More Bits from Blinkbonny. ... Second edition

Front matter

MORE BITS FROM BLINKBONNY. .•RENTED BY MORRISON AND GIBB, EDINBURGH FOR OLIPHANT, ANDERSON, & F ERR IER. LONDON, .... HAMILTON, ADAMS, AND CO. NANCIES KNOWE Frontispiece MORE BITS FROM BLINKBONNY A TALE OF SCOTTISH VILLAGE LIFE BETWEEN 1831 AND 1841 BY JOHN STRATHESK AUTHOR OF 'BITS FROM BLINKBONNY,' 'LITTLE BLUEBIRD,' 'ELDER LOGAN'S STORY ABOUT THE KIRKS,' AND ( MISS dRAHAM'S PROTEGS ' fflJIttf. &tx (Original Illustrations SECOND EDITION EDINBURGH OLIPHANT, ANDERSON, & FERRIER LONDON : HAMILTON, ADAMS, & CO. All Rights reserved.

Preface

. MANY of the readers of tlie volume, Bits from Blinkbonny, which appeared in 1882, have urged the author to tell them something more about the homely inhabitants and old-fashioned ways of that rural Scottish village. Other and perhaps wiser readers have advised him to beware of risking another volume, fortifying their opinion by reminding him " that ' Uncle Tom ' had no brother." Unquestionably, in Uncle Tom's Cabin, Mrs. H. Beecher Stowe, with almost magical genius, sounded chords that thrilled the bosom of humanity ; and, to use the words of her late gifted and loving compatriot, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, "When she passed, it seemed like the ceasing of most exquisite music." Still her Sunny Memories of Foreign Lands, Bred, etc., have alike their place and power in literature, as truly as the modest lily of the valley and tlie sweet forget-me-not amongst flowei's are, to some minds, as beautiful

PREFACE.

. VI and as suggestive as the rose, queen of the garden though she be. In the following " More Bits," the author, reversing the natural order, treats of an earlier decade — -1 831-41. He has not such a soul-stirring background as the "Disruption" of 1843, nor such a lovable heroine (pardon .the expression) as "Bell o' the Manse;" ami perhaps " Earlier Bits " would have been a more ap propriate title, for he has endeavoured to portray schoolboy days and those of earlier manhood. As a natural consequence, he deals with more homely individuals and incidents, not placing before himself such an ambitious ideal as the eminent Royal Academician's style of painting in " Bits," which suggested his first title, but rather the old-fashioned patched bedcover, made up of common materials of all shapes, sizes, and shades, which now graces Bell's — I beg her pardon — Mrs. Tait of Blackbrae's cosy back bedroom.

The autlior has the same difficulty as formerly in fixing the precise locality of Blinkbonny. To him it has a " name," but no local habitation. Scotch villages, while they may not supply heroes or heroines, can still furnish " characters " and events. In these, the humorous and pathetic aspects of human life are so closely intermixed, that, " to hold the

PREFACE.

. VII mirror up to nature," they must often be recorded side by side. At all events, the author has been led to do this, in his endeavours to arrest and to embody in the " mother tongue " these receding memorials of the past and passing generations. He has tried to make this volume so far inde pendent of its precursor, as not to render it necessary for the reader of the one to have read the other. He also gladly avails himself of this opportunity to convey his most sincere thanks to the public, and to the " press," for the warm reception which has been accorded, at home and abroad, to Bits from Blinkbonny, and to its heroine, " Bell o' the Manse." Not least to the Comtesse Agenor de la Gasparin, for her spon taneous request to put the book into a French dress, which she has so admirably done, in Le Pasteur de Blinkbonny, son troupcau, sa fe mine, et sa servante. AGE 1 IS CONTENTS.

