Page:Biographical and critical studies by James Thomson ("B.V.").djvu/416

 400 CRITICAL STUDIES charmingly characteristic passage in his reminiscences of Scott, who, as we know, was born August 15, 1 7 7 1 : " There are not above five people in the world who, I think, know Sir Walter better, or under- stand his character better than I do : and if I outlive him, which is likely, as I am five months and ten days younger, I shall draw a mental portrait of him, the likeness of which to the original shall not be disputed." He did outlive Scott, just three years and two months (let us be as precise as himself), dying November 21, 1835 (in his ^xiy-fourth year, says Mr. Thomson, after correcting Hogg's birth- date!); and in 1834 he published the "Domestic Manners and Private Life of Sir Walter Scott," wherein he exclaims, with honest and reverent enthusiasm : "Is it not a proud boast for an old shepherd, that for thirty years he could call this man 'friend,' and associate with him every day and hour that he chose ? Yes, it is my proudest boast. Sir Walter sought me out in the wilderness and attached him- self to me before I had ever seen him, and although I took cross fits with him, his interest in me never subsided for one day or one moment." As we shall find when we get farther on. He was born in a lowly cottage at Ettrickhall, near the church and school, his father being a shepherd. No Southron swinish associations defiled the family name, which was rather exceedingly appropriate, hog, or hogg, in their venacular meaning, a year-old sheep ; and they were indeed of right good Border descent, claiming from Haug of Norway, a valiant viking and reiver, whose successors were the Hoggs of Fauldshope, a farm about five miles from Selkirk,