A B ER DEEN

PRI N T ED A T T H E B A E RD EEN jO U R N A L O FFI C E,

A DEL PHI COURT . P A S T A N D P R E S E N T

A B I E R D E E N S H R E ,

R EM I N I SC EN C ES O F EV EN TY Y EA R S S .

TH E R V E . WI LLI A M A D. U L D. E ,

- M I N I ST ER O F B A N CH ORY DEV EN IC K .

L WI E S S M I T H S O N ,

AB ERDEEN .

P R E F A E C .

D U RI N G lon fe which ex ten ds f one of my g li , rom

s s of this r of which fift the earlie t year centu y, and y

five s s s s year have been pent in my pre ent pari h , great changes have taken place in my native district o f

A s T s e ffe berdeen hire . hese change have b en e cted

mainly by the spread among all classes of the

o f s t an d the people an education in the Univer i y, in

s s s far s its Grammar and pari h chool , uperior in

intellectual quality to that of pas t days ; and by

the opening up o f free communication with the

s o f s of th f re t the world , fir t all , by e ormation

o f s f s turnpike road , and a terward , in a much

s u of s greater degree, by the con tr ction railway ;

and they manifest them selves not only in the altered

manners and customs and even langu age o f the

s u people , but al o in the more highly c ltivated and

beautified s of the c r s f m th a pect ount y, ari ing ro e . P re ace vi f .

s of s e exten ive planting uitable timb r, the reclama

of s of the tion wa te land , the laying out arable

s t s ground in regular field , and the improved me hod

of use t s cultivation now in general . Seven y year ago

the arable portion s o f the country were wretchedly

d s f o f cultivate , ill laid out, and in many place ull

-f s s s and s o f f s earth a t tone , the dwelling the armer

and their sub -tenants and dependants were o f the

poorest des cription and wanting in what are now

s s o f f s con idered the decen cie li e . But the mo t

marked feature in the face o f the country was the

o f s s o f wide extent barren ground , con i ting partly

m s o f oor land , upon which the tenant the adjoining

farms had the privilege o f putting out their cattle

s s s s o f ss to pick up a canty ub i tence, and partly mo

f fo r m s n land , where they dug uel ho e con umptio or

fo r sale in Aberdeen .

The habits o f the people and their manners and

T customs are also greatly altered . heir primitive

s implicity and quaint modes o f express ion have

mos s an ume us ds h h al t di appeared , d n ro wor , w ic P rec e. vii .

m use now within my emory were in common , are

s never heard and would not be under tood , although many of them have fortunately been preserved in

“ s the page of the inimitable Johnny Gibb. Much was s f s aid and done in ormer day , both by the clergy

a s and laity, which m y now eem to have betokened a great want of reverence fo r s acred things but it

s s mu t be remembered that they lived in ruder time , and therefore s hould not be measured according to

s s the tandard of these more refined day . I believe the piety of former generation s to have been as s s incere, and their religion and wor hip to have been as f as s of much rom the heart, tho e their de

s cend ants .

I have been all my life bles t with good health

s f and a robu t rame, which have enabled me to go in and out among the people o f this paris h fo r a period which exceeds the lifetime of many men who now cons ider themselves to be approaching o ld

age. I have been an attentive observer o f the

a s and has oc cured ch nge going on around me, it to P re ace. viii . f

s v e f o f s me that a hort, and e en imp r ect, record the e observations might be acceptable to my friends and

of s s the public . Some the illu trative anecdote

f s re er to times lightly antecedent to my own .

T s fo r s he e were, the mo t part, told to me by my f ather and mother, and I think it will be acknow

o ledged that they are, upon the wh le, apt and

f r r s appropriate o the pu po e .

P W. .

r BAN C H RY -D EV M AN SE o O EN I C K,

A u s t 1 8 1 gu , 8 . T H E P A S T A N D P R E S E N T

F A B E R D E E N I R O S H E .

TH E following little Work was originally s ugges ted by a pas sage in the Introduction to one of the Edi ’ s of s s s s tion Dean Ram ay Remini cence , in which he s s f s ay , I have recorded the ollowing Remark , by o f f way experiment, hoping that it might orm a pre cedent or example fo r others to take up the ques tion o f s s us s s o f change among t , and tate the re ult their ” O s v f f s b er ation . I have ound that he who ollow the s so s e Reverend Dean mu t do at a great di tanc , and ff To sa of his by a di erent route. y nothing advanced s his age, which carried him back into bygone time , profess ion and pos ition in s ociety brought him into contact with the Nobility and Gentry at a period far

ff f s his s v di erent rom the pre ent, while acute ob er ation se s o f s his s s and keen n e the ludicrou , trong Scotti h e s of o f predil ction , warmth heart, and geniality man s fo r ner , peculiarly fitted him collecting and record h i ng hi s reminiscences o f Scottis h life and c aracter. s He had , moreover, advantage , particularly in the te e s of his fo ow s of his la r dition work, which no ll er / r i re 4 T ze P ast and P resent of Abe deens/z .

