Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-05-24
IN THE LAND OF THE BluEBeLt
AND HEATHER.
NO. G.
WHICH ILLUSTRATES THAT TRUTH 1.
STRANGER THAN FICTION.

WHICH ILLUSTRATES THAT TRUTH u
STRANGER THAN FICTION.
(rrom the Democrats Foreign Corrcspondent.)
LINCLUDEN, SCOTLAND.
Though we have scarcely left the land
of Burns. vet many objects In this VI
cinity bexr the landmarks OF Sir Walter
Scott's works Of fiction-snd OF fact also,
for here at our feet, In the suld kirkyard
Of Irongray, is q memorial erected by the
great author, to the memory Of Helen
Walker, the .'Jesnie Deans" Of his Heart
Of MIDI Lothian, and the history OF how
IL happened to be written IL slmost as
romantic AS the book itself. O0e sum-
mer something more than century
ago, a lady from Dumiries came here
and rented n cottage for the summer.
One day while out on u marketing expe-
dition, she became attracted by a pecu-
liar individusl--a woman about 10 years
OF age, engaged In bargaining with an
other TO sell some chickens. She wore
tartan plaid and hood tied under her
chin. Her ewes were dark and remsrka-
bly, intelligent. The lady became inter
ested In her and entered into converss-
ton by asking how abe supported her
self. She replied that 10 winter she
footed stockings for the country people,
and taught few children to read, and
In summer she reared a few chickens.
Her interrogation then said, ~ will
venture to guess by your face that you
have never been married"
She laughed at this and said, IL maun
hse the aueerest face that e'er WAS seen,
that We could guess that. How cam We
to think sse, Madam"
The answer was that 1t WAS from her
cheerful. disengsged c0untensnce. She
said, Mem, have We na' far msir reason
TO be happy than me, wi guide hisband
an fine family o. BARNS an plenty o.
eyerythings For me, I'm the puirest o
a puir bodies, an can hardly contrive to
keep myself alive wi a the wee bits o
wavs hse tell't ye."
When she arose TO 60, her questioner
asked her name, when her countenance
suddenly clouded, and she said gravely,
rather coloring, my name is Helen
Walker" On making enquiries regard.
ing Helen Walker, she found out her sad
story. Soon after the subject OF her
interest died, when the lady wrote out
the facts and sent them to Sir Walter
Scott, who Was then at the zenith OF his
fame, telling him that she had tried to
induce the people here to erect monu-
ment to her memory, but would leave II
TO him TO produce more lasting one.
The suggestion WAS acted upon. and
all Won who are students OF Scott will
recollect the thrilling narrative OF the
trial and conviction OF Efiie Deans Glib
bic wslker) and the heroism OF her sis-
ter Helen Wslker) which Is true 10
every particular. Helen was deeply at
tached to her only sister, and her feel
iugs can be imagined when she found
the poor weak creature must be tried bv
the laws Of her country for infanticide,
and herself the principal witness against
her. The counsel for the prisoner told
Helen that II she could declare that her
sister had given her any information on
the subject. such statement would save
her life. Helen said, at is impossible
for me to swear TO q falsehOod, and
whatever may be the result l will tell
the truth"
found guilty and condemned TO death !;
but that very day, Helen caused q petit
tion to be drawn up stating the peculiar
circumstances OF the case, and that night
set out on foot to London, distance OF
several hundred miles. With only her
simple petition for introduction, In her
tartan plaid and country attire, and bare
feet sore and bleeding from her journey,
which took her weeks 10 accomplish, she
presented herself to the Duke OF Argyle,
the power behind the law at that time,
who proved to be very kind-hesrted
gentleman; and he Immediately procured
the pardon she sought, and Helen re-
turned with 1t on foot just In time to
save her sisters life.
After Scott's novel came out, interest
ed people endeavored TO find out more OF
the personal history and characteristics
Of Helen Walker. An old woman who
inhabi the other end OF the cottage
she lived In was asked II Helen ever
spoke Of her past history, her journey to
London, etc. "Na," the old woman said,
"Helen was e willy body, and wheniver
oony O. the neebors asked anything aboot
II she ave turned the subject" One old
woman. distant relative of Helen's, said
she worked In harvest with her but never
ventured to ask her any questions.
"Helen," she said, twas lofty body an
used high style O. language"
This same person said that every yesr
Helen received cheese from her sister,
who was then married and lived 10
Whitehaven, and she never failed to
send liberal portion of 1t to this person
and her fathers family. Further inves-
tigation sho~ ed that she was the daugh.
ter OF a crofter (small farmer) here,
where. after the death of her father, she
continued to support her mother by her
own unremittiug labor and privatiOns,
while her sister Efiie went out to service.
She WAS called among her equals pensy,
that IL proud, but the facts seem to prove
a strength Of character superior to those
about her. She was much broken down
and humilisted by her sisters disgrace,
but not so her sister, who took every op-
portunitv to inform strangers that she
was n sister TO Helen Walker, thinking
perhaps that her high conduct would re-
deem her own weakness and frsilty. A
gentleman who happened to be travelling
In the country, on coming to small Inn
was shown into the parl0r by q servant
maid, who after cautiously shutting the
door said, "Sir, / am Nelly Walkers sis.
ter"
She Il buried here 10 this romantic old
kirkyard 10 her native parish Of IroDgray
and over her last resting place this
epitaph is engraved by Sir Walter Scott
THIS STONE WAS ERECTED
By TIE AUTHOR OF wAvERLY
L ~