The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1910-01-06
A SCOT T||SH LEGEND,

The Story of the Knight With the
White Feather.
TWO COURAGEOUS WARRIORS.
Heroic Alexander Hume and His Still
More Heroic Fellow Soldier and Pro-
tector-The Sad Sequel to the Battle
That Was Lost.
The heraldic arms of the Scotch
town of Selkirk show a woman seated
on tomb. on which is also placed the
Scottish lion. The legend told about
the arms is this: King James Nv. of
Scotland. who was about to invade
England, needed recruits for his enter
liam Brydone, tried his best to aid his
king by persuading his fellow country
men to enlist in the royal cause. So
earnest was he that he is said to have
moved over a hundred lusty Scots to
join his standard. Among these was
one Of the name of Alexander Hume.
This man was a shoemaker of the
wart, bold and an excellent workman.
Brydone was very glad to welcome
him, as he reckoned him quite the best
man of the hundred, and his comrades.
who were also brave men and true,
cheered him as he appeared among
them, such confidence had they in his
wisdom, prudence, valor and strength.
Hume's wife, Margaret. was fine
young woman and very fond and proud
of her brave, strong husband Now.
Margaret did not at all like this pro-
posed invasion of England. She felt
that it would mean great trouble to the
Scotch people, who would certainly be
vanquished by their strong enemy, and
the thought came to her that her own
brave husband might perhaps lose his
life in the struggle. She therefore used
all her best efforts to keep him at
home. She pleaded in vain. Alexan-
der was firm. At last she held up to
his face their little five-months-old
daughter, and asked who would look
who would keep her from misery and
misfortune.
Hume loved his wife and child, and
these appeals brought the tears to his
eyes, but they did not break down his
resolution, which he had grit about him
as armor. Nothing could move him
to become untrue to his king and coun-
try.
Finding that no entreaties could
move him, Margaret at last gave way
to anger and told him that his eager
| desire to be thought the bravest man
of Selkirk would not supply the child
he was bound to work for with bite
of bread. She said even more than
| this. Her tones grew higher. and one
word led to another, as you know it
will, until the couple parted in anger,
he to the field Of battle and she to
| remain at home.
Alexander had not gone far before
| it flashed across the mind of his wife
that perhaps she might never see him
l..
she flung the child into it's crib and
rushed out of the house. She must
| see her husband again and get from
him one parting glance or word of
reconciliation. She hurried through
the town, she sought everywhere for
him, but he was nowhere to be seen.
He had gone off with his comrades
The poor wife wept bitterly Her
grief was deep.
| Hume and his fellows were soon en-
gagged in battle. He displayed the
greatest bravery. Wherever he went
numbers of the enemy fell In every
direction upon the field of battle he
was seen. His companions kept well
up to him. and in particular one man
who had lately joined the party. This
man fought with a courage equal to
that of Hume himself, keeping contin-
ually beside him and defending him
IN many perils. Once when an Eng
lishman from behind drew very near
to the Scot this soldier struck the cow
ardly fellow to the earth just as he
was inserting his spear between the
| SAtAoPo VI huue 5 IrmOr. Hume called
to the brave fellow and demanded his
name. even in the midst of the fight.
but the stranger said that that was no
matter
This generous soldier wore leath-
er jacket and an iron helmet, in which
there was placed small white feath
er. Wherever Hume fought on the
battlefield there might be seen beside
him the iron helmet and the white
feather
AT last the battle ended in defeat for
the Scotch. who scattered in all direc.
lions. Hume, who, with other SOL
d1ers, was obliged to lie concealed in
the forest for some time, took the first
opportunity of inquiring after his faith
1ul attendant. But all his inquiries
were without avail. He could not trace
him. Nothing could he learn of him
but that he had disappeared when the
fight was over.
Alexander Hume hurried to his cot