The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1880-10-23
Walter scott,s Sundays.


AS usual from L0ckhart's farrage we
cannot find out single thing we want to
know whether Scott worked, after his
weekday custom, on the Sunday morn
ing. But, gather not; at all events,
his cattle and his household rested
IL. iii. 1857. I imagine he walked out
into his woods or read quietly in his
study. Immediately after breakfast,
whoever was in the house, Ladies' and
gentlemen, shall read prayers at IL,
when I expect You all to attend" fvii.
3O6). Questions of college and other
externally unanimous prayers settled for
us very briefly: "If you have no faith,
have at least manners" He read the
Church of England service, lessons and
all. the latter, if interesting, eloquently
ibid. After the service, one of jeremy
Taylor's sermons wi 1857. After SER
mon, if the weather was fine, walk with
his family, dogs included, and guests to
cold picnic iii. 1897, followed by short
extempore Biblical novelettes; for he
had his Bible, the Old Testament espec-
tally, by heart, it having been his moth
er's last gift to him wi. 174l. These'
lessons to his children in Bible history
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 elbow on Sunday after dinner
was over and drank long life to the laird
and his lady and all the good company.
in uuaigh of whisky or tumbler of
wine, according to his fancy (vi. 1861
frhk
evenings of the week, Scott always dined
at home on Sunday and with old friends,
never, unless inevitably, receiving any
person with whom he stood on ceremony
". 1885, He came into the room rub
bing his hands like boy arriving at
homo for the holidays, his Peppers and
Mustards gamboling about him, "and
even the stately Mazda grinning and
wagging his tail with sympathy" For
the Esqnebaneh of tho less honored week
days, at the Sunday board he circulated
the champagne briskly during dinner,
and considered apint of clarete each mans
share afterward ". 339.) In the even
ing, music being to the Scottish worldly
mind indecorous, he read aloud some
favorite author, for the amusement or
edifcation of his little circle. Shakes
peare it might be, or Dryden, johnson
or Joanna Baillie, Crabbe, or Words
worth. But in those days byron was
pouring out his spirit free and
full, and if a new piece from
his hand had appeared, it was sure
to be read by Scott the
Sunday evening afterwards; 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
for genius, free, pnre, and unstained by
the least drop of literary jealousy. With
such necessary and easily imaginable va
rieties as chances in having Dandy Din
NOR or Captain Brown for guests at
Abbotsford, or Captain Mannering,
Counselor Pleydell, and DR.. Robertson
in Castle street, such was SCOTS habit
ual Sabbath day, we perceive, of eat
ing the fat, DINNER, presumably not
cold, being a work of necessity and
mercy-thou also, even thou, Saint
Thomas of Trumbull, had thine!l and
drinking the sweet, abundant in the
manner of Mr.. Southey's cataract of Le-
dore-'Here it comes, sparkling" A
day bestrewn with coronations and sops
in wine, deep in hbations to good hope
and fond memory; day of rest to beast,
and mirth to man, las also to sympathetic
beasts that cannot be merry and con-
Guiding itself in an orphial hour of
delight, signifying peace on Tweedside,
and good will to men, there or far away
always excepting the French and
Boney.- John Ruskin, in Nineteenth
Century.