The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1875-06-10

From some "Old Letters" in Scribner'
we CLEAN some interesting anecdotes o
the gifted author Of "Waverly."
"At half-past six we went to dine with
the Fergussons, The Doctor. was quite
ill with cold. Sir Adam FERGUSON, Sil
Walter SCOTS intimate and confidential
friend, dined there; ourselves, Mrs. L..
ana one of her daughters.
ave had very charming dinner, fol
Sir Adam has the most marvellous powers
of description He made us laugh hear
tily, and told us, too, a great many inter
esling anecdotes about Sir Walter Scott
He is very remarkable person himself
He is the original Dugald Dalgetty."
This is all / find in the Iold letters about
the dinner, but must tell you whatl can
recollect Of the account of Mrs. X. gave
me of ii in later years. Sir Adam, she
said, was tall, gray-haired man, with a
broad Scotch accent. He described how
one early morning, in Sir Walter Scotts
library when he and Sir Walter tried to
make the fire of peat burn, and after
many efforts, succeeded in some degree,
at this moment one Of the dogs, dripping
from u plunge in the lake, scratched and
whined at the window At last Sir Wal
ter let the 'puir creature" in, who, com
ing up before the little fire, shook his
shaggy hide, sending a perfect shower
bath over the fire and over great table
of manuscripts. Sir Walter, eyeing the
scene with his usual serenity, said, slow
ly: "Ohl dear ye've done great deal of
mischief"
Itremindsus of the tale related of New
ton:
"On this same occasion of the dinner,
Sir Adam Ferguson told oftraveling with
Sir Walter on the Continent and going
to the troops on donkeys and he per-
formed both donkeys and riders with his
fingers on the table, until his audience
was IN an agony Of laughter.
Ferguson passed the evening withu US,
and we had some mus C. asked him, ~
he was fond of listening, if he didn'tsing
a little himself. I'll tell you an anec-
dote of Sir Walter Scott said he, that
will answer your question. One night,
when was staying at Abbotsford, Anne
Scott had been singing 10 the accompani-
ment other harp a Scotch ballad with a
wall for the chorus. Sir Walter turned to
me saying, in his strong Scotch accent
Moo, Ferguson, gle us a howl"
"During one of my visits there con-
tinued Or. Ferguson, among other
guests was Hogg, the Ettrick Shepherd.
heard horrible noise in an adjoining
room, and after listening some moments
to it, became alarmed, and said to my
host: What is that noise?' 'Oh' said
he, it's Hogg-just Hogg composing his
verses. He always sings them as he
writes them
Though he liked some rude strains,
Scott could well attune his ear to softer
music, and was very fond of the Moore
song X. sings, that ends:
Short as the Persians prayer, his prayer at close
of day,
Should be each VOW of loves repeating,-
Quick, let him worship beauty's precious ray,
Zen while he Kneels, that ray is fleeting'
''He used to say, Come X, let me have
hat Persian's prayer; and he would lis
en with great delight to the singing of it,
"They recalled an amusing story of an
I'D servant who had lived with Scott
learly lifetime, and become very much
spoiled. Sir Waller at last, out of pa
fence with his sins Of omission and COM
said
"Donald, think we must part
"Part why2 Where's your honor
,oingY .,..'.,
"Of course peace was made, and Don
I'D remained. .",
'"They told sadly of the dear old man
'eturning from Italy where he went for
his healthy, with his memory impaired.
Mrs Arkwright, who had set his Pirates
Farewell to Nina to music, sang it to
lin. Those are very pretty verses said |
Sir Walter. 'Who wrote them p
"Charles Scott Sir Walters second son,
s very clever, agreeable man. see a |
,ood deal of MIN at the Lockhart's, here
md elsewhere. Sir Walter was most |
proud of his eldest son son, Walter, who !
8 rather dull fellow, but large and fine
ooking. His father used to say that it |
vas enough if boy knew how to ride
md speak the truth; these were the most |
things.
Charles Scottmade me laugh about the |
,istors to Sir Walters house and Melrose |
Abbey. See the Abbey by moonlight
hey must because of the lines:
"If thou wouldst view fair Melrose aright
Go visit it by pale moonlight .at7
"And manyia time} said Charles Scott
when the moon was not convenient,
ook lantern to produce the effect"