ssess s e e as he can po to the am xtent, in that , him se f s s was s e s r s o f l ay , he uppli d with illu t ation the habits and manners des cribed by him in the form of anecdotes from Scotchmen in all parts o f the wo rld. s s his its s was By thi mean , work in later edition

e o f f his gr atly enriched , and that any ollower in in wake im poverished in like proportion . It may

bc s s s sa s deed aid , that the be t Scotti h ying and

s w o r anecdote , hich had been floating ab ut the count y fo r s as s t as his age , became, it were, tereo yped

r i s t . s s s prope y Yet notwith tanding, there till ome

n c d fo r s o s a u o cupie ground other , f which I h ll avail s f—not b o f o s my el y writing a collection anecd te , but l s the ' m anners b s s s by il u trating , ha it , and cu tom of a pas t generation in contrast with those of the s pre ent. ‘ R amsa s a s s i s Dean y y , that amu ement not the f of his his s chie object work , and reader have been much indebted for the information and benefit con ferred upon them but there cannot be a doubt that the amusement provided has not been less apprec i ated or less beneficial than the information furnished f is them . We know rom high authority that there a t a as as m to t time o l ugh, well a ti e weep, and hat “ ” r e a mer y heart does good like a m dicine. We o th a h s b s s kn w at l ug ter excited upon uita le occa ion , b ha m ss h is l f o y pure and r le umour, a re ie to an ver b m and is a n urdened ind heart, and ctually a medici e,

and a r ff t o ne o h s f . A ve y e ec ual , when t er ail kind and merciful God has opened up many sources of ha i s i o r a h hr f as or s of ove pp nes n u p t t ough li e, c d l ’ T nt o rdeens /z r /ze P ast and P rese f Abe z e.

us s f has f s us to bind to Him el , and urni hed with a faculty denied to the inferior animals express ive o f

r s ou enjoyment. Smile and laughter heighten the e of m s b auty the hu an countenance, e pecially when express ive o f the enjoyment o f a pure and happy A heart. ccordingly, the good Dean thought that he was not acting a part uns uitable to hi s holy pro fessio n when , by exciting the mirth , he heightened

f his s s s o s . the joy , and alleviated the orrow reader of l i n s o f Few the c ergy thi country, any denomina o d w s tion , can , with a g o grace , thro a tone at the Dean fo r publis hing his remini scences of Scottis h life

as has l his s and character, he acknow edged obligation to them fo r the greater number o f those publi shed

To s s o f by him . my elf they have been a great ource

s as as f s amu ement, well to the riend to whom I have o f s related them . One my neighbour , when I told him any one o f th em which particularly pleased ’ s s a s s him , u ed to y, Oh , Doctor, that a mo t ” f antido e beauti ul t .

s has c Dean Ram ay delineated , in a very corre t

s o f f and graphic way, the general peculiaritie li e and

t s s s o f charac er, which di tingui h the inhabitant the “ ” “ land o f Cakes from those o f the land o f Roas t ” f T s Bee . here are, however, di tinctive peculiarities by which certain counties of Scotland are s harply m s u as s and e arked out , ch climate and oil , hill gl n ,

s and the energy, intelligence , dialect, manner f f n s s o ts . O se a d cu tom the inhabitan the , Aber

enshire s es e e re d e de erv prominent notice, and th r a s cen es of as t mes of ha o n remini c p t i t t c u ty, which A 2 ' T/ze P as t and P resen t o A r e z 6 f be d ensn re.

the Aberdonian s would not wis h to pas s away and it is to be hoped that they will welcome the efforts o f s s o f s a chronicler, recording remini cence the pa t s till lingering in the memories o f the aged in

s o f o f s habitant the county. Many the habit and

s s o f o f u age , and much the language the people ,

o f s s The have now become the thing that are pa t.

o f s s o f young the pre ent day , e pecially the children

s s s o f the upper cla , do not under tand many the words which were continually in the mouths o f

s f s The f s o their father and grand ather . acilitie f s ts o f intercour e with other par the country, and

s o f s other part the world , educational advantage , and the exten s ion o f general information by means o f s s ss s s s o f the public pre , now acce ible to all cla e

have_ co n tributed s s the community, , with other cau e , to ff o f s the e ecting great change in the language,

o f intelligence, and general condition the people. The s ame causes have led to the dis appearance o f

s s s f s o f notion and cu tom ormerly prevalent, relic

f s s f s ages o ignorance and uper tition . Some o the e

s s s no t notion and cu tom , however, were prevalent

a o A o f s s very long g . neighbour mine, ome year a o s a g , met a boy with a p de in one hand , and a piece o f s cloth , with omething rolled up in it, in the other, ’ ” s n ? To and aid to him , Whaur are ye ga in , Jock “ ’ ’ aui n which Jock replied , I m g to the kirkyard to ”

. s f bury my thoom On another occa ion , at a uneral o f s s s in the churchyard thi pari h , a mall deal box , was firmly nailed , which turned up among the mould f o f s s o the grave , attracted the attention tho e pre ent, ' /ze P ast and P resent o A berdeens/ nre T f . 7

not The who could imagine what it contained . f r s chie mou ner, on eeing their perplexity, gave it a “ ’ o f his s e s T kick with the point ho , and aid hat s ’ ” f s my ader fit. f s to Nothing, hal a century ago, u ed be more s triking and amus ing to our countrymen in the s outh and west of Scotland than the peculiarities o f e s the Aberdeen shire dial ct. From thi circums tance

f w us s was they ancied , till they kne better, that our

s - s as a emi barbarou dialect , and that we, compared

s s s - s with them elve , were emi barbarou people .

A s o f us ccordingly when , many year ago , any s s we vi ited Edinburgh , no ooner did open our s to ask s s h mouth a que tion at a tranger, than e ’ s us f s s tared at be ore an wering, aying, You ll be frae A eberdeen awa We on our part did no t fail to obs erve peculiarities als o in the Edinburgh

s u s f all i s s dialect equally triking to and , a ter , it ju t a matter o f taste whether it is preferable to say ’ ’ fa fa fo r f tu or tee all to , mune or meen ” fo r s une s fo r s The moon , p or peen poon . late s o f his Dr. Gillan , Mini ter Inchinnan , on return f s A s rom a vi it to berdeen , many year ago , jocularly

his f s s remarked to riend , on their a king how he had enjoyed his vis it and how he had been treated by the “ A s The s s e berdonian , barbarian howed me no littl ” s s is o u r i s ff kindne . It true that dialect di erent

f o f s s o f u s rom that all the countie to the outh . It is als o true that difference o f dialect is an indication s The o f difference o f habit and character. language

o f is a people influenced by climate , innate vigour, ’ 8 Tlze P as t and P resent o b rdeens/zzre f A e .

