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Waverly Novels: The fair maid of Perth. Anne of Geierstein
Waverly Novels The fair maid of Perth Anne of Geierstein Author:Walter Scott Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: " Locks and bara, plough-graith and harrow-teeth!—and why not grates and fire- prongs, and Culross girdles, and an ass to carry the merchandise through the coun... more »try —and thou for another ass to lead it by the halter ? Why, Catharine, girl, has sense altogether forsaken thee, or dost thou think that in these hard and iron days, men will give ready silver for any thing save that which can defend their own life, or enable them to take that of their enemy? We want swords to protect ourselves every moment now, thou silly wench, and not ploughs to dress the ground for the grain we may never see rise. As for the matter of our daily bread, those who are strong seize it, and live; those who are weak yield it, and die of hunger. Happy is the man who, like my worthy son, has means of obtaining his living otherwise than by the point of the sword which he makes. Preach peace to him as much as thou wilt—I will never be he will say thee nay ; but as for bidding the first armourer in Scotland forego the forging of swords, curtal- axes, and harness, it is enough to drive patience itself mad—Out from my sight!—and next morning I prithee remember, that shouldst thou have the luck to see Henry the Smith, which is more than thy usage of him has deserved, you see a man who has not his match in Scotland at the use of broadsword and battle-axe, and who can work for five hundred marks a year, without breaking a holyday." The daughter, on hearing her father speak thus peremptorily, made a low obeisance, and, without further good-night, withdrew to the chamber which was her usual sleeping apartment. The girdle is the thin plate of iron used for the manufacture of the staple luxury of Scotland, the oaten cake. The town of Culross v ,ts long celebrated for its girdles. Whence cometh Smith, be he kni...« less