Chapter I. Auld Langs Yne

Nancic's Knowe — Andrew Taylor on Blinkbonny and StrathlioDiiy — Memory's Blotslieet — Tibbie Murray — Tibbie's Ark — Trampin' Blankets — Lockhart's School — Big Murray, Willie Eankine, and the Squirrel— Strachan Gemmell — Tibbie's Courtship, Marriage, and Wedding Feast— Sensible Folk,

Chapter II. The Parish School

.Mr. Torrance — Bible Lessons — The Proverbs — No Smoking allowed — "It'll be Sair" — Fairy! good Dog ! — Saturday's Revising — Primitive Essay-Writing — Poetry— Origin of Dunsarg — The Examinations — The Mob at "Pie Davie's" — Games— Quill Pens versus Steel — "Scattered far and wide " — " When we wire at the Schule," .

Chapter III. Home Affairs

George Lockhart, Barber — Organization — The Cowe and the Cut — "Rive a' the Hair out" — Razors and Road Metal — •j CONTENTS. X 37 55 73 Risping the Minister — Aiken Drum's Razor opening Oysters— The Edinburgh Evening Post— The Reading-Club — Coronation of William IV. ami Adelaide — Illuminations and Rejoicings — Reading under Difficulties — Parliamentary News— In the Small Print— A Monthly Periodical for Six pence — Gas — Back to Business, ....

Chapter IV. The Gas Question

The Carrier's Quarters — Jamie Dunbar — The Capper's Logs — The Laigli Road Parliament— The Bob, the Bow, and the AYag — Discussion about Gas — Kennedy's Snuffers — Vesuvius in Blinkbonny — "The Old Economy " — Coining Ruin of the Navy and Britain, Agriculture and Candlemaking — Conttiotiug Views — Dear Coal — Arrival of the Carrier — Annie Rankine's Bundle — The Geelum — Plain Speaking, .......

Chapter V. Big Murra

Y. Strachan's Lament — From School to Work with Wallace the Butcher — Rough Treatment — "Moffai's" Championship — The Italian Boy — Draper Renwick — "Tearem" and the Hedgehog — Singeing the Calf s Head— The Final Rupture — Murray becomes a Tailor — Mr. Spowart — Gas versus Candle — Oysters, Beauties ! — Strachan's Opinion — Tibbie's Plight — Blinkbonny Gas Company, ....

Chapter VI. Markets And Fairs

Drinking Customs — Craigie's and Benty's Pranks — Tam O'Shanters — Toll-keepers — Biggar Hiring Fair, 1882 — Dr. CONTENTS. XI 95 115 133 153 Guthrie's Ragged School Band — Temperance Refreshments — Soiree at the Fair — The September Fair — May Cranstoun's Arglebarglin' — Habby Horsie's Wages — Big Murray and the Elephant— The Carters' Play, .

Chapter VII. Incidents At Greenknowe

John M'Nab's Visit— Lily Easton— Mary Stewart— Dr. Charles Forrest — Old George Brown's Criticism — Naphtali — Rev. John M'Nab's Forget-me-nots — Maggie as Confidant — Tidylications — George Lockhart's Barbership — Simon's Prospects — The Morning Wrapper — Cross-purposes — Social Oil— (.'aim after a Storm, ....

Chapter VIII. The Re

V. JOHN M'NAB. Matthew Riddell— Calm Reflections -The Fox in the Fillies' Den — Mr. M'Nab and Big Murray — Meeting of Friends — Sermon on the Octave of the Christian Graces — Complimentary Criticism by George Brown — Visitation of tlie Sick — The Rockery — Forgotten Forget-me-nots — A Lowly Man (W. B. Robertson, D.D.)--The Language of Flowers — Lily Easton's Poser, .....

