Sir Walter Scott

                                 Old Mortality

     (Tales of My Landlord collected and arranged by Jedediah Cleishbotham,
                 schoolmaster and parish-clerk of Gandercleugh

                                [First Series])

                           TO HIS LOVING COUNTRYMEN,
                          whether they are denominated
                   Men of the South, Gentlemen of the North,
                      People of the West, or Folk of Fife;
                                  THESE TALES,
                Illustrative of Ancient Scottish Manners, and of
                 the Traditions of Their Respective Districts,
      Are Respectfully Inscribed by Their Friend and Liege Fellow-Subject,
                             JEDEDIAH CLEISHBOTHAM.
 
 Hear, Land o' Cakes and brither Scots,
 Frae Maidenkirk to Johnny Groat's,
 If there's a hole in a' your coats,
 I rede ye tent it;
 A chiel's amang you takin' notes,
 An' faith he'll prent it!
                                                                          Burns.
 
            Ahora bien, dijo el Cura: traedme, senor huésped, aquesos libros,
            que los quiero ver. Que me place, respondió el; y entrando en su
            aposento, sacó dél una maletilla vieja cerrada con una cadenilla, y
            abriéndola, halló en ella tres libros grandes y unos papeles de muy
            buena letra escritos de mano. -
                                              Don Quixote, Parte I. Capitulo 32.
 
            It is mighty well, said the priest: pray, landlord, bring me those
            books, for I have a mind to see them. With all my heart, answered
            the host; and going to his chamber, he brought out a little old
            cloke-bag, with a padlock and chain to it, and opening it, he took
            out three large volumes, and some manuscript papers written in a
            fine character. -
                                                           Jarvis's Translation.
 

                    Introduction to the Tales of My Landlord

              First Series. - The Black Dwarf & Old Mortality.

As I may, without vanity, presume that the name and official description
prefixed to this Proem will secure it, from the sedate and reflecting part of
mankind, to whom only I would be understood to address myself, such attention as
is due to the sedulous instructor of youth, and the careful performer of my
Sabbath duties, I will forbear to hold up a candle to the daylight, or to point
out to the judicious those recommendations of my labours which they must
necessarily anticipate from the perusal of the title-page. Nevertheless, I am
not unaware, that, as Envy always dogs Merit at the heels, there may be those
who will whisper, that albeit my learning and good principles cannot (lauded be
the heavens!) be denied by any one, yet that my situation at Gandercleugh hath
been more favourable to my acquisitions in learning than to the enlargement of
my views of the ways and works