’ of f ffi or s fo r f s mode li e, di culty ea e in providing li e

f s s s f o r e com ort and want , and i olation rom , int r

s s s The s s s cour e with tranger . ame cau e influence

s s o f the manner , habit , and energy the people in ff s s o f s Th s f i s di erent di trict the ame country. i act s trikingly illustrated in the case o f the nation s o f

s s o f ancient Greece , where the broad and hard ound

‘ the Doric dialect indicated the northern origin ,

o f energy, and vigour the Doric race, and the comparative vigour o f the highland district of

T s s r as s he aly, o iginally occupied by them , contra ted with the soft and gliding vowel combinations o f the s d ff s poli he and comparatively e eminate Ionian , who f o f inhabited the ertile and relaxing country Ionia,

A s in ia Minor. In like manner a connection may be traced between the hard and vigorous dialect o f A s s the berdonian , and their pithy and vigorou

A n s s character. d it may be een how oil and

f s o f climate, which yield the ruit the earth only by s o f s us r mean great kill and ind t y, influence the habits and energy o f a naturally vigorous and

s s s o f A indu triou population . Many part the ber deens hi re o f half a century ago could s carcely be recognised now but by their grand features o f river

s and mountain . In my own pari h , during that s s o f s period , immen e tract barren land and exten ive ss s f o f A was mo e , rom which the town berdeen s fo r s h s f upplied centurie wit peat and other uel, have

s o f been reclaimed , through the pirit and energy

s s s o f both proprietor and tenant , and by mean n w s e ly invented agricultural implement , and are ' Tlze P as t and P resent o b rd ens/ nre f A e e . 9

cultivated by new and im proved sys tems of

s The s s s hu bandry . mo e which , but a comparatively

few s s e s year ago, pre ented a bl ak and dreary a pect

n o w s of r bear, in autumn , rich crop waving co n and other agricultural productions in their seasons ; and the same change has taken place in the waste and rugged moors which formerly presented such a dis mal pros pect to the traveller o n the public road A between berdeen and Stonehaven . By mean s o f its educational in stitution s great changes have taken place in regard to the intelligence o f The s o f and character the people. Univer ity A berdeen copes succes sfully with the bes t in s titu

s o f s s o ut tion the kind in Scotland , and end men ,

f s s o f f who even rom the humbler phere li e, take a f s o f s s s air hare the highe t honour and reward open , i n fo r who the kingdom , competitive trial ; men at o ne time had as little pros pect o f taking on a polish as f s the granite rom their native quarrie had , till

s f s the day o the ingenious and enterpri ing Mr. o f A f s too Macdonald berdeen . I ear I have aid much about the Aberdonian s in deprecation o f any lurking prejudices that may s till exist again s t them I have done s o o ut o f an allowable partiality which s s to f I cheri h toward them , akin what a ond parent

s s s h is cheri he toward own children , and , like partial s s s s parent , I am en ible that I have poken too much fo r f about them , which I hope to be orgiven . My

s s o f reader , however, will hear them much poken , not only o n account o f their educational distinctions o f m ithfield they will hear much them in the S , to Tlze P as t a nd P resent o A berdeens h re f i .

Leadenh all f s s o f , and other amou butcher market

London . I remember when poor wretched cattle f were driven up rom Scotland , worn out by their s be fed o ff long and weari ome journey, to in the rich pas tures o f England before they could be s hown

s in the London and other Englis h meat market . ’ s But now, at the Lord Mayor and other London

s it i s s f o f o ld dinner , not the roa t bee England , but i the roas t beef o f A berdeen shire that s extolled . Within my memory a great portion o f the lower

s s s s order , e pecially in country pari he , did not eat ’ ’ butchers meat from one year s end to the other. It

' is r diflerent s be f ss now ve y and , it mu t con e ed , the “ lower orders have los t a great deal o f their relish ” fo r s bro e . The s s to v o f s s ketche be gi en the manner , habit , and condition o f the A berdeens hire folks will be

s s s very light , my object being to amu e and in truct without wearying my readers ; and my des ire that the mirth o f heart produced may do them good like s s a medicine , that my ketche may be welcome to o them in the time to laugh , that they may do go d

s to ome and harm to none.

O R ELI I N STATE F G O .

During the latter part of the preceding and the earlier part o f the pres ent century the clergy o f A berdeen s hire and o f the adjoining counties were r s s o f exempla y in their live , and in the di charge

s as s their clerical dutie , and were , a body, re pected s s to r by their pari hioner . In addition their ordina y

1 2 Tlee P ast and P resent o A berdeen /ti re f .

s a s a o o f n m o f ra s to ixty ye r g , and the u ber emig nt our co lo nies abroad the difli c u lties and expense o f intercourse at that pe riod with o ur colonial po ss es s ions ; dis traction s from works o f Chris tian philan

thro oc s the wars r m s of w s py, ca ioned by and u our ar d o f s t ar f uring the latter part the pa ,and the earlier p to the es u r s u r s pr ent cent y , in thi and other co nt ie with which we were connected and the comparative r o f ass s no w n pove ty, at that time, the cl e willi g and s o s c s w o s n able to upp rt uch obje t ith b unteou ha d , were obs tacles to their commencement and further A nd f s s e. s anc , even a ter the e ob tacle were removed , it was some time before the popular mind could be fo r so s s educated a work trange to it, and arou ed to

s s r z engage in it with the nece a y eal and energy. I t required time to s tir the popular mind to the

' gigantic miss ionary and benevolent eflo rts o f the

ese s pr nt day, and to induce the Chri tian people to

s s s r to be tow the time, trouble, and money nece a y e s ss The th ir ucce . very idea o f what is now doing fo r the advancement o f religious objects would have seemed to our forefathers to be but a devout imagi

