The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1909-04-13
AT THE HIGHLAND GAMES
.sy ELEANOR ROOT.

he's beatin'-look We there, he's
beatin!" These excited words burst
upon my ear as / neared the top Of a
hill in the Western Highlands Of
Scotland. Following them saw a
cap thrown high in air, and moment
later came upon a group of young
sters gazing at something far below
them. My eyes followed their, and
10! found had come unexpectedly
upon celebration Of the famous
Highland Games. There, surround
ed on three sides by great natural
amphitheatre of hills and on the
third by a grand stand" bright with
flags, orange, scarlet, blue and white,
was the arena. The boys and l were
on the most distant hill; beyond the
pale-that is, outside the paying
quarter; but | am sure nobody who
watched the games that day enjoyed
himself more than we.
"Thot mon Cameron's won again.
He's extraordinary, averred a boy
with crutch.
r. "Ay, he's a champion altogether, I.
assented another, as huge man
made a record throw with a "caber. I"
For while after my advent was
silent, keenly enjoying the festive
scene, and still more the remarks of
the little coterie. But presently,
when a Scotch mist came on, and I
was left alone with the cripple, !
ventured to make a remark as a
bagpipe, played by stalwart figure
in tartans, let loose it's lugubrious
walls.
Does that sound sweet to your"
asked.
"Ay," the lad replied in evident
surprise at the question. After a
pause he went on: that's march
Maybe you will be liking strathspey
or reel better"
I'D Likely anything that's joyous
better Is bagpipe music ever joy
ous?"
Ay, when they come to the quick
bit of the strathspeys and reels, it's
very lively then. And when they'll
be dancing, you will think some of
them will be going mad. Thot's ma
such good piper now. He's Mac
Lean. / can tell by his plaid. Yon's
a Gordon. He will be better. The
Gordon is our clan" he added with
conscious pride. "Now isn't thot
groId9" as stentorian and prolonged
screams issued from the new COM
petitor's pipes.
shook my head. Tell me when it
gets lively demanded at doesn't
seem as if 1t ever could be lively.
At this juncture a band of pipers
advanced and, marching and counter
marching, played in unison. At least
| was led by the evident delight of my
companion, to suppose it was in uni
son. Wild dissonance, however,
would seem to me the better term. l
divulged some of my thoughts to my
companion and was met by the grave
reply. Perhaps you ha' no ear for
music"
Perhaps not, was my meek re-
joinder, mentally questioning the
term.
For accentuated stateline-s give me
Highland piper. He seems to spurn
the very earth as he walks. He is
far and away the most majestic crea-
ture that one can well imagine, and
when to the single individual is added
a whole battalion, with tartans wav-
ing, bonnet ribbons flying, arms, feet
and musical instruments keeping
time, the effect is overwhelming,
"Thot will be for the Piobaireachd
gold medal they're playing said the
lad with an indrawn breathe of rap
ture.
DO you speak Gaelic?" / asked
quickly.
"Ay, | have the Gaelic? My moth
er has it too. She is ma good at the
English. When grow UP LIN going
to teach 1t and see if can make my
living.
+ Don't ever let it co." admon-
ished him. do you ever go to a
Gaelic church? Is there any in your
town? What town is this, adjoining
I've Just walked across the hills from
a farmhouse where I've been STAYING
over Sunday and / don't know where
! am. paused for breath.
lyon is Oban- Ay, there are three
Gaelic churches there. always 90 to
one Sunday. The Gaelic satisfies me
far better than English. 1t means
more. like the Gaelic, they're
shaking hands just now to show they
agree" he exclaimed as some "tug-
of-war" men came out into the open
space and greeted their opponents.
I'd hate to see the sailors lose.
Some of them go to war. They're
Draw fighters. They ought to win,
they're thot strong. Ach, those 9th
ers cant win-they're too fat. Thot
mon laid down his coat for the other
coats. Thot was kind of him.
Do you know who it was that laid
down his coat over muddy place for
a queen to walk on?p asked.
Sir Walter Raleigh, for Queen
Elizabeth. Our teacher tells us
stories. like stories better than the
strap.
Oh, I'm sure you never need the
strap, remarked tentatively.
See yon mon? He had to give it
! up. He's sailor. I'm sorry" he
returned, ignoring my implied query.
wish you'd say something to M
IN Gaelic, ! urged presently, during
breathing space on the plain below,
How do you pronounce fionn-iisgue ?
Il means clear spring, doesn't it?p
The boy seemed gratified with my
interest in his native tongue and re-
peated the word for me with most