Note 18 — MY FATHER’S MEMOIR. A LETTER TO JOHN CAIRNS, D. D.

Well do I remember when driving him from Melrose to Kelso long ago, we came near Sandyknowe, that grim tower of Smailholm standing erect like a warder turned to stone, defying time and change his bursting into that noble ballad— “The Baron of Smaylho’me rose with day, He spurr’d his courser on, Without stop or stay, down the rocky way, That leads to Brotherstone;” and pointing out the “Watchfold height,” “the eiry Beacon Hill,” and “Brotherstone.” Return