The o f our nation . heart country, through the

of own s h as action our and other churche , been s to s do s tirred , not only devi e but to tho e liberal

s s o f f thing , under the prompting a aith capable

s o f s almo t removing mountain . A t o f s the commencement the pre ent century, and fo r s s o f nearly thirty year onward , the greater part the clergy o f Aberdeen shire and the neighbouring “ ” n ies to the a cou t belonged moderate party, in contr ’ T/ze as t a n res o erd ensizzre 1 P d P ent f A b e . 3

dis tinction to what was called the evangelical o f s z party the church , who tigmati ed the policy which prevailed in the councils o f the church in regard to popular claims as the heartless domina ” o f s Th e s tion moderati m . moderate were moreover charged by their opponents with preaching morality without a s uffi cient bas is o f gospel doctrine ; while they in their turn charged the other party with con fining their preaching to doctrine without reference to its s o n The s bearing moral obligation . charge s s f on both ide were not without oundation , but they

s were greatly exaggerated , and the party pirit and dis like which exis ted between them s omewhat ’ resembled that which existed in Our Lord s times s s ss o f between the jew and Samaritan . In proce e ff n s f as time, howev r, the di ere ce re erred to, regarded o f the work the pulpit, became greatly narrowed , and the great ques tion which stirred and divided the two parties was the limitation or abolition o f f s patronage, which terminated , a ter a bitter conte t ’ o f s -to -be- ten year duration , in the ever lamented s s s f s s its s ad ece ion rom the e tabli hed church , with con sequences to the minis ters who made the sacri

fi ces u o f h f r s s req ired t em o con cience ake. In my early days family wors hip was in this quarter much neglected , even among the clergy ; was s o f s among the laity it eldom heard , and tho e o f them who did dis charge the duty were fre quently too profus e i n self-laudation and in their

o f s contempt other , who, in their turn , were not s t o s s o f i s low peak di paragingly them . It very l e P as t a nd P resent o A ber enshi re 14 f de . different n ow ; the importance and obligation o f the duty i s generally recognis ed and felt ; and the

s o f f s ss excellent manual amily prayer , now acce ible

difli culti es o f to all , have removed which many the laity felt in the discharging o f thi s mos t important

o f s f s duty, the neglect which , in re pectable amilie , i s n o w no t as f the exception , and , ormerly, the rule. The duty i s n o w performed without parade o r o stentatio n witho ut s s s o f t , gloom or adne coun enance ; and its fruits appear only in the purity o f heart and f s s life o the wor hipper . Within my recollection many o f the gentlemen in

A as i s s s berdeen , tated by Dean Ram ay to have s been the ca e in Edinburgh , were very irregular in their attendance on the us ual ordinances o f religion s in the anctuary. What were called the genteel congregations o f Aberdeen were principally frequ

en ted s . by ladie , and had the Rev Sydney Smith

e as was at that time b en preaching there , he in

s Edinburgh , he might have had equal rea on to preach from the text 0 that men would prai se ” the Lord . ’ n f s o f P s Mr. Cordi er, a ormer mini ter St. aul

s A e o f Epi copal Chapel in berde n , a man peculiarly

s s fu meek and charitable pirit, tated in a neral s o f o f e ermon , preached on the death one the mal

s o f his o f his member congregation , in palliation

o f s A neglect attendance on ordinance , lthough he

u s f his s did not honour o ten with pre ence , yet ” w s s us his heart a alway with . What has been s aid as to the non -attendance o f ' 1 Tlze P ast and P resent of A berdeens/ ure. 5 the gentlemen o f A berdeen on the ordinances of

is s a s . religion now, I am glad to y, but a remini cence A s fo r a body they are, and have been a long time

s r s h o f pa t, exempla y in the di c arge all their religious duties ; and it is generally acknowledged s as s s that the ladie , wive and mother , were very s in trumental in winning them over, by their godly convers ation .

I C H URCH D SCI P LI NE.

The Church o f Scotland from the period o f the reformation has exercised dis cipline over her

s s s . was s mini ter , elder , and people It con idered indispens able that mean s s hould be provided fo r maintaining purity o f life and s oundness o f doctrine

s s fo r s in mini ter , and the prevention and puni hment o f s uch s ins and s candals in the people as were no t s s s s puni hable by civil authority. For the e purpo e a form of process was drawn up to secure uni formity o f proceeding in the exercis e o f discipline s throughout the Church, there being previou ly

f s . to no written orm in u e. With a view the more s o f s s s rigid exerci e uperintendence over mini ter , presbyteries were enjoined to hold what were called parochial vis itation s annually throughout their

s s s s s was bound . On the e occa ion each mini ter put u his s s s o f pon trial , and que tion were a ked him , s o f o f s s ome which were a vexatiou , inqui itorial, as s s us -a— s o f r s and , it eem to now day , a ve y ab urd I s s s to kind . n addition to the e, que tion were put he s s as l t elder and people uch , genera ly Whether n r r I 6 Tlze P as t a d P esent of A berdeens/ n e.

’ f s s f they had any ault to find with the mini ter li e, o f s his s doctrine , and manner di charging pa toral

s s — I s dutie and , pecially and particularly the minis ter a haunter o f ale- houses and taverns ? I s P he a dancer, carder, or dicer I s he proud o r vainglorious ?

I s o r s ? I s he greedy, worldly, an u urer he con tentio us s ? s , a brawler, fighter, or triker U eth he

s a BEFOR E GOD I T I S SO his to y, ; or, in common f P O ES ? o r PROTEST BEFOR E GOD ? con erence , I R T T I

s s LOR D WH AT I S H ? or, ay he , T AT all which are N more than YEA and AY. Saw ye him ever drink ’ s ? u o f Pardo van s s health (See Ste art Collection ,

T . 6 s I . s o f Book , itle xiii , where there are page que ’ tions put in regard to the minister s character and

The s s to s s s f work). an wer given the e que tion ormed s fo r e material admonition , rebuke, or lib l ; but the danger aris ing to ministers from s uch inquis itorial proceedings was less ened by the fact that every ’ minis ter within the pres bytery s bounds was him s f s s s f s s I f el ubjected to the ame i ting proce .

s was s s was s the pre bytery not ati fied , a libel rai ed ,

f f s s o ten upon very rivolou ground , which gave the proceedings something o f the character o f a prose

eutio n .

