CHAMBERS'S JOURNAL
OF
POPULAR
LITERATURE, SCIENCE, AND ART.

WINDOW WILLIE

A TWEEDSIDE TRADITION, BY W. CHAMBERS, LL.D.

Crossing the tall and narrow old bridge of severalarches which spans the Tweed at Peebles, is seen anaged gentleman riding composedly on a small whitepony. His head is bent droopingly down, as ifmeditating on some important mission. From hisgeneral aspect, he may be a gentleman-farmer,disposed to take things easily at his time of life; orhe may be some retired public official who keeps apony, and in good weather pops about for amusement.His dress has nothing particular about it.He wears a blue coat with metal buttons andcapacious outside pockets. His legs are enduedin buff breeches, white rig-and-fur woollen stockings,and black spats, a kind of short gaiters, overthe ankles. Any one may observe that he is nocommon person. At the end of his watch-chaindangle a gold seal, a Queen Anne sixpence, a smalland very pretty shell, and a flexible watch-key.Instead of using a riding-whip, he has in his righthand a perfectly respectable gold-headed cane,with which he occasionally gives a gentle pat onthe side of the pony. Altogether a creditableaffair, as things went towards the end of lastcentury.

This imposing personage, according to tradition,was proceeding in a southerly direction across thebridge from his residence at Cabbage Hall, onTweed Green, in order to pursue his way downthe right bank of the river to the mansion ofTraquair. It is a pleasant ride of seven toeight miles; and looking to the leisurely progressof the little nag, it is not unlikely he mayreach his destination in an hour and a half. Sofar well. But who is this venerable gentleman?His proper designation is of no consequence.Locally, and somewhat irreverently, he is knownas Window Willie, a man of genial temperament,but who professionally commands a degree ofrespect in the neighbourhood; for he is the districtinspector in relation to the tax on window-lights,and it is not surprising that with all hisgood humour people are a little afraid of him.

Is Window Willie going to inspect windowsin that old weather-beaten château of the Earl ofTraquair? Not at all. He is a chum of the oldEarl, and what his particular business happens t

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