John Ballantyne

“ Tired men are not easily awakened. Sam knew nothing of this change in his sleeping apartment.
Meanwhile Clatterby station became alive with travellers. The train drew up to the platform. Some passengers got out; others got in. The engine which brought it there, being in need of rest, coal, and water, moved off to the shed. John Marrot with his lieutenant, Garvie, moved to the front on his iron horse, looking as calm and sedate in his conscious power as his horse looked heavy and unyielding in its stolidity. Never did two creatures more thoroughly belie themselves by their looks. ”

“ Sir Walter Scott contributed not only capital to the firm, but great literary influence, which attracted a copious supply of work to the Ballantyne Press; yet the other partners were not very far behind him in their influence upon the business. In addition to some capital, James Ballantyne brought what in many ways was as important, experience in literary matters and great talent as a practical printer, while John’s pleasant manners and social accomplishments must have gained not a few customers for the house. ”

“ Meanwhile he did not clear off the cargoes of encumbrances of useless{124} books, and wind up the Ballantyne affairs. Instead of making a firm bargain with Constable, John Ballantyne negotiated the business of The Black Dwarf and Old Mortality with Mr. Blackwood and Mr. Murray—the volumes were not to bear the name of “the Author of Waverley.” Now Mr. Blackwood, very naturally, did not care for The Black Dwarf, and “without seeking any glossy periphrase,” spoke out his demand for alterations to James Ballantyne. Scott’s temper was not governed on this occasion, but James did not report to Mr. ”

“ He thought it imprudent to lend more, but consented to become an unavowed partner in the business. Ballantyne gave employment in the firm to his brother John, a shifty, harum-scarum person, and the two Ballantynes became Scott's trusted agents and courtiers. Lockhart has drawn portraits of the Ballantynes so vivid that, after making allowance for some unintentional caricature, it is impossible to doubt that they are sketches from the life by a very keen observer. ”

“ But what’s Mr Sharp bin inquiring arter?”
“Ah—wot indeed!” replied Bob; “’ow should I know? Mr Sharp ain’t the man to go about the line with a ticket on his back tellin’ wot he’s arter. By no means. P’lice superintendents ain’t usually given to that; but he’s arter somethin’ partickler.”
“Well, that ain’t no bizzness of ours, Bob, so we don’t need to trouble our heads about it. There’s nothin’ like mindin’ yer own bizzness. Same time,” added John after a short pause, “that’s no reason why, as a sea-farin’ friend o’ mine used to say, a man shouldn’t keep his weather-eye open, d’ye see?” ”

“ I can help her.”
“Ah, but,” said the boy, still in tones of disconsolation, “you don’t know chimley-pot Liz. She’s proud, she is, an’ won’t take nuffin from strangers.”
“Weel, weel, but I’m no’—a stranger, callant.”
“I rather think you are!” replied the boy, with a knowing look.
“Ye may be richt. Weel, I’ll no’ gi’e them the chance to refuse. What’s the name of the lawyer-body that’s their landlord?”
“Lockhart. John would be ’is Christian name if ’e wos a Christian. But a cove with a Christian name as is not a Christian do seem an absurdity—don’t it? ”

“ Hughes who came from Kelso to Paul’s Work. John Hughes, beginning as a compositor, was afterwards taken into the counting-room to aid in the control of the business, and in this position he continued till the death of James Ballantyne. When the trustees opened Ballantyne’s will, they found a letter instructing them to continue John Hughes in that position till the testator’s son, John Alexander Ballantyne, came of age, and if the business were conducted to their satisfaction, John Hughes was then to receive a substantial interest in the firm. ”

“ These fragmentary leaves and proof-sheets remained in possession of the trustees till James Ballantyne’s son came of age; and the latter, on formally taking up his position at the printing-office, [122] presented some of them to friends as memorials—among others, the MS. of “Old Mortality” was presented to Mr. (afterwards Sir) John Cowan of Beeslack. The state of the business, however, led a few years after to sequestration, and the rest of the Scott relics, as well as James Ballantyne’s library, were sold for behoof of the estate by Mr. Dowell of Edinburgh, in May 1848. ”

