The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-12-11

will begin the story of my adventures
With certain morning early in the month
Of June, the year OF grace 1751, when [
took the key for the last time out of the
door of my fathers house. The sun be-
gan to shine upon the summit of the hills
as went down the road. and by the time
had come as far as the manse the black
birds we're whissling in the garden lilacs,
and the mist that hung around the valley
in the time of the dawn was beginning to
arise and die away.
Mr.. Campbell. the minister of Essen
dean, was waiting for me by the garden
gate. good man, and we began to walk for
ward in silence.
"Davie." he said after while" it be-
hooyes me to tell your fortune; or so far
as may. When your mother was gone
and your father 1.-THE worthy, Christian
mani began to scken for his end he gave
me in charge a certain letter, which he
said was your inheritance. so soon, said
he, as am gone and the house is redd
mp and the gear disposed of {all which.
Davie, hath been done) give my boy this
letter into his hand and start hir. off to
the house of Shaws, not far from Graz
mond. That is the place I came FROM
said he, and it's where il BELTS that my
boy should return. He is steady lad
your father said, and canny goer. and
doubt not he will come safe and be well
liked where he goes"
"The house OF Shaws,' cried, "What
has my poor father to do with the house
Of Shaws?"
NAY" said Mr.. Campbell, "who can
tell that for a surety? But the name of
that family, Davie, hoy, is the name you
/ bear-Balfours of Shaws; an ancient, hon.
est. reputable house, peradventure in these
latter days decayed."
He gave me the letter. NV heart was
beating hard at this great prospect now
Suddenly opening before a lad of rs years
OF age. the son of poor country dominic
in the forest of Ettrick
"And now. Davie" continued the min
lister. II have here little packet which
contains four things" He tugged il as he
spoke, and with some difficulty, from the
skirt pocket of his coat "Of these four
things the first is your legal due; the
little pickle money tor your fathers
3 books and plenishing, which i have
bought tas | have explained from the
frst) in the design of reselling at a profit
to the incoming dominic. The other three
are CITIES that Mrs. Campbell and myself
would be blithe of your acceptance. The
first. which Is round, will likely please We
best at the first off-go; but, o. Davie, lad
die it's but drop of water in the sea:
It'll help you but step and vanish like
the morning. The second, which is fiat
and square and written upon, will stand
by you through life, like good staff for
the road, and a good pillow to your head
In sickness. And as for the last, which is
cnbical, that'll see you, it's my prayerfui
wish, into a better land"
With that he embraced me very hard.
whipped about. and crying goodbye to
me, set Off backward by the way that he
had come. | sat down and opened the
parcel to see the nature of my gifts. That
+ which he had called cubicaI | had never
had much doubt of; sure enough il was a
little Bible 10 carry in a plaidneuk. That
which he had called round found to be
ashiing piece; and the third, which was
10 help me so wonderfully both in health
and sickness ali the days OF my life, was a
hule piece of coarse yellow paper written
upon thus in red ink:
TO Make Lily of the Valley Water
lake the flowers Of lily of the valley and
dstill them in sack and drink n spoonful
speech 10 those that have the dumb pasey.
TVS good against the govt. Ii comforts
,ne heart and strengthens the memory,
ana the flowers. put into glasse. close
s'opt, anu set into sne hill of ants for a
month, then take 1t out. and you will find
n9nor which comes from the flowers,
winch Keep IN vial; IL Is good, ill or well,
ana whether man or woman"
And then IN the minister's own hand,
Vas added.
Likewise for sprains, rub it in. and for
'ue ehoiic great spoonful in the hour"
10 be sure. | laughed over this, but it
vas rather ,remuious laughter. and | was
s'sa 10 get my bundle on my staff end
aou se. ont over the ford and up the hill
Spoh 'he further side, till. just as came
VA we green drove road running wide
1ss'9ugh the heather, took my last look
u ARK ESsendean. the trees about the
anse and the big rowans in the kirk
'su where my father and my mother lay.
aner two days lOurneying | found my
80 IN Cramond parish. and began 10 in
VIC Tor the house of Shsws. Ii was a
spd that seemed TO surprise those
VI snom / sought my way, and from
lef looks and answers ! began 10 take
-, "a my head there was something
orange about the Shaws. One old dame,
tsenhet Clouston by name, cursed the
SaoSse is she poln ted ii out to me. and my
Lar stood on end az her words. for in these
asys people stlll believed in witches and
hsmoied al a curse. The house she
1Iaowed the appeared 10 be kind of ruin.
Maae my way there. and after much par
5 .GIhs my uncle v no lived like a hermit.
aaui''ted 'ue. He was mean. STOPPING,
aaa1fo"-ShoudeIed, clay-faced creature.
{ i11ef reading the letter brought. he ques-
! ~onea me with many furtive elauces,
%eniing afraid that had come 10 spy out
.saie secret. Once. when happened TO
GO, y ne and my father We're twins, he
s skSsnt mold Of me "a ii 10 choke me.
NJ, on the one hand. | began 10 think my
80 81 Vas, perhaps. insane. and might be
;a.'Sefous; on the other. there came up
10 NV mind story like some ballad
n@u heard folk singing OF a poor lad that
~ S fightiul heir and a wicked Sinsman
a. AZ tFled 10 keep him from his own. In
- my uncle seemed impelled - repair
.oAle omission toward ME, and muttering
eesHinS about a promise TO nav father.