The Mentor: Scotland, The Land of Song and Scenery, Vol. 1, Num. 10, Serial No. 10, April 21, 1913

SCOTLAND
Melrose Abbey

THREE

Among the ruins of Melrose Abbey, ivy covered and deserted, lies buried the heart of Scotland’s greatest king – Robert Bruce. Why is it there, so far away from his grave at Dunfermline? Bannockburn was the greatest achievement of Bruce’s life. This decisive battle was fought on June 24, 1314. Robert Bruce was born in 1274, at a time when Scotland was struggling fiercely to throw off the yoke of England under Edward I. Bruce grew up with the love of freedom strongly implanted in his heart. He was a natural leader.

Finally, his chance came. On March 27, 1306, he had himself crowned king of Scotland; but he was as yet a king without a kingdom. He gathered his supporters together and overran Scotland until only Berwick, Stirling, and Bothwell remained to the English. Edward I had died, and Edward II, a weak and unstable man, was on the British throne.

But even this weakling now saw that unless a strong blow was struck Scotland would be lost. He assembled his army and advanced on Bruce. And then Bruce, by a wonderful exhibition of strategy, rapidity of movement, and personal bravery, so decisively defeated him that the complete rout of the English determined the independence of Scotland and confirmed the title of Bruce.

After peace had been made the new king of Scotland proved himself as able a lawmaker as he was a warrior. But he did not live many years to enjoy his triumph. On June 7, 1329, he died of leprosy, contracted in the hardships of earlier life, and was buried at Dunfermline.

Now comes the story of the “Heart of Bruce.” During his life he made a vow to visit the Holy Sepulcher. But he could not do this; so he begged Douglas to carry his heart there after his death. But the brave Douglas, on the way to the Holy Land stopped off in Spain to help the Spaniards against the Moors and was killed. However, the box containing Bruce’s heart was recovered by Sir William Keith, and at last was brought back to Scotland and found a resting place in Melrose Abbey.

Melrose Abbey is eight hundred years old, and, though battered both by time and the assaults of many hostile armies, is still famous for its architecture. It is situated on the River Tweed, near the little town of Melrose.

Sir Walter Scott has immortalized this famous old ruin forever, when in “The Lay of the Last Minstrel” he describes the visit to Melrose Abbey of William of Deloraine, who had come to steal from the hand of the dead magician, Michael Scott, his book of magic.

How beautiful the abbey may have been we can only guess; but it is still picturesque, though the windows, once filled with wonderful stained glass, are now bare and desolate, and the only incense on its ruined altar is the breath of the wild rose.

SCOTLAND
Abbotsford

FOUR

A man who at the age of fifty-five resolves to pay off a bankruptcy debt of six hundred thousand dollars must justly be regarded as a hero. Not many men, weakened in health and used to all the comforts, would attempt to do this – especially when the debt was incurred through no fault of their own, and when the law does not force them to pay. Yet that is what Sir Walter Scott – the “Wizard of the North” – did, and so fiercely did he work at his writing – twelve, fourteen, and sixteen hours a day – that at his death six years later every penny of that colossal and heartbreaking debt had been paid.

The story of Abbotsford, the home of the great poet and novelist, of which he dreamed for years, and which he planned and built himself, is a drama, a tragedy itself. No sooner was the great house finished and the dream of his life complete than the crash of tremendous ruin fell on Scott.

It was on a bleak winter morning in 1826 that a friend called at Abbotsford and found the novelist terribly agitated.

“My friend,” said Sir Walter to him, “give me your hand; mine is that of a beggar.”

The publishing house with which he had been connected had failed, and Scott took upon himself the terrible burden of satisfying its creditors. It was an apparently hopeless task for a writer, and one in such a frail state of health as Scott, to accomplish. But where others would have yielded to Fate, he stood up to fight it, and though the effort cost him his life he succeeded, and may truly be called the most heroic literary figure in the world.

Walter Scott was born at Edinburgh on August 15, 1771. His father wanted him to follow his own profession, that of a lawyer; but the boy wished to write. He wrote poetry at first; but according to the story turned to prose romance when he found that Lord Byron excelled him as a poet. It was in 1814 that a novel – “Waverley” – by an anonymous author, appeared. Its popularity swept like wild fire all over England. Book after book, all of the same excellence, was published. The secret of authorship was jealously kept by Scott – for what reason many guesses have been made – but at last his name was definitely connected with this great series – the “Waverley Novels.”

He prospered brilliantly for eleven years. And then came the crash of ruin. Scott put his shoulder to the wheel. His wife died soon after the struggle began; but, though sick at heart, he toiled on indomitably. Success was his in the end; but the struggle killed him.