“ But he’s a plees’nt man when he likes.”
“Oo, ay, but there iss not in him the wull to give up the trink. He hes given it up more than wance before, an’ failed. He will co from pad to worse in my opinion. There iss no hope for him, I fear.”
“Fery likely,” and on the strength of that opinion Ian drew a flask from his pocket, and the two cronies had what the groom called a “tram” together.
Farther up the steep road they overtook John Barret and Giles Jackman, who saluted them with pleasant platitudes about the weather as they passed. ”

“ When the Ballantynes open shop you must take care to have them supplied with food for such a stop-gap sort of criticism. I think we will never again feel the pressure we have had for this number; the harvest has literally been great and the labourers few.
Yours truly,
W.S. Mr. James Ballantyne. to John Murray.
January 27, 1809.
"I see or hear of nothing but good about the Review. Mr. Scott is at this moment busy with two articles, besides the one he has sent. ”

“ Feeling that he had made a decided point, he drew himself up and blinked, while his audience gave vent to another “Ho” in tones which expressed the idea—“waiting for more.” The comrade, however, whose veins were fired, or chilled, with the few drops of white blood, ventured to assert his independence by ejaculating “Hum!”
“Bounding Bull,” cried the chief, suddenly shifting ground and glaring, while he breathed hard and showed his teeth, “is a coward. His daughter Softswan is a chicken-hearted squaw; and her husband Big Tim is a skunk—so is Little Tim his father.” ”

“ At the mention of beads and blankets the face of the wily chief brightened for a moment. Then he said, sternly—
“The heart of the Pale-face is not true. He has come here to trade for himself. San-it-sa-rish has eyes that can see—they are not shut. Are not these your goods?” The chief pointed to the pack-horse as he spoke.
“Trappers do not take their goods into the heart of an enemy’s camp,” returned Joe; “San-it-sa-rish is wise and will understand this. These are gifts to the chief of the Pawnees. There are more awaiting him when the pipe of peace is smoked. ”

“ Tell me, for I am anxious about it, have you spoken to your father about selling the field with the knoll to my father?”
“Yes, and he flatly refused to sell it. I’m really sorry, Ian, but you know how determined my father is. Once he says a thing he sticks to it, even though it should be to his own disadvantage.”
“That’s bad, Victor, very bad. It will raise ill-blood between them, and estrange our families. You think there’s no chance?”
“None whatever.”
“One more word before we part. Do you know much about that redskin whom your father called Petawanaquat?” ”

“ The trappers opened their eyes wider than ever at this.
“What! Make a book?” cried Redhand.
“Even so.”
“Will it have pictures?” eagerly asked March, who regarded the artist with rapidly increasing veneration.
“Ay, it will be profusely illustrated.”
“Wot! pictures o’ grisly bears?” inquired Bounce.
“Of course.”
“An’ men?” cried Big Waller.
“And men also, if I fall in with them.”
“Then here’s one, I guess,” cried the bold Yankee, combing out his matted locks hastily with his fingers, and sitting up in what he conceived to be a proper position. “Here you are, sir. I’m your man; fix me off slick. ”

“ Captain Vane was, however, the reverse of a harsh man. He pondered what Leo had said, and soon afterwards went up to his son.
“Benjy, my lad.”
“Yes, father,” said the boy, dropping the head of his pick-axe on the ice, resting his hands on the haft, and looking up with a flushed countenance.
“You should rest a bit now and then, Benjy. You’ll knock yourself up if you don’t.”
“Rest a bit, father! Why, I’ve just had a rest, and I’m not tired—that is, not very. Ain’t it fun, father? And the ice cuts up so easily, and flies about so splendidly—see here.” ”

“ Still they did not lose confidence, but pressed persistently on.
“Our horses are fresh and good,” said Victor as they reined in to a gentle trot on the brow of a knoll to rest for a few minutes, “and Petawanaquat’s horse, whether good or bad, is double-weighted—although, to be sure, Tony is not heavy.”
“Besides,” said Ian, “the redskin does not dream now of pursuit; so that, pressing on as we do, we must overtake him ere long.” ”

“ I’ve no more idea of where you’ve got me to now than—than—”
“Oh, never mind,” interrupted the captain, “it doesn’t matter, as you are not our guide. But, ho! look! look! down in the hollow there—among the rushes. What’s that?”
“A boar!” said Bladud, in a low whisper, as he unslung his bow. “Come, now, it will take all our united force to slay that brute, for, if I have not lost my power of judging such game, I’m pretty sure that he’s a very big old boar with formidable tusks.”
While the prince was speaking, his comrades had also prepared their weapons, and looked to their guide for directions. ”