The following libel which was founded o n what trans pired at a presbyterial vis itation o f the paris h

o f P th nds of P s eterculter, within W the re bytery o f A e e be e as s b rd en , may tak n a pecimen . Libel s ed f the P es r o f A pre ent be ore r byte y berdeen , contra T o so m s e of Pe e . m t ter r Al x h n , ini r culte . ' lzz re I T/ze P as t a nd P resent of A berdeens . 7

P ri m e A T s i s o f . Mr. lexander hom on guilty s s s ss s candalou churli hne and inho pitality, noticed 1 6 8 by the Synod in anno 9 ; evidence, by hiding

s f s aw s s his se him el when he tranger coming to hou , as was then publicly reported ; and s ince that he h as f o f f s given urther evidence it, by re u ing enter tai n m ent s o f his and lodging, even to uch acquaint ec s as o f s an craved it him , and thereby expo ed

s s . them to everal inconvenience , particularly to Mr

William Carnegie, who , having preached at Drum

h - s oak on a Sabbat day in winter la t , came to ’ Thoms on s house expecting entertainment and

d i the s lo ging, it be ng late , and night very tormy

s o s and cold, yet he carried inhumanely toward him that he was obliged to take s ome meat fo r his ’ f s s s s re re hment at the choolma ter . ’ eenna o i s o f s s S . He a mo t niggardly and par i m o n io us so t nature, in much hat, though he hath

benefic e s fo r enjoyed a good , and got good price his vic tuall s o f in the late year dearth , yet he utterly neglected to provide hims elf o f a competent

fo r was r s library, which he ebuked by the pre bytery s o f his 1 th I 1 at the vi itation kirk, s September, 70

s s and , notwith tanding the aid rebuke, he continued

h is s as s aid neglect, appear by the inventar o f his f s r &c . &c book , taken in October the ea ter, , . r is f Qna to. He guilty o the unchris tian neglect

o f s o f hi s f the wor hip God in amily, particularly

s hi s ince he got that trouble in leg, having not so much as prayer in his family from one Sabbath to another ; witnesses Andrew Ross and his other ’ 8 l e r 1 T z P as t and P esent of A berdeens/zzre.

s v s s f s o f er ant , and owned by him el to ome the

s O f P s r his was member re bytery, p etending that leg to be dres sed at the time when he should have had f s amily wor hip.

i s o f z ss s lo ath ss He guilty la ine , , idlene , and

ss his s dis unconcernedne in mini terial work , to the n o f s of m i nisterie ho our God , and the di grace the , as appeareth by his lying in bed till eleven or twelve o f f his the clock , when in per ect health , and by neglect to preach in his hous e o n the Sabbath fo r

s s s many week together, ince the time he got the wre t his o f s in ankle, and even late when he made ome f s o f et s o ut of his a hion preaching, y he did not ri e

i s bed , which in a room which cannot contain above thirty or forty pers on s and when he baptised

so as his children , he would not much get up in bed , but the child behoved to be laid upon ane cod

f adm i n istrat s (pillow) be ore him , while he that acra A n C rathis s ment. d being one night at , and de ired f was to pray in the amily, they complained that it rather a mockery than prayer ; fo r they were not s well got to their knee till he ended , having uttered

few s s his f s s s a entence ; and by unedi ying di cour e ,

. . v v 2 2 2 particularly, in preaching in Luke ch viii . . , 3 ,

s or a paralelle place, he only howed what good or evil

s the wind did to earthly thing , in breaking down ’ s s s ff s O f people corn , bigging , and other like e ect it,

s was s f but pake nothing that piritually edi ying,

c s o s everalls to which oc a i ned go away laughing, s calling it the windy preaching to thi day. He is of s s s s a N one. guilty uper titiou Ob erv nces,

e 2 0 T/ze P as t a nd P resent of A berdeenshi r .

iron attached to a post in the church or at the church ’

o s was s . d or, into which the culprit neck in erted I once saw one o f these in struments in the Old Church o f s s r o f A f Forbe , in the pre byte y l ord ; and there was one in the Old Church o f Nigg within my T memory. hese public appearances are no longer an d s u required , I cannot help thinking that ch a mode o f adminis tering discipline in those times had a tendency rather to harden than to edify and f ff s A n s - re orm the o ender . old imple minded man in

s s his thi neighbourhood , many year ago, gave me notion as to the manner in which Church dis cipline s m e hould be proceeded with , which appeared to to “ r s T s s be ve y ens ible. hey hould be very harply

if s if dealt with they are ob tinate , but they are

s humble and penitent, they hould be treated with ” s fo r s s gentlene s, , aid he, we are all weak creature , to s i n o u and are liable and , y know that Rahab, s o f poken in the Bible, made a bad beginning, but

she out- s he had a fine turn , had a fine out - she turn , married Salmon . The Old s es s ion records contain little else than

processes o f dis cipline. The following i s a sample

' o f ff o f s s o flender the e ect uch di cipline upon an , which i s taken from the Sess ion Records o f F ss of I 8 ettere o, date 74 William Duncan , s s Baulk, who had been mo t contumaciou , appears

' and o flers to s tand a rebuke and pay four pounds s cots if the sess ion will take his wife from him ; being threatened with excommunication by

the m s s a ? The ini ter, replie , What c re I Pope o f ’ ’ / 2 x The Past ana P resent of A berdeens nre.

