Nor the use Of hontrose's cavalry and it was
mot for the loss of bis substance that he
'grieved, and that his spirit was wrotb, but
because it was taken to assist the enemies of
,hls country, and the prosecutors Of the truth,
for than John Brydone, humble As he was,
there was net q more dauntless or a more
determined supporter Of the Covenant in all
Scotland. WhiIo he yet stood by the side Of
his field, and, from the thickness of the NOR
ming was unable to discern objects at few
yards distance, party of horsemen rode up
to where he stood. Countrymsn," said
one who appeared to be their reader, +" can
you inform US where the army Of Montrose
IS encamped?'
lists sullenly replied" There's moDy ane
asks the road they KEN" and was proceed.
ing into the field.
ANSWER me - demanded the horsemau
angrily, and raising a pistol in bis hand
" Sir David Lesly commands you"
"Sir David Lesly ~ cried John" the
champion of the truth the defender Of the
good cause If ye be Sir David Lesly, as
now ye be, get yer troops in readiness, and,
before the mist vanish on the river, I will
deliver the host o. the Philistines INTO your
hand"
{" See that you play not the. traitor" said
Lesly, or the nearest tree shall be unto
thee as the gallows was to Haman which be
prepared for Mordecai."
Do even 80 to me, and more also" re-
piled John, # ye find me false. But think
" that look as though bore the mark Ol
the beast upon Smy forehead ?" he conLued,
taking off his Lowland bonnet, and gazing
General Lesly full in the face.
:" will trust yOu," said the General and
as he spoke, the van Of his army appeared
IN sight.
John having described the situation Of the
enemy to Sir David, acted ~ their guide un-
til they came to the Shaw Burn, when the
General called a halt. Each man havin z
Partaken Of hurried repast, by order Of Sir
David, the word was given along the line
that they should return thanks for being
conducted to the place where the enemy OF
the Kirk and bis army slept 10 imaginary
security. The preachers at the head Of the
different divisions Of the army gave out .
psalm, and the entire host of the Covenan-
teIs, uncovering their heads, joined at the
same moment in Thanksgiving and praise.
John BrydOns was not q man OF tears, but,
as he joined in the psalm, they rolled down
bis cheeks, for his heart felt, while his tongue
uttered praise, thai day Of deliverance was
at hand. The psalm being concluded, each
preacher offered up a snort but earnes,
prayer and each man, grAsping bis weapon
was ready to lay down his life for bis rell-
R1nn and his liberty.
John BrydOne, with his bonnet IN hand,
approaching Sir David, said" Now, sir,
that ken the ground, and situation o tho
enemy, would advise ye, as . man who hal
seen some service myser, to balVe your men
let the one party proceed by the river to st
tack them on the one side, and the other q
round the hills to cut off their retreat"
"Ye speak skillfullY," said SIR David, and
he gave orders as John Brydone had ad
vIsed.
The Marquis Of MOntrose had been disap
pointed 10 renforcements from his sovereign
or two parties which had been sent 10 assis
him in his raid into Englsnd, one had bee'
routed in Yorkshire, and the other defeate
on Carlisle sands, aud only few individual
from both parties joined him at Selkirk.
great part Of his .Highlanders had returne
home to enjoy their plundsr; but bis arm
was still formidable, and he imagined be ha
Scotland at his feet, and that he had nothin
1 70 faar fro,v, anuf fhinU tha O0wenn terra O0uI