The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1869-08-07
I rALES or THE BORDERS.
MY BLACK COATS
rH& sREAkMo or THG BRsDG's csasA.
BY J0HA MAcKAY WILSON.
BY JoHh MAcKAY WILSON.

.3entle reaGer, the Simple circumstances
And about to relate to you, hang upon what
10 ,termed-a bad omen. There are few
amongst the uneducatsd who have not de-
grts Of fAith in omsns; and svsn amongst
lhb hsttss educated and well informed there
arg many rho whils they pssfsss 70 aisbe-
lb{ya tAsmy eAaS Indeed, do dioksllsgs tAsa,
70 fed fhsm ~ fheis honra e1 sg11onAA &
h&vs hndpn naAst1uals Nha ~ - hsug -
d8nRsf, MKa 6ngn ku111l ~ ununneo
ss,1ah, - lsa deelh = - - -
Wnuf1k la Enli11 1ho1H Gr15
u u hsdeistksu " aksk keuIIhR r e1To6
4idniaks, og nedNt u oInor11nl 1i1't 11n
|1en1E A eG = = -,
fmtiri0K sunR of lks k1611 ~ Is
tss jolly iiktIs crickst - - p Y -
however, h drnming - . clsesS 81 ~ y -
As progress ID tFampling da1nsfen = GVIY
hind under tn feet yse, altSr ell ehea1n 3
kslief in Omens ID q s0psrstitjon, Il b soe
Sbat carries with il portion Of the posesy
~ our nature. But to proessd with our
4ory.
| Several years ago was on my way from
, to Edinburgh; and being % familias
fith every cottage, tree, shrub and whin-
push on the Dunbar aud Lauder roads as
FIth the face Of an scquaintsnce, ] made
'ShoIee Of the less frequented path by Long
tOrwacus. | always took secret pleasure
Ia contemplating the dreariness Of wild
fpfesdiDg desOlAtiOn and, next TO looking
bn the sea when It's waves dance 70 the music
IF hurricane, loved to gaze on ths heath
covered wilderness, where the blue horixon
pnly girded its purple bosom. IL was no
season to look upon the heath in the beauty
sof barrenness, yet purposely diverged from
ithe main road. About an hour, therefore,
after had descended from the region Of the
eLamnermoors, and entered the Lothians,
became sensible was pursuing path which
: was not forwarding nay footsteps TO Eiin-
sburgh. 1t was December; the sun had just
gone down was not very partial to travel
ing in darkness, neither did wish to trust
to chance for finding . comfortable resting.
place for the night. PerciviDg . farm
steading and water mill about Q quarter Of q
mile from the road, Iresolved 70 turn towards
them, and make inquiry respecting the right
path, or, at least, to request 70 Be directed 70
the nearest inn.
The town." as the three or four houses
and mill were called, was all hustle and con-
fusion. The female inhabitants we're clean
ing aud securing, and running 30 and fro. /
quickly learned that all this note Of prepa-
ration arose from the maister" going 70 be
married within three days. Seeing me
stranger, he came from bis house towards
me. He was q tall, stout, good-looking,
jolly-iaCed farmer and miller. His manner
Of accosting me partook more Of kindness
than cvility; and his inquiries were not
free from the familiar, prying curiosity which
prevails in every corner Of cur island, and
must say 10 the north in particular.
Where do you come fra, na-if Il be .
fair question :" inquired hs.
' From B." was the brief and merely
civil reply.
can hAe ys come tras there she day -
he continued.
"Yes," was the answer.
Gay, man, an ys come fras B, do
YEP added be then, nas doot, YEN ken
. person they ca Mr. --r
Did be come originally from Dunss 70
returned ], mentioning also the occupation
of the person referred TO.
"The vera same" rejoined the miller
" are ye acquainted wi him, cir 2"
~ ought to be-" replied | the person
you speak Of is merely my father"
"Your father - exclaimed be, opening
his mouth and eyes to their full width, and
standing for . moment the picture OF Sur
prise" GUIDE gracious ye dinDa say sac
lis be really your taither LOsh, man, do
you no ken, then, thas Pm your cousin
Ys have heard O. your cousin, Willie
Stewart r.
Fifty times" replied 1.
Wsel, I'm the vera mar" said he. ''Gie
US your hand for 'OdsAks, man, Ppm glad no
glad can be. This 10 real exsrMordinar'. I
have often heard o you-it will bs you that
writes the buiks-faith yen be able 70 max
something O. this. But come ava into the
house-ye dinna stir mile lar'ss ior week,
ct ony rate" ...
So saying, and still sraspiag my hand, be
led me 70 the farmhouse. On erossing the
threshold
g Here lAssie," he erssd, In voice that
made roof and rafters' ring, bring ben the
speerits, and get ON the ksttle--here's .
cousin that peer saw in ny Me STORE"
A few minutes served @usnally 20 con6rm
and explain our newly y-dise0vesed relation
ship. .ao-.-F t
"MAn,' said he, 90 ws were Alling %
cOnd glass, "you'se just esms In the very
nick O time; and TIL tel1 yoa Aow. 70 zoe
Im gAnn 20 be married the day amer the
mogn; an' 10 haesAi friend % omy kiU-kind
In this quarter, l1shAd 60 ask On aoqaaantanos
to be the best man. Now, this was vsxin'