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to his mis…shapen finlike feet； but always had both feet and legs quite
concealed； and wrapt up with pieces of cloth。 He always walked with a
sort of pole or pike…staff； considerably taller than himself。 His habits
were； in many respects； singular； and indicated a mind congenial to its
uncouth tabernacle。 A jealous； misanthropical； and irritable temper； was
his prominent characteristic。 The sense of his deformity haunted him like
a phantom。 And the insults and scorn to which this exposed him； had
poisoned his heart with fierce and bitter feelings； which； from other points
in his character； do not appear to have been more largely infused into his
original temperament than that of his fellow…men。
〃He detested children； on account of their propensity to insult and
persecute him。 To strangers he was generally reserved； crabbed； and
surly； and though he by no means refused assistance or charity； he seldom
either expressed or exhibited much gratitude。 Even towards persons who
had been his greatest benefactors； and who possessed the greatest share of
his good… will； he frequently displayed much caprice and jealousy。 A
lady who had known him from his infancy； and who has furnished us in
the most obliging manner with some particulars respecting him； says； that
although Davie showed as much respect and attachment to her father's
family； as it was in his nature to show to any； yet they were always obliged
to be very cautious in their deportment towards him。 One day； having
gone to visit him with another lady； he took them through his garden； and
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THE BLACK DWARF
was showing them； with much pride and good…humour； all his rich and
tastefully assorted borders； when they happened to stop near a plot of
cabbages which had been somewhat injured by the caterpillars。 Davie；
observing one of the ladies smile； instantly assumed his savage； scowling
aspect； rushed among the cabbages； and dashed them to pieces with his
KENT； exclaiming； 'I hate the worms； for they mock me！'
〃Another lady； likewise a friend and old acquaintance of his； very
unintentionally gave David mortal offence on a similar occasion。
Throwing back his jealous glance as he was ushering her into his garden；
he fancied he observed her spit； and exclaimed； with great ferocity； 'Am I a
toad； woman！ that ye spit at methat ye spit at me？' and without
listening to any answer or excuse； drove her out of his garden with
imprecations and insult。 When irritated by persons for whom he
entertained little respect； his misanthropy displayed itself in words； and
sometimes in actions； of still greater rudeness； and he used on such
occasions the most unusual and singularly savage imprecations and
threats。〃 ＇SCOTS MAGAZINE； vol。 lxxx。 p。207。＇
Nature maintains a certain balance of good and evil in all her works；
and there is no state perhaps so utterly desolate； which does not possess
some source of gratification peculiar to itself； This poor man； whose
misanthropy was founded in a sense on his own preternatural deformity；
had yet his own particular enjoyments。 Driven into solitude； he became
an admirer of the beauties of nature。 His garden； which he sedulously
cultivated； and from a piece of wild moorland made a very productive spot；
was his pride and his delight； but he was also an admirer of more natural
beauty： the soft sweep of the green hill； the bubbling of a clear fountain；
or the complexities of a wild thicket； were scenes on which he often gazed
for hours； and； as he said； with inexpressible delight。 It was perhaps for
this reason that he was fond of Shenstone's pastorals； and some parts of
PARADISE LOST。 The author has heard his most unmusical voice
repeat the celebrated description of Paradise； which he seemed fully to
appreciate。 His other studies were of a different cast； chiefly polemical。
He never went to the parish church； and was therefore suspected of
entertaining heterodox opinions； though his objection was probably to the
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THE BLACK DWARF
concourse of spectators； to whom he must have exposed his unseemly
deformity。 He spoke of a future state with intense feeling； and even with
tears。 He expressed disgust at the idea； of his remains being mixed with
the common rubbish； as he called it； of the churchyard； and selected with
his usual taste a beautiful and wild spot in the glen where he had his
hermitage； in which to take his last repose。 He changed his mind；
however； and was finally interred in the common burial… ground of Manor
parish。
The author has invested Wise Elshie with some qualities which made
him appear； in the eyes of the vulgar； a man possessed of supernatural
power。 Common fame paid David Ritchie a similar compliment； for
some of the poor and ignorant； as well as all the children； in the
neighbourhood； held him to be what is called uncanny。 He himself did
not altogether discourage the idea； it enlarged his very limited circle of
power； and in so far gratified his conceit； and it soothed his misanthropy；
by increasing his means of giving terror or pain。 But even in a rude
Scottish glen thirty years back； the fear of sorcery was very much out of
date。
David Ritchie affected to frequent solitary scenes； especially such as
were supposed to be haunted； and valued himself upon his courage in
doing so。 To be sure he had little chance of meeting anything more ugly
than himself。 At heart； he was superstitious； and planted many rowans
（mountain ashes） around his hut； as a certain defence against necromancy。
For the same reason； doubtless； he desired to have rowan…trees set above
his grave。
We have stated that David Ritchie loved objects of natural beauty。
His only living favourites we