Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1900-08-09
MICKLE- MOUTHED MEG.


have delighted to pick some quar-
rel with each ether, and the oceas-
ion has often been too trlfling to
mention in history, while the con-
sequences have often risen to mat
teIs OF deep, and sometimes fatal,
But underneath ali
this, some comic Characteristic Of
the nation has peeped out--some
ill.concealed craft or cunning, or
close. handed thrift, indicative Of
the canny Scotsman, and which be-
long to no other people in such ex-
cess as those Of the "Border.
One OF these feuds, now existing
only in traditionary lore, lay be-
tween tho SCOTS and Murrays; and,
at one time. it seemed only too prob.
able that the representatives OF the
former clan would meet disgrace
ful death OF the hands Of the chief
OF the latter.
Sir Gideon Murray, the Laird OF
Elibank, was chosen iayorite Of
King james W., who aftorward be-
slowed upon him the Office Of dep
uty treasurer OF Scotland. The
Laird was an honest, upright man,
but subject to its Of passion, which,
however, seldom lasted long, and
in the end rarely did anybody any
harm. His wife was careful,
painstaking woman, good wife
and mother, and in her youth,
must have been esteemed q fair ape
cimen OF Scotch beauty. At the age
OF fifty, the time Of which We write,
she was still bright and blooming,
her fair, Yellowish hair still un.
touched by the frosts Of time, and
her good-naturol smile displaying
teeth Of the purest white, without
thanks TO the dentist, even had his
art Aourished ct that period,
The good dame was very fond Of
brilliant colors, aud beSidcs the
endless variety OF tartans with which
abe deeked wearing not
only her husbands colors, but those
Of her mothers family and OF her
own maiden name-she enhanced
the effect by mum berless pink,
bright red or corn. colorcd cap-rib.
bons; so that the good gentlewoman
gave the appearance Of flower.
garden.
Good-looking as the Lady OF Eli
bank incontestably was, no one
could say as much for the three
daughters, who we're the sole heirs
OF Sir Gideon, all his sons having,
to his great disappointment, died
in infancy. We may, however, ex-
cept one as being tolerably pretty.
OF these daughters, Allie, the cid.
est, was a red haired, freckle-faced
lassie, large and awkward. with the
dullest Of all blue eyes, like pew.
ter buttons drappit in a crock o.
white butter" the lads said.
The second, Jean, was q prim,
bony, old-maidish woman, still and
quiet, hardly speaking the day
through, except to warn her sisters
that they were talking too loudly.
The youngest daughter was fair
and well-formed, and as merry and
sunny as the day ia long; but, in
spite Of pair Of bright blue eyes,
and straight nose, her face was
made homely by a mouth SO wide
and thick-lipped that she was known
from her earliest childhood by the
sobriquet OF Nickel Mounted Meg,
all over Elibank Town, and indeed
wherever the Laird and his family
were known.
No one was more sensible OF her
looks than Meg herself, She de-
clared that she was afraid to cape,
or even sing, lest her head should be
divided into two parts--and she Of
ten expressed hope that in heaven
she would not be recognized by her
mouth. This sunny disposition
was everything to the Murray fam
lily. 1t softened the asperities of
poor Jean, whose youth had suf-
fered sad disappointment, and
it made amends by its kindness for
the thoughtless and awkward rude
ness Of Allie. 1t covered over the
absurdities of Lady Murray's COS
tune, and it was more than an even