Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-05-31
IN THE LAND OF THE BLue6eLL
AND HEATHER.

| From the Democrats Foreign correspondent
CAERLAvERoCK, SCOTLAND.
Twist We, twine ve Even 90
Minglc shades Of JOY and woe,
Hope and fear and peace and strife,
:" WV '" v sir Walter Scott
| You will think, and with reason, that
1t takes long time to get to Edinboro'
but these Lowlapders are 30 charming,
and withal such fascinating and homely
every day folk, that II Is hard to tear
ones self away from them. And there
are so many interesting places to visit
that one needs great deal OF time.
This country, as well as Ireland and
England, IA rich In landmarks OF history.
Old ruined castles abound, that could
tell MANY a more wonderful story than
the lore OF Arabian Nights could
divulge, could their walls but speak.
Old Caerlsverock Castle, right here at
our feet. IL celebrated In romance IA well
as history, for here the early scene OF
Scot,'s Guy Mannering" Was laid, and
within its massive and Imposing arches,
the hero first made the acquaintance OF
the gypsy, old Meg Merrilles, as she sat
at her distsff coming the words at the
beginning OF this chapter. And Hsrk !.
Hist. Ia that not she, still sitting st her
distsff, still droning her songg
Now they warp and now they dwindle.
whirnng with the whirling spindle;
Twist We twine We Even 50
Mingle human bliss and woe"
All. no, alas! the vision fades, the
romance Ia dispelled, for Il is only an
old COW, scratching her rump on the limb
OF 4 tree.
Ia the old church yard OF Caerlaverock
Is headstone with this inscription ::
Erected 10 the memory OF Robert Pster-
son, the Old Mortality Of Sir Walter
Scott, who was buried here In February.
1901" The monument was erected by
Sir Walter himself, and the inscription
further gives q brief sketch OF the life
and personality Of this quaint character,
who will be remembered as one OF
Scott's most interesting creations, an
old man Who travelled about this part OF
the country century or so ago, sort
OF religious itinerant, whose occupation
was To seek out the graves OF the mar
tyred Presbyterians and keep them free
from profane accumulstions, and employ
himself in restoring with his chisel and
mallet the inscriptions on the grave
stones Of these unfortunate Covenanters
who suffered by the sword or the execu-
TONER These are most numerous In this
gray Galloway land, where "about the
graves OF the martyrs the whaups are
crying"-and also In the vicinity OF
AYR and Dumfries. Their tombs are
often found far from any human habits
ton, Ia the remote mOors and wilds to
which the wanderers fled from their
blood thirsty pursuers.
This deyout enthusiast left his home
and kindred, and for thirty Years wan
dered about In his pious pilgrimage. He
never seemed to need or want any pc
cunisry assistance, for wherever he went
he found ready entertainment In the
house OF some Csmeronisn Of his belief.
Should we not revere the motive OF this
man, who, though perhaps fanatic OF
the most serious nature, sought IN per-
petuate and honor the memory OF thst
faithful company Of Jealous souls In
Scotland and England, who inaugurated
the movement OF seeking a place where
they could have freedom to worship
Cod?
But for that little band of the faithful,
who. one momentous day. sailed away
from the shores Of their native land 10 y
little craft destined to be the cradle OF
this unborn nation, where would we
have been to-day? So Il is with reverence
that We bow before the memorial TO this
man, himself q martyr, and seek with
him to find and do honor To some Of the
graves that he revered and so faithfully
cared for. Alas! no other hand has con-
tinued the work ne 80 reverently per-
formed, and so the graves are neglected
and unknOwn-yet still the whsups are
crying. A whaup Is a curlew.)
But TO return to our ruined castle. In
history this impressive structure figured
in many An illustrious conquest. IL was
at one time fortress Of great strength,
as its towering walls, fourteen feet thick.
still testify. With q garrison OF onlv
sixty men IL successfully resisted the
attack Of powerful armv led by Edward
|. 10 the twelfth century, whose bold
object IL WAS to unite under one crown
the kingdoms of England, Scotland and
Wales, the last two then having kings OF
their own. One end Of the mlmmoth
structure has been battered by wars and
conflicts, but the other, which no war
! fare but that of time has reachej, stands
as erect as In its infancy, showing how
many centuries the walls OF these old
fortresses can resist. II WAS a strong
hold of the Msxwells, for many genera
tiOns the leading mobiles of the neighbor'
hood, and IL now owned by represents
tive of the family. Over the entranct
gate TO the courtyard Is the crest OF the
MAxwelis, with the dat. of the last re-
pairs, and the motto II hid We fair"
On entering the gatew ay we lind thu
maguificence of the inside correspond;
with the grandeur Of the exterior. Or
one side range of windows, lofty anc
large, Is divided by carved mulIiOns Of
stone, which once lighted the great ban
quet hall. The fnor is now carpeted
not with the costly woven tapestry OF
yore, but that more exqulsifely shaded
fabric from the same loom on which
Mother Nature weaves her own verdan1
dress. Il the enclosures, now wide oper
to the sky, the foot sinks into fragrant
mossbeds, and heaps OF withered leaves
and the hare, affirighted, starts from be
meath the whitening brake and thorn
bush.
And what is this bright gem that peep'
its head up from the grass at our feet
Ia il a golden bauble dropped by SOM
royal dame from her courtly robes, a
she gracefully bent to the stately minue
with her lordly partner, In ages that ar
gone? No, but 1t Il n gem OF TAR more
priceless worth TO the hand, trembling
with eagerness, that plucks it from 1t
cold and wintrv bed, for It is our "
dear wsyside flower, our lowly dsnde
lion! Ia this cold anu distant cline. sure
ly this blithesome messenger tloom
only for the lonely wanderer, WIZ
gathers 1t with reverent touch, and 4
i not ashamed Of the pesrly drops tina
are soon glistening on It's glorious crest
Though not drops of dew from heaven
they are drops OF dew distilled from
memories of childhoOd's earliest thought
that are linked with the sight Of thl
sweet flower, which calls back the robin
song, as he sang all day from the gnsrl
ed old tree In the orch ,rd nv fhe rose
bush. A line of James Russell Lowell
poem comes back 70 memory:
Dear common flower. that grow'st beside th
Fringins the dusty road with harmless gold: :,
Which children pluck. and full Of pride uphold
Thou art moro dear 10 me
Than all the pr0uder summer blooms may be."
OLher various flowers here discl0s
! their various dyes, but none 90 sweet .
thine, thou bright-faced dover. ths
} speaks to the heart Of the pilgrim With
language though silent, yet heard acros
!. the seas that roll between this distan
J cline and home and Kindred dsAr.