"* Among his forbears had been wild moss-troopers and
cattle-reivers, lairds of their own lands, as powerful as kings
in their own countryside. There were stories enough of their
bold and daring deeds to fill many books, so that we feel that
Walter had been born into a heritage of Romance.
*Leyden.
Walter was a strong, healthy child, but when he was about
eighteen months old he had an illness which left him lame in his
right leg. Everything was done that could be done to restore the
lost power, and although it was partly regained, Scott walked
with a limp to the end of his days. Meanwhile he had a by no
means unhappy childhood. He spent a great deal of time at the
farm belonging to his grandfather. Little Wat was a winsome
laddie, and the whole household loved him. On fine days he was
carried out and laid down among the crags and rocks, beside an
old shepherd who tended his sheep and little Walter too, telling
him strange tales the while--
"Of forayers, who, with headlong force,
Down from that strength had spurr'd their horse,
Their southern rapine to renew,
Far in the distant Cheviots blue,
And, home returning, fill'd the hall
With revel, wassel-rout, and brawl.
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