Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1853-04-21
From Chambers szgsstlasy.
JOHN MACTAGGART.
A HIGHLAND STORY.

shire--one of them an arabic farm on the
coast and the other pasture farm on the
high grounds about four miles distant. As
1t might be expected from a man in such
circumstances, John was a highly respecta-
bic character He had a wife and some
sons aud daughters, all of whom had arrv-
ed at maturity. and few men bore better
appearance at either kirk or market
One snowy day in the winter OF l74S, a
young female, dressed in a style above the
vulgar, but apparently travel.worn and wea-
ry, passed JOHNS house upon the coast, aud
contrary TO the custom Of wayiarers, did not
come in The circumstance excited some
surprise in the inmates, who remarked that
1t was strange 10 see an individual of that
kind travelling on such pay, aud passing,
without relreshment, the last house she
would see for Sc, eral miles. In the after
noon, as the storm seemed likely to be
worse before it would be better, John tho't
1t necessary TO 90 up to his hill farm to give
some directions about saving the sheep -
He set off two hours before night, mounted
Oh his layorIie gray mare but though that
animal had long been accustomed to all
kinds of highland weather, 1t was dusk be-
fore she had advanced half way up The moor,
aud the snow was then taking her up to the
belly, and threatened to retard her further
progress altogether John began to feel
hmsefin some danger, but his horse had
50 oten served him in cases Of peril,
that he did not by any means despair.
While honest John was rejecting upon
his own case, another of much more hap
less description was presented TO his view.
Almost at his horses feet covering beneath
a little bush, aud half buried in the snow,
lay the female who had been observed TO
pass his door in the course of the day. John
Immediately dlsmounted, and raising the
head of the unfortunate woman from the
ground, learned from few whispered words
of almost expiring anguish, that she was in
condition the most distressing that the
Imagination of the reader Can conceive
Leave me, however" she said in Gallo,
to the fate which | have provoked 1for to
me death is better than life" John answer
ed in few soothing words, but found him.
self unable for a few moments to convey a
ny hope that he could save the life of which
she seemed Indifferent To 90 either back
or forward for assistance seemed in vain ;
for before he could expect to regain the
spot, the wretched lady must have persisted
from cold, and probably would be buried
deep in the snow. To remain with her
seemed alike unayailing, for he could not
expect to keep either her or himself in lie
for any considerable length of time in the
midst Of such storm. If the reader will
pause for a moment, and consider all the
circumstances of the case, he will feel that
the perplexty must have been extreme /;
and perhaps he will hardly believe before
hand that any means Of escaping from 1t
was within the reach of the honest farmer
A real exigency, however, will sometime
suggest expedlents which no deliberate in
genuliy could have devised. John Instant
ly resolved upon sacrifice which, in calm
blood, hardly any sum of money could have
tempted him to perform. With sheae dhu
AN unclasped knife then worn by every
ighlander-he cut the throat of his high
ly valuable mare, took out the entraIls, and
in the hollow of the warm carcass deposited
the unhappy woman, now almost about to
become mother. Then stripping off his
upper coat, which, as he remarked, was of
no use to a traveller without horse, he
spread it over the lady; and having whis-
pered TO her an assurance that he would re-
turn with assistance or himself perish IN the
attempt, he set off towards his hill farm
with all The speed that the nature Of the
way would admit of As he had calculat-
ed, the snow was not so deep upon the high
as on the low grounds, and he therefore
reached his destination in about an hour.
The whole strength of the household was
Immediately put in requistion for the bene-
fit of the poor wanderer. The single ie-
male servant was left TO prepare warm bed
for her reception, along with every other
comfort which the establishment could fur
nish. Three shepherds, each provided with
blanket, and John himself, carrying that
Highland catholocon, bottle Of whIskey,
boldly faced the storm, and after tollsome
march reached the place where she lay
To the great JOY of MactaggarI his expedi-
en for preserving animation had been at
tended with success. Supported by the nat
ural warmth OF her rude receptacle, and
protected both from the wind and the snow,
the lady was still alive, though no doubt IN
very precarious state. To the further 10y
of Mactaggart, as she murmured forth her
thanks for his kind exertlons, 1t was in such
tone as assured him that, finding herself
the object of such a proyidentIal deliver
ance, a. hope had been generated which
promised TO restore her to the appreciation
OF existence. With hands mol the most
gentle that could have been wished. but
feelings the lenderest that could have been
manifested, John, assisted by his shepherds
removed her from her place OF shelter, and
wrapped her carefully up in the blankets I;
after which reireshment from the bottle
was offered as kindly as it was thankfully
accepted. She was then carried forward
by two of the men, relieved by the third,
while John himself piloled the way to the
cottage. After tedious march, IN which
the spirit of humanity and The spiri, of bar
ley conspired TO sustain John and his men
against every difficulty, the procession
reached the house in perfect safety, where
the lady was Immediately placed in bed,
and administered to after the manner prop
er to individuals in her situation.
Not long after her arrival she was deliv-
cred OF female child, and notwithstanding
the absence of many comforts and applian-
ces which, ia the usual circumstances, are
thought Indispensable, both mother and