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Mr. Thomas Usher was born at II Brown Square, Edinburgh (then a fashionable locality, shortly afterwards partly removed in connection with the formation of George IV. Bridge) on 11th February, 1826, so that he has already passed the allotted span, but his spare form and undiminished energy, and mental vigour, promise that he may yet have many years of health and usefulness before him. His father was James Usher, S.S.C., eldest son of the last Usher of Toftfield, so that Mr. Usher is entitled to precedence as being the head of the Usher family. His father died at the early age

received an appointment in the County Buildings (Justice of Peace Department) and a few years later obtained a transfer to the Edinburgh Sheriff Court House where he has remained ever since, and where he still performs the duties of his office. His wife, Eliza Macfarlane, died about four years ago leaving him with two sons and two daughters.

As a young man, Mr. Usher took much interest in Literary and Debating Societies, filling the offices both of secretary and chairman, and prepared and read numerous essays and papers on different subjects. One of these

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of 43. His mother was Mary Gray, daughter of the Rev. Thomas Gray, minister of Broughton, Peeblesshire, and thus on both sides Mr. Usher is a Borderer. When still a lad, Mr. Usher spent two seasons at Tweedsmuir Manse, the home of his maternal aunt, wife of the minister of that parish, and it was there his love for Tweedside and the Borderland was first awakened, a love which has never weakened, but has gone on increasing until at last it is the ruling feature of his existence.

After being educated in Dr. Andrew's School, in Nicolson Square, and elsewhere, Mr. Usher

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societies, in which he played a conspicuous part, was the Edinburgh Young Men's, and while connected with it, he arranged for lectures by such well known men as George Combe, Rev. Dr. Maurice, Rev. Dr. Robert Lee, Dr. George Wilson, Rev. Geo. Gilfillan and other celebrities. It was while chairman of this society that he gave his first public support to the Free Library movement a movement which he has since consistently advocated. He assisted at the two unsuccessful plebiscites in Edinburgh prior to Mr. Carnegie's donation of £50,000, which ultimately induced the rate-payers to adopt the

Act; and in connection with the application of the Act to rural districts, he had a correspondence with Sir George O. Trevelyan, then Secretary for Scotland, which resulted in the Consolidating Act of 1887. The last Act (1894) which enables Town Councils to adopt the Free Library system after notice and without a meeting or poll, introduced by Mr. Dalziel in the House of Commons, and by Lord Tweedmouth in the House of Lords, was also largely the result of his labours.

In ecclesiastical matters, Mr. Usher has always taken a broad and liberal view, and has advocated the "voluntary principle," although

work he has devoted an amount of energy, perseverance, and patient, ungrudging toil, of the amount of which few can form any just conception, and which should receive for him the gratitude of all true Borderers. His best reward, however, is to be found in the success and prosperity of the Association for which he has done so much. The history of its inception is interesting. Spending a pleasant holiday at Glenluce, in Wigtonshire, he one day saw at a friend's house a number of handsome books sent by the Galloway Association for distribution as prizes to the school children. At once the thought struck him, why has Roxburgh not such

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connected with the Established Church. He is a member of his friend Mr. Oliver's congregation at Portobello, and frequently attends Old Greyfriars on Sunday evenings, to hear Dr. Glasse, with many of whose views he is in sympathy. He was a member of Presbytery for several years, during the "Lee Controversy,' and always supported, and sometimes spoke in favour of what were then considered "innovations," but are now recognised common practices.

But it is in connection with his work as Secretary of the Edinburgh Border Counties. Association, that Mr. Usher's claim to a place in the Border Magazine chiefly rests. To that

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an Association? On his return to town, he ventilated the subject in the Daily Review, and received a hearty response. Berwick and Selkirk claimed admittance, and ultimately the Association was formed on its present basis in the year 1865-the town of Berwick-on-Tweed being admitted a few years later at the request of its then Mayor, Mr Purvis, and Dr. M'Laggan. Mr. Usher was elected Secretary, a position for which his previous training peculiarly fitted him, and which he has held ever since. Chief among those who assisted at these first meetings was Mr. R. D. Turnbull, of the National Bank, who did much good work, and was elected first

Treasurer of the Association. Mr. A. S. Michie of the Royal Bank, now in Glasgow, Mr. George Tait, Edinburgh, Mr. Arthur Dickson, now Solicitor, Montrose, Mr. John Telfer, now President of the Edinburgh Borderers' Union, and several others, took part in those early meetings. Launched under most favourable auspices, with such men as Lord Jerviswoode, Mr. Campbell Swinton, of Kimmerghame, and Lord Tweedmouth, as Presidents, Sir David Brewster, Mr. Milne-Home, of Milne-Graden, Professor Veitch, Sir George B. Douglas, Bart., etc., as Vice-Presidents, and Mr. Thomas Knox, J.P., Mr. Nenion Elliot, S.S.C., Clerk of Teinds,

to mention that during all these years, not only has the Association been distributing large numbers of Book Prizes throughout the Border Schools, but year by year, it has been granting Bursaries, and Technical Scholarships, to the very best Border scholars, enabling them to continue their education, and qualify themselves for higher positions in life. Their yearly excursions have familiarised the members with the best of Border scenery, history and romance, while the annual dinner has promoted social feelings and good fellowship. But there are several outstanding features, not falling under the ordinary working of the Association, yet

