Northern star, and Warren and Bristol gazette. [volume] (Warren [R.I.]) 1826-1830, 1826-06-10
MISCELLANY.
GRANT AND M'rHERsON.

GRANT AMI M'FHEhSON.
In earlier times, the wsriike chiefs
sfthese names found frequent oppor-
families Of testfying their mutual ami.
mostly !; and few inheritors Of the fatal
quarrel left the world without having
moistened it with the blood Of their
hereditary enemies. But in our own
day. the progress Of civilization, which
had reached even these wild countries
the heart Of the North Highlands
although il could not ex.ingush en-.
tirely the transmitted spirit of revenge,
at least kept il within safe bounds and
the leuds Of M'Pherson and Grant
threatened, in the course Of another
generation, to die entirely away or at
least to exist only in some vexatious
lawsuits, fostered by two men of hos
tile tempers and contiguous landed
property. =.
It was not, however, without some
ebulitions Of ancient fierceness, that
the fame which had. burned for so
man7 centuries seemed about to expire.
Once at a meeting Of the country gen,
tlemen, a question Of privilege arising,
Bendearg took occasion to throw cut
some taunts aimed At his hereditary
foe, which the frey Grant Immediately
received as the signal Of defiance, and
challenge was the consequence
The sheriff OF the county, however,
having received intimation Of the af-
fair, put both parties under arrest till
at lelgth, by the persuasions OF their
friends-not friends by blood-and the
representations ofthe magistrates, they
shook hands, and each pledged his hon.
our to forget, al least. never again 70
remember, 10 speech or action, the
ancient feud ofhis family. This occur
renee, at the time, was the object of
muchsinterest on the g country side -
the rather that it seemed to give the
. lie to the prophecies, of which many
an Highland family has an ample stock
in its traditionsry chronicles, and which
expressly predicted that the enmity of
Cairn and Bendearg should only be
quenched in blood ; and on this seem
ingly cross grained circumstance some
Of the young men who began to be
tainted with tAe heresies Of the Low
lands, were seen to shake their heals
as they reflected on the tales and faith
oftheir ancestors. But the grey-hair-
cd seers shook theirs still more wisely,
and answered with the motto Of a no
bic house. | bide my time. II.
There Is narrow pass between two
mountains in the neighbourhood of Ben
dearg, we'll knowu to the traveller who
adventures into these wilds in quest Of
the savage sub'imiiies Of nature. At
little distance It has the appearance oi
do immense artificial bridge thrown O.
yer chasm but on nearer approach
Is seen to be wall Of natures own
masonry. Termed Of vasi and rugged
bodies Of solid rock piled on each 9th.
er, as il. in the giant sport Of the ar
chi.ect. Its sides are in some places
covered with trees Of considerable size
and the passenger who has a head stea.
dy enough 10 look down the dreadful
precipice, may see the eyries OF birds
Of prey beneath bis feet. The path a.
cross II is 80 narrow, that It will not at
nit OF two persons passiog alongside
and indeed none but natives, sccustom
ed to the scene from infancy, woult
attempt the dangerous route at all
though il saves circuit ofthree miles
Yet il sometimes happens that two ira,
ellers meet in the middle owing to tb'
curve formed by the pass preventing
view across from either side !; and wbe'
this is the case, one is obliged to Ii,
down while the other crawls over h,
body.
One day, shortly after the incident a
bove mentioned, a Highlander wa
walking fearIessly down the pass, some
Ines bending over to watch the Aigh