Chapter IX. Bllnkbonny Mains

Mrs. Easton — Babbie Gaw — Lily as Housekeeper and Nurse — A Brownie Fairy — Robert Easton — "Malcolm Canmore" — Yeomanry Races — Mess-table — Toast-Drinking— Reply — Robert's Accident — Kissing Babbie Gaw — Mr. Impidence in the Pigs' Court — Warm Sheep's Head — Ministerial Dealing- Rev. Mr. Morrison — Robert's Defence — Stating the Case — Reasons for Hurdle Races — Lily's loving Counsel — Dr. Forrest's Opinion — Nicely settled, CONTENTS. XII 172 100

Chapter X. The Tailors At Gibbiesbrae

" Whippin' the Cat" — Tailors' Implements — Gibbiesbrai Annie Rankine.'s first Place and Charge — Big Murray on New Zealand — Walking upside down — The Negro of Fillies' Den — Murray's Fright, Flight, and Message — The Dookin' Pool — Alarming Appearance of a K.C.B. — Water fizzin' — Murray, Sambo, and the Carving-Knife — The Peacock — Patching at Mrs. Rankine's — Eggs like Soda-water Bottles — Wee Strachan's Holiday — Sunday Morning at the Annie Mill — "Little to earn and many to keep" — Boots and Shoes— The Ways and Means — Illness — Dr. Stevenson— The Shilling-" Cottar's Saturday Night," .

CHAPTER XL MAGGIE'S MARRIAGE.

Postage Fifty Years ago — Franking Letters — Wafers — Rev. Mr. M'Nab's Presentation — John M'Lauchlan's Fix with Lord Dunsarg — Rather awkward — Uncle Gilbert and Miss Park — The Wedding Dinner — Scotch Songs: "There's nae Luck about the House;" "John Anderson my Joe;" "The Boatie rows; "'"The Land o' the Leal" and Dr. David Dickson — "My Highland Plaid" — Dr. Forrest's added Verse — " Virent Arundines," Latin Version of "Green grow the Rashes, 0" — Songs and Sentiments — Jimsie Park's Dilemma about Trousers, ....

Chapter XII. The Picnic

Jimsie's Attention — A Happy Hit — Miss Stewart's Engagement — A Magic Touch — Lily Easton's Part — Evening at Greenknowe — "Bonnie Charlie" — Chained by Mighty Circum- CONTENTS. XIII 209 229 251 stance — Nicol Fairbaim'3 Bagpipes — Mrs. Stewart's Consent — The Hoolet — The Tailors of the Bible — Joseph's Coat — Samuel's Coat Pockets — Very early Edition of the New Testament and Pilgrim's Progress — Church Music — Matthew Riddell's Troubles— Sabbath Refreshments — "Definition" of Character — Congregational Dinner — Heavy Hitting — Law aud Justice — The Sclate Roof,

Chapter XIII. Adam Rankine'

S DEATH. Mrs. Rankine's Marketing — A Thrifty Wifie — Adam's Heavy "Cauld" — Buchan's Domestic Medicine — A Patient Invalid — Ministering to tlie Necessities of Saints — Setting his House in order — Deep calling unto Deep — Willie's Visit — Remembered in Prayer — Family Worship — Wee Mary — A Little Child shall lead them — Wearin' awa' — Murray's Kindness — What he could — Mournings and Mortcloth — The Funeral — Dust to Dust— Songs iu the Night — "Therefore " — The New Home — Lights and Shadows — Paraphrases — George Brown's Three Things, ....

Chapter XIV. The General Election Of

1S37. Sir Francis Davidson, Tory Candidate ; Sir George Carse, Whig — Open Voting — Whipping of Cripples — Canvassing — Miss Sommerville and her Tenants — Wrinkly Scaurs — Bone Mill — Teetotal Goats — A Thrawn Sorra — Shocking — Scotch Y's — David Tait's "0 ten thocht it" — Canvassing Rinkie anel Mr. Easton — The Corn Laws — The Painter's laborious Profession — A Sea of Troubles — Making up Accounts- George Lockhart — Matthew Riddell's Proverb and Counting — Thc Hustings — Polities and Curling — A Bonspeil — Rinkie on Gloves and Lumbago— Peels— The Tie— Gemm —Curling Song : " Cauld, cauld, frosty Weather, " CONTENTS. XIV

