Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-05-17
IN THE LAND OF the BlueeElt
AND HeArHEa.

AND HeArHEa.
NO. 5.
gVon ,Ae Democrats rcrsisu Correspondent
DpMsRIEs. SCOTLAND.
-Iss~ kssrsy. Nssh. shy fruisfal vAis..
whsrv sprss.isaS hassssras ssily bloom.
Hou svccfiy Wind tse sioptnG dahes,
| where hmhkias vanson a aroagA the bsoom '
1 Dumfries 10 an important town OF an
cient date, having population nj U.oo'
The principal street extends Tor scoot
miie parallel with the river, and IL hand
som-ly constructed. There are many
objects here aud In Ayr that are most
interesting. bat we have hitherto been
too mueh occupied with our Ayrshire
pioughmsn 70 notice anything else; but
II we cast backward glance over the
territory we have just trsversed, se and
it rich In historic and tragic love, Tor u
IL intimately associated with the two
greatest heroes Of scottish history, WAL
lace and Bruce.
You who are we'll versed 10 the annals
Of Scotland will remember with horror
that fearful night OF the "Black Psrlia-
meat OF Ayr" when Wallace and his Of
dcers were invited by the English to at
tend \ pretended treaty OF peace. HIS
followers went In through the door full
Of fsith and hopes for peace, only to fall
into trap made by suspending rope
with moose In II over the rafters, and
every one was caught aud hanged. Wal
lace came late, and fortunately for him
"a true woman" Of Ayr had learned OF
l. .-A ,egoI mt IN him that
"they had hanged all his friends Ike
dogs"-snd all this after they had mur-
dered his beautiful wife. After the In.
human slaughter the British soldiers had
great revelry, drinking rivers Of Irish
ale, ireland then being famous for that
LIQUOR. Wallace found out where the
drunken soldiers lodged that night, and
set fire to the houses and every murderer
perished. Thus ended the Black ParliA-
ment Of Ayr.
A few miles to the south we visited the
picturesque ruin OF Turnberry Castle, q
grand old fortress,
where Bruce once ruled the martial ranks
And shook his Carrick spear
and where he Was born. A very pretty
story Ia connected with Il regarding him.
A beautiful countess WAS one day out RID.
Ing with q gay company OF ladies and
squires. A strange knight, young, hand
some and of noble mien, crossed her
path. The countess kissed the knight
and he returned the salute, ~ the court
ly manners Of that day required. He
declined her Invitation to join the chase
and accept the hospitality OF the castle,
but abe would not be refused and laid
hold on his bride and led him home with
her to Turnberry Castle, where he re-
msined fortnight, and then became the
husband of his hostess. The eldest son
of this romantic love-mstch Was Robert
Bruce. In the suld kirk at Ayr, where
we had the honor Of attending church
our first Sunday 10 Scotland, he was
proclaimed king-the greatest king that
Scotland ever had.
And here 10 Dumfries, 10 the old
church OF the Grey Friars, took place
the tragic meeting Of Bruce and Comyu,
the traitor who had betrayed him. They
embraced and kissed each other after the
manner of the times, and walked up the
church together. Bruce Accused him oi
having betrayed him TO the English.
The impudent traitor gave him the lie,
and Bruce without = word sent his dag
ger through him on the very steps oi
the altar. Bruce instantly felt shocked
nj what he had done, and rushed Outside
to his friends, saying, IL doubt that
have slain the Comyn." "fou doubt :.
cried Sir Roger Kirkpatrick, and run
ming into the church he despatched the
wretched mtu.
Closeburn Hall, which We next visit,
IL the ancient seat OF this same Kirk
patrick, q beautiful estate covered with
romantic dells and sequestered nooks,
where now sweet peace doth dwell,
though then Il was on these very moort
that the Bruce led his wandering armies,
and on the bank OF the river he slew the
fifteen men single-hsnded, one after the
other, rs they came up the bank where
he stood on the opposite shore.
And here also he stopped at the cot
tsge where the housewife asked him who
he was. "A wanderer," said he. "All
wanderers are welcome for the sake OF
one" said the housewife. ''Good Dame,
who Is he for whose sake you bear such
favor to homeless meur' ''King Robert
the Bruce" she answered. The king
then made himself known. "But why
are you alones" she enquired. He then
told her how his retainers had been slain
and he killed their murderers single
handed. Her reply is recorded In the
annals Of undying histOry-"I have two
sons, they shall be your trusty fol-
lowers" and she called them and made
them swear allegiance TO their king, that
wherever he went they should 20 also,
II Was In the nelghboring precinct oi
Carrick that Bruce and the spider spun
that immortal thread Of history. Surely
never Was small thing 90 great ~ the
spider spinning his web that day In ths
| Carrick hotel, when the king learned q
lesson Of perseverance and courage from
which he went forth 70 victory and tt
glory, and thus the history Of the proud
old country hung by SPIDERS web.
And at last IL was Ut bis rural palace
on the Clyde, near Ayr, that the great
warrior returned to spend bis last day.
after all his battles were O'er-excepl
the last and fercest warfare OF all, tht
struggle against q wasting disease, be
fore which even kings must surrender
When his last hours were nearing b
called his faithful friend, Lord Douglas
to him and said, "Sir James, my deal
friend, vowed to God that II l shoult
live TO see the end of war for my c0un
TRY, would 20 and make war sgains
the enemies Of my Lord and Saviour
Navar hse INV heart Ceaaed Tn h0nd II