The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1935-02-22

simple lives have been so often moro
grimly fought than my own. It re-
lieves me, therefore, to have decided
that I may get through their chinks
more creditably in another manner.
IN WHICH ADAM MAKES THE
ACQUAINTANCE OF MISS JULIE
AND SHE STEPS INTO HIS
HEART. NEVER AGAIN TO
LEAVE 1T, REASON AS HE MAY
Dec. 26-(Continued.)-Th anchor
alton in the weather, which prob
ably will not last, is what put the idea
into my head. Some of us have been
able to step about a little these last
days. A curran herd, weary of bothy
life, have made so bold as to find out
where the glen road is. OF course,
they cannot shovel down to it, but they
have staked some of the worst bits,
and several carts have passed along
as if the proximity to it gave them
courage. I saw from the manse the
old Lady's carriage trying for Branders.
The smiths klink-klink from the smid-
dy, which is the most murie sound in a
countryside next to a sawmin, shows
that he has had at least one to shod.
Posty has ridden on his velocipede
the length of the Five Houses and back,
with the result that you cannot see his
face for the brown paper. 1t is true
that there is no possibility of opening
the kirk on Sabbath, for though we
have thrown planks across the burn,
with a taunt rope to hang on by, the
kirk is too mortal cold for sitting in
through a service. There is, however,
the smiddy, which can be used for
other purposes besides preaching.
All DUR large social events take place
in the smiddy, and the finest consist
of Penny Weddings, when you are ex-
pected, if convenient, to bring, say, a
hen or a small piece of plenishing to
the happy pair. The actual marriage,
of course, takes place in the brides
home, and not, in the queer English
way, in the kirk. We have had no
weddings since< I came, but twice last
month we had Friendlies, which we
consider the next best thing.
Our Friendlies are always in two
parts, the first part being devoted to
a lecture by the minister, or some other
person of culture, who is usually an
other minister. This lecture is in
variably of a bright, entertaining
character, and some are greater adopts
at unbending in this way than others,
the best being Mr.. Watery of Branders,
whose triumphant smile is of such
expansion that you might say it oozes
over the company like syrup. Laughter
and the clapping of hands in modera-
ton are not only permissible but en-
couraged.
The second part Of a Friendly is
mostly musical with songs, and is pro-
sided by local talent, in which Posty
takes a lead. There is an understand
ing that I remain for the first song or
so, whether I am lecturing or in the
Chair. This is to give a tone to the
second part, and then I slip away,
sometimes wishing I could bide, to let
them be more at their ease. The time
in which Friendlies would be most priz-
ed is when the glen is locked, but the
difficulty for all except the Five Houses
lies In getting to the smiddy.
Nevertheless, we are to attempt a
Friendly on Thursday, though Mr. Wat
cry, who was to be the lecturer with a
magic lantern, which Of course Is a
great addition, has cried off on account
of nervousness lest the weather should
change before he gets home again. I
have undertaken to fill his place to the
best Of my more limited ability, a. in
deed it Is. I am doing so the more
readily because Of this idea that came
to me, which promises to be a felicitous
one. It is to lecture to them on Super
stition, with some sly and yet shat
tering references to a recent event
in the glen, all to be done with a light
touch, yet of course with a moral, which
is that a sense Of humour is the best
antidote to credulity.
There are few Of the smaller sub
jects to which I have given greater
thought than to Humour, its ramifica-
tions and idiosyncrasies, and I have a
hope that I may not do so badly at
this. I wish Mr.. Watery could be pres
ent, for I think I can say that I know
more about Humour than he does,
though he is easier at it.
VII. MISS JULIE LOGAN.
Dec. 28.-Hours have passed since I
finished my lecture. I know not how
many times I have sat down to write
about her and then taken to wander
ing the study instead. My mind goes
back in search of every crumb of her, |
and I am thinking I could pick her
up better on my fiddle than in written
words.
My eyes never fell on her till I got
to my peroration. This is no reflection
on my sight, for all the company in
the smiddy, and there were more than
thirty, had to sit in darkness 50 that
they could better watch my face be-
tween the two candles. She was with
Mistress Lindinnock, who presented
her to me, and they came over to the
manse while the ponies were being put
in. I held her hand to guide her over
the planks.
She Is the Old Lady's grand-niece,