The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1876-02-03
Selert Shrg.
THE BLACK DOUGLAS.

King Edward l. Of England nearly
conquered Scotland. They did not have
photographs in those days, but had ex-
pressive and descriptive names for peo-
pie of rank, which answered just as well.
So Edward was known as "Long Shanks.
1t was from no lack of spirit or energy
that he did not complete the stubborn
work, but he died a little too soon. On
his death-bed he called his pretty spirit
less son to him, and made him promise
10 carry on the war; he then ordered
that his body should be boiled in cal
dron and that his bones should be wrap
ped up in bulls hide and carried at the
head of the army in future campaigns
against the Scots. After these and some
other queer requests, death relieved him
of the hard politics of this world, and so
he went away. Then his son, Edward
II, tucked away the belligerent old kinks
bones among the bones of other kings
in Westminster Abbey and spent his
time in dissipation among his favorites,
and allowed the resolute Scots to recov-
er Scotland.
Good James, Lord Douglass, was
very wise man in his day. He may not
have had long shanks, but he had 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 at 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 tcould be taken only by
surprise, and very willy ruse it must be.
He had ouLwitted 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 gloomy old for
est, called Jedburgh. Here, just as the
first raps offspring began to kindle in
the sunrise and sunsets, and warm the
frosty hills, Black Douglas concealed
sixty picket 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
nJedburgh 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 We. Do not fret ye
Little pet ye! 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 din'ttrav-
ell quite like animals, but they seemed
to have four legs.
"What are those queer looking things
yOnder?" She asked of the sentinel as
he drew near
"The are farmer Asher's CATTLE" said
the soldier staining his eyes to discern
the outlines of the long figures in the
shadows. "The good man is making
merry tonight, and has forgotten to
bring in his oxen; lucky't 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 sing
ing.
Now the name of Black Douglas had be- |
come so terrible to the English that it |
proved bugbear to the children who
when they mlsbehaved, were told that |
the Black Douglas would get them. The
little ditty l have quoted must have
been very quieting to good children in
those alarming times.
Sc the good woman sang cheerily:
"Hush ye Hush ye,
Hush ye, Do not fret ye:
Lit petite vel The Black Douglas
Hush ye, Shall not get yer
"Do not be SO sure of thatp said
husky voice close beside her, and mail
gloved hand fell solidly upon her shoul-
der She was dreadfully frightened, for
she knew from the appearance of the
man he must be the Black Douglas.
The SCOTS came leaping over the walls.
The garrison was merry-making below,
and almost before the disarmed revelers
had any warning, the Black Douglas was
in the midst ofthem. The old strong.
hold was taken, and many of the garri.
son were put to the sword; but the |
Black Douglas spared the woman an the
child, who probably never afterward felt |
quite so sure about the little ditty.
"Hush We.