“ The elastic spirits of the family recovered.
“Come, we’ll walk to church!” cried Mr Sudberry, as they rose from breakfast.
“What, my dear!” exclaimed his wife, “and the roads knee-deep in mud and water!”
“I care not if they were waist-deep!” cried the reckless man: “I’ve been glued to my seat for a week; so I’ll walk to church, if I should have to swim for it.”
“So will I! so will I!” from George and Fred; “So will we all!” from Lucy; “And me, too!” timidly, from Tilly; with “Hurrah!” furiously from the imp,—this decided the business. ”

“ When night comes we will start again and get out of sight of land before the next dawn."
"Mine frond," said the professor, turning his moon-like goggles full on the hermit. "I vill go viz you."
"I should be only too happy to have your company," returned the hermit, "but my canoe cannot by any contrivance be made to hold more than three."
"Zat is no matter to me," rejoined Verkimier; "you forget zee trader's boat. I vill go in zat to Sumatra. Ve vill find out zee port he is going to, ant you vill meet me zere. Vait for me if I have not arrived—or I vill vait for you. ”

“ It was not so much the words thus spoken as the grave, kind, sensible tones and looks which accompanied them, that won the despairing fisherman.
“Well, I’ll stop,” he said, with a short laugh; “the cocoa may do me good, even though the meetin’ don’t.”
“Now you’re becoming soft and unmanly—a regular old wife,” whispered the demon, who had watched him anxiously throughout the whole morning.
“The boat’s alongside, father,” Billy called out, at that moment down the open skylight. ”

“ While he stood gazing up at the rigging, attempting to pierce the thick darkness, he felt his sleeve plucked, and, looking down, observed Ailie at his side.
“My child,” he cried, grasping her by the arm convulsively, “you here! How came you to leave your cabin, dear? Go down, go down; you don’t know the danger you run. Stay—I will help you. If one of those seas comes on board it would carry you overboard like a fleck of foam.”
“I didn’t know there was much danger, papa. Glynn told me there wasn’t,” she replied, as her father sprang with her to the companion-ladder. ”

“ Let me tie a handkerchief round your wounded head," said the captain soothingly.
"Thanks, thanks. Your voice is not unfamiliar to me," returned the hermit with a sigh, as he submitted to the operation. "I thought I had fallen somehow into the hands of pirates. Surely an accident must have happened. How did I get here? Where are my comrades—Nigel and the negro?"
"My son Nigel is all right, sir, and so is your man Moses. Make your mind easy—an' pray don't speak while I'm working at you. I'll explain it all in good time. Stay, I'll be with you in a moment." ”

“ He’s up to mischief of some sort still, and that’s proof positive that he’s alive.”
“But he may have perished in this piece of mischief,” said Alf, anxiously glancing up at the kite, which was dragging the heavily-laden sledge rather slowly over the rough ice.
“I hope not, Alf. Shake the regulator, Butterface, and see that it’s clear.”
“All right, Massa. Steam’s on de berry strongest what’s possible.”
“Heave some o’ the cargo overboard, Alf. We must make haste. Not the meat, lad, not the meat; everything else before that. So. Mind your helm, Chingatok; she’ll steer wildish when lightened.” ”

“ Well, sir, wot d’ee think, the poor boy come back soon after, blubberin’ an’ sobbin’, as nat’ral as if he’d bin an English boy, an’ says he to Tony, says he, ‘Father’s bin an’ took it away from me!’ I wos surprised at this, an’ went right off to see about it, an’ w’en I come to Yambo’s hut wot does I see but the chief pullin’ the string o’ the jumpin’-jack, an’ grinnin’ an’ sniggerin’ like a blue-faced baboon in a passion—his wife likewise standin’ by holdin’ her sides wi’ laughin’. ”

“ Finally, his thoughts reverted to his cottage home, and he fancied himself sitting in the old chimney-corner smoking his pipe and gazing at his wife and Tottie, and his household goods.
“I’ll maybe never see them agin,” he murmured sadly.
For some minutes he did not speak, then he again muttered, while a grieved look overspread his face, “An’ they’ll never know what’s come o’ me! They’ll go on thinkin’ an’ thinkin’, an’ hopin’ an’ hopin’ year after year, an’ their sick hearts’ll find no rest. God help them!” ”