Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1885-06-05
furiously than ever.

He carefully balanced the cup IN MS
hands, gravely turned toward his hostess,
bowed to her, rel Gated the magic words
with Il very fair accent indeed and drained
Off the wuiskey, amid the general applause;
though none of them suspected that the
swallowing of the whiskey was to him
a much more severe task than the pro
nunciation of the Gaelic And then it
came to Ronald's turn,
"Oh no, Mr.. Murray, said the slim
wasted Nelly, who had recov red from
her confusion. and whose eyes were now
az full of mischief as ever " do not ask
Ronald to say anything IN the tfaelic he Is
ashamed to hear himself speak 1t is six
years and more he has been trying to say
"a young calf, and he cannot do it yet"
And besides, he's thinking of the lass
he left behind in the Lothians," said her
neighbor. ,
there" continued the fair-haired Nelly.
Ronald, drink mo nighGnn dubh.'"
He fixed his eyes on her steadily, and
said, sir nam hednn nan gttdnn, s'hdn
guisgcdch," (the land of hills, and glens,
and heroes, and may all the saucy jades
in Sutherland find a husband to keep them
in order ere the year be out. -
And now two or three of he lasses rose to
clear the table, for the red-bearded drover
and his brigade had not the skill to do
that; and the men lit their pipes and
there was good deal of joyous Schlcdr;
qnGrci In the midst of it all there was a
rappng of spoons and knuckles at the
upper end of the table, and ii was clear,
from the importance of his look, that Mr..
Murray himself was about 10 favor the
company, 70 that a general silence ensued.
And very well indeed did the host of the
evening sing-in Il shrill high-pitched
voice it is true, but still with such null
titude of small tiourishes and quavers and
grace notes that showed he had once been
proud enough of his voice in the days gone
] - Len, pnt ha
was a universal rush at the chorus,
And trow ye as sing, my lads
The burden OF shall be,
Aud Scotland's howcS. and Scotland's knowes,
And Scotland's hills for me,
III drink II cup to Scotland yet
WI a the honors three"
And was their American friend to be eX,.
| cludedY-not if he knew it. He could
make noise as well rs any he waved the
/ Guaich-which had wandered back
to him-round his head, and strident
enough was his voice WITH
III drink a cup to Scotland vet
WI a the honors three"
81 feel half a Scotchman already" said
he, gayly, TO his hostess.
indeed, sir, wish you were altogether
one" she said, in her gentle way. 81 am
sure think you would look a little better
in health if you lived in this country"
But don't look SO i'll, do 2" said he
rather disappointed for he had been striv-
ing to be hilarious, and had twice drank
the contents of the quaich, out of pure
triendlness.
Well, no, sir" said Mrs. Murray po-
litely, mot more than most of them
have seen from your country. But surely
it cannot be so healthy as other places, the
young ladies are SO thin and delicate
\ L
like to hef kept here for while-for more
friendly young ladies hef never met any
where-just to see what the mountain air
and the sweet milk would do for her"
"Well, then, Mrs. Murray, you will
have the chance of trying your doctoring
on my daughter when she comes up here
few weeks hence but | think you won t
find much of the invalid about her it 8
my belief she could give twenty pounds to
any girl ! know of in go -as-you-please
race across the stiffest ground anywhere.
There's not much the matter with my
Carry, if she'd only not spend the whole
day in those stores in Regent street. Well,
that will be over when she comes here;
should think it will make her stare some,
if she wants to buy veil or IA pair of
gloves"
But the girls at the foot of the table
had been teasing Ronald to sing some
thing; silence was forthwith procured
and presently-for he was very good ma,
tured, and sang whenever he was asked
the clear and penetrating tenor voice was
ringing along the rafters
"The news from Moidart cam yestreen,
VIII soon gar many fertile, wonder)
For ships o war haze just come in,
And landed royal Charlie"
1t was well known song, with re.
sounding chorus;
"Comc through the heather, around him
gather,
Ye're n the welcomer early;
Around him cling wi a your kin,
For wha'l be king but Charlicf"
Nay, was not this the right popular kind
of song-to have two choruses instead OF
one p
"Come through the heather, around him
gather,
Come Ronald, and Donald, come a'thegither.
And claim your rightfu', Lawful king,
.I..sn l. lxxatI 4 IL 4.