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.

INTRODUCTION TO OLD MORTALITY. 365
great depth of the snow at that time, the letter communicating the particulars of his death was so long detained by the way, that the remains
of the pilgrim were interred before any of his relations could arrive at
Bankhill.
" The following is an exact copy of the account of his funeral expenses,the original of which I have in my possession: —
"Meeocrandcmz of the Flnral Clhages of Robert Paterson, who dyed at Bankhz72
on the 14th day of February, 1801.
To a Coffon................. ~0 12 0'o MAunting for do..0 2 8'I'o a Shirt for him, 0 5 6
To a pair of Cotten. Stockings,........ 0 2 0
To Bread at the Founral. 0 2 6
To Chise at ditto,............0 3 0
To 1 pint Rtme.............. 0 4 6
FT 1 pint Whiskie,............ 0 4 0
To a nman going to Annan,......... 0 2 0
To the grave-diger............ 0 1 0
To Linnen for a sheet to him.... 0 2 8
~2 1 10
Taken off him when dead,... 1 7 6
~0 14 4
" The above account is authenticated by the son of the deceased.
" My friend was prevented by indisposition from even going to Bankhill
to attend the funeral of his father, which I regret very much, as he is not
aware in what churchyard he was interred.
"For the purpose of erecting a small monument to his memory, I have
made every possible inquiry wherever I thought there was the least chance
of finding out where Old Mortality was laid; but I have done so in vain,
as his death is not registered in the session-book of any of the neighbouring parishes. I am sorry to think, that in all probability this singular person, who spent so many years of his lengthened existence in striving with
his chisel and mallet to perpetuate the memory of many less deserving than
himself, must remain even without a single stone to mark out the resting
place of his mortal remains.
"Old Mvortality had three sons, Robert, Walter, and John; the former,
as has been already mentioned, lives in the village of Balmaclellan, in comfortable circumstances, and is much respected by his neighbours. Walter
died several years ago, leaving, behind him a family now respectably situated
in this point. John went to America in the year 1776, and after various
turns of fortune, settled at Baltimore."
Old Nol himself is said to have loved an innocent jest. (See Captain
Hodgson's Memoirs.) Old Mortality somewhat resembled the Protector in
this turn to festivity. Like Master Silence, he had been merry twice and
once in his time; but even his jests were of a melancholy and sepulchral
nature, and sometimes attended with inconvenience to himself, as will
appear from the following anecdote:The old man was at one time following his wonted occupation of repairing the tombs of the martyrs, in the churchyard of Girthon, and the sexton
of the parish was plying his kindred task at no small distance. Some
roguish urchins were sporting near them, and by their noisy gambols disturbing the old men in their serious occupation. The most petulant of the
juvenile party were two or three boys, grandchildren of a person well known
by the name of Cooper Climent. This artist enjoyed almost a monopoly
in Girthon and the neighbouring parishes, for making and selling ladles,
coups, bickers, bowls, spoons, cogues, and trenchers, formed of wood, for
the use of the country people. It must be noticed, that, notwithstanding
the excellence of the Cooper's vessels, they were apt, when new, to impart
a reddish tinge to whatever liquor was put into them, a circumstance not
uncomlnmon in like cases.
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