The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1868-10-31

~ ksS& S&eo$'Sas 8stS tuo saWe
cognomen 10 eli and sundry who followed
the same mode Of Tie upon the Borders.
One thing h certain; thst the name Fda NOT
osly was given 10 iadividuals whoss sur.
name might be Fall, hat 70 the Winters and
C'arkes-'sd genus oasae--s;psy families ven
known on the BORDERS. Since wasee lands,
which were their hiding places and resorts,
began TO bs cultivated, and especially, sinos
the sun Of knowiedgs snu1Fsd out the tspsr
OF superstition and credulity, most Of them
are beginning 10 form q part Of society, to
learn trades Of Industry, add live with men.
Those who still prefer their fathers' vaga-
bond mode OF lifs-dnding shat, In the
northern counties, their old trade Of fortune
telling 10 st . discount, and that thieving
has thinned their tribe and is dangerous
new follow the more useful aud respectable
eaiiings Of muggers, besom-makers, and tin
kers. do not know whether, In etiquette,
ought to give rTecedence to the bssom.
maker or tinker though, as compared with
them, should certainly suppose that the
"nuggerss Of the present day belong TO the
kaa sristocracy II Il be not that they, like
others, derive their nobility from descent of
blood rather thsa weighs Of pooket--and
that, af'er all, the mugger with his encsmp-
ment, his caravans, horses, crystal, and
crockery, Is but mere wealthy plebeian or
bourgeois in the vagrant community But
to my tale.
On dark and tempestuous night in the
December of 1898, Faa gang requested
shelter in the out-houses Of the laird OF Glen
mel. The laird himself had retired 10 rest !;
and his domestics being fewer in number
than the Faas, feared 70 refuse them their
request
"Ye shall have up-putting for The night,
good neighbors," said Andrew Smith, who
was q sort Of msjor-doro in the laird's
household, and he spoke in a tone Of mingled
authority and terror. "But, sir" added he,
addressing the chief OF the tribe-"T will
trust to your honor that 70 will allow none
o. yoUr folk to be making free with the kye,
or the sheep, or the poultry--that is, that We
will not allow them TO mistake ony % them
for your own, lest it bring me into trouble.
For the laird has been in Q fearful rage 1t
some O. your people lately and il onything
were to be amissing in the morning, or he
kenned that ye had been here. it might be
! as meikie as my life is worth"
"Tush, man 70 said Willie Faa, the king
Of the tribe, Eye dree the death yell never
die. Willie Fas and bis folk maun live as
weel as the laird o. Clennel. But, there's
my thumb, not . four footed thing, nor the
feather O. bird, shall be touched by me or
mine. But see the light is out in the Iard's
chamber window-he is asleep and high up
amang the turrets-and wherefore should "
set human bod es In byres and stables II
night like this, when your Ha' fire is bleez.
ing bonnily, and there is room enough
around it for us ar Gle MS 4 seat by the
cheek o. Jour hearth, and ye shall be nae
loser and promise ye that we shall be of,
bag and baggage, before the skreigh o. day,
or the laird kens where his head lies"
Andrew would fan have refused this re-
quest, bnt ne knew that it amounted 70 a
command and, moreover, while he had
been speaking with the chief Of the tribe,
the maid-servants of the household, who
had followed him and the other mem sery-
ants 10 the door, had divers Of them been
solicited by the females Of the gang to haze
futurity revealed to them. And whether
indeed be that curiosity is more powerful u
woman than in man las it is generally said
to be D, do not profess to determine but
certain it is, that the laird Of Clennels maid
servants, Immediately on the hint being
given by the gipsies, felt q very ardent desire
to have q page or two from the sybilline
leaves read to them ut least that part of
them which related to their future husbands
and the time when they should obtain them.
Therefore, they backed the petition or com
maDd of King Willie, and said to Andrew
"Really, Mr.. Smith, it would be very nn-
chrlstian-like to put poor wandering folk
into caud cut houses on . night like this
and, as Willie says, there is room enough
in the Ha'."
"That may be a. very rue, lasses," re-
turned Andrew, "0ut only ye think what
dirdum there would he If the laird we're to
waken or get wit OFT r.
"Fearna the laird, !" said Elspeth, the wife
OF King Winie-"I will lay . spell on him
that he Gamma be reused frse sleep, till l, ut
sunrise, wash my hands in DArden Lough"
The Sy bill then raised her arms and waved
them fantastically in the cir, uttering as she
waved them, the following uncouth rhymes
by way Of incsntation--
"Bonny Queen Mab bouuy Queen Mah.
Wave ye yonr wee bits o poppy wines
Over ciennel's laird that may sleep,
I'M l 10 washed where DlrdsL sprisss-
Thus assured. Andrew yielded to his fears
and the wishes Of bis fellow servants, and
ushered the Faas into his masters hail for
the night. But scarce had they taken their
seats upon the oaken forms around the fire,
when
'sCome," said the Faa king, ssthe night Is
cold, pinching cold, Mr. Smith aud, while
the fire warns without, is there naethug In
the cellar that win warm withinf See % it,
Andrew, man-thou art no churl, or thy
face is fause1
"Realy, air." replied Andrew-and. IN
spite Of oil bis efforts to appear at ease, bis
tongue faltered a. be spoke--opm not a.
together certain what to say upon that sub
ject; for ye observe that our laird is really q
very singular man; ye might a weel put
your head in the fire there as displease him
In the smallest; and though Heaven kens
thai | would gle to you Just as freely as r
wound TAX 10, myseI, yet yen observe that
the lquor IN the cellars is not mine, but his
and they are never sae wen plenished but
! believe he world miss . thimblefu'. But
there Is some ercellent cold beef in the pan
try, II ys could p. up VIZ the like o. it, and
the home-breWed which we servants use"
@'Andrew," !" returned the Faa king, prcnd.
IyI"castls have none, hocks and herds
have none, neither have haughs where
the wheat, and the oats, and the barley
grow-but, Ike Ishmsel, my great foreiath.
or, every mans hand u against ma, md
nuns asainst thsn--yst when am hnngry
psEer hsk the Aesh-pots o my native laad,
where The moorfoNl and the vsnison make
brown broo together. Caald meat egrsss
nae nj my .stonscb, and ssrvapts' drisk
Was never brsvsd for, the lord o. Litils
E-SPt 70 comprehend ma. Andrew {" !,
sHQh, daresay do, sir" said the dhief
domestic ef the houss Of ClsDnsl !. "but pnly,
- i ihay4 paid, ~ will rsosllscs that I'D
drink n not mine to give; md it, 4 yentofe
upon jses 4 hops; - Wilma think a. ask.
l1nB lor AnofnersS &c ,3se@.sossa 1sss2sa <.
4lassWe ubalk tU d. y said the Rey 4 vagrsnt.
Andrew, with trsohiinGn snd irelnctAncs,
lProcesded q the osllar, And rstprned with q
lars sefthsp vesssI flled, With the choicest
aOna- nt.3 yhica hs plAcsd hPon table
W sns sasess q sAsAs0, 9Az lsco q .ao.
lSHs ga y .stfa 90 - .e-k gs.