The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1888-01-14

close TO the beach; the remaining dwellers
/ it would seem clung to the sea-that most
hopeless of things in that hopeless place
as if they imagined that its lazy, creeping
tides might yet bring in some wave-borne
treasures for their benefit.
The house nearest to the shore was that
of Roderick MacDonald-"Big Rory, as
he was familiarly called-one who had ex-
perienced a full share Of the hardshiDs and
suffering of the people. He did not repu-
diate the idea; in fact, it might be thought,
upon close observation, that, if deprived of
his part in the general lot, he would some
how have missed, and, after fashion, re-
his small stock on the croft; and if he had
been suddenly transplanted into position
of comparative comfort there would have
been something lacking in his eyes.
Upon the never-varying theme of their
joint suAerings and hardships, and also re-
garding the extreme folly and purposeless-
ness of seeking to fec from them, Rory
was expatiating to select circle of hearers
this dismal, rainy evening at dusk, inside
the one room forming the larger portion of
his dwelling. He had been fifty years in
Sollas, man and boy-ten years had elapsed
since his wife died and left him with an
only child; he accordingly knew his subject
thoroughly; so did his hearers, having list
ened to it all before, times out of number,
as they sat on low stools round the peat fire,
placed, as is the custom here, in the centre
of the floor. The smoke from the glaring
embers driftcd hither and thither among
them, until it heaved and swayed out of the
open door, the only available exit. Their
talk was in Gaelic; at that time little else
was known here.
"And turn us out? say never !" was
the ending of his speech; "never, so long
as can hold out here" To this every one
assented.
"Where is it 10 90 to 2" resumed the
speaker, finding that nobody spoke, though
| all nodded afirmatively. "Where do they
wish us to go?''
"Canady," briefly responded, in attempt
ed English, youth close by Rory's elbow.
"Yes, Canady," rejoined the spokesman
of the evening-he had not intended to
evoke an answer, but merely to make
point, after the fashion of the declamatory
orator-'sI know that Well; Canady is a
long way to go at any rate, as the poor people
of Hirta found it-those of them that
reached It, any way. Half of them died
before then Did you ever know Sollas
man or a Uist man either come back from
Canady and say it was good place-now
did you?'
No one apparently had heard of any
such person or report, SO the argument
was deemed conclusive. Their talk then
ran upon the crowning iniquity OF large
holdings, in one of which they all thought
these few hundred sodden acres were to be
forthwith absorbed after they themselves
had been exiled All agreed that in this
respect ''the cup" of the tacksman was al
ready full, not in the sense of blessing.
As they talked heavily fell the Autumn
rain upon a single pane of glass let into
the roof of the apartment. By and by
distant peal of thunder broke on the heavy
air. Instantly discontinuing his speech,
Rory whistled on shaggy dog lying in
corner, and stalked to the open door, from
the outside of which he could be heard by
the others directing the animals move
ments as if to drive in some cattle at a
distance, Grumbling, he returned to his
seat. 1.-The beasts down there in this
weather wouldn't go down tonight for"
A bright pink-colored gleam shone
through the dark interior; another peal
broke the stiffness, muttered in its echoes,
and died away.
Gas for the chief" continued Rory, re-
suming his discourse and peering forward
in the freight with his eager, strongly
marked countenance-"as for the chief, /
wonder at him-wishing his people away.
wanting them to go off to be slaves, or,
worse, in far away land. 1t is not like
the spirit of the MacDoualds that, at ALL"
''No, indeed" was the response from all
in divers keys.
II heard the teacher at Clachan telling
strange things about the chief" said a
huge, ungainly young fellow at the other
side of the fire, us he leaned backward on
his stool and stretched his coarse 'brogans"
to the blaze ave all know the MacDon-
aid, and most of us are of the clan, besides
being tenants under him; but, as | was
SAYING. he would have it, this teacher lad,
that the chief himself, OF some Of the old
chiefs before him, that is, were not belong
: lu1 10 tiltsc iSiduuS NJ uOe CfCu W 1Cj
but came here from some place far over the
East Sea, beyond the mainland, from Ber-
Bert wasn't Bernera, at all events, but
some pane like that. | forget"
'Yes?'' interected Rory, interrogatively
and encouragingly. This was new light
on ''the grievance.
aWell, when he came over he seized all
the lands and the people-though how he
did it single-handed 1 don't know-and
made them pay rent, and when he came
he couldn't speak word of the Gaelic,
but only some language of his own
Expressed incredulity on the part of the
audience. ~ asked fhe teacher" continued
the lad, s'if that was so, how was it with the
MacLeods, who have always been in the
/ North Islands, and he said it was quite
| tbo so,,,a with tban,-fhat tho naonla were