Chapter XV

, JAMIE MURRAY'S MARRIAGE. The Soup Kitchen — The Farmer's Dead Cow — Little did we say — Dr. Forrest's Leave-taking — AVillie Fairbairn — The Green-eyed Monster — Love analyzed — Jamie on Tailoring — Hands versus Machinery — The Dandy Tailor — Simon's Greek — Pretty Poll — Into Business — Wooed an' Married an' a' — The Marriage Foy — Thomas Baillie on Dancing — Song: " The Blinkie Burn" — Home, Sweet Home — Mary Stewart's Marriage — Andrew Taylor's Criticism, LIST OF ILLUSTEATIONS. PAGE Nancie's Knowe, Frontispiece. Adam Rankine's, ..... 68 The Fillien' Den, . . . 13g The Annie Mill— Sabbath Morning, . . .184 North of the Forth, ..... 202 Auld George Brown's, .... 250

Chapter I. Auld Langsyne

Should auld acquaintance be forgot, And never brought to mind ? Should auld acquaintance be forgot, And days o' langsyne ? " — Burns. ~\ TY old friend and schoolfellow, Andrew Taylor, and I were taking a leisurely stroll, on a lovely evening in the month of June 1884. We were going to " Nancie's Knowe," a little hillock, easy of ascent, that rose among the braes at the back of Blinkbonny. Its sides sloped gently, and were covered with a soft grassy sward, the delight of the children of the village ; while on its summit there were some fine old Scotch firs, on which the sunlight streamed, making their red trunks and stems seem all the brighter from the dark green of their thick covering of foliage. We had left the Broomhill road, which skirted the A foot of the Knowe, and were taking a breath at its base, enjoying the fresher air that we had reached, as well as the merry gambols and the hearty, glee some noise of the children who were romping and rolling about its sunny braes.

"We've seen the day, Bobert," said Andrew, pointing with his staff to the happy groups before us. " ' We twa hae run about the braes, And pu'd the gowans fine ; But we've wandered mony a weary foot, Sin' auld lang syne.' " Then, pointing to the Blinkie Burn, " ' We twa hae paidl't i' the burn Frae mornin' sun till dine ; But seas between us braid hae roared Sin' auld lang syne.' " We've seen the day," continued he, " when we could have run like hares from the elm tree at the Schule Brae to the top of Nancie's Knowe within the ten minutes ; but now we are rather ' afraid of that which is high.' Still, in all my wanderings, I never saw a finer view than we get from the Knowe there ; so we'll make leisurely for the top." " Yes, Andrew," was my reply (for in our easy rambles we used the old schoolboy names of sixty years ago) ; " it needs no research to discover how STRATHBONNY. 3 this village got its name.

The sun does not blink on a bonnier spot." When we had reached the top, and the snug little place lay at our feet, with its picturesque sur roundings of hill and valley, river and woodland, We felt that the only suitable names for the strath and the village were precisely those they bore — - Strathbonny and Blinkbonny. And, familiar as we were with every nook and corner of the landscape, we " turned and gazed, and turned again ; " for the evening was a beautiful one. The rays of the setting sun were tinging with golden hue the bright green of the fresh foliage ; the clear stream of the Blinkie Burn, as it crept down by the Annie Green, sparkled or shimmered between its banks, where the hawthorn was hoary with blossom, and the leaves of the poplar, alder, and birch trees flickered from glowing green to downy whiteness.

The burn was lost to sight as it crept round the Kirk Brae, where the windows of the church aud manse glimmered as if they had been on fire ; but it reappeared on the south side, emerging apparently out of a wooded ravine, crept round the back of the village in many a winding stream, and onwards through Strathbonny, until it joined the river which flowed through the strath. Opposite the village the valley was about three miles wide ; but from east to west the eye could roam over nearly twenty miles of Strathbonny, with its clear winding river gleaming here and there in the sunlight, its fertile fields and grassy meadows, its whitewashed farmhouses and occasional villages, girt round and sentinelled by pastoral hills, most of them green to the summit, suggestive of comfortable homesteads and as comfortable flocks ; but here and there were darker and heath-clad mountains, with conical peaks or long, wavy, undulating outlines, varied by scaurs and rocky knolls.

