The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1848-03-18
Miscellaneous,
THE GUEST OF GLENsTRAE.
A TRUE TALE OF THE HIGHLANDS.

Highlands the clouds are more frequently
the canopies than the nantes of their laby-
rnth ofcountess hills, sends ones thoughts
wandering over the lakes, and round the
heather clad mountains, and down the wild
rocky glens of that romantic region. And
Immediately there spring to memory hun
bred well known names, crowding one upon
another, and each bearing with il the remem-
bronce of some event ofby gone days, Of
which it has become the imperishable mon
ument. Wild dark legends, these are most
", wild as the mountain torrents rushing
hondlong to the distant loch, dark as the
chasms through which they bound and foam;
chronicles of daring acts, and desperate
deeds, well BETTING the stormy character of
the age which Witnessed their performance;
when the only defence against oppression
was the sword, and too frequently drawn TO
avenge what it had been powerIess to pre-
vent. But they do not tell alone of tears and
boodshed;many n brilliant ray is cast athwart
the gloom: devoted love and generous friend
ship, shed their light upon the gloomiest
scenes; and name there is amid those re-
moved in Scottish story, whose mere sound
recalls one the most striking instances on
record of noble forbearance and Christian
forgiveness, and of that sequel which too sell
dom can be duly appended to worthy deeds;
mercy receiving an earnest Gifts just reward,
even here on earth. Beyond the Tweed and
The Clyde the events of past centuries are to
he found on the lips Of the humblest dwell
ers near the spot where each occurred; and
not merely does this anecdote live as il de-
serves in history, but is related as vividly,and
yet more faithfully, by the unlettered High
bnder, whether in his mountain Smelling, or
in his lonely cottage OH the borders of Loeb
Awe.
There is wild glen, or valley, opening
upon the end ofthat lake, called Glenstrae,
or more properly Geann-Streatha, which in
times long past belonged as did almost all
the land around Loeb Awe, and many'an eX-
tensive tract beside, to the once powerful
Clan-Gregor, or Clan-Alpine, (for they were
known by either name, )of whose misfortunes
and occasional misdeeds, none can be who'll
~ ignorant who have ever read SCOTS "La-
dy ofthe Lake" For from Loeb Katrne to
Loeb Awe, in Argyleshire, with wide cir
cult round, had their territories once extend
ed, though at the time to which we refer,
their power was already crippled, and great
part of their domains in Argyeshire (Which
were the first to be entirely wrested from
them,) had passed from their possession. a
stronger hand than theirs-thut ofthe bold,
determined and above all, fortunate Camp
belPs-had seized on mountain, moor, and
glen, which the AlacGregors beheld fading
from their grasp, as though it had been mere
ly mist which wore such semblance, while
the very name ofthe lake which had owned
them rs its lords, was echoed far and wide in
the war cry of their encroaching neighbors
Sill did ii clieftain ofClan Alpine find his
home in Glenstrao; and remnant of former
power was still left to the head on that an
cient, dreaded, yet prosecuted spot. Their
deadly feudS with the Campbells and others
appeared to slumber; there seemed likewise
n cessation in their numerous enemies en-
ldeavors to draw on them their sovereign's an
ger, and temporary calm had come over
the spirits of the unruIy clan, who as is natur
al with human nature, were always most tur
bulent when provoked by recent wrongs.
The morning mists hung low upon the
mountains and the lake, rendering indistinct
all objects alike on its bosom and its shores,
and blending its lofty hill barrier in one COM
mon outline of low table land; not II wing
moved on the Gooses Rocil-not n sound is
sued from the flock of wild birds nesting
there; and the eagle was still slumbering a.
mid the cliffs of Ben Bhuridh many a hun
dred feet above. Yet at that early hour II
boat was launched upon the lake near its cas-
tern extremity, and steered directly towards
kilchurn Castle, Il magnificent pile at no
great distance, erected on narrow rocky
point close to the glen and waters of Orchay,
and forming the stronghold ofthe CnmpbeIls
of Loeb Awe. There were but two persons
in the skiff, young Allister MacGregor, the
only son of the chieftain of Glenstrae, and
his dearest friend, kinsman of his own age,
and the betrothed his sister, namely Ian
Dhu or Black John, so called from his dark
complexion. Swiftly and silently, with muf-
fed oars, they held their course towards the
castle, which, wrapped in its veil of mist, was
scarcely distinguishable from the grey waters
over which it towered;and guiding their little
bark close under the rocky shore, drewit be-
meath the additional shelter of Il few trees,
whose branches overhung the lake. Grasp
ing one of the friendly boughs, AIlister spec
Oily gained the top of the bank, where in a.
mother minute he was joined by Marion
Campbell, the loveliest maiden in the High
lands, and daughter ofthe Lord ofLoch Awe,
'Who unsuspecting the vicinity ofone of the
detested race, slept on unconsciously within
lew yards of their trysting place. Such
bright moments were few indeed in the histo-
ry OF their love and Were prysed in proportion
10 their rarity; and while Marion's favorite
damsel stood near ready to give warning of
an approaching step, the lovers abandoned
themselves to the delight of looking once
more on each others face, even in that I'M
certain light, and oflistening to those sweet
and welcome words.tbe liberty to utter which
had been purchased by one at the hazard of
his life, and by the other Mt the risk of much
misery and suffering. But the first blush of
day on the summit of The majestic mountain
Ben Conachan was the signal for the young
Mac Gregor to BECOME. Aud then came
doubts when they should meet again, and
deep regrets at parting, whose pain well nigh
outWeighed all the JOY ofthat brief interview.
Must it be ever tbus?" said AlIister bitter