RIDDELLS OF TIVIOTDALE, SCOTLAND.
115
of seven, he composed in correct and interesting prose, and produced in
his eighth year some vigorous poetry. With a highly retentive memory,
he retained the results of an extended course of reading, begun almost in
childhood. Conversant with general history, he was familiar with the
various systems of philosophy. To an accurate knowledge of the Latin
and Greek classics he added a correct acquaintance with many of the
modern languages. He found consolation on his death-bed by perusing
the Scriptures in the original tongues. He died in fervent hope and
with Christian resignation. His was one of the most transparent intel-
lects of his day; his qualities of mind and heart made him greatly be-
loved by all who knew him. The following verses were composed in his
fourteenth year:
"LAMENT OF WALLACE.
"No more by thy margin, dark Carron,
Shall Wallace in solitude wander.
When, tranquil, the moon shines afar on
Thy heart-stirring wildness and grandeur.
For lost are to me
Thy beauties forever;
Since fallen in thee
Lie the faithful and free,
To waken, ah, never!
"And I, thus defeated, must suffer
My country's reproach; yet forsaken,
A home to me Nature may offer
Among her green forests of braken.
But home who can find
For heart-rending sorrow ?
The wound who can bind
When thus pierced is the mind
By fate's ruthless arrow?
""Tis death that alone ever frees us
Of woes too profound to be spoken,
And nought but the grave ever eases
The pangs of a heart that is broken.
Then, oh! that my blood
In Carron's dark water
Had mixed with the flood
Of the warriors, shed
'Mid torrents of slaughter.
"For woe to the day when, desponding,
I read in thine aspect the story
Of those that were slain while defending
Their homes and their mountains of glory.
And curst be the guile
Of treacherous knavery,
That throws o'er our isle,
In its tyranny vile,
The mantle of slavery."
Robert Riddell (4), youngest son of Henry2 (1), was born at Tiviot-
head, near Hawick, in the year 1840 (?), and is now somewhere in Aus-
tralia, engaged in agriculture. He is married, but I have no account of
his family.
Nancy Riddell (1), eldest daughter of Robert2 (2), was born in Scot-
land (probably in Roxburghshire) in 1820, and died at Rockton, Can.,
March 29, 1883.
