The Waverley novels, by Sir Walter Scott, complete in 12 vol., printed from the latest English ed., embracing the author's last corrections, prefaces & notes.

THE HIGHLAND WIDOW.
C afptrr tt firSt.
It wound as near as near could be, On the other side it seem'd to be,
But what it is she cannot tell; Of the huge broad-breasted old oak-tree.
COLERIDGE.
MRS. BETHUNE BALIOL'S memorandum begins thus:It is five-and-thirty, or perhaps nearer forty years ago, since, to relieve
the dejection of spirits occasioned by a great family loss sustained two or
three months before, I undertook what was called the short Highland tour.
This had become in some degree fashionable; but though the military roads
were excellent, yet the accommodation was so indifferent, that it was reckoned
a little adventure to accomplish it. Besides, the Highlands, though now as
peaceable as any part of King George's dominions, was a sound which still
carried terror, while so many survived who had witnessed the insurrection of
1745; and a vague idea of fear was impressed on many, as they looked from
the towers of Stirling northward to the huge chain of mountains, which
rises like a dusky rampart to conceal in its recesses a people, whose dress,
manners, and language, differed still very much from those of their Lowland countrymen. For my part, I come of a race not greatly subject to
apprehensions arising from imagination only. I had some Highland relatives, knew several of their families of distinction; and, though only having
the company of my bower-maiden, Mrs. Alice Lambskin, I went on my
journey fearless.
But then I had a guide and cicerone, almost equal to Greatheart in the
Pilgrim's Progress, in no less a person than Donald MacLeish, the postilion
whom I hired at Stirling, with a pair of able-bodied horses, as steady as
Donald himself, to drag my carriage, my duenna, and myself, wheresoever
it was my pleasure to go.
Donald MacLeish was one of a race of post-boys, whom, I suppose, mailcoaches and steam-boats have put out of fashion. They were to be found
chiefly at Perth, Stirling, or Glasgow, where they and their horses were
usually hired by travellers, or tourists, to accomplish such journeys of business or pleasure as they might have to perform in the land of the Gael.
This class of persons approached to the character of what is called abroad
a conducteur; or might be compared to the sailing-master on board a British
ship of war, who follows out after his own.manner the course which the
captain commands him to observe. You explained to your postilion the
length of your tour, and the objects you were desirous it should embrace;
and you found him perfectly competent to fix the places of rest or refreshment, with due attention, that those should be chosen with reference to your
convenience, and to any points of interest which you might desire to visit.
The qualifications of such a person were necessarily much superior to
those of the " first ready," who gallops thrice-a-day over the same ten miles.
Donald MacLeish, besides being quite alert at repairing all ordinary accidents to his horses and carriage, and in making shift to support them, where
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