Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-03-23
LEGEND OFTHE TWINLAWCA CAIRNS
GAnmhers, .Lnnrnnz

IL II A L
Chambers Journal.
On the southern ridge of the Hammer
moors, five miles from the village of Wes-
truther, Berwickshire, stands the Twin
law Cairns. They form one of the most
noted and interesting features of the cO0n-
try side. The TWinlaws. as they are ia
miliarly termed, are two pillars of IN
heWn WhinstOne, which stand about fifty
or sixty yards apart. Around the base Of
e tch, a rough circular caseway of fat
stones, unpublished by the touch Of art,
extends to radius Of several feet. A
few miles to the westward of these mOnu-
ments, and hidden, all but the turrets,
amid clump of fr-trees. is the mansion
OF SpOttiswOOde; while to the east is the
decayed house of Wedderlie, once the
home of the Edgars. now the property of
Lord Blantyre. On the plain beneath. be-
tween the rising ground aud the turnpike
that leads past Lauder and on to Edin-
burgh, the infant Blackadder trickles
through fields that not long ago were
marsh-land, on its journey Mersewards.
In this same fiat area, a ragged remnant
or an ancient forest is still to be seen,
struggling toward the JOrdonlaw peat
mOss-a bog full Of treacherOus pools and
stagnant bitches. Still dreary district,
this was once savage region, the haunt
gwen TO farms and clachans. In the
neigEborhood one comes across such places
as Woltstruther (nOw WesTuther), Roe
cleuch, Harelaw and Hindsde.
Inc IWInlaw Cairns are two grim me-
MORALS of tragic and pathetic incident
F IN scottish tradition. Connected with
them Is legend which every dwelIer in
the district knows by heart. Though to
the great herd Of tourists they may be IN
known. a 9,r1f fbax
are visited by faithful pilgrims. Anglers
on their way to the fishing-burns beyond
climb TO the top Of the pillars by means
OF projecting slabs, to enjoy the pure at
mosphere, which is cool in hottest DAYS.
and to gaze on the surrounding scenery
From the pinnacle of the pillars a fine
prospect is to be had. Away in front of
the spectator, in a direct line southwark,
are the imposing and massive remains of
hume Castle; and beyond, the dim out
line OF the Ch6YiOts meeting the horizon
Westward are the EildOn Hills and the
heights in the neighborhOOd of EarlstOn.
the ancient residence Of Thomas, the
Bhymer. To the eastward, between the
LomIn errnoors and the Nurthumbrian
coast, stretches the Merse, with its farm
steadings and fair felds-a perfect garden
Of agriculture.
But our immediate subject is not the
surrounding scenery; it is the two SOM
bre Cairns on the brow of the Twinlaw
NIL. The hills have charm all their own
IN the daytime; but it is only after sunset.
and when viewed from the plain beneath.
that the Cairns themselves are absorbing
IN their interest In the gray twilight
when the silence is unbroken save by the
S0ugh of the wind or the solitary cry of
the curlew, they loom through the thin
rising mist, dim, desolate, fascinating the
Imagination. II is then the story that ex-
plains their presence appeals with all its
force and pathOs to the mind. There is
not rustic in the countryside but knows
bic tale. Meet a hind or a shepherd by
the Wayside after his work is over. and he
Will repeat it, as it has come to him from
his fathers, with subdued seriousness
that borders on reverence. He will tell
you it occurred in the time when Scotland
fought for her independence, and on a hot
summers day.
Inc Anglo Saxons' restless band
lad crossed the river Tweed,
Up for the hills Of LammermOOr
The host marched on with speed
The T. HQlish army encamped on one side
If what * now known as the Twinlaw
hill. On the o.lher side. Scottish force,
inferior in numbers, assembled, and pre-
pared to offer resistance.
Our Scottish warriors on the heath
In the close battalion stood.
Resolved to set their country free,
or shed their dearest blood.
But the fates decreed that there should be
no general fight, for wniiv bots srm,~,
waited in readiness, an English chieftain,
eXulting in his might, sent challenge to
the Scots daring any one of them to come
and meet him in single combat. Young
Edgar Of Wedderlie, who was in the Scot
fish camp, heard the challenge and ac-
cepted it. The two champions at once
commenced the duel, the armies on each
side looking on, The fight was fierce
From left to right, from right to left,
The sweating foeman reeled.
Young Edgar was the first to be wounded.
He received ''bluidy cash" in the right
side, and a moments truce was held till
the wound was stanched with FAX. The
fight was renewed, and grew mere despe-
rate, and at last it ended by Edgar slay-
ing the SOuthrOn. just as the struggle
ceased, and when Edgar was looking on
the face of his lifeless tOeman. an old frail
man with long gray hair tUttered across
from the English host 10 the fatal place
where the VictOriods youth stood. The old
man. 9sheavily pressed by sorrOw.' bent
over the lead champion Of the Southrons,
az then, looking up at Edgar, burst out !
INTO piteOus wall: 'WOel woe IS me for |
this deed Of blood Edgar Of Wedderlie. |
sore viii thy sorrow be. Look on the deadl (
ldluEI. I
Is thy tWin-brOther that lies lifeless on the /
heath. 1t is thy brother whom / stole |
away IN infancy from his fathers hall. A |
man Of might he waS-bTaye and noble |
and he now lies dead-slain by the hand |
of his twin-brother Woe, wOefll dayl" /
From his childhood, Edgar had known /
that his brother had been stolen bv gvp- /
sizes or soldiers; and no sooner did he hear |
this revelation than he unstanched his |
wound, and stood calm and passionless |
till the blood flowed from his veins. In a /
few moments he sank in death by the side I
of his brothers body. Both armies, deep !
ly impressed by the scene, laid down their |
arms and gave up all idea of battle. In |
the quiet OF the evening the two hosts /
formed into a single line, that stretched |
from the brow of the hill down to the val /
ley-tO the side Of the Watch
A lonely stream that s0bs along.
Like a child who has lost his way.
Making its moan to the heaTtless hills
That imprisOn 1t night and day.
From the bed of the streamlet they picked
the stones, and handing them one by one
along the line, built the TWinlaw Cairns !
by the grave of the two brothers.
such is the legend that tells the story Of !
these rude pillars. Since they were raised,
once or twice they have been partially !
0verthrOwn by the rage of the elements,
but always tenderly restored. Lady John
Scott, of SpOttiswoode, takes a pride in
the sacred relics, and sees that they are
kept in good order. 1t is lonely place.
far from the roar of railway trains and
resorts: but every tourist who
finds himself in the neighborhood fails not
to make pilgrimage to the Cairns.
RED JACKETS BONES.