The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1880-09-28
Walter Scott's Sundays.

As usual, from Lockhart's farrago we cannot
find out the first thing we want to know
whether Scott worked, after his week day Gus
tom, on the Sunday morning. But gather
not at all events, his household and his cattle
rested. IL. ILL 1919 imagine he walked out
into his woods or read quietly in his study I'm
mediately after breakfast, whoever was in the
house, Ladies and gentlemen, 1 shall read
prayers at IL when expect you all to attend"
(vii. 3O6) Question Of college and other ex-
ternally unanimous prayers settled for us very
briefly: "If you can't have faith, have at
least Manners
He read the Church of England service les
sons and ALL the latter if interesting, eloquent
lv Qbid). After the service one OF Jeremy
Iaylor's sermons (vi. 1881 After sermon, If
the weather was fine, walk with his family
dogs included, and guests included, to cold
picnic 1862 followed by short extempore
Biblical novellettes; for he had his Bible, the
Old Testament especially by heart, it having
been his mothers last gift to him wi I74)
These lessons to his children in Bible h story
were always given, whether there was picnic
or not. For the rest OF the afternoon he took
his pleasure in the woods with Tom Purdie,
who also always appeared at his masters ell
bow ON Sunday after dinner was over and
drank long life to the laird and his lady
and all the good company, in a quaigh of whis-
ky or tumbler of wine, according to his fan
cy wi 1851. Whatever might happen on the
other evenings OF the week, Scott always dined
at home on Sunday; and with old friends new
er, unless inevitably, receiving any person
with whom he stood on ceremony ". 235)
lie came into the room rubbing his hands like
a boy arriving at home for the holidays his
Peppers and Mustards gambolling about him,
land even the stately Mazda grinning and
wagging his tail with sympathy" For the
Usquebaugh of the less honored week days, at
the Sunday board he circulated the champagne
briskly during dinner, and considered pint of
OF caret each mans share after
ward ". 339) In the evening, music being to
the Scottish worldly mind indecorous, he read
aloud some favorite author, for the amusement
or editication of his little circle. Shakespeare,
It might be, or Dryden, johnson or Joanna
Baillie, Crabbe, or Wordsworth. But in those
days byron was pouring out his spirit fresh
and full, and if a new piece from his hand had
appeared, IL was sure to be read by Scott the
Sunday evening afterward; and that with such
delighted emphasis as showed how completely
the elder bard had kept up his enthusiasm for
poetry at pitch OF youth, and all his admiration
OF genius, Tree, pure, and untainted by the
least drop of literary jealousy" With such
necessary and easily imaginable varieties as
chanced in having Dandie Dinmont or Cap
tain Brown for guests at Abbotsford, or Colon
Ell Mannering Counselor Pleydell, sand DIR.
Robertson in Castle street, such was Scott's
habitual Sabbath-a day, we perceive, OF eat
ing the fat, dinner, presumably not cold, being
work of necessity and mercy-thou also, even
thou, Saint Thomas of Trumbull, hast thineD
and drinking the sweet, abundant in the man
ner of Mr.. Southey's cataract of Lodore-
Here it comes sparkling" A day bestrewn
with coronations and sops in wine deep in Ii
bations to good hope and fond memory a day
of rest to beast, and mirth to man, (as also to
sympathetic beasts that can be merry,) and
concluding itself in an:orphic hour of delight.
signifying peace on Tweedside, and good will
to men, there or far away-always excepting
the French andlBoney. JohnlRuskin, in Nine
teenth Century.