Sir Walter Scott: Reminisces of His Early Life
Dublin Core
Title
Sir Walter Scott: Reminisces of His Early Life
Subject
Historical Figure
Creator
[Unknown]
Source
http://addison.vt.edu/record=b1775388~S1
Publisher
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Date
May 1876
Contributor
Jennifer Schrauth, Britt Hoskins
Rights
Permission to publish images from The Gray Jacket must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.
Format
Text
Language
English
Type
Article
Identifier
LD5655.V8 L4, ser.1, v.1, no.7 (May 1876), p.1-2
Text Item Type Metadata
Text
In the year 1771, there was born in the City of Edinburgh the little child who grew to be known throughout the world as Sir Walter Scott, the great writer and poet. Both his parents were highly-educated persons, and perhaps this influenced the tastes and habits in which their son grew up. At about the. age of eighteen months he lost the use of his right leg, after a severe attack of fever; but though he was ever after lame, he was wonderfully brave and active as he grew older. Those earliest days were spent in his grandfather's house at Sandy Knowe, and while he stayed at the old farm he would go with the cow bailie and roll about on the grass for hours among the herds and flocks, making friends with the sheep and lambs, who soon knew the little lame boy. One of those days he was forgotten among the crags, and a thunder-storm came on; but when his aunt remembered where he was, and hastened herself in search of him, she found him lying happily on his back, watching the lightning and crying, "Bonny! bonny!" at every flash.
His grandmother used to tell him the old Border tales which she had heard in her own childhood, and so the names of Jamie Telfer and other heroes were familiar to him, and he could repeat long pieces by heart from the stories and ballads with which his Aunt Janet amused him.
When he was about four years old Walter was taken to Bath, with the hope that the mineral waters might cure his lameness, but very little change took place. In 1779 the lad returned to Edinburgh and was sent to the High School there, where he was placed in the second class, which contained some very good scholars, among whom Scott became a general favorite, from his mirthfulness and fun; besides, in winter he could tell any number of tales as they sat round the fire in a circle listening to him. Of himself, he says that he "disgusted his kind master" by his negligence and frivolity as much as he pleased him by his intelligence and talent.
One tale which Scott has now and then told of his school-days is this :—"There was a boy in my class," he says, " who stood always at the top, and with all my efforts I could not get above him. Days past, but still he kept his place, do what I would; but at last I noticed that whenever a question was asked him he fumbled with his fingers at a particular button on his waistcoat. In an evil moment I removed it with a knife. When the boy was again questioned his fingers sought the button in vain; in his distress he looked down for it, but it was not to be seen, and as he stood confounded I took his place, nor did he ever guess who was the author of his wrong. Often in after life has the sight of him smote me as passed by him, and I resolved to make him some reparation, but it always ended in good resolution."
When thirteen years old, young Scott first read Percy's Reliques, and this work had a great effect in making him a poet; still, before this time he had tried his hand at verse-making, some of which attempts were found in after days. The rupture of a blood vessel laid him on his bed for many weeks, and then his great amusement was reading; for he tells us he did nothing else from morning till night, unless some one was charitable enough to play chess with him. From a circulating library in Edinburgh he obtained many old romances and plays, and. when tired of these he turned to histories, voyages and travels, and thus acquired a quantity of ill-arranged information, which proved useful in the literary work to which he devoted his life, and which has made his name famous.
In 1792 he was called to the bar as an advocate; but he had very little practice. His literary life had really begun, which lasted for six-and-thiry ears. In 1805 he gave to he public the "Lay of the Last Minstrel," and became the poetical favorite of the day. "Marmion " the " Lady of the Lake," and other poems followed. In 1814 he published the historical novel of "Waverly," but for several years it was a secret that he was the author of the book, who was spoken of as "Great Unknown." In the next few years he published with his name several similar romances, among them "Rob Roy " and "The Heart of Midlothian." He assisted in starting "The Quarterly Review." To his pen he owed his land and castle at Abbotsford, and from 1820 to 1826 he lived there like one of his own feudal chiefs; but in 1826 there came a commercial crash, and 'the publishers of his books became bankrupt, and he was found to be liable for a vast debt. Scott set himself nobly to work to repay it. He overtasked his strength in the effort, and in 1832 breathed his last at Abbotsford, leaving behind him a name which will never be forgotten.—The Growing apt soon to obtain admirers among men. Above all World.
His grandmother used to tell him the old Border tales which she had heard in her own childhood, and so the names of Jamie Telfer and other heroes were familiar to him, and he could repeat long pieces by heart from the stories and ballads with which his Aunt Janet amused him.
When he was about four years old Walter was taken to Bath, with the hope that the mineral waters might cure his lameness, but very little change took place. In 1779 the lad returned to Edinburgh and was sent to the High School there, where he was placed in the second class, which contained some very good scholars, among whom Scott became a general favorite, from his mirthfulness and fun; besides, in winter he could tell any number of tales as they sat round the fire in a circle listening to him. Of himself, he says that he "disgusted his kind master" by his negligence and frivolity as much as he pleased him by his intelligence and talent.
One tale which Scott has now and then told of his school-days is this :—"There was a boy in my class," he says, " who stood always at the top, and with all my efforts I could not get above him. Days past, but still he kept his place, do what I would; but at last I noticed that whenever a question was asked him he fumbled with his fingers at a particular button on his waistcoat. In an evil moment I removed it with a knife. When the boy was again questioned his fingers sought the button in vain; in his distress he looked down for it, but it was not to be seen, and as he stood confounded I took his place, nor did he ever guess who was the author of his wrong. Often in after life has the sight of him smote me as passed by him, and I resolved to make him some reparation, but it always ended in good resolution."
When thirteen years old, young Scott first read Percy's Reliques, and this work had a great effect in making him a poet; still, before this time he had tried his hand at verse-making, some of which attempts were found in after days. The rupture of a blood vessel laid him on his bed for many weeks, and then his great amusement was reading; for he tells us he did nothing else from morning till night, unless some one was charitable enough to play chess with him. From a circulating library in Edinburgh he obtained many old romances and plays, and. when tired of these he turned to histories, voyages and travels, and thus acquired a quantity of ill-arranged information, which proved useful in the literary work to which he devoted his life, and which has made his name famous.
In 1792 he was called to the bar as an advocate; but he had very little practice. His literary life had really begun, which lasted for six-and-thiry ears. In 1805 he gave to he public the "Lay of the Last Minstrel," and became the poetical favorite of the day. "Marmion " the " Lady of the Lake," and other poems followed. In 1814 he published the historical novel of "Waverly," but for several years it was a secret that he was the author of the book, who was spoken of as "Great Unknown." In the next few years he published with his name several similar romances, among them "Rob Roy " and "The Heart of Midlothian." He assisted in starting "The Quarterly Review." To his pen he owed his land and castle at Abbotsford, and from 1820 to 1826 he lived there like one of his own feudal chiefs; but in 1826 there came a commercial crash, and 'the publishers of his books became bankrupt, and he was found to be liable for a vast debt. Scott set himself nobly to work to repay it. He overtasked his strength in the effort, and in 1832 breathed his last at Abbotsford, leaving behind him a name which will never be forgotten.—The Growing apt soon to obtain admirers among men. Above all World.