Page:Thomas Raeburn.pdf/9

 the extreme; but how often are such tricks done?

The perpetrators thereof ought in all cases to be well pumped with cold water, and then tarred and feathered. Poor Raeburn, would to Heaven that many of thy species (except gentlemen with smooth chins and fashionable garments) could lay their hands upon their hearts and honestly declare that they had been drunk only once in their course through life,. [sic] Among the accomplishments which the hermit could boast of, we must mention his proficiency in the use of the rifle. In a trial with a celebrated rifleman he came off victorious, having killed 15 rabbits out of 17 shots. He used to say that he was the Scotch ‘leather stocking’. He could also use the common fowling-piece to advantage, to the fatal experience of many an unfortunate mavis who looked upon Raeburn’s cherries as common property. It was already mentioned that he maintained an ancient hand-maiden to take charge of his diary and do household work. From the length of time they lived together we may infer that Thomas was no tyrant, or oppressor; and he displayed one most unequivocal token of a kind heart—he displayed great fondness, nay, affection, to the little dumb creation he kept about him. He had as many cats, and fed them as well as any old maid ever did in broad Scotland, and was so well known to the little birds of the air that they would come with fluttering wings at his call, perch on his shoulder, and peck the very crumbs from his Aaronic beard.

Some years before his death Raeburn slipped his foot during frosty weather and broke his arm; as he included the sons of Galen in the same category with lawyers, taxmen, and gangers, he would not call a doctor, so that the bone never having reduced, his arm was rendered nearly useless.

Thomas was no great philologist, and yet he could readily detect any breach of the purity or elegance of lauguagelanguage [sic] in others; and many were the times when young gents, who imagined they were perfect James