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child； if it proveth worthy； the parent hath honour and praise； but； if
otherwise； the disgrace will deservedly attach to itself alone。
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THE BLACK DWARF
I have only further to intimate； that Mr。 Peter Pattieson； in arranging
these Tales for the press； hath more consulted his own fancy than the
accuracy of the narrative； nay； that he hath sometimes blended two or
three stories together for the mere grace of his plots。 Of which infidelity；
although I disapprove and enter my testimony against it； yet I have not
taken upon me to correct the same； in respect it was the will of the
deceased； that his manuscript should be submitted to the press without
diminution or alteration。 A fanciful nicety it was on the part of my
deceased friend； who； if thinking wisely； ought rather to have conjured me；
by all the tender ties of our friendship and common pursuits； to have
carefully revised； altered； and augmented； at my judgment and discretion。
But the will of the dead must be scrupulously obeyed； even when we weep
over their pertinacity and self…delusion。 So； gentle reader； I bid you
farewell； recommending you to such fare as the mountains of your own
country produce； and I will only farther premise； that each Tale is
preceded by a short introduction； mentioning the persons by whom； and
the circumstances under which； the materials thereof were collected。
JEDEDIAH CLEISHBOTHAM。
*
II。 INTRODUCTION to THE
BLACK DWARF。
The ideal being who is here presented as residing in solitude； and
haunted by a consciousness of his own deformity； and a suspicion of his
being generally subjected to the scorn of his fellow…men； is not altogether
imaginary。 An individual existed many years since； under the author's
observation； which suggested such a character。 This poor unfortunate
man's name was David Ritchie； a native of Tweeddale。 He was the son
of a labourer in the slate…quarries of Stobo； and must have been born in the
misshapen form which he exhibited； though he sometimes imputed it to
ill…usage when in infancy。 He was bred a brush…maker at Edinburgh； and
had wandered to several places； working at his trade； from all which he
was chased by the disagreeable attention which his hideous singularity of
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THE BLACK DWARF
form and face attracted wherever he came。 The author understood him to
say he had even been in Dublin。
Tired at length of being the object of shouts； laughter； and derision；
David Ritchie resolved； like a deer hunted from the herd； to retreat to
some wilderness； where he might have the least possible communication
with the world which scoffed at him。 He settled himself； with this view；
upon a patch of wild moorland at the bottom of a bank on the farm of
Woodhouse； in the sequestered vale of the small river Manor； in
Peeblesshire。 The few people who had occasion to pass that way were
much surprised； and some superstitious persons a little alarmed； to see so
strange a figure as Bow'd Davie （i。e。 Crooked David） employed in a task；
for which he seemed so totally unfit； as that of erecting a house。 The
cottage which he built was extremely small； but the walls； as well as those
of a little garden that surrounded it； were constructed with an ambitious
degree of solidity； being composed of layers of large stones and turf； and
some of the corner stones were so weighty； as to puzzle the spectators how
such a person as the architect could possibly have raised them。 In fact；
David received from passengers； or those who came attracted by curiosity；
a good deal of assistance； and as no one knew how much aid had been
given by others； the wonder of each individual remained undiminished。
The proprietor of the ground； the late Sir James Naesmith； baronet；
chanced to pass this singular dwelling； which； having been placed there
without right or leave asked or given； formed an exact parallel with
Falstaff's simile of a 〃fair house built on another's ground；〃 so that poor
David might have lost his edifice by mistaking the property where he had
erected it。 Of course； the proprietor entertained no idea of exacting such
a forfeiture； but readily sanctioned the harmless encroachment。
The personal description of Elshender of Mucklestane…Moor has been
generally allowed to be a tolerably exact and unexaggerated portrait of
David of Manor Water。 He was not quite three feet and a half high； since
he could stand upright in the door of his mansion； which was just that
height。 The following particulars concerning his figure and temper occur
in the SCOTS MAGAZINE for 1817； and are now understood to have
been communicated by the ingenious Mr。 Robert Chambers of Edinburgh；
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THE BLACK DWARF
who has recorded with much spirit the traditions of the Good Town； and；
in other publications； largely and agreeably added to the stock of our
popular antiquities。 He is the countryman of David Ritchie； and had the
best access to collect anecdotes of him。
〃His skull；〃 says this authority； 〃which was of an oblong and rather
unusual shape； was said to be of such strength； that he could strike it with
ease through the panel of a door； or the end of a barrel。 His laugh is said
to have been quite horrible； and his screech…owl voice； shrill； uncouth； and
dissonant； corresponded well with his other peculiarities。
〃There was nothing very uncommon about his dress。 He usually
wore an old slouched hat when he went abroad； and when at home； a sort
of cowl or night…cap。 He never wore shoes； being unable to adapt them
to his mis…shapen finlike feet； but always had both feet and legs quite
concealed； and