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and Mr. Jas. S. Mack, of Coveyheugh, as Chairmen of Council, the career of the Association has been one of continued advancement and prosperity, until it has now a membership of 520, (including not only all the leading Borderers in Edinburgh, but most of the leading landed Proprietors, Manufacturers, Solicitors, and Merchants, in the Border Counties), and accumulated funds amounting to something like £2,500. During these years, the history of the Association, and the history of Mr. Usher, are inseparably connected, and we propose to leave it to some abler and better qualified pen than ours to tell the story. Suffice it now merely

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intimately associated therewith, and in these, Mr. Usher has nobly borne his share of work. We refer to such matters as the celebration of the Sir Walter Scott centenary, in 1871, the John Leyden centenary, in 1875, the Sir David Brewster centenary, in 1881, and the Thomas Carlyle centenary, last year. In all these, Mr. Usher acted as Secretary to the Committees of Management. The "Scott" centenary was the first and largest, and was a magnificent success. The work which it entailed upon the Secretary, including, as it did, correspondence with public and literary men throughout the world, must have been enormous, and nothing but his love

for Scott and the Borderland could have enabled him to carry it through. As he remarks in his history above mentioned, "It was curious to see the eldest grandson of the last Laird of Toftfield, Secretary to Sir Walter's centenary celebration, and labouring to do his memory and reputation all the honour possible." The "Leyden" and "Brewster" celebrations were carried through under the auspices of the Association alone, and the "Carlyle" one with the assistance of the Dumfriesshire, and other County Associations interested. Other special matters worthy of note are the Handicrafts' Exhibition, at Hawick, in 1887, the purchase of the Rhymer's Tower, at Earlston, which was inaugurated last year, and the purchase of Leyden's Cottage, at Denholm, which is to be celebrated in August next. In all these matters, Mr. Usher's services have been given freely and ungrudgingly, and they truly have been "labours of love.'

Tested by ordinary standards of worldly wisdom, Mr. Usher's life may not have been so successful as some of his contemporaries, but he has the satisfaction in his declining years of looking back on a life, not of sordid striving for the accumulation of wealth and personal advancement, but of ceaseless activity and earnest work for the benefit of his fellowmen, a record of work which few can equal. And he retains not only his own self respect, but the respect and gratitude of his fellow Borderers, and while the Edinburgh Border Counties Association endures, the name of Thomas Usher will not be forgotten.

The Auld kirk Bell.

ROBABLY the readers of The Border Magazine may be interested in the accompanying verses on "The Auld Kirk Bell.”

They were composed by John Halliday, author of "The Rustic Bard," published in Galashiels during the year 1847. Mr. Halliday was born in the neighbourhood of Hawick in the year 1821, and began to write verses at an early age, his contributions being accepted by journals principally of local circulation. His poems and songs found general appreciation, and he was urged by his friends to form them into a collection and send them forth to the public. This he did in the volume already mentioned. It is a well got up volume; but there are, in the letterpress, evidences of insufficient revision either before or during the process of printing. Consequently blemishes appear, grammatical and otherwise, that might have been avoided had a little more care been exercised. The

author still lives, and the writer has frequently urged him to issue a new and revised edition of his poems, adding others that have seen the light only in fugitive forms. It is hoped that this may yet be accomplished. The poet removed from the Border district to Bridge of Allan in 1854. For some years he has resided in Stirling, where he enjoys a vigorous and hearty old age, his interest in literature, and especially in poetry, being unabated. Few have a more intimate knowledge of the ballad poetry of Scotland than he, and his command of the native Doric is extensive-the local press being witness to his occasional contributions both in poetry and prose. An ardent disciple of Isaac Walton, the stalwart form of our poet is wellknown on the banks of the Forth and the Allan, and even farther afield.

Now, however, for the poem itself which is as follows:

IN a howm, by a burn, where the broon birks grow,
And the green ferns nod when the wild winds blow,
Stands the roofless kirk in the auld kirkyaird,
Where the gowans earliest gem the swaird;
And the grey, grey moss in ilk cauld throchstane
Shrouds in oblivion the lang, lang gane;
Where the ance warm heart is a cauld, cauld clod,
And the beauteous and brave lend a green to the
sod,-

