A INTRODUCTION TO THE BLACK DWARF. N individual existed many years since, under the author's observation, which suggested the story of the Black Dwarf. This poor unfortunate man's name was David Ritchie, a native of Tweeddale. He was the son of a labourer in the slate quarries of Stobo, and must have been born in the mis-shapen form which he exhibited, though he sometimes imputed it to ill-usage when in infancy. He was bred a brushmaker at Edinburgh, and had wandered to several places, working at his trade, from all which he was chased by the disagreeable attention which his hideous singularity of form and face attracted wherever he came. David Ritchie, besides the utter obscurity of his life while in existence, had been dead for many years, when it occurred to the author that such a character might be made a powerful agent in fictitious narrative. He, accordingly, sketched that of Elshie of the Mucklestane Moor. The story was intended to be longer, and the catastrophe more artificially brought out; but a friendly critic, to whose opinion I subjected the work in its progress, was of opinion, that the idea of the Solitary was of a kind too revolting, and more likely to disgust than to interest the reader. As I had good right to consider my adviser as an excellent judge of public opinion, I got off my subject by hastening the story to an end, as fast as it was possible; and, by huddling into one volume a tale which was designed to occupy two, have perhaps produced a narrative as much disproportioned and distorted, as the Black Dwarf, who is its subject. NOTES. THE BROUZE-P. 314. The Brouze was a frolic observed at bridals in the Border country, though now disused. The gallants present, gallop as fast as they can, from the church to the bride's door, and the first who arrives gets a silk handkerchief, or some such token. Bradbury, Agnew, & Co., Printens, Whitefriars. GLOSSARY TO THE PRINCIPAL SCOTTISH WORDS USED IN SIR WALTER SCOTT'S NOVELS. Abulziements, habiliments. Again e'en, before evening. Airt, quarter, to direct. Archilowe, a peace-offering. Arles, engagement money. Auldfarran, sagacious. Aver, a cart horse. Awmrie, a cupboard. Barm, yeast. Begrutten, overwept. Biggonet, a linen cap. Bittle, a wooden mallet. Brae, a hill-side. Brander, to broil. Brattach, a standard. Brecham, a horse collar. Brickle, ticklish. Cadie, a street porter. Callet, the head; a cap. Cantle, crown of the head. Cantrips, tricks. Canty, cheerful, Capernoited, peevish. Carcake, a pancake. Carfuffle, agitation. Carritch, catechism. Ca'-thro', a disturbance. Chafts, the jaws. Chappin, a liquid measure. Chield, a person. Clanjamfray, rabble. Clarty, dirty. Claught, seized. Clavers, gossip. Cleugh, a ravine. Cloot, a cloth; a hoof. Clour, a knock. Cockernony, a head ornament. Cod, a pillow. Coffe, a merchant. Cogging, empty. Cogie, a wooden basin. Collieshangie, a quarrel. Cow, cut short. Cuaay, a donkey. Daffing, fun. Daiker, to saunter. Dander, a cinder. Dern, dark, hidden. Die, a plaything. Dink, trim, scornful. Dittay, an indictment. Doch-an-dorrach, a stirrup-cup. Donnart, stupid. Dorlach, a valise. Dottrel, stupid. Dow, can. Dowed, worthless. Downa, don't like. Dree, to suffer. Dreigh, dry. Fairstrae, natural. Fashious, worrying. Feal, turf. Feck, part. Fend, to provide. Flisk-ma-hoy, a silly flirt, Flit, to remove. Forbye, besides. Forfain, Forfoughten, hausted. Havings, behaviour. manner. Heck and manger, in a liberal Kaim, a comb. Heeze, to lift up. Hempie, a roguish person. Hership, plunder. Heuck, a sickle. Hirdy-girdy, confusion. Hirple, to hobble. Hirsel, a flock of sheep. Hoast, a cough. Hough, the thigh. Kain, a tax in kind. Kale-yard, kitchen-garden. Kebbie, a hooked staff. Kebbuck, a cheese. Keek, to peep. Keltie, quite. Kemp, to strive. Ken, to know. Kenspeckle, conspicuous. Kepp, to catch. Kerne, a follower. Kinrick, kingdom. |