The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1875-02-27

|hHfCuotcs OI SIT WI Stott.
"Some Old Letters III SCRIBNER for
March, are accompanied by hitherto I'M
published lite-sketch of Sir Walter Scott, by
the celebrated artist, Gilbert Stuart Newton.
In this instalment of "Old Letters" we find
the following anecdotes of the author of
"Waverly:"
AT halfpast six we went to dine with the
Fergussons. The doctor was quite ill with a
cold Sir Adam FERGUSON, Sir Walter
SCOTS intimate and confidential friend, din.
ed there; ourselves, Mrs L., and one of her
daughters.
1--WE had a very charming dinner, for Sir
Adam has the most marvellous powers of de-
scription He made us laugh heartily, and
told us. too, great many interesting anec.
dotes about Sir Walter Scott He is a very
remarkable person himself He is the origi,
nal of Dugald Dalgetty." This is all find in
the old letters about the dinner but must
! tell what | can recollect of the account Mrs
y. gave me of it in later years. Sir Adam,
she said, was a TALL gray-halred man, with Il
broad Scotch accent. He described how one
early morning in Sir Walter SCOTS library,
when he and Sir Walter tried to make the
fire OF peat burn, and, after many efforts, sue
ceeded in some degree, at this moment one of
the dogs, drlppring from plunge in the lake,
scratched and whned at the window. At
last Sir Walter let the "puir creature" in,
who, coming up before the little fire, shook
his shaggy hide, sending a perfect shower
bath over the fire and over a great table of
| loose manuscripts Sir Walter cycling the
scene with his usual serenity said, slowly
| son! dear, we've done great deal of mis-
chief 1t reminds us Of the tale related of
Newton. On this same occasion of the din
ner, Sir Adam told of travelling with Sir Wal
ter on the Continent and going to see the
troops on donkeys, and he performed both
donkeys and riders with his fingers on the
table until his audience was in an agony Of
laughter.
ferguson passed the evening with us,
and we had some music. | asked him, as he
was so fond of listening, If he didn't sing
little himself III tell you an anecdote of
Sir Walter Scott said he, that will answ er
your question. One night, when was stay
ing at Abbotstord, Anne Scott had been sing
ing to the accompaniment of her harp a
Scotch ballad with wall for the chorus
Sir Walter turned to me, saying IN his strong
Scotch accent: Noe, Ferguson, gle US a
howl"
"'During one of my visits there continued
DR.. Ferguson, among other guests was
Hogg, "the Ettrick Shepherd | heard a
horrible noise in an adjoining room, and, ai-
ter listening some moments to it, became
alarmed, and said to my host What is that
nose?" oh! said he, its 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 y. sings,
that ends:
"short as the Persian's prayer, his prayer at
close of day,
Should be each vow Of loves repeating
Quick let him worship beauty's precious ray,
Fen while he knecls that ray is feeting.'
"IIe used to say, Com, X, let us have that
Persan's prayer; and he would listen with
great delight to the singing Of it.
They recalled an amusing story Of an old
servant, who had lived with Scott for nearly
a life time, and became very much spoiled.
Sir Walter at last, out Of patience with his
sins of omission and commission, SAID
"'Donald, think we must part
"'Part! why? Where is your honor going
to-?
"Of course peace was made and Donald ,
remained.
They told sadly OF the dear old man re. !
turning from Italy (where he had went for his
heuitb1 with his memory impaired Mrs. |
Arkwfight who had set his Pirates Farewell
to NINA to music, sang it to him. Those
are very pretty verses raid Sir Walter, Who
wrote them?"
Charles Scott, Sir Walters seCGhd son, Is !
= very clever, agreeable man, sec I good
deal of him at the Lockharts', here and else
where. Sir Walter was most proud of his /
eldest son Walter, who is rather dull iellow,s
but large and flnc.lOokiDg. His father used /
10 sly that it was enough If boy knew how
70 ride and speak the truth; those were the
most important things. |
Charles Scott made me laugh about the
visitors at Sir Walters house and alelrose
Abbey. Gee the Abbey by moonlight they
must be3a1se of the lines:
"'lf thou would'st view fair Meitose Alright,
60 visit Il by the pale moonlig1s'
And mary a time, said Sir ChaVles Scott,
when the NOM was not convenient took a
antern to prodCce the effect :