The Eskdale Herd-boy

The Eskdale Herd-boy

The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Eskdale Herd-boy, by Mrs
Blackford Copyright laws are changing all over the world. Be sure to
check the copyright laws for your country before downloading or
redistributing this or any other Project Gutenberg eBook.
This header should be the first thing seen when viewing this Project
Gutenberg file. Please do not remove it. Do not change or edit the
header without written permission.
Please read the "legal small print," and other information about the
eBook and Project Gutenberg at the bottom of this file. Included is
important information about your specific rights and restrictions in how
the file may be used. You can also find out about how to make a
donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved.
**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts**
**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since
1971**
*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of
Volunteers!*****
Title: The Eskdale Herd-boy
Author: Mrs Blackford
Release Date: April, 2005 [EBook #7963] [This file was first posted on
June 6, 2003]
Edition: 10
Language: English

Character set encoding: US-ASCII
*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, THE
ESKDALE HERD-BOY ***

EBook prepared by Ted Garvin, S.R. Ellison, Charles Franks, and the
Online Distributed Proofreading Team

THE ESKDALE HERD-BOY
A Scottish Tale
FOR THE INSTRUCTION AND AMUSEMENT OF YOUNG
PERSONS
BY MRS. BLACKFORD

CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
CHAP. I.
Description of Eskdale.--History of Marion Scott and John Telfer.--He
loses his Parents.--Mr. Martin, the Pastor, befriends him.--John
engaged by Mr. Laurie as his herd-boy.--Helen Martin's first attempt at
horsemanship.--Her mother points out the advantages of perseverance
and self-command.
CHAP. II.
Excursion towards the Glen.--Beautiful scenery.--Account of the
Borderers.--The Minister visits David Little's cottage--Rustic
manners.--Canine sagacity.--The visitors take their departure.
CHAP. III.
John gains the approbation of the Pastor.--Visit to Mr. Elliott.--His
cottage delightfully situated.--Helen cautioned by her father against
affectation.--Arrival at Minkirk.--Visit at Craigie Hall.--Mrs. Scott's
hospitality.--John dispatched on an errand.--His unlucky disaster.--The
party returns by moonlight.--Their arrival at the Manse relieves Mrs.
Martin's anxiety.
CHAP. IV.
John's reflexions on entering service.--Receives advice from the
Minister for his future conduct.--John's good intentions the cause of

great anxiety.
CHAP. V.
Sunday morning.--The family assembled for morning
prayer.--Interesting description of the villagers' manners on the
Sabbath.--Serious illnesses.--John in an awkward dilemma.--Hateful
effects of intoxication.--Miss Helen taken seriously ill.--A curtain
lecture.
CHAP. VI.
Uncertainty of human events.--News of Captain Elliott.--An agreeable
present.--John gains the approbation of the Minister for his activity.
CHAP. VII.
John enters Mr. Laurie's service.--New companions.--He receives
instruction in his new employ.--Surprising sagacity of the shepherds'
dogs.--Marion recovered.
CHAP. VIII.
Arrival of Capt. Elliott.--Unfavourable character of William
Martin.--His hasty temper the cause of uneasiness to his parents.--He is
placed under the care of Mr. Lamont.--Helen's amiability.--The party
take their departure for Kelso.
CHAP. IX.
Hospitable reception at Kelso.--Interview between Capt. Elliott and his
nephew William.--The party return to the Manse.--Helen's attachment
to home.--Capt. Elliott joins his vessel.--Alarm of the family at the
sudden disappearance of William Martin.
CHAP. X.
Mrs. Martin greatly distressed by William's thoughtless and undutiful
conduct.--Helen shrewdly guesses her brother's plans.--Information
received from Capt. Elliott that William has joined him.--William
solicits permission to accompany his uncle to sea.--His parents
reluctantly consent.--Mrs. Martin's death ensues.
CHAP. XI.
Helen's grandmother takes charge of the household.--Marion Scott
resides with Helen at the Manse.--John Telfer gradually improves
himself.--Capt. Elliott and his nephew arrive in England.--Their anxiety
to visit Eskdale again.--Mrs. Elliott's repugnance at seeing her undutiful
grandson causes her departure to Mr. Armstrong's.
CHAP. XII.

William's arrival, and interview with his sister.--Affectionately
received by his father.--Marion narrowly escapes perishing in a snow
storm.--Intrepidity of William and John.--The departure of Capt. Elliott
and William the cause of distress and fearful forebodings.--John
accompanies them.
CHAP XIII.
Their arrival in the metropolis.--And voyage to the
Mediterranean.--Sudden disappearance of William and the boat's crew
at sea.--A sea fight.--Capt. Elliott killed, the vessel taken by the enemy,
and the crew made prisoners.--The news of these disasters cause the
death of Mr. Martin.
CHAP XIV.
Helen vacates the parsonage, and joins Miss Maxwell's millinery
establishment.--They become greatly attached.--John Telfer, after
several years' captivity, makes his escape.
CHAP XV.
John's unexpected interview with Marion.--They are married, and settle
in Eskdale.--His interview with Helen.--She is induced to accompany
him to Eskdale; and is finally married to Mr. Johnstone, the Minister of
Eskdale.

INTRODUCTION
The Author of this little Work, many years ago, spent a few weeks in
Eskdale, the scene where she has placed the principal events of her tale.
The beauty of the country made a deep impression on her mind, at the
time; perhaps the more so, from its being the farthest excursion to the
southward, that she had then made from her native home. She, however,
by no means pretends