River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1883-01-11
SANDIE MCPHERSON.
A Vignette in Prose.

was afectionately called by the genera
ton to whom he told SO many grim
truths. had gone to him as a literary
aspirant--cne of the many who, coming
up from Scotland to fight for fortune,
carried letters of Introduction to the
great man. The nation delighted to
honor him, and despite his dislike to
the literary class generally, he never
idiied 10 StJ u h4I4u uV-I - -~si.au
young brother Scot who sought his adj
vice. For some reason or other he took
to me, and, though so many years his
junior, became frequent visitor at his
house, and received a great deal of his
confidence. 1t WAS one winter evening,
as we sat alone together in his study
that study which was a very Mecca to
literary pilgrims of all nations-that he
made the singular confession which
am about to place on record.
There he sat, aged, honored, famous
the leading man Of letters, perhaps, of
his generation-an old dressing gown
wrapped around him, slippers on his
feet, his face grim as granite, Gust as it
appears in Woodlands bust,) and his
eyes with that sad prophetic gaze which
IS reproduced in all the photographs.
On the book-shelves close round were
well-thumbed volumes, nearly all OF
them presentation copies, with the quito
graphs Of their mighty authors, CHEZ
among them a set Of Goethe, with notes
in the poets own handwriting. On the
wall, over the mautelpiece, was a scroll
in vcllum, given to ErCildoune by the
savants of Germany en- the occasion of
his sixtieth birthday, and his reception
of the Grand Cross of the Legion of
Sanscritan from the hands of the
King of Thuringia. In the desk at his
elbow was precious correspondence
signed BY such names as Heine, Theirs,
Balzac, Hartmann, Darwin, AIacaulay,
Colcridge, Dickens. Only the day be-
fore Ercildoune had been sent
for by the Queen of Eng
land, as one Of the two or three great
men it behooved her to know and honor;
and, having spent several hours of CON
versation with her, he had pronounced
heTa mice, homely body, just like
scores Of famers' wives he had meet in
Allandale'" Certainly, he was one to
whom the world did homage-Kings
might have envied his authoritative po-
sitlon. 1t was, therefore, with some
surprise that | discovered, listening to
his confession, that the great man was
not altogether contented with his sue
cess; that it had one serious qualifica-
ton, which hadtas he himself depressed
it, cost Linn many a sleeple5s night.
Let me explain this matter, as far as
possible, in bis own words. | despair
Of reproducing the peculiar accent and
the deep, pathetic burr" OF his voice.
which he preserved to the last, as well
ascertain eccentricities of pronunciation.
which | shall not initiate.
'You think me a successful man, and
such, l allow, Is the popular opinion.
Well, maybe have been successful be-
yond my merits, whichare small enough,
Lord knows; but lest / should grow daft
with my own self-conceit, the Lord sent
Sandie Macpherson to kaep me hum
blem
at is humiliating confession to make
but almost at any point of my long
career, from the very beginning, the
thought of having converted Sandle
would have been more precious to me
than the admiration of all the rest of
the world. Sandie, however, never be-
licved in me from the first. When /
published my first book, my chief thought
was. "What will Sandie Macpherson
think Of this?" and when | heard the
criticisms, which cut me up like haggis
right and left, could have borne every
thing but the thought of how he would
gloat over them, down yonder In scot
land. I was somewhat CCnsoIed, and
wee bit hopeful, when, some years alter
ward. I published my History of the
Renaissance in Thuringia;" for the crit
les, knowing nothing of the subject,
praised it to man, and talked haverst
about my industry, my originality, and
nv erudition. | cared nothing for the
critics, but said to myself with smile:
That's one for Sandie Macpherson, at
last"
.sPerhaps you will be asking who San
die Macpherson is, that | set such store
bv his good opinion? Well, up till few
months ago you might have seen his
name-'Alexande Macpherson as it
was given baptismally- over the front
of small grocer's shop in Gallowgate
of Glasgow"
'tSandie and I were scheolfellows."
ave first met in the Rev. MaCindow's
seminary, out beyond the Cowcaddens,
and afteTward we attended Mr.. PaTalleFs
mathematical and DR.. Skelpum's Latin
classes, in the High school. As l mind
Sandie now, he was q wee, SNUG
mouthed, black-aveezed laddie, with
ewes ike hawk, and a stoop in the
shoulders. From first TO last he was
ever at the top of the class. He carried
away all the prizes at the Rev. Mr.. Mac
indow's, and when he came to the High
School, among lads twice his size, he
was 'dux" of the class. Such memory
as he had 1t was wonderful wonder
ful! He could repeat the whole Latin
Delectus with his ewes shut, and he
knew the whole Of Euclid, when we
we're perching over the "POus Asin.
Drum" Dr-Skelpum himself was afraid
of him. As Tor me, where he was dux l
was Ounce / had the laws nearly every
,lav from the doctor, and ever and aye
willie [ writhed in my corner, | could
hear the cry, Alexander McPherson
tell Tammas Eruldoune how to cOnstrue
this or that passage IN the Metam or
Dboses." Sometimes Just to shame us
he was nut at the very bottom OF the
class. and then-Lord, 10 see him 0up-
ing from place to place like one running
mn a brae, and then standing, flushed
aud triumphant. in his old place, at the
very top!'
sSandie's father was small tradesmar
in Glasgow, and you may be sure he wa
proud enough Of his son. Sandle wa
ever spick and span, had the best o
clothes, and a silver watch and chan
Given him bv his aunt on his birthday
His books were like himselt-clean
white and neat, with no thumb-mark
or dogs ears to distigure the pages. ID
wrote a beautiful hand, like copper plate
and in the writing class, as we'll as th'
rest, he was 'facile princeps.' Well nigh
he look with scoTn upon my slovenl1
dress. my books all thumbed and torn
and on my handwriting, which was III t
make out rs heather Greek. Well Nigh
he be held up to me, as he was, for
shining light and example. "Tamma
Ercildoune, go out and wash your face
when will We learn to be tidy, like Alex
ander Macpherson" ''Iammas, your
hooks are a disgrace; do We no thinl
ehame when We see the books Of Ajax
onder MACPHERSON For shame, Tam
mas. for shame; do We ever see Alexand
or Macpherson sucking black man IN TIA
1oidst 81 SCHOOL," "Tammas vour hand
writing is abomination; Alexander, Sc
rim a copv yourself. TO show him how
lad should write" These were the erie
rinoino forever in my ears. What won
der II | grew to look on Sandie as So
nerior being-to be gazed at with admir-
alton and envy, ito be initiated with aw
at was just the same story when W
ave met there on our former footing
~. i IN say. he distinguished himsel