The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1876-03-23
rus aLlcK DoroL,.s.

prc.sive Add descriptive names for people
VI rank. whlch answered jusl as we'll
So Edward vas known As L9ngshAuss.
Il was from no lack Of spirit o. energy
thAi be did not complete tbe stubborn
woTk. bat be died little TOO soon. on
bis deAihbed be called bis pretty, spirit
less son 20 him and made him promise 70
carry ou tie war; be then ordered that
hi, body should be boiled in caldron,
and that bis bones should be wrapped up
ID bulls hide, and carried II the bead
OF the army in future campaigns against
the Scots After these aud some other
queer requests, death relieved him Of The
bard politics, aud 30 be went away -
Then bis sou, Edward IL, tucked away
the bclligereot old Kings bones among
The bones OF other kings in Westminster
Abbey, and spent his time In dissipation
among bis fAvorites, and allowed The
rcsolute Scots TO recover Scotland.
Good James, Lord Douglas, was a very
wise man in bis dsy He may not have
had long shanks, bat be had very long
head, as you shall presently see. lie
WAS one of the hardest foes with which
the two Edwards had 10 contend, and
1 his long bead proved quite too powerful
for The second Edward, who, In his
single campaign against the Scots, lost at
Bannookbuln nearly all that bis father
had gained.
The tail Scottish castle of Roxburgh
stood near the border, lifting its grim
turrets above the Teviot and the Tweed.
When the Black Douglas, as Lord james
was called, bad recovered castle after
castle from the English, he desired to
gain this stronghold, and determined to
accomplish his wish.
But he knew 1t could only be taken by
surprise, and very wise ruse 1t must be-
lie had outwitted the English so many
times, that they were sharply on the
lookout for him.
How could II be done5
Tis an old Yule-log story, aud you
shall be told.
Near the castle was gloomy old forest
called Jedburgh. Here, just as the first
days of spring began to kindle in the
sunrise and sunsets, and warm the frosty
hills, Black Douglass concealed sixty
picked men.
1t was Shroye-tide, and Fasten's Eve,
Immediately before the great Church
festival of Lent, was to be celebrated
with great gush OF music and blaze of
light and free offerings of wine In the
great hall OF the castle. The garrison was
to have leave for merry.making and in
dulging in drunken wassail.
The sun had gone down in the red sky,
and the long, deep shadow began to fall
on Jedburgh woods, the river, the hills,
and valleys.
An officers wife had retired from the
great hall, where all was preparation for
the merry-making, to the high battle
ments OF the castle, In order to quiet her
little child aud put it to rest. The senti-
mel, from tune to time, paced near her.
She began TO sing:
Hush ye, Hush ye,
Hush ye, Do not frety
Little pet ye The Black Douglas
Hush ye, Shall not get vel
She saw some strange objects moving
across the ground in the distance. They
greatly puzzled her. They did not travel
quite like animals, but they seemed to
bave four legs.
What are those queer-looking things
yonder? she asked OF the sentinel as be
drew near.
They are Farmer Asher's cattle, said
the soldier, slralning his eyes to discern
the outlines of the long figures in the
shadows-The good man Is making mer-
ry tonight, and has forgotten to bring in
his oxen; lucky twill be If they do not
fall a prey to the Black Douglass.
so sure was he that the objects were
cattle, that be ceased to watch them long
er.
The woman's eye, however, followed
the queer. looking cattle for some time,
until they seemed to disappear under the
outer works of the castle. Then, feeling
quite at case, she thought she would sing
again. Spring was 10 the evening air
= It, perhaps, may have made her feel like
singing.
Now the name of the Black Douglas
E had become so terrible 10 the English
that il proved bugbear to the children,
who, when they misbehaved, were told
that the Black Douglas would get them,
= The little ditty have quoted must have
been very quieting 10 good children ia
those alarming times.
SO the good woman sang cheerily:
Hush ye, Hush ye,
Hash ye, Do not fret yei
LATHE pet yel The Black Douglas
Hush ys, Shall not get ysl
Do not be so sure OF thstl said !
: husky voice close beside her, and a male
II gloved hand fell solidly upon her shoul
Is der. She was dreAdfnlly frightened
q from lhe appearance Of the man he mus
r. be lhe Black Douglas.
The Scots came leaping over The walls
The garrison was merry -lnAking below
and, almos, before the disarmed reyeler
= bad any warning, the Black Dougla
was In the midst OF them. The oit
stronghold was taken, aud many Of To
garrison were Pot to the sword but th
Black Douglas spared the woman al,
The child, who probably never aferwAr
T. d, s,ofta A sttre sfsant the Ntfte dftty.