Copiah signal. (Hazlehurst, Miss.) 1888-1899, 1888-10-11
~ ponnIE SCOTLAND.


seFvtas LADY " rttsf.
But the cottages which 20 the right
Of our road struggled down 10 q rocky
stream below had no redecming white
wash. no vines about their doors The
turf around them was worn away.
some we're ehimneyless; on others tho
thateh. where weeds did not bold II
together. had broken through, leaving
great holes In tho roof On a bench
tilted Up against the walls oi ths
lowest Of these cottages sat an old
gray-haired man In Tam o. Shanter.
his head bent low. his clasped hands
falling between his knees. IL was a
picturesque place, and 40 camped out
wkile under an old cart near the road
side Perhaps IL would have been
wise II. like Mr. Hamer,on. We could
have seen only the picturcsguencs@ ~
the Highland clAchan. only the color
and subllmity OF the huta. only the
nne women that live within them. But
how could We sit there and not SEQ
that the pleturesqueness was that n
misery, that whatever color and sub
Unity there might D. and 90 the
sublimlty must confess We we're blind
--were but ou'ward signs II poverty
and squalor and that the huts sheltered
not ONLY strong young women. but
feeble cd men like that pathetic agure
vita the claspsd hands and bcnt
head We have seen the old
age Of the poor when We thought
II bot peaceful rest after
the work of years. In English aims
houses We have found h in eur hearts
b. envy the old men and women their
homes. But here despair and sadness
seemed the portion % old age I do
no, znow Why !; was. bat as we watched
that gray haired man. though there
was a space Of blue sky just above him.
and the day was warm and the air
sweet. IL was oi the winter he made us
think. Of the time soon % come when
the cold winds wonld roar through the
pass, and snow would lie on the hills.
and hs would shivsr alone In the chim-
neylc,s cottage with its one tiny vim
dow. A few miles away. men in a
fortnight throw away on their fishing
more than these people can make in
ears. Scotch landlords rent their
Wild nnculuvatod acres foF fabulous
sums. while villages like This grow
deaolate. II when you are in the High.
lands you would still see them a. they
are N the romance ot scott or Ia the
slckly sentiment ~ Landsoer. or a. a
mere pleasure ground Tor tourists and
sportsmsn. You must ct the people out
81 your mihd just ~ the laird gets
them OF his estate Go everywhere.
by stage and steam boat. and when
you come 10 clachan or 10 a lonely
cottage, shut your eyes and pass on.
Else you must realize as ws did d-snd
more strongly as we went further
that this land. which holiday makers
have come h. look upon ~ their own.
IL ne s&idest on God earth.
After 'kiieArcnAn the road crossed
the moorland. Ben -Cruarhan towering
far 10 our right We came 10 another
wretched village down by Loeb El4ve.
Here again In tho sunshine vas an old
man lie vas walking slowly aRd
feebly up and down. and there was
. look in his face a. II hope had long
gone from hin- In England scarce a
town OF village l. without its chari-
ties. But in the Highlands. while
deer and grouse are protected by law.
men are chased from their homes. the
aged and inhrm are left 30 shift for
themselves. ! think the misery ~
thase villages Il made TO seem but the
grstsr because Of tho large house
which so often stands close by.--Ars.
PeHnea, ~ Harpsr's MIgasaae.