The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1876-02-03
THE BLACK DOUGLAS.
By HEZEKIAH BUTTERwoRTH.

I
pressive and descriptive names for peo
pie of rank, which answered just a
well. So Edward was known as ''Long
shanks." 1t was from no lack of spiri
or energy that he did not quite complet,
the stubborn work, but he died a little
too soon. On his death-bed he called
his pretty, spiritless son to him, anC
made him promise to carry on the war
he then ordered that his body should bC
boiled in a caldron, and that his bones
should be wrapped up in bulls hide,
and carried at the head of the army in
future campaigns against the Scots
After these and some other queer re-
quests, death relieved him of the hare
politics of this world, and so he went
away. Then his son, Edward H., tuck
ed the belligerent old Kings bones
among the bones of other old kings in
Westminster Abbey, and spent his time
in dissipation among mis- favorites, and
allowed the resolute Scots to recover
Scotland.
Good James, Lord Douglas, was a
very wise man in his day. He may not
have had long gshanks, but he had a very
long head, as you shall presently see
He was one of the hardest foes with
which the two Edwards had to contend,
and his long head proved quite too pow
erful for the second Edward, who, in
his single campaign against the Scots,
lost at Bannockburn nearly all that his
father had gained.
The tall 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, had recovered castle
after castle from the English, he desired
to gain this stronghold, and determined
to accomplish his wish.
But he knew it could be taken only
by surprise, and very willy ruse it must
be. He had outwitted the English so
many times, that they were sharply on
the lookout for him.
How could it be done?
'Tis an old Yule-log story, and you
shall be told.
Near the castle was a gloomy old for
est, called Jedburgh. Here, just as the
first days of spring began to kindle in
the sunrise and sunsets, and warm the
frosty hills, Black Douglas concealed
sixty picked men.
1t was ShrOve-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 indulging 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 bat
Elements of the castle, in order to quiet
her little child and put it to rest. The
sentinel, from time to time, paced near
her. She began to sing:
"Hush ye, Hush ye,
Hush ye, Do not fret ye;
Little pet We! The Black Douglas
Hush ye, Shall not get ye!"
She saw some strange objects moving
across the level ground in the distance.
They greatly puzzled her. They did not
travel quite like animals, but they SEEM
ed to have four legs.
"What are those queer looking things
yOnder?" she asked of the sentinel as
he drew near.
"They are Farmer Asher's cattle"
said the soldier, straining his eyes to
discern the outlines of the long figures
in the shadows. "The good man is
making merry tonight, and has forgot
ten to bring in his oxen; lucky It will
be if they do not fall prey to the Black
Douglas"
So sure was he that the objects were
cattle, that he ceased to watch them
longer.
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 ease, she thought she
would sing again. Spring was in the
evening air; it may have made her feel
like singing.
Now the name of the Black Douglas
had become so terrible to the English
that it proved a 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 to good children in
those alarming times.
So the good woman sang cheerily:
"Hush We, Hush ye,
Hush ye, Do not fret ye;
Little pet ye The Black Douglas
Hush ye, Shall not get ye"
"DO NOT BE so SURE OF THAT" said
a husky voice close beside her, and a
mail-gloved hand fell soiidly upon her
shoulder. She was dreadfully frighten-
ed, for she knew from the appearance
of the man he must be the Black Doug
las.
The Scots came leaping over the
walls. The garrison was merry-mak-
ing below, and, almost before the dis
armed revelers had any warning, the
Black Douglas was in the midst of
them. The old stronghold was taken,
and many of the garrison were put to
the sword; but the Black Douglas spar
ed the woman and the child, who proba-
bly, never afterwad felt quite SO sure
about the little ditty:
"Hush ye,
HUSKY ye,
Do not fret ye;
The Black Douglas
Shall not II"