Abbotsford and Newstead Abbey | Page 8

said he, "about prophetic boding, or, in common parlance, second
sight--
'Coming events cast their shadows before.'
"It is a noble thought, and nobly expressed, And there's that glorious
little poem, too, of 'Hohenlinden;' after he had written it, he did not
seem to think much of it, but considered some of it'd--d drum and
trumpet lines.' I got him to recite it to me, and I believe that the delight
I felt and expressed had an effect in inducing him to print it. The fact
is," added he, "Campbell is, in a manner, a bugbear to himself. The
brightness of his early success is a detriment to all his further efforts.
He is afraid of the shadow that his own fame casts before him."
While we were thus chatting, we heard the report of a gun among the
hills. "That's Walter, I think," said Scott; "he has finished his morning's
studies, and is out with his gun. I should not be surprised if he had met
with the blackcock; if so, we shall have an addition to our larder, for
Walter is a pretty sure shot." I inquired into the nature of Walter's
studies. "Faith," said Scott, "I can't say much on that head. I am not
over bent upon making prodigies of any of my children. As to Walter, I
taught him, while a boy, to ride, and shoot, and speak the truth; as to
the other parts of his education, I leave them to a very worthy young
man, the son of one of our clergymen, who instructs all my children."
I afterward became acquainted with the young man in question, George

Thomson, son of the minister of Melrose, and found him possessed of
much learning, intelligence, and modest worth. He used to come every
day from his father's residence at Melrose to superintend the studies of
the young folks, and occasionally took his meals at Abbotsford, where
he was highly esteemed. Nature had cut him out, Scott used to say, for
a stalwart soldier, for he was tall, vigorous, active, and fond of athletic
exercises, but accident had marred her work, the loss of a limb in
boyhood having reduced him to a wooden leg. He was brought up,
therefore, for the Church, whence he was occasionally called the
Dominie, and is supposed, by his mixture of learning, simplicity, and
amiable eccentricity, to have furnished many traits for the character of
Dominie Sampson. I believe he often acted as Scott's amanuensis, when
composing his novels. With him the young people were occupied in
general during the early part of the day, after which they took all kinds
of healthful recreations in the open air; for Scott was as solicitous to
strengthen their bodies as their minds.
We had not walked much further before we saw the two Miss Scotts
advancing along the hillside to meet us. The morning studies being
over, they had set off to take a ramble on the hills, and gather heather
blossoms, with which to decorate their hair for dinner. As they came
bounding lightly like young fawns, and their dresses fluttering in the
pure summer breeze, I was reminded of Scott's own description of his
children in his introduction to one of the cantos of Marmion--
"My imps, though hardy, bold, and wild, As best befits the mountain
child, Their summer gambols tell and mourn, And anxious ask will
spring return, And birds and lambs again be gay, And blossoms clothe
the hawthorn spray?
"Yes, prattlers, yes, the daisy's flower Again shall paint your summer
bower; Again the hawthorn shall supply The garlands you delight to tie;
The lambs upon the lea shall bound. The wild birds carol to the round,
And while you frolic light as they, Too short shall seem the summer
day."
As they approached, the dogs all sprang forward and gambolled around
them. They played with them for a time, and then joined us with

countenances full of health and glee. Sophia, the eldest, was the most
lively and joyous, having much of her father's varied spirit in
conversation, and seeming to catch excitement from his words and
looks. Ann was of quieter mood, rather silent, owing, in some measure,
no doubt, to her being some years younger.
* * * * *
At dinner Scott had laid by his half-rustic dress, and appeared clad in
black. The girls, too, in completing their toilet, had twisted in their hair
the sprigs of purple heather which they had gathered on the hillside,
and looked all fresh and blooming from their breezy walk.
There was no guest at dinner but myself. Around the table were two or
three dogs in attendance. Maida, the old stag-hound, took his seat at
Scott's elbow, looking up wistfully in his master's eye, while Finette,
the