Scotland/Scots > Wilson's tales of the Borders and of Scotland > Volume 3

THE SNOW STORM.
147
very good eondition, in such a state as my neighbour could
not object to, for about fifty pounds. Now, gentlemen,
this was precisely equal to two years’ rent of my house;
and, I thought, rather too large a price to pay for the
good will of my neighbour; and I resisted, at the same
Sime referring him to my landlord. My landlord said he
had nothing to do with it, and that I must settle the affair
with Mr. T the best way I could. Well, I took advice
in the matter, for I thought it looked very like a conspiracy
against my simplicity and good nature; and was advised
by all means to resist. The result was, that my neighbour,
Mr. T , immediately commenced a suit against me;
and, in my own defence, I was compelled to raise an action
of relief against my landlord; so that, when I returned to
town, I brought with me from my sweet, calm, peaceable
retirement, a couple of full-blown law pleas of the most pro¬
mising dimensions. Who would have thought it—who would
have dreamt it—that, in this seclusion, this desert, as I may
call it, I should have got involved in such a world of trou¬
bles ? Well, gentlemen, what do you think was the result ?
Why, both cases were given against me. In the one, I had to
pay costs—and in the other, to pay costs and repair the
drain too; and (added the melancholy gentleman with a
sigh) I am at this moment on my way to Edinburgh to pay
the last instalment of these ruinous and iniquitious claims.”
And, with this, the melancholy gentleman ended the sad
story of his sufferings.
We all pitied him from our hearts, and each in his own
way offered him the condolence that his case demanded.
He thanked us for the sympathy we expressed, and said
that he felt encouraged by it to ask our advice as to how
he should conduct himself in future, so as to obtain the
peace and quiet he so earnestly desired.
u What would you recommend me to do, gentlemen—•
where would you advise me to go,” he said, in an implor-