’ s r Rome excommunicate . you eve y year, an what ’ the waur are ye 0 It appears by the following minute of sess ion that his case was referred to the presbytery of the bounds William Duncan

s s r s declare , being ordered by the pre byte y to ubmit s ss h to the e ion , that he knew not ing that he had m ss him done a i , yet would they permit to have word about with the moderator he would appear in the public place o f repentance every Sabbath ” throughout the year.

I CLER CAL BRETH R EN .

GEORGE O I SO ss s Dr. M R N , my predece or in thi s was so n of s s was P s pari h , Jame Mori on , who rovo t o f A of o f I berdeen at the time the Rebellion 745 , f his s o . s and grand on Mr George Mori on , who in s P s f The fo l time had al o been rovo t o Aberdeen . lowing i s an extract from the records o f the Town Council regarding his father and grandfather s was P s Mr. George Mori on , Senior, rovo t during the years one thousand seven hundred and thirty s s - and one thou and even hundred and thirty one.

was s He admitted into the Council , in one thou and se was ven hundred and thirteen , when he elected

Baillie, and continued in that capacity, with the of s P s exception one or two year , until elected rovo t.

s s his son was P s s Jame Mori on , , rovo t in the year

s ss ss f 1 744 and 1 745 . When the rebel took po e ion o P s s was o f his the town , rovo t Mori on hunted out s s s s s hou e by the in urgent , marched along the treet

st o f e s s s amid a guard bayon t and drawn word , and B 2 ' 2 2 T/ze P as t and P resent of A berdeensnzre

f of ss orced to mount the top the Market Cro , where ’ he was ordered to drink wine to the Pretender s T s o f . he P s s health rovo t, ever taunch to the Hou e

s f s s o Brun wick, re u ing to do , had the wine poured ” his The o f s down throat. account thi matter given

P s s f s by the rovo t him el , in a letter ent by him to P s or s o f i s f re ident F be Culloden , which ound in the

s is s ff is as Culloden paper , omewhat di erent, and follows I am jus t now at some dis tance from A berdeen f f t s f s f and rom my amily, not hinking my el a e to be in the way o f those who had used me in s o un s as was f the rea onable odd a manner, my ate on

-fif h s z t s . twenty pa t (Sept when , being ei ed t o f was upon by an armed par y Highlandmen , I f the ss t violently orced down to Cro , and here, with s s s was ome broad word over my head , obliged to s t was s tand till heir proclamation read and , becau e

f s s I re u ed to drink a health they propo ed , I had a

ss o f s s was gla wine pilt down my brea t, which , I s ff acknowledge, making me u er in a way , next f ff taking my li e, that none could have a ected me

. P s s s The more In reply, the Lord re ident ay s ss s s ss u ele in olent u age you met with at your Cro , and s f your re olute behaviour, I had ormerly heard , ‘ and sufli ciently approved o f nor need you doubt ” s e it hall be prop rly represented in due time. The Provost seems to have had the s ame deter mination in ruling his family as in res isting th e s f his enemie o country. He used to teach them the Sh t t h s e s and his or er Ca ec i m on the Sunday ev ning , ' er ens/ nre TIze P as t and P resent of A b de . 2 3

so n was e George, who at the time too young to tak

s s part in the exerci e, u ed to tell that, while the was s e teaching being proceeded with , apple wer being coddled before the fire as part o f the Sunday ’ s t t was evening meal , and hat , when my Fa her

s s s s the colding, and ometime laying on hand on

s s s f of other , I amu ed my el watching the coddling ” s the apple .

s was s o f i n Dr. Mori on originally mini ter Oyne,

P s of was s the re bytery Garioch , where he ettled in 1 8 2 was s 1 8 the year 7 , and tran lated in 7 5 to the s o f - P s of pari h Banchory Devenick , in the re bytery A n s o f Ki nc ar berdee , ituated partly in the county o f A s dine , and partly in that berdeen , the pari h was being intersected by the river Dee. He a man o f s n s of bland and courteou ma ner , and a large and was ss s s o f benevolent heart . He , moreover, po e ed

s s s ss s a ound under tanding, and good bu ine habit , was s s o f hi s ffi and mo t attentive to all the dutie o ce, i and much attached to h s people. During the latter period o f hi s ministry he ih herited f a good ortune, which enabled him to do few o f hi s f ss f what pro e ion could , and what ewer if s probably would do they had the mean . He ’ t s s s s s erec ed a chool , with a choolma ter hou e

hi s own s P attached to it, entirely with mean , at ort

s his s lethen , a remote di trict in own pari h , con

1 8 s s taining nearly 00 oul . He erected and partially endowed two other s chools to s upply educational wants in the northern dis tricts o f the parishes o f F ss F hi s s o f lsi c k ettere o and intray, where land E ’ Tlze P ast and P resen o A ber ns nre 2 4 t f dee / .

Disblair s To s and were ituated . teacher and scholars in these s chools a great amount o f good was done by their b eneficen t founder ; but all the good thus effected was s mall compared with the benefit conferred upon his paris hioners by the s T s introduction o f vaccination into the pari h. hi he was enabled to effect through the advice and

s o f his s direction brother, then a phy ician in London , a as s s t a time when it w carcely known el ewhere. There were at first great prejudices in the paris h

s was s f again t it . Some thought it a in ul attempt to ’ thwart an appointment o f God s providence sent in

o f s s f the way cha ti ement ; and it, no doubt, o ten

f s s f ss ailed at the out et by un kil ulne in the operation ,

f . improper treatment a ter it, and bad matter In far as ss s s ss as . order to ecure ucce , po ible, Dr s s Mori on took the whole work upon him elf. He

was as f o f his s ss f s , a proo ucce , urni hed with the f s A t Of ollowing plea ing evidence. the time the o f f im introduction vaccination , and rom time m em Orial s o f s previou ly, the young men the fi hing iz P s s v . village in the pari h, , Findon , ortlethen , and i s rv Do u n es s . , never u ed to engage in landward e ice s o 4 s One day meeting a fi herman , the D ctor a ked

his s s him how on were engaged , and being told f s rv s t they were in arm e ice, he aid he thought hat ’ none of the fis hers sons were allowed to be s o s occupied . To which the fi herman replied That s s s u ed to be the ca e, but ince they were vaccinated so o f t noo they had many hem , they did na ken ’ fat te wi dee them . ’ Tlze P as na P resent o A berdeenshi re 2 t a f . 5

