The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1871-04-29
TALES OF The BORDERS
THE MONK OF ST. ANTHONY.



when the devfi vas sick, the devil monk would be-
whsn she devil grew ssll. she devil q nonk vAs be-
In that very ancient and very filth
quarter of the town of Leith called th,
Coal Hill, there Aourished ia days of yor,
q certain bostelrie kept BY one David We
mss. This house, which was distinguishes
BY the 6enre Of a ship carved in high re-
lief in stone over the Intel Of the doer
was one OF good repute, and much rssortet
to BY the seafaring people who fequsntet
the port.
But it was not alone the good cheer anC
reasonable charges, for both of which "Tht
Sbio" was remarkable, that brought n
many customers to David Wenys: for thu
patronage be was as much indebted to BIZ
ovu civil and obliging manner as to tb'
considerations just mentioned, although
doubtless, these bad their due weigh. viii
all conaderate and rejecting men.
With all David's eivility Of manner
however, there was thought TO be . spice o.
the rogue in bim--just the smallest thing
possible; but it was a sort of good-hanored
roguery. In the small trickery be prac
ticed tbere was as much to laugh at as "a
deprecate; for, being q faoetious sort O
parsonage himself, everything be did, good
bad and indifferent, had . touch, less Of
more, of this quality about it 30 that be
could hardly be said to have been liked q
bit the less for his left-handcd propensties
the more especially that these were never
exhibited in bis dealings With his guests or
customers. 10 whom he always acted the
part of an oblieing and conscientious land
lord. He knew this to be for his interest,
aud therefore did hs abide by It.
At the period at which our story opens,
namely, the year 1859, the fsslormation, Il
IL had not yet driven Pspscy susirely oui
Of the land, had at last compelled it to re-
tire into holes and corners. and to avoid a.
much as possible the public eye. One Of
the last retreats of the denounced religion
in its adversely was the preceptory Of St
Anthony. in I.eith. For the protection. OF
rather endurance, which il found hare, il
was indebted to the towns being, in an 60
pecial manner, under the patronag,
Of Mary Of Guise or Lorraine, the mother
Of the unfortunate Scottish queen Of tina
name. iu ir. .'
ConceiviBg Lsith 10 be, rs it was. q con
venieut point from which to correspond
with France, and well situated for the re-
ception Of such supplies as might be sen
her from that country TO enable her 10 MAKE
head against her discontented MOBILES, Mar
made the town, as it we're, her own and
to identity herself still more closely with it
made it also, foT some time, her place o
residence. .-............7. ........
To this circumstance, then, was It OWNS
that, after they bad almost wholly disap-
peared everywhere else. few monks migh
still be seen moving stealthily and crest
fallen through the streets Of Leith. Thes,
belonged to the preceptory Of St Anthony
which stood st The upper or western enc
Of the long, tOrtuous street called the Kirk
gate. .ltnI ..f ly pa.
But even from this. one Of its last place.
Of refnge. was prelacy now about 70 b
driven. The town, at the particular Periot
GO which our tale refers, was besieged b.
The lords Of the congregation. aided by Al
army Of three thousand Esglish. unde
Lord Gray Of Wilton, who had been des
patched for this purpose by Elizabeth, Il
whom the Reformers had appealed in thei
necessities. n, ...a...... s..
The reader, then, Will understand tina
he 10 in beleAgaered town-tbas be is il
Lsith during the famous siege Of tha
ancisnt seaport, wbes il vas invested on Al
aides BY the enemies Of prelacy, an'
against uhom il vss defsnded chiefly by
body Of French troops, under general .
the name Of D'Oyssl. who bad been sen
frum France TO aid the QaeeD Regen
in maintaining her authority in the King
dom.
Having despatched thess preliminaries
We proceed with our story.
Il was on q certain evening in the latte
end Of April, or beginning Of May. 1853
that mine host VI "The Ship" was suddenl
summoned from bis cellar, a . momen
when hs was employed in tapping . ne,
hogsbesd Of claree, BY . gentle rap q
q quiet hack door, which stood Just BE-
side the hatehwsy that led to the cellar i
question.
This door, which had been contrived Q
struck out for the accommodation Of privat
and confidential customers, who did no
care to bs seen entering THE Ship" BY Ii
front door, was accessible only through
complicated labyrinth Of mean buildings, .
q spot stiIl known BY the name Of the Pea
Nsuk, and % called from its having beer
The public depository Of that descriptio
of fuel before Goals came into the geuer,
% n which they now IRE, and have lon
been.
4" Wh's tbiss" muttsrsd David W.
myss 70 himself. On hearing ths gsntls RI
at the back door above spoken Of, and 1
the ssns tims laying down, . hight tankar
of fslapet, which b hsd jnst dsswn from th
newly broscbed hogsbesd. Lang VIII
Wilsou, the herrin' curer. / dare say
s - stigpsr . he cst-hssit Sow :
KirkmIay." 4s a. as44s ssa 81 ss4a
Thus eosjscturing whom his visitor migh
b. David Wemyss Approached The door
usdid is fastssings. and adnittsd. na
WfIis Wilsca, Tie hssring sarsr, nor h
KExsil8y skipper, but . certain worth.
hfotber d. tAe prscsptosy of St Anthony
b nsns. Pstsr Drinkhooly. Pstsr. VII
wcrs ths dros Of k;s order. namely, looss
black cloth gown, had long been one o