Hill burns occasionally gleamed out in foamy whiteness, forming zig-zag cascades as they rushed onwards, but more commonly these could only be traced by the rocky dells they had formed, or the overhanging copsewood that grew on their banks. Our talk, as we rested on a rustic seat in front of the firs on Nancie's Knowe, was of schoolboy days, of reminiscences happy and saddening. " That book o' yours, Bobert," said Andrew, " is, as I told you before, ' no bad, considerin' ; ' but there are lots of more ' Bits from Blinkbonny ' that you must put together. There's, for instance, the schule, or rather the schules ; for George Lockhart's 'bit'side schule was a queer place, and George himself was MEMORY'S BLOTSHEET. 5 a wonderfu' industrious body. And Mr. Torrance was as good a parish teacher as ever was in broad Scotland.

What a job he had wi' Big Murray ! Write something about him, and the fairs, and the plays, and the characters o' oor young days. You'll be mair bathered how to get it a' in, than where to get matter." Mr. Taylor went over a long list of names and events interwoven with our early days at Blink bonny ; and we had a rambling chat, which recalled incidents that had long lain dormant in our memories. Just before we rose to descend the Knowe, he said, " Memory's a queer thing. Mine's is like a lot o' sheets o' blotsheet, or ' blottin'-paper,' as they call it nowadays. Ye've seen, if ye used it new, that when you turned over the blotsheet ye could read the letter fine ; an' I once got a red face wi' that, for I had been writin' a partic'lar letter, — a love letter, in fact, — and didna my sister read it a' on the new bit blotsheet, an' sair she teased me about writing 'hopping' instead of 'hoping.' Weel, some pages o' my memory's like that yet — clear and ready.

Then, after ye've used the blotsheet for a month or twa, nae doubt the letters are a' there, but tli at ravelled an' a' throughither that ye can neither make buff nor stye o' them, and the maist o' the pages o' my memory are so tattered that I canna follow out ae thing without its getting mixed up wi' ithers." The setting sun was now beginning to sink behind Dunsarg, the highest hill in the district, which lay about six miles distant from Blinkbonny, putting tbe western and northern sides of the strath into dark shadow, but making the southern and eastern sides look more lovely by the contrast. "Did ever anybody see a bonnier sun-blink, or a bonnier place for the sun to blink on ? " said Andrew in raptures. Then, turning to me, he said, " Bobert Martin, I remember when your brother George died (you were at the college at the time), and your father himself was in but poor health, that he spoke to my father about getting you to give up thoughts o' bein' a minister an' takin' up his business, for you were the only other son.

He said, ' Get what parish kirk he may, he'll never get a bonnier place to live in than this.' Mony a time my father, honest man, came owre thae words ; and he was happy when you left the college frankly, and settled amang us." By this time we had reached the village, and as we parted Andrew's last words were, "Noo, sit doon this very nicht, and write ' More Bits from Blinkbonny,' an' begin wi' the schules." TIBBIE MURRA Y. 7 The chat I had had with Mr. Taylor, and his graphic description of scenes long since huddled up in odd corners of my memory, set me a-scribbling ; but I fear that, to use his simile, I will not only have to decipher long-forgotten sheets of my cast-off blotting paper, but to draw from otber, and perhaps as con fusing sources, in these " More Bits from Blinkbonny," which, at his request, I shall begin with some references to " Big Murray."

Jamie Murray, better known around Blinkbonny as " Big Murray," was a dull soft boy with a dumpling looking face. His mother, Tibbie Murray, had had an eventful and sad life. Her first husband had fallen a victim to small-pox after they had been married five years. She and Jamie her son had at the same time a sore struggle with the same malady, but they pulled through it, although their faces retained very rough evidences of the severity of the ordeal — rougher than anything we see, or almost can conceive nowadays, since vaccination and increased medical skill have done such good battle with this loathsome disease. Tibbie had, moreover, a peculiar squint in her left eye, which projected ungainsomely and had a bluish film over it ; its movements, as well as those of its eyelid, were constant, spasmodic, singular.

