The herald., 1893-06-25
"MICKLE MOUTH"

and the occasion has often been too
trifing to mention in history, while tho
consequences have often risen TO matters
of deep and sometimes fatal Importance.
But underneath all this some comic
characteristic Of the nation has peeped
out some i'll concealed craft or cunning
or close handed thrift indicative OF the
canny Scotsman. and which belong to
mo other people in such excess as to those
of the border"
One Of these feuds, now existing only
In Evolutionary lore, lay between tho
SCOTS and Murrays, and at ono time II
seemed only TOO probable that tho repre-
sentative OF the former clan would meet
q disgraceful death at the hands OF the
chief OF the latter.
Sir Gideon Murray, the laird OF Eli
bank, was chosen favorite of King
james VI, who aftcrward bestowed upon
him the Office OF deputy treasurer Of
Scotland The laird waa au honest, up
right man, but subject 20 fits Of passion,
which, however acldom lasted long and
In the end rarely did anybody any harm.
Hie wife was careful, painstahing
woman, a good wife and other, and in
her youth must have been cntecnsd a
fair specimen of Scotch beauty.
At tho ago OF 80, tho timo OF winch wo
write, sho Yves still bright and blooming,
her fair, yellowish hair still untouched
by the frosts of time, and her good hn-
tured smile displaying toeth Of the pur-
cst white, without thanks TO 6he dentist,
even had his art ilourishcd at that period.
The good dame was very fond Of bril-
liant colors, and besides the endless va
lriety of tartans with which she decked
wearing not only her husbands
colors, but those of her mothers family
and of her own maiden name--she en-
HANGED the effect by numberless pink,
bright red or corn colored cnp 1fbbons,
90 that tho good gentlewoman gave the
appearance of flower garden.
Good looking as tho lady Of Elibank
Iincontestnbly was, no ono could say as
much for tho three daughters, who were
the sole heirs of Sir Gideon, all his sons
having, to his great disappointment, died
in infancy. We may, however, except
one,as being tolerably pretty, OF these
daughters, Allie, the eldest, was rcd
haired, freckle faced lassie, large and
awkward, with the dullost Of all blue
eyes, like pewter buttons drappit in u
crock o white butter" the lads said.
The second, jean, was prim, bony,
old maidish woman, still and quiet,
hardly speaking the day through, except
to warn her sisters that they were talk
iing too loudly.
The youngest daughter was faiT and
well formed and az merry and sunny az
the day is long, but in spite Of a pair of
,bright'blue eyes and straight noeo her
lface'was made hoinely by mouth so
wide and thick Tipped that She was
known from her earliest Childhood by
the sobriqueto of ''EIicllle Mouthod Meg
all over Elibank town, and indeed
wherever the laird aud his family were
known. No one was more sensible Of
her looks than Meg herself She de-
'clared that she was nfraid to gape or
,even sing, lest her head should be divided
into two parts-and she often expressed
a hope that in heaven she would not be
recognized by her mouth.
This sunny disposition was everything
to the Murray family. 1t softened the
Iasperities of poor Jean, whose youth had
suffered d snd disappointment, and it
made amends by its Kindness for the
thoughtless and awkward rudcness Of
Allie, 1t covered over the aSsurdities of
Lady Murray's costume, and it was more
than nm even match for the lairds pas
sionate temper, subduing it by softness
only, as the horse taincr rules his fiery
subjects Yet the good and amiable
Scottish maiden was invariably called
by her uninviting nickname, ana the
young lairds never toasted the neigh-
boring beauties without bringing in
i"NIiclle Mouthcd Meg as a foil to the
loveliness of their own charlners.
Meg had her own admirers. Tho gar
denefs lame boy from his armchair by
the window, ana his LITTLE table loaded
with books and pictures, cakes and
fruits, the gift Of Margaret Murray. new
er failed to hail her coming Us that of
his guardian angel, and old, decrepit
Sawny Macintire, the schoolmastcr of
Elibank when Sir Gideon was a young
hnan, could never be made to think that
Meg WAS not perfect beauty, and when
he had exhausted every old Latin epithot
upon the child Of his former pupil and
tho youths continued 10 laugh disdain-
fully nc the amplitude of her mouth
Sawny would say, "Hech. sira! bat the
lassios heart is as mucl1le as a hail rcg.
klnent Of such as your ain"
Meg had just entved her twentY-6fth
year when her fathor came home sud
denly from the next town, where he had
Ibeen on business, and alarmed the Fam
lily with the news that he had heard
Young William Scott, the son Of Scott
of Harden, was already making larg,
excursions upon lands belonging to Tn,
laird of Elibank and his depreciation.
were made in open defiance of all law
and in a manner worthy Of tho mos
lawless freebooter. At least such wal
the story heard by the laird and be hin
believed true
To sound the alarm among The lairdi
rctaiuers, to summon the whole elem o
Murray and to defeat the marauder
through superior force was tho ol,
knights easy task Another SCENE,
coming upon him to execute, which oft
or the heat of passion and tho flush 0
victory should bo oyor woald peiAeir
load his whole lifo with unavailing re.
morse.
Young Scott Of Harden was taken pris
oner and brought to Elibank town
L -, ~, Ii