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Indiana University Studies 



latter's strong mind became rapidly burdened with diversified 

 facts and examples of the best literary expression in the lan- 

 guage, details which it tenaciously retained. Before long the 

 difficulties in reading which a short time before had caused 

 him to lose track of the lines in rhyme disappeared altogether. 

 His companionable intercourse with Mr. Laidlaw's son Wil- 

 liam, Sir Walter Scott's amanuensis, his beloved 'Willie" 

 Laidlaw, not only sharpened Hogg's intellectual powers and 

 refined his literary taste, but also eventually procured for him 

 the introduction to Sir Walter Scott upon which depended so 

 much of the Shepherd's future success. 



Hogg's personal appearance at this time is well described 

 by his brother William : 



Four and fifty years ago when Hogg was nineteen years of age, his 

 face was fair, round, and ruddy, with big blue eyes that beamed with 

 humour, gaiety, and glee. And he was not only then, but throughout his 

 chequered life, blessed with strong health, and the most exuberant ani- 

 mal spirits. His height was a little above the average size, his form at 

 that period was of faultless symmetry, which nature had endowed with 

 almost unequalled agility and swiftness of foot. His head was covered 

 with a sing-ular profusion of light brown hair, which he usually wore 

 coiled up under his hat. When he used to enter church on Sunday (of 

 which he was at all times a regular attendant), after lifting his hat he 

 used to raise his right hand to his hair to assist a shake of the head, 

 when his long hair fell over his loins, and every female eye at least was 

 turned upon him as with a light step he ascended to the gallery, where 

 he usually sat.*^ 



For several years Hogg led an uneventful life at Black- 

 house. In 1793 he made his first trip to the Highlands, 

 journeying thither in charge of a flock of sheep which he de- 

 livered at Strathfillan in Perthshire. 1796 is the year in 

 which his Autobiography says that his literary career began.^* 



The first time that I attempted to write verses was in the spring of 

 the year 1796, Mr. Laidlaw, having a number of valuable books, which 

 were all open to my perusal, I about this time began to read with con- 

 siderable attention — and no sooner did I begin to read so as to under- 

 stand, than, rather prematurely, I began to write. For several years 

 my compositions consisted wholly of songs and ballads made up for the 

 lasses to sing in chorus; and a proud man I was when I first heard the 

 rosy nymphs chaunting my uncooth strains, and jeering me by the still 

 dearer appellation of "Jamie the poeter". 



I had no more difficulty in composing songs then than I have at pres- 

 ent; and I was equally well pleased with them. But then the writing 



"Quoted by Mrs. Garden, page 21. 

 ^* See page 12. 