A s ludicrou thing happened, when a man well on s his f old in year brought all amily, and young, to he be vaccinated . It having appeared that had not s f was u been vaccinated him el , he rged by the Doctor s s s f to ubmit to the operation fir t him el , but he f s f of Af r re u ed , being apparently a raid the pain . te was all the children had been operated upon , he

s s again urged to ubmit, upon which he aid to the “ ” ” s — s s ? elde t boy Wa t air, Jock Na, nae verra, ” “ s bo s f aid the y. Weel , aid the ather, I wad nae ’ ’ ” s o s A s was care muckle to tak a crat t my el. he ’ ld e s s he getting O th Doctor hand got tremulou , and o f devolved upon me the duty vaccination , which I

s V A c t was ss di charged till the accination pa ed , which made statutory provis ion for its discharge

s by other . s so Dr. Mori on al contributed liberally to the funds which were raised fo r the endowment o f the o f P h fo r o f new Church ortlet en , the erection a s o f church and man e, and the reclamation the s was s fo r barren ground , in which the man e ituated , T s has a glebe. hi been a great convenience to that s s exten ive di trict . was f the During what all but a amine, in year 1 8 was 00 . s f (I think it ) , Dr Mori on bought meal rom s other quarter , and lodged it in a granary in the neighbourhood, and the people who were in want were ass embled and had it doled out with the ’ Doctor s own hand from time to time ; many being s f s a thereby aved rom actual t rvation . ’ s s s s f Dr. Mori on greate t and la t act o philanthropy s P rese n re 2 6 TIre P a t and nt of Aberdee shi .

his s was 1 8 of f in pari h the erection , in 39, the oot s s s s u pen ion bridge over the Dee, which now unite P i the two divis ion s o f the parish . revious to ts erection the only public means o f communication between the one s ide o f the river and the other was a s was s s pari h boat, which onlyu edon Sunday . It could s as not , however, alway be depended upon , the river was f ss s o ten impa able owing to ice and heavy flood . The st o f was 1 00 total co the bridge about 16 4 , and , with the exception o f a contribution o f 30 from Pi fo els s ffi fo r . z s o f t d Mr Men ie , which only u ced making the pathway between the south end o f the was f bridge and the turnpike road, it wholly de rayed f . s . e sum o by Dr Mori on He bequ athed , moreover, a fo r money keeping it in repair, which had accum u lated to such an amount as to enable the trus tees to lay out about i f300 a short time ago fo r

- thoroughly re painting and repairing it. In the circums tances I have mentioned I am dis appointed f s o f s s s to hear, rom time to time, ome the cla e who s s s o n ss u ually ride in their carriage , a king me, pa ing f ’ o . the bridge, in a tone complaint, Why didn t Dr Morison when he was about the thing build a bridge ” fo r carriages ? and those who do not ride in these s vehicle inquiring in an equally complaining tone, ’ s a fat fo r s hi s I y, Doctor, didna Dr. Mori on mak b riggy fo r caerts ? I cannot doubt my readers will be pleased with the information I have given them about this philan thr ic o s s . p , generou , and chri tian minded man I now introduce my readers to my maternal

2 8 T/ e P as t a nd r re z P esent of A berdeenshi .

’ c s o f ss see the do hter o the mini ter Fettere o ye , ’ ” ss H tch u eo n h f . Mi , we re bait kirk olk Of u s s s the g e t who lodged all night, tho e who ’ were more distinguis hed had a shak down in the c m o f ss o er the kitchen , in which they pa ed the n ight without taking O ff their clothes others lay on a bed of s The s traw in the barn or byre. di tinction between these classes appears in the song o f the o a is s J lly Begg r, who, it aid ,

Wa n h r in barn d eit e lie , N o r yet wad lie i n byte ’ ’ Bu i n a h n the ha oor t i t d , ” n fir Or afore the kitche e. One o f the better class o f these s upplicants for s was - s s ss u ho pitality a well di po ed , harmle creat re, who made great pretens ion s to learning and boas ted o f his o f s s s collection book , which he expre ed great veneration for and prayed fo r as follows before going ss s s to bed Ble my book all my bible book , all

' !wens ocus le er-de-m a zn o s my f and all my g b ok , and o s r all my other b ok , whether pa ticularly mentioned ” at this time o r not. ’ odd s H u ch s Many thing happened in Mr. t eo n ministerial vis itation s and in the dis charge of his s s other mini terial dutie . On the occas ion o f his s s se f s vi iting a pari hioner who wi e had ju t died , he f s s s ound him in a mo t di con olate condition . For a time all that he could s ay to him was o f no as s ss avail ; at l t, being omewhat impre ed by the “ ’ s s si r con olation given to him , the man aid , weel , , I ll ’ ’ s be s z b s os warrant he ll by thi time in Beel ebu b om . The as t a nd P resent A erde nshi re 2 P qf b e . 9

