Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1885-10-02

bIe nHSNN tHeEt = plenty mar. BuL no,
my lad, what | want we to write is song
about Scotland, and the East Lothian
part OF especially Ge've no lived long
enough in the Hielans to forget your ain
country. have ye and where's there a
song about Scotland nowadays Gale
donia's hills and dales' '-stuff Il wonder
Japp would haze bothered his head about
rubbish like that. No. no; We'll show
them whether East Lothian Gamma do the
trick and it's no the Harmony Club,
but the City Hall o. Glasgow that yell
hear that song sung in-that's better
like We mind what Robbie says, Ronald,
my lad -
zen then wish. mind its power
A wish that to my latest hour
Snail strongly heave my breast
That !, fer poor aUld SCoti&nd's sake,
Some usctu' plan or book could make,
Or sing song at least
! "Thats what you've got to do yet, my
! man
LAY, ay, lass and I'm looking forward
to having monument erected in Georges
Square, and to folk frae America coming
to buy photographs O. Whltermains."
"Ne may laugh, but stranger things
have happened y said Kate Menzies, bold
ly: for how could she know that America
at least Chicago-had already pro.
! nounced upon the poetical claims of her
cousin Ronald, and that in no very en-
couraging fashion?
And so they bowled along the wide
whinstone road. out into this open land
scape that seemed to lie behind a thin veil
of pale blue smoke 1t was the country
no doubt, but kind of sophisticated
country there were occasional grimy vii
lagos and railway embankments and
canals. and what not; and the pathway
that ran alongside the wide highway was
of black ashes-not much like Il Suther-
landshire road. However, as they got
still further away from the town. matters
improved. There were HEDGES and woods
getting a touch of the golden autumn
on their foliage nOw-the Landscape grew
brighter; those hills tar ahead of them
rose into n fairly clear blue sky And
then the brisk motion and the fresher air
seemed to drive away from him the dis
NAL recOllectiOns of the previous night (:
he ceased to upbraid himself for having
been induced to sing before all those peo-
pie he would atone for the reCklcssness
of his potations 10y taking greater care in
the future. so that when in due course
of time they reached the inn at the foot of
Campsie Glen, and had the horse and trap
put up, and set out to explore the beau
ties of that not too savage solitude, he
was in a sufficiently cheerful frame of
mind and Kate Menzies had no reason
to complain of her companion.
They had brought a luncheon basket
with them; aud as he had refused the
proffered aid of a stable lad. he had to
carry this himself and Kate Menzies was
liberal provider. Accordingly, as they
began to make their way up the steep
and slippery ascent-for rain had recently
fallen, and the narrow path was sloppy
enough-he had to leave the two women
to look after themselves. and a fine hap
hazard scramble and hauling and pushing,
with screams of fright and bursts of
laughter, ensued. This was hardly the
proper mood in which to seek out Nature
in her sylvan retreats but the truth is
that the glen itself did not wear a very
romantic aspect. No doubt there were
massive powders in the bed of the stream,
and they had to Chamber past precipitous
rocks, and everywhere overhead was u
wilderness of foliage. But everything
was dull-hued somehow, and damp-ook-
ing and dismal; the greeu-mossed bowl
ders. the stems of the trees, the dark red
earth, were all of sombre hue; while
here and there the eye caught sight of a
bit of newspaper, or of an empty soda
water bottle, or perchance of the nom
fdyllic figure of a Glasgow youth seated
astride fallen bough a DOt-hat on his
head, and a Manila cheroot in his mouth
But still it was more of the country than
the BroOmielaw; aud when Kate and her
companion had to pause in their painting
struggle up the slippery path, and after
she had recovered her breath sufficiently
to demand halt, she would turn to pick
ferns from the dripping rocks, or to ask
Ronald if there were any more picturesque
place than this in Sutherlandshire. Now
Ronald was not in the least afflicted by
the common curse of travtllers-the de-
to say that it was "a pretty bit glen"
For one thing, his attention was chiefly
devoted to keeping his footing, for
the heavy basket was sore encum-
brance,
However, after some further climbing,
they reached certain drier attitudes; and
there the hamper was deposited, while
they looked out for such trunks or big
stones as would make convenient seats.
The old woman was SPECIFICS from eX-
hauStiOn; Kate was laughing at her own
breathlessness, on misCa!ing the place
for having dirtied her boots and her
skirts; while Ronald was bringing things
together tor their comfort 50 that they
could have their luncheon in peace. This
was not quite the same Kind of IA luncheon
party as that he had attended on the
shores Of the far hern lOch, with Miss
Carry complacently regarding the silver
clear salmon lying Oh the smooth dry
greensward and the American talking
in his friendly fashion of the splendid fu
ture that lay before a capable and ener-
getic young fellow in the great country
beyond the seas while all around them
the sweet air was blowing, and the clear
light shining, ana the white clouds sail
ing high over the Clebrig slopes. Things
. were changed with him since then: he
did not himself know how much they had
changed. But in all circumstances he
was abundantly good-natured. and CRATE
full for any kindness shown him and as
Kate Menzies had projected this trI
mainly on his account, he did his best tC
\ promote good fellowship, and was service
able and handy, and took her raillery IL
excellent part.
\ katie dear" whimpered old Mother
Paterson, as Ronald took out the things
from the hamper, "ye list snoil every one
that comes near We. Such * ravaJ q &C.
1 such waste: many's the time ] WISH Y,
would get married, and have man t.
look after ye-"
"Stop your haverng; who would marry
4 An auld woman like me ?" said Mrs
Menzies, with "a laugh. Ay, and what
the extravaganza, moo, that has driven "
DOT O. your mind ,"
Champagne again " the old woman
said, shaking her head, Champaign
again Dear me, it's like duke
house"
what, We daft auld craytur Woulc
We have me take my cousin Ronald for M
first trip to Campsie Glen, and bring out I
10 t1rh