by his Nurse and
others--Byron and the Maid in Green--The Maid's
Keepsake or Charm--Bridge of Balgonie--Byron's fear to
ride over it--His belief in Unlucky Days and
Presentiments--Socrates's Demon--Monk Lewis's
Monitor--Napoleon's Warnings--A Sorrowful Tale--A
Strange Story--Qualities of Mind descending from Sire
to Son--Byron's Fortune told by a Sybil--Hebrew
Camyo--Abracadabra--Loch-na-Garr--Oscar of
Alva--Byron's last Instructions.

Lord Byron, who was taught superstition by his nurse, became
acquainted with the peculiar belief of the Highlanders while, in early
life, he dwelt within sight of "dark Loch-na-Garr." When wandering
about Pannanich, the shepherds told him many strange legends, and the
old dames often enticed him into their huts to amuse him with fairy
tales and witch stories. It was thought by the old crones that the
wonderful boy had communings with more uncanny neighbours than these
simple-minded people, who no more doubted the existence of witches and
fairies than they doubted that the Dee flowed from the mountains to
the sea. If report spoke true, he was often heard in conversation with
intelligent beings, though to ordinary human eyes no other form but
that of his own was seen. After his fame was wide-spread, an old
woman, who lived in a little straw-thatched cottage by the roadside
near Balmoral, declared that she expected that he would enlighten the
world, for she had often seen him with those who could instruct him
and tell him of past and future events. One of those persons, she
said, was a little maid dressed in green, whose beautiful face,
flowing hair, and agile figure were faultless. Frequently was she seen
climbing steep precipices on which human foot was never known to rest,
and bring him flowers, and even the eagles' nests were not beyond her
reach. While the young and middle-aged would wonder who she was, the
aged shook their heads. Whoever the fair little maid was, one thing in
connection with her was exceedingly strange. Either Byron did not know
her relations and home, or, for reasons he kept to himself, he chose
to conceal them. Her merry laugh, clear as the sound of a silver bell,
or her sweet voice in song, was generally what indicated her approach.
At one time she would emerge from a thicket, and rise at another, like
a spectre from behind a rock. Her disappearance was equally
mysterious. At their last parting she gave him a