The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1909-04-13

fine men in the centre, dressed in tar
tans and bonnets, walking about"
"Ach, they are the lairds-the com.
-mittee, you know They're seeing
that everything goes on all right.
Yon men'll be putting the stone now.
See yon kiltie? He's Campbell.
He won last year They'll no stond
chonce against him "
That's a pretty plaid he has on.
I said approvingly sBut it's not as
pretty as the Gordon, added quick
ly. The lad flashed an appreciative
glance at me.
Will you have sweet?" he quer-,
led, taking from his pocket grimy
bag in which reposed three diminutive
chocolates. They looked uninviting
enough, but would not have refused
his proffer for the world nor ignored
this quick appreciation Of my remark
about his own clan.
SIT would be grond if you had a
camera" he said "You could take
photograph Of the games fine from
here.
II have one, but have to have sun
shine to use it, told him.
Maybe there'll be sunshine to-
morrow. There'll be games to-mor-
row too"
Then I'll surely come if it is fair,
and bring my camera I'll take your
picture too, if you'd like to have one.
Would your"
"Ay. His face beamed.
Well, then, meet me tomorrow
afternoon, at the close of the games,
at the entrance gate I'll be there
whatever the day. l think / must be
going now" Saying goodbye to the
solitary figure perched up alone on
the great hill retraced my steps,
hoping again and again that / should
be able to take the photograph on the
morrow and please the poor little
Scot. could not soon forget those
delightful eyes.
The next day dawned lowering, but
by the time / had reached the
grounds the sun shone forth in splen.
dor. climbed the pay HILL as my
new acquaintance had called it the
day before, and employed myself dur.
ing the time the contestants were
tossing the caber," putting the
stone, fitting the bucket, I" throw.
ing the hammer" going through the
obstacle" and walking races, and
playing "shinty," in sketching some
of the types about me.
When the "tulloch reel, the "high.
land fling" and the Sword dance"
came on, however, I gave them my
undivided attention. Talk of poetry
of motion-what l saw was it's es-
sence. 1t was mystery to me how
those muscular highlanders could ex>
ecute the difficult maneuvres they
did, especially in the sword dance,
when the two-edged swords, crossed
placed on the ground, and danced
over, between, around, and apparent
ly upon, were never touched. 1t was
all enchanting, with the bright plaids
iuttering against background of
rugged hills, the pibrochs sounding
frenziedly, and feet and hands keep
ing nimble time.
At last all was over, and made my
ment or two of disappointment for
did not at first see my btsy. Then
remembered that he could not get
about as fast as others, and waited
patiently. Soon he appeared with
companion, whom I learned it was
the desire of his heart to have photo
graphed with him. So l placed the
two youngsters against rock and
took snapshot. Following is a let
ter l received from Duncan" after
his photo had been sent him:
Dear LADY, never had my pho
tograph taken in my life before, or
my mother or father or brothers or
sisters. MY mother was so delighted
with it she cried. will remember
what you said and learn the Gallo.
1t is getting learned more than it
used to be. We get it in school now.
| want to be Gallo teacher, as /
want to make my mother comforta-
Bile. will try hard. / hope we will
meet ere long Goodbye. Soirb-
heas Leaf. That means good fortune
attend you. From your friend,
Frederick GRAHAM
shall keep that brave crippled boy
and his Gaelic in thought during the
coming years, and remind him now
and again that he has friend in far
away America. OF all that saw dur
ing the days Of the Highland Games,
he will remain longest in my memory.
Youths World.