A neighbour, on being asked by a stranger what Tibbie was like, summed up the marks whereby to identify her by saying, " She's terrible sair pock markit, an' she has a ringle ee, that's aye wammlc wammlin' about either it or its lid. If ye see her yince, ye'll easy ken her again amang a thousand." Tibbie wrought hard to maintain her son and her self. Since her widowhood she earned her bread as a washerwoman, and had bought an enormous tub from the cooper, which, by some mistake in measurement, had been made absurdly large. It had proved not deep enough for the butcher, too large for either the brewer, the candlemaker, or the dyer, so Tibbie got a great bargain of it, and it proved a good investment. Its ample capacity attracted large quantities of blankets, which Tibbie scoured in the genuine old Scotch fashion, by putting them into her tub, " Tibbie's ark," as it was called, and tramping them thoroughly amongst a soapy mixture called a "graith," which Tibbie skilfully compounded out of singular ingredients, according to her ideas of what they required.

It is quite unnecessary to describe minutely the process. Who does not know what " trampin' " blankets means ? Suffice it to say that Tibbie was tall, strong-boned, muscular, and very solid, as if made for such work ; she was, moreover, an early riser, and when working at home she was " kilted " and at it by " TRAMPIN' BLANKETS." 9 four o'clock in the mornin". Even when she had to go to an employer's house, she hoisted her " ark " about the same early hour, regardless alike of the disturbance thereby caused to neighbours or customers, and of the extinguished look which the inverted tub gave to herself, for it served her for bonnet, umbrella, and implement. She preferred to work outside, in a back -green, an open shed, or an outhouse, rather than in a kitchen, for washing-houses were very rare, as well as " owre close " for her.

She was also utterly indifferent to any remarks that were made, or jokes that were cracked upon her, and tramped stolidly on and on, round and round, and plodded and wrung away, until the " scourin' " was drying on the hedges early in the day, and, Tibbie's day's work being over, she hoisted her " ark," and piloted her way home as best she could, with such a headpiece. Owing to his mother's often " working out," Jamie's meals were irregular, rough, and of the readiest to hand. Still he throve and grew, — " warstled up some way," as poor children must do, and do do, — and when about five years old, she entered him at George Lockhart's school, " partly to keep him oot o' mischief," to use her own words, " an' he would be aye learnin' something." George Lockhart had been by occupation a weaver, and by repute a genius and a prominent radical ; but an accident to his knee made him unfit to work tlie " treddles " of his loom, and he started a school for — so the written " prospectus " ran that was stuck up in a few shop windows in Blinkbonny — " teaching the elementary branches of education at very moderate wages."

His weaving-shop was converted into a schoolroom ; it had a low ceiling, a not very well thatched roof, two windows at each side and two smaller " boles " at the end, which were hinged like doors, and generally stood open — a very necessary arrangement. What panes were in the windows were " yokes " taken from the thick central parts of cylindrical sheets of glass, with a sort of bull's eye in the middle, nearly an inch in thickness, which gradually tapered down all round to the thickness of ordinary glass, resembling a rough lens ; these had been selected for their strength, but a few of them had failed, and been replaced by sheets of paper. The door was low and rather the " worse of the wear ; " the floor was of rough, ill jointed, and very fragmentary pavement. The furniture consisted of a few rickety desks and shaky forms, a large desk on four legs, and a three-footed stool.

On the walls were maps of ancient Palestine, Europe, and Scotland, tattered and sorely finger-marked. Ihe L 0 CKHA R T'S SCHO OL. 11 air, the light, the furniture were all bad — although all that regular sweeping, weekly scrubbing, and yearly whitewashing could do to keep all fresh was carefully attended to. Still the fees were small, and not very rigidly exacted, and, although the education was rough, and the discipline peremptory and primitive "Lockhart's" school had generally upwards of fifty scholars. When Tibbie Murray brought Jamie to the school she paid a month's wages " forehanded " (the whole amount was sixpence). This was not a common incident in George Lockhart's experience, and it prepossessed him in favour of Jamie ; he resolved to make " something " of him, and he certainly tried hard to do it.