On a time-worn tower where the dun owls dwell,
Tuneless and torn hangs the auld kirk-bell.
On the auld kirk floor is the damp night-dew;
Where warm words flow'd in a worship true
To the sigh o' the breeze, and the hum o' the bee
As it wings and sings in its taintless glee,
Through the nettles dank to the thistles red
That thickly wave o'er each deep dark bed.
And it plies its task on the wall-flowers tall,
That wave in the choir and bloom on the wall;
Then soaring away, with a sweep and a swell,
It covers its combs in the auld kirk-bell.
By the crumbling base of the auld kirk tower,
Is the broad-leaved dock, and the bright brae-flower:
And adders hiss o'er the lime-bound stones,
And playfully writhe round mouldering bones:
The bat clingeth close to the bind-wood root,
Where its gnarled boughs up the belfry shoot;
As, hiding the hand-works of ruthless time,
It garlands in grandeur and green sublime
The hoary height where the rust sae fell,
Bends as with a burden the auld kirk-bell.
Oh, red is the rust! for ruin hath come
To the auld kirk-bell-ance and ever 'tis dumb!
On the brink o' the past 'tis awaiting its tomb;
For a waff o' the wind may awaken its doom;
And bearing its fragments all dust-like away
To blend with the water, the wood, and the clay,
Till lost in the changes of manners and men,
Nane will remember-ne'er ane will ken-
That a joyfu' jowl and a waefu' knell
As it swung ha'e been sung by the auld kirk-bell.

A. W.

Border Battles and Battlefields.

BY JAMES ROBSON,

Author of "Churches and Churchyards of Teviotdale,” etc. NO. II. BATTLE OF OTTERBURN.

Fought 19th August, 1388.

"A Douglas dead his name hath won the field."

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'HE story of Otterburn is one of sustaining interest throughout. There are chivalry, patriotic fervour, heroism and tragedy mingling together, each playing its respective part and culminating in the game of carnage which closed over a dead Douglas.

It is the old, and oft-repeated story; that of a petty quarrel between two powerful Border chiefs. For the possession of a silken pennon 2,000 men perished in the struggle. Douglas and Percy are names inseparably bound up in the romance and chivalry of Border song and story. In this instance history affords clear and ample evidence of how the influence of a great name, even when its owner is stricken down, may lead to victory and triumph over greatly superior numbers.

It

The Scots in this instance were the aggressors. On the part of the weaker nation this aggressive system of warfare was simply a form of selfdefence. As an eminent historian aptly puts it-"The best security for Scotland lay in being mischievous and dangerous to England." must be admitted, however, that Scotland, at this particular period, had little to fear from her more powerful neighbour. Owing to serious family disputes the government of Richard II. was paralysed. France, also, was threatening an invasion of England on a larger scale; while in the northern counties two of the most powerful English chiefs-Percy and Neville-were at feud with each other. The opportunity, however, was too tempting to be lightly thrown away, and the Scots speedily assembled a large and wellequipped army.

Early in the month of August, 1388, the Scottish force, numbering something like 30,000 men, met in the forest of Jedburgh to plan an incursion into England. The leading men and chiefs assembled in the church of Southdean, near the western base of the Cheviot hills, 10 miles south of Jedburgh. [The foundations and outline of this identical church are still traceable, and raised several feet above the general level of the ground. The building became a ruin in 1689]. Here the leaders earnestly deliberated as to the best and safest method to adopt in invading the enemy's territory. Whilst thus engaged they captured an English spy, from whom they elicited such information bearing on the condition and movements of the English forces as enabled them to decide on a definite

course of action. They divided the army into two portions; the one, and that by far the more numerous, took its way to the right in the direction of Carlisle. The other ascended the Cheviots by the Reidswire. It is with the latter division alone that we have to do. It consisted of about 400 knights, squires, and men-at-arms, with 2,000 infantry, all well mounted. These, together with servants and camp-followers, would make up the total to something like 6,000 men. This force was under the command of James, Earl of Douglas, with such other noted chiefs as George, Earl of March and Dunbar; John, Earl of Moray; Sir James Lindsay, Sir Alexander Ramsay, Sir John Montgomery, Sir Patrick Hepburn, Sir John Swinton, etc.

Cautiously and stealthily they marched across. the Border, over the Carter Fell, down Redesdale, and, without check or hindrance, penetrated beyond the centre of Durham. Thus far they had not struck a single blow or fired a solitary rick or dwelling. Then they commenced the work of plunder and destruction. Soon their whole line of march was marked by the smoke of villages and farm houses, while cattle and other spoil were seized and carried off by the raiders. Tidings of these things spread abroad, and soon reached the ears of Sir Henry Percy, warden of the Marches. He, along with his brother, Sir Ralph Percy, set out from Alnwick with a considerable force to check the ravages of the Scottish army. Douglas, in the meantime, having laid waste a great part of Durham, and seized immense quantities of booty, was returning northward, when he met Percy at Newcastle. The two armies were stationed at a considerable distance from each other; the English within, and the Scots without the town. Several skirmishes occurred between the hostile forces, in which the leaders on either side took part. It so happened that in one of these, Douglas and Percy, each mounted on horseback, met and engaged in single combat. Douglas drove his opponent from the saddle, and, snatching from him his spear with the silken pennon attached, waved it above his head, and boldly declared that he would carry it into Scotland and plant it on his castle at Dalkeith. Mortified and exceedingly grieved at his loss, Percy exclaimed-"That shalt thou never do, Earl Douglas." To which, with equal warmth, the latter replied "Then you must come and seek it to-night, for I shall place it in the ground before my tent, and we will see if you will venture to take it away." The Scots followed up this success by an attempt to force an entrance into the town, but were driven back with considerable loss.

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