’ The minister l sh ke s aid A m s , great y oc d , , braha , ” ” ou m ean P ! u P A y , eter Ou aye, q oth eter, bra ’ ’ ’ s o r e z s s r t a th ham B el ebub , ye ken , i r, hey re b i ’ ” cri r n s S ptu ame . Abo ut a century ago minis ters of an eccentric turn o f mind were i n the habit o f u rging their h a s to s of re s s e rer the di charge their ligiou dutie , ’ se n ef t n s s the by tti g b ore hem Sata ubtlety, and variety of his wiles in ensnaring and i n ruining A ffi o f . them , and the di culty overcoming him s H utcheo n s o f h . mini ter, w om Mr poke , while preaching on this s ubject s uddenly broke o ut into ' ’ the fo llo wi n s s g apo trophe, See till him ittin there ’ ’ 0 wa s WI in the crap the . What hall we do him , ’ ’ fo r he s as s my brethren He winna hang, licht a f d ro un fo r eather ; neither will he , my brethren , he ’ ’ can s wim like a Cork but we ll s hoot him wi the ’ ” s s f gun O the go pel, and then putting him el in the t he position of o ne aiming at an object wi h a gun , “ ” ’ c ut too . s o f he s ried , p , imitating the noi e a gun , ” ’ ’ o er The 0 wa is do n like a dead a . ( crap the the s pace between the wall and the unceiled roof of an - n ill fi ished building. )

an s . f I have heard s everal amus ing edote o a MR . I H KS was b o f MART N S AN , who , a out the middle the s s of s o f la t century, mini ter the pari h Banchory T m was f o f of e an . He a great riend the laird Til uhill o f d was q y that perio , who an heritor and o f his own s f was neighbour , and like him el , noted fo r i The s s s it h s eccentricities . mini ter u ed to late a s he be e on S turday night , and , when cam ' nr 30 TIn P ast and P resent of Aberdeens/ e.

was s s s on old, he ometime drow y in the pulpit he s was s t . Sunday morning It , at that time, u ual h s s s con in t at pari h , and I believe in other al o, in sequence of the irregularity o f the congregation in s for coming up to divine ervice, the precentor to continue s inging till the minister s topped him by his was tapping him on the head with finger, which f a the . c lled giving him putt One day, a ter enter s f s re ing the pulpit, Mr. Shank ell a leep, and the p centor s s s having ung till he could ing no longer, at la t T s s . s topped hi awakened the mini ter, who got up in the excited s tate us ual to those who are s uddenly of s s awakened out leep and aid to the precentor, was s ss T s s f What your bu ine , amma , to top be ore ” ’ ? To T s I t s ye got the putt which amma replied , ’ ’ ’ s for o u s to s it s notterin slee in ea y y , mini ter, an p ’ ’ ’ baain b aain there, and to haud me an here till ’ ” s s The f there carcely a breath in my body. ollow is ing anecdote, which I have lately heard already s s to o f s — h in print, u ed al o be told Martin Shank O s was s s a of one occa ion , when he a imil ting the nature the pastoral relation to that of a shepherd and hi s s s h s s heep, he aid , My bret ren , uppo ing me to be the s s T s hepherd , and you to be the heep, and amma ” a s s - S ng ter the precentor to be the heep dog. But ’ ’ T s s s s amma replied , Mini ter, I ll be no man heep ” s s m sti dog. Said the mini ter, I am peaking y T s cally . Na, na, rejoined amma , I ken fine, ye ’ ’ wisna s eaki n s wis s eakin m ali p my tically, ye p cious ist to f ly, and j gar the olk lauch at me when ’ w Ta s e were oot about. One Sunday mma did nt ' T re I Ize P as t and P resent of A berdeens/ n . 3

his the s s make appearance at all , and mini ter aid to o f Til uhill was s the Laird q y, who pre ent, Ye ” ” Til uhill s a maun precent the day, q y. Na, id ’ il u T hill . q y, I canna precent, an I winna precent his f On way home that day the Laird ell , and hurt his leg so severely that he was confined to bed fo r s s f s The s f everal week a terward . mini ter went rom f no t time to time to give him com ort, which he did to im much take heart and one day, getting very s s s r patient, he aid , I wonder, mini ter, what ga t ’ the Lord tak sic an ill will at me. I hinna been a ’ ’ Sunday oot o the kirk till this m is-shanter cam ’ ’ fo r s ax t s see s o er me mon h , and what happened to ’ me ; but the Laird o Crathes has been scarcely ’ ’ ’ t s ance in t a hat time, and naething happened to ava s him . Said the mini ter, Gin ye had precented w ou m s hen I bade y , aybe thi wadna hae happened ” to you . A lthough the manner and s tyle of preaching and peculiarities of minis ters were frequently much more eccentric in the last century than they are s the s s s o f in the pre ent day, pecimen I hall give some of them were uncommon even in the times as s f in which they lived , appear rom their having ee s f s b n handed down to pre ent times . O the e I s I o r BEN C hall mention MR. BENJAM N MER ER, as was s of s he commonly called , mini ter Forbe , w f s of on Dons ide. as and a terward Kildrummy, He a man of eccentric habits and of great bo dily s his s s trength, by which he kept pari hioner in awe — when they got into brawls no un usual Occurrence ' 2 The P ast and P resent o A berdeensnzre 3 f .

in those times in the upper districts o f A berdeen

s hire . He carried about with him a large s tick ” Liowes r o f s which he called , a co ruption Lewi , in which is land he had s pent the early part of his

life as a s choolmas ter. In the prospect o f the inva s ion o f this country by the French about the begin

o f s r . was to ning thi centu y, Mr Mercer applied by the neighbouring landed proprietors to endeavour to his s s to r s o f u s induce pari hioner join a co p , vol nteer f i n s which was being ormed the di trict. He couse quently called a meeting o f the young men o f the s ft ss s pari h, and , a er an addre to timulate their

s Lio wes his s patrioti m , laying upon houlder, he to f o f rendez vous urged them ollow him to the place ,

s of a m s aying, by way encour ge ent, Come, lad , f fo r delichtit ollow me, I aye in had h his Mr. Mercer a great antipat y to tea ; and ’ wife s drinking tea was a great s ubject o f dis cord b tw m h s s a e een the , w ich at la t ended in a ep ration