Although it would be impossible to add much to Mrs. Goldie's picturesqueand most interesting account of Helen Walker, the prototype of theimaginary Jeanie Deans, the Editor may be pardoned for introducing two orthree anecdotes respecting that excellent person, which he has collectedfrom a volume entitled, _Sketches from Nature,_ by John M'Diarmid, agentleman who conducts an able provincial paper in the town of Dumfries.
Helen was the daughter of a small farmer in a place called Dalwhairn, inthe parish of Irongray; where, after the death of her father, shecontinued, with the unassuming piety of a Scottish peasant, to supporther mother by her own unremitted labour and privations; a case so common,that even yet, I am proud to say, few of my countrywomen would shrinkfrom the duty.
Helen Walker was held among her equals _pensy,_ that is, proud orconceited; but the facts brought to prove this accusation seem only toevince a strength of character superior to those around her. Thus it wasremarked, that when it thundered, she went with her work and her Bible tothe front of the cottage, alleging that the Almighty could smite in thecity as well as in the field.
Mr. M'Diarmid mentions more particularly the misfortune of her sister,which he supposes to have taken place previous to 1736. Helen Walker,declining every proposal of saving her relation's life at the expense oftruth, borrowed a sum of money sufficient for her journey, walked thewhole distance to London barefoot, and made her way to John Duke ofArgyle. She was heard to say, that, by the Almighty strength, she hadbeen enabled to meet the Duke at the most critical moment, which, iflost, would have caused the inevitable forfeiture of her sister's life.
Isabella, or Tibby Walker, saved from the fate which impended over her,was married by the person who had wronged her (named Waugh), and livedhappily for great part of a century, uniformly acknowledging theextraordinary affection to which she owed her preservation.
Helen Walker died about the end of the year 1791, and her remains areinterred in the churchyard of her native parish of Irongray, in aromantic cemetery on the banks of the Cairn. That a character sodistinguished for her undaunted love of virtue, lived and died inpoverty, if not want, serves only to show us how insignificant, in thesight of Heaven, are our principal objects of ambition upon earth.