collector of stories,and developed an innovative method of recording what he heard at the feet of local story-tellers using carvings on twigs,to avoid the disapproval ofthose who believed that such stories were neither for writing down nor for printing.At theage of 25 he began to write professionally. translating works from German,[his first publication being rhymed versions ofballads by Gottfried August Burger in 1796.He then published an idiosyncratic three-volume set of collected ballads ofhis adoptedhome region,The Minstrelsy ofthe Scottish Border.This wasthe first sign from a literary standpoint ofhis interest in Scottishhistory. Asa result of his early polio infection,Scott had a pronounced limp.Although a determined walker,on horseback he experienced greater freedom ofmovement.Unable to consider a military career,Scottenlisted as a volunteer in the Ist Lothiar and Border yeomanry.[9]On a trip to the Lake District with old college friends he met Charlotte Genevieve Charpentier(or Carpenter),daughter ofJean Charpentier of Lyon in France, and ward ofLord Downshire in Cumberland.After three weeks of courtship,Scott proposed andthey were married on Christmas Eve 1797.[10]They had five children,of whom only collector of stories, and developed an innovative method of recording what he heard at the feet of local story-tellers using carvings on twigs, to avoid the disapproval of those who believed that such stories were neither for writing down nor for printing. At the age of 25 he began to write professionally, translating works from German,[8] his first publication being rhymed versions of ballads by Gottfried August Bürger in 1796. He then published an idiosyncratic three-volume set of collected ballads of his adopted home region, The Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border. This was the first sign from a literary standpoint of his interest in Scottish history. As a result of his early polio infection, Scott had a pronounced limp. Although a determined walker, on horseback he experienced greater freedom of movement. Unable to consider a military career, Scott enlisted as a volunteer in the 1st Lothian and Border yeomanry.[9]On a trip to the Lake District with old college friends he met Charlotte Genevieve Charpentier (or Carpenter), daughter of Jean Charpentier of Lyon in France, and ward of Lord Downshire in Cumberland. After three weeks of courtship, Scott proposed and they were married on Christmas Eve 1797.[10]They had five children, of whom only