He placed the soft-fed overgrown boy at the end of the form which stood near his own stool, but he could not get the dumpling-coloured face and the large blue grey vacant eyes to rest on either book or board. Their sole occupation at school was watching tbe teacher, and they followed him as the needle does the magnet. Lockhart tried him in every way: by his desk, at his side standing on a form, in a corner with his face to the wall, with older scholars, but on the book he could not get Jamie to look. He coaxed, encouraged, threatened, and punished him, but in vain ; only when a wasp was on the window did Jamie's eye cease to follow the master's, and even then it travelled restlessly between the teacher and the insect. It took months to get the alphabet into him, although he had original methods of his own by which to identify the small letters ; h was to him a " chair," s was a " cleek," and g a " bumbee."

In every branch his progress was slow, and Lockhart, even at the sacrifice to himself of the regularly paid fees, advised his mother to put him to the parish school, and to make him learn his tasks well at home, for he could make little more of him. Murray and I began to attend the parish school at the same time. He was nearly eight years old and I was only six, but we were put into the same class in the " wee schule," called nowadays the " infant department," or the "junior division." Mr. Torrance was the name of the teacher in those days. Mr. Sinclair was tlie " helper," — for pupil teachers or " certificated assistants " were unknown in Blink bonny, — and sadly were his faculties of mind and body taxed to make " Big Murray " learn, or even look at anything, excepting straight and always at himself.

Mr. Sinclair for two or three weeks spent some time with Jamie after the other scholars had gone, and partly succeeded in getting him to take some interest in his lessons ; and on one occasion he asked AVillie BIG MURRA Y. 13 Bankine, a bright boy of about eleven years of age, and a good scholar, to stay in for a little and help Murray. This proved no easy task, and Willie's " blowing-up " of Murray was energetic and very uncomplimentary. " Look on your book, man," urged Willie ; " look on, can ye no ? Dinna look at me. Be quick. Say the words after me. I dinna want to stay late, for Johnnie Leitch said, if I went to his house this afternoon, he would let me see his squirrel." The word " squirrel " wrought like a charm on Murray ; he actually laughed, said " he yince kent a squirrel's nest," and asked Willie if he would take him to see Johnnie Leitch's. " Yes," said Willie, " if ye'll read the lesson without a word I'll take ye.

So begin — quick, now ! " Murray was going on wonderfully, and had got half through his task with some slight mistakes, when he suddenly stopped and said, " Has't a lang tail ? " "If you do not read your lesson without a word," said Willie firmly, and without looking off the book, " I'll no' take you to see the squirrel." This threat told on Murray ; he applied what little brains he had, got through the lesson fairly well, felt pleased with himself, indeed almost proud, ran with Willie to Johnnie Leitch's, and greatly enjoyed the squirrel's lithe, nimble movements as it darted about BLLNKBONNY. 14 its cage, and made its little mill " birl " round swiftly. After this, Murray got on better; the squirrel and Willie Eankine between them had wrought some change in him. He got to read fairly, but his writing was out rageous, and arithmetic was a sore, sore point with him.

" If I could only get him to master the simple rules," said Mr. Sinclair, " I would be delighted ; but he seems utterly incapable of seeing that six and four make ten." Simple rules, Mr. Sinclair _ Simple ? Simple to " Big Murray " ? His mother, although her own arithmetic was very meagre, tried her utmost to ground him in very simple " addition." Her " counters " were grey peas ; many a winter evening the two spent over them. Jamie was fond of peas, and when he was right in his answer he got the " count " to eat. But alas ! a small bowlful lasted him for two months. Not many doors from Tibbie's house lived Strachan Gemmell the tailor, a poor hard-working man. His wife was a confirmed invalid, whose recovery was hopeless. Tibbie was her unpaid but faithful nurse, and " kindness itself " in her own homely way.