Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1902-04-12
and, Selling the cookie in the same
way, called out:

procession. x, j.,
Strike up, Batchees, We little angel!'
shouted Blaney, the appellation con
cession to the minister's presence, anC
away went Baptiste in a rollickin:
French song with the English chorus:
''Then blow, We Winds in the morning
Blow, We winds, ay oh!
Blow, We winds, in the morning,
Blow, blow, blow"
And at each elbow" every boot came
down with a thump on the plank foo
that shook the solid roof. After thu
second round Mr.. Craig jumped upo1
the bench and called out:
"Three cheers for Billy the cook!"
In the silence following the cheers
Baptiste was heard to say:
Bon! OATS max me feel lax hit da
puddin' all hup meself, me-"
"Hear till the little bastep' said Bla
ney in disgust.
"Batchees," demonstrated Sandy
gravely, you've more stomach than
manners"
Flu sure, but de more stomach OATS
more better for dis puddin'," replied
the little Frenchman cheerfully.
After a time the tables were cleared
and pushed back to the wall, and pipes
were produced. In all attitudes sug
gestive of comfort the men disposed
themselves in a wide circle about the
fire, which now rOared and cracked uE
the great wooden chimney hanging
from the roof. The lumberman's hour
Of bliss had arrived. Even old man
Nelson looked a shade less melancholy
than usual as he sat alone, we'll away
from the fire, smoking steadily and 81
lently. When the second pipes were
we'll a-going, one of the men took down
q violin from the wall and handed it to
Lachlan Campbell. There were two
brothers Campbell just out from Argyll,
typical ghlanders-Lachlan, dark, 81
lent, melancholy, with the face of a
mystic, and Angus, red haired, quick,
lmpulsive and devoted to his brother, a
under biting, sarcastic speech.
Lachlan after much protestation, in
terspersed with gibes from his brother,
took the violin and, in response to the
call from all sides, struck up Lord
Macdonald's Reel" In a moment the
floor was filed with dancers, whoop-
Ing and cracking their fingers in the
widest manner. Then Baptiste did
the Red River Jig" a most intricate
and difficult series of steps, the men
keeping time to the music with hands
and feet.
When the jig was finished, Sandy
called for "Lochaber No More" but
Campbell said:
"No, no; I cannot play that tonight.
Mr.. Craig will play"
Craig took the violin, and at the first
note knew he was no ordinary play
er. I did not recognize the music, but
it was soft and thrilling and got in by
the heart till every one was thinking
his tenderest and saddest thoughts.
After he had played two or three ex-
quisite bits he gave Campbell his vio-
lin, saying, NOW, 'Lochaber,' Lach-
lam"
Without a word Lachlan began, not
Lochaber"-he was not ready for that
yet-but "The Flowers O. the Forest"
and from that wandered through
"Auld Robin Gray" and 'The Land O.
the Leal," and so got at last to that
most soul subduing of Scottish Ia.
ments, "Lochaber No More" At the
first strain his brother, who had thrown
himself on some blankets behind the
fire, turned over on his face, feigning
pipe out of his mouth and sat up
straight and stiff, staring into vacancy,
and Graeme, beyond the fire, drew a
short, sharp breath. We had often sat,
Graeme and I, in our student days, in
the drawing room at home, listening
upon the pipes, and we'll knew that
the awful minor strains were now eat
ing their way into his soul.
Over and over again the highlander
played his lament. He had long since
forgotten us and was seeing visions of
the hills an6 lochs and glens Of his far
away native land and making US, too,
see strange things out of the dim past.
glanced at old man Nelson and was
startled at the eager, almost piteous,
ook in his eyes, and wished Camp
DELL would stop. Mr.. Craig caught my
Eye and, stepping over to Campbell,
held out his hand for the violin. Lin
geringly and lovingly the highlander
1rew out the last strain and silently
gave the minister his instrument.
Without moments pause and W lille
he spell Of ''Lochaber" was still upon
IS the minister, with exquisite skill, |
ell into the refrain of that simple and |
beautiful camp meeting hymn, 1.-THE
Sweet By and By" After playing the |
yerse through once he sang softly the |
efrain. After the first verse the men |
oined in the chorus, at first timidly, |
,ut by the time the third verse was
cached they were shouting with |
hroats full open, 1--WE shall meet on
hat beautiful shore" When looked |
It Nelson. the eager light had gone out |
# his eyes, and in it's place was kind |
# determined hopelessness, as if in
his new music he had no part.
After the voices had ceased Mr.. Craig