Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1852-10-13
MISC ELL A N Y.
NIaccus;ocl's Courtsllip.

i ne NdSNullOSho VI Roii~i W Wv
marty, family now extinct, were, for a
bout two centuries, substantial respectable
farmers The first Of this family, says ira
dition, was Alaster Macculloch, native of
the Highlands. When boy he quilted the
house of his widow mother, and wandered
INTO the low country in quest of employ
ment, which he at length succeeded in pro-
curing in the parish of Cromarty, on the
farm of an old wealthy tacksman. For the
first few weeks he seemed to be one of the
gloomiest little fellows ever bred among the
solitudes of the hills all the social feel
ings of his nature had been frozen within
him but they began to flow apace; and 1t
was soon discovered that neither reserve
nor melancholy formed any part of his real
character. A little Of the pride of the Celt
he still retained; "hrn he attended chapel
he wore gemmy suit Of tartan, and his
fathers dirk always depended from his belt;
but, IN every other respect, he seemed
true Lowland Scot, and not one of his com
panions equaled HIM in sly humor or could
play of practical joke with half the ef-
feet.
His master was a widower, and the ia
ther of an only daughter, laughing warm
heorted girl of nineteen. She had more
lovers than half the girls Of the parish put
together; and when they avowed to her
their very sincere attachment, she tender
ed them her very hearty thanks in return.
But then ones affections are not in ones
power; and as certainly as they loved her
lust because they could not help it, so cer-
tauly was she indifferent to them from the
same cause. Their number received one
last accession in little Alaster the herd-boy.
He shared in the Kindness of his young
mistress, and his cattle shared in 1t too,
with every living thing connected with her
father or his farm but his soul-engrossing
love lay silent within him, and not only
without words, but, young and sanguine as
he was, almost without hope. Not that he
was unhappy. He had the knack of dream
ing when broad awake, and Of making his
dreams as pleasant as he willed them; and
so his passion rather increased than dimin-
ished the amount off his happiness. 1t taught
him, too, the very best species of politeness,
that of the heart; and young Lillias could
not but help wondering where it was that
boy had received so exquisite polish, and
why it was that she herself was so much
the object Of his quiet unobtrusive attentions.
When night released him from labor he
would take up his seat in some dark corner
of the house, that commanded full view
o. the fire, and there he would SIT for whole
hours gazing on the features OF his mistress.
A fine woman looks well by any light even
by that of peat fire and fine women, it
is said, know it; but little thought the maid
en- of the farmhouse Of the saint-like halo
which, in the Imagination of her silent wor-
SHIPPER, the red smoky flames shed around
her. How could she even dream of p
The boy Alaster was fully five years young
er than herself, and it surely could not be
forgotten that he herded her fathers cattle.
The incident, however, which am just go
ing to relate, gave her sufficient cause to
think of him as lover.
The Halloween of the year 1860, was
very different thing in the parish of Gro
marty from that Of the year 1899. 1t is now
as dark and opake night, unless it chance
to be frightened by the moon, as any in the
winter season; 1t was then clear as the glass
of magician ;-people looked through it
and saw the future. Late in October that
year, Alaster overheard his mistress and
one of her youthful comprehensive daugh-
ter of neighboring farmer-talking over
the rights of the coming night of frolic and
prediction. 'Will you really venture on
throwing the clue :" asked her companion
'the kiln, you ken. is dark and lonely; and
there's monty story no tr,e if folks hat'na
often been frightened" Throw ITO,
surely" replied the other; "who would
think it worth while to harm the like O
me and beside. you can bide for ME just
wee bittie aft. One would like somehow,
to know the uame O ones gudeman,. or
whether one is TO get guleman at all. "-=-
Alastef was lover, and lovers are fertile
in stratagem. In tile presence Of his mis-
tress he sought leave from the old man, her
father, with whom lie was much a favorlte,
to spend his Halloween at cottage ON
neighborng farm, where there were several
young people to meet; and his request was
readily granted. The long-expected eve
ming came and Alaster set out for the cot
tage, without any intention of reaching it
TOR at least two hours. When he had pro-
ceeded little way he turned back, crept
warily toward the kiln, climbed like Wild
cat up the rough circular gable, entered by