It is said that the farmer who was the cause of
Charlie's death shortly afterwards drowned himself in a peat-hag; and that the
hand with which a butcher in Kilmarnock struck one of the other sheep became
powerless, and withered to the very bone. In the summer of 1769, when she was
passing by New Cumnock, a young man, whose name was William Forsyth, son of a
farmer in the same parish, plagued her so much that she wished he might never
see the morn; upon which he went home and hanged himself in his father's barn.
And I doubt not that many such stories may yet be remembered in other parts
where she had been.«
So far Mr. Train. The Author can only add to this narrative that Feckless Fannie
and her little flock were well known in the pastoral districts.
In attempting to introduce such a character into fiction, the Author felt the
risk of encountering a comparison with the Maria of Sterne; and, besides, the
mechanism of the story would have been as much retarded by Feckless Fannie's
flock as the night march of Don Quixote was delayed by Sancho's tale of the
sheep that were ferried over the river.
The Author has only to add, that notwithstanding the preciseness of his friend
Mr. Train's statement, there may be some hopes that the outrage on Feckless
Fannie and her little flock was not carried to extremity. There is no mention of
any trial on account of it, which, had it occurred in the manner stated, would
have certainly taken place; and the Author has understood that it was on the
Border she was last seen, about the skirts of the Cheviot hills, but without her
little flock.
 
64 In 1725, there was a great riot in Glasgow on account of the malt-tax. Among
the troops brought in to restore order, was one of the independent companies of
Highlanders levied in Argyleshire, and distinguished, in a lampoon of the
period, as »Campbell of Carrick and his Highland thieves.« It was called
Shawfield's Mob, because much of the popular violence was directed against
Daniel Campbell, Esq. of Shawfield, M.P., Provost of the town.
 
65 Her' ship, a Scottish word which may be said to be now obsolete; because,
fortunately, the practice of »plundering by armed force,« which is its meaning,
does not require to be commonly spoken of.
 
66 This exploit seems to have been one in which Patrick Walker prided himself
not a little; and there is reason to fear, that