Autobiography of John Younger: Shoemaker, St. Boswells |
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Page xiii
... proper sense , it is applied to ancient authors who copied from nature , being " the classics of an age that heard of none . ” Without studying them at all , I just start where they started , conceiving that I may as well also copy at ...
... proper sense , it is applied to ancient authors who copied from nature , being " the classics of an age that heard of none . ” Without studying them at all , I just start where they started , conceiving that I may as well also copy at ...
Page xix
... proper language , without having acquired any ideas worth conveyance ; as , in fact , this sort of seclusion loses him the chance of the knowledge gained by every - day experience in the active business of life in contact with the real ...
... proper language , without having acquired any ideas worth conveyance ; as , in fact , this sort of seclusion loses him the chance of the knowledge gained by every - day experience in the active business of life in contact with the real ...
Page 2
... proper view , the wisest of men justly denominated vanity , may not be worthy of remark further than as they tend to shew the native force of the mind , and to explain and account for the casual direction given to its original impulse ...
... proper view , the wisest of men justly denominated vanity , may not be worthy of remark further than as they tend to shew the native force of the mind , and to explain and account for the casual direction given to its original impulse ...
Page 10
... proper to ac- count for my position . My great grandfather , John Younger , was lineally descended from Younger of Haggerstone , in North- humberland ; so that I might trace family as far back as any duke in christendom were it worth ...
... proper to ac- count for my position . My great grandfather , John Younger , was lineally descended from Younger of Haggerstone , in North- humberland ; so that I might trace family as far back as any duke in christendom were it worth ...
Page 2
... proper view , the wisest of men justly denominated vanity , may not be worthy of remark further than as they tend to shew the native force of the mind , and to explain and account for the casual direction given to its original impulse ...
... proper view , the wisest of men justly denominated vanity , may not be worthy of remark further than as they tend to shew the native force of the mind , and to explain and account for the casual direction given to its original impulse ...
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Common terms and phrases
afterwards agreeably amongst amusement auld bird Border Leicester Boswell's Bowden Burns character circumstances claut comfort conceived Corn-Law cottage cottars course Crosslee daily David David Kyle earth Edinburgh Eildon Hills father favour feeling felt fish frae gave give grand ha'e heart hence Highland laddie honour human idea James Thomson Jamie Jedburgh John Buchanan John Younger keep Kelso kind Kyle Kyle's labour laird least life's live Longnewton look marriage Martinmas matter means ment mind moral morning mother nature neighbours never night observed occasionally parish particularly perceive perhaps pleasure poor pounds present principle reason recollect Roxburghshire says seemed seen sister skylark songs song soon soul spirit suppose sympathy taste thing thought tion took trouts Tweed village whole William Kemp winter ye're young youth
Popular passages
Page xiv - They teach the youthful mind to sigh after beauty and happiness which never existed ; to despise the little good which fortune has mixed in our cup, by expecting more than she ever gave ; and in general, take the word of a man who has seen the world, and has studied human nature more by experience than precept ; take my word for it, I say, that books teach us very little of the world.
Page 44 - They, looking back, all the eastern side beheld Of Paradise, so late their happy seat, Waved over by that flaming brand; the gate With dreadful faces thronged and fiery arms. Some natural tears they dropped, but wiped them soon; The world was all before them, where to choose Their place of rest, and Providence their guide.
Page 361 - That light we see is burning in my hall; how far that little candle throws its beams! so shines a good deed in a naughty world...
Page 367 - I do forget to eat my bread. 5 By reason of my groaning voice my bones cleave to my skin. 6 Like pelican in wilderness forsaken I have been : I like an owl in desert am, that nightly there doth moan : 7 I watch, and like a sparrow am on the house-top alone.
Page 130 - Still it lingering haunts the greenest spot On memory's waste. 'Twas odour fled As soon as shed ; 'Twas morning's winged dream ; 'Twas a light, that ne'er can shine again On life's dull stream : Oh ! 'twas light that ne'er can shine again On life's dull stream.
Page 366 - ... strolls among the mantling woods, and kind friends gone away to all the ends of the earth, but dearer than ever in the dim distance. For to the very last he had cherished " Love's youngest hopes, and downy dreams, In memory's light, like glowworm gleams.
Page 369 - The shoemaker of St Boswells,' as he was designated in all parts of Scotland, was an excellent prose writer, a respectable poet, a marvellously gifted man in conversation. His life will be read with great interest ; the simple heartstirring narrative of the life-struggle of a highly-gifted, humble, and honest mechanic, — a life of care, but also a life of virtue.
Page 366 - Mid a' the thoughts that trouble me, The saddest thought of any Is wha may close the other's e'e — May it be me or Nannie? The ane that's left will sairly feel, Amid a world uncanny; I'd rather face auld age mysel
Page 37 - I held out my first little trout : To utter the feelings a' language is vain — But just it was what I can ne'er feel again, Unless in idea : as we rub in life's rust Wearing down into age — ere we drop in the dust — The thoughts of a new birth may weel mak us fain, Were it only a hope to be younglings again ! " Bather a pawkie touch that of John's about the new birth, we are afraid.
Page xii - ... which was much more the effect of use and practice. I do not deny that natural disposition may often give the first rise to it ; but that never carries a man far without use and exercise, and it is practice alone that brings the powers of the mind, as well as those of the body, to their perfection. Many a good poetic vein is buried under a trade, and never produces anything, for want of improvement.