The Eskdale Herd-boy | Page 2

to pourtray the scenery in the course of her
narrative, with minute accuracy. Too long a period has since elapsed,
and she has seen in the interval too great a variety of places, to retain an
exact recollection of every spot in this delightful dale; but its general
features remain strongly fixed in her memory; and she hopes that her
young readers will not find her tale less interesting from any slight
inaccuracy which they may discover in the local description.
The general character and manners of the inhabitants are, she believes,
more correctly represented; for there is scarcely an incident,
exemplifying these in the following pages, of which she has not known

a counterpart in real life. The respect universally paid by the
parishioners to their clergyman, and the familiar intercourse and great
influence which the latter possesses, in forming their minds and morals,
are circumstances which have fallen under her own observation, not
only in Eskdale, but in various other parts of Scotland; and she has felt
a peculiar satisfaction in describing the simple and useful life of MR.
and MRS. MARTIN, from the remembrance of many worthy couples
in similar situations, who might have sat for the resemblance. She has
endeavoured, in relating the adventures of JOHN TELFER, the Eskdale
Herd-boy, to impress on the minds of her young readers, the permanent
advantages of early integrity and gratitude. In the short and unfortunate
life of WILLIAM MARTIN, she has attempted to show the duty that is
incumbent on all young people, to subdue that disobedient and
self-willed temper, which may otherwise undermine, not only their own
comfort and happiness, but those of their parents and friends, of all
whom they love, and of all to whom they are dear. The character of
HELEN is meant, on the contrary, to illustrate the inestimable value
that a dutiful daughter may be of, both to father and mother; the
prudence, the steadiness, and even the energy which Helen displays, on
some trying occasions, will not, it is hoped, appear to be overstrained,
when her conduct is considered as the result of an education conducted
on these steady principles, which insure the love and obedience of the
child, by inspiring a firm reliance on the justice and affection of the
parent.

THE ESKDALE HERD-BOY

CHAP. I.
In the year 1807 there stood on the beautiful banks of the river Esk, in
Dumfriesshire, one of the most southern counties in Scotland, a small
cottage. The neat white walls, well-thatched roof, and clean
casement-windows, ornamented as they were with honeysuckles and
roses, attracted the admiration of a few strangers, who, from the
uncommon beauty and grandeur of the scenery, were tempted to turn
off the direct road from Langholm to Edinburgh, and follow the
windings of the river to its source. The cottages in general, in that part
of the country, present a very different appearance; having too

frequently a look of neglect, the windows broken, the walls dirty, and
instead of a pretty garden, a heap of mud before the door. The contrast,
therefore, rendered this building the more remarkable; and led people to
suppose, what indeed was the case, that its inhabitants were more
industrious, and had seen a little more of the customs of other countries,
than their less neat and cleanly neighbours.
The names of the couple who resided on this spot, were John and
Marion Telfer: their history I am now going to relate. John was the only
son of an honest, industrious couple, who lived in the neighbourhood of
Langholm, but who unfortunately both died of a fever, when he was
little more than ten years old, leaving him nothing but their blessing,
and the virtuous habits of integrity and obedience, in which they had
trained him from his earliest youth. On their death-bed they entreated
that the excellent clergyman, who, in spite of the malignity of the
disease, continued to comfort and pray by them in their last moments,
would take compassion on their poor little orphan, and find him
employment among the neighbouring farmers, either as a herd-boy to
some of the numerous flocks of sheep which are common in Eskdale,
or as a plough-boy in their fields. Mr. Martin, for such was the name of
the pious pastor, assured them that he would do all in his power for
their child: and he kept his word; for as soon as they were dead, he took
the boy home to his own house, and there endeavoured, by kindness
and sympathy, to console him for his great and irreparable loss. For
some days, all his endeavours were unsuccessful. John, though sensible
of the kind attentions of Mr. Martin, still felt miserable and unhappy.
All his dear mother's care and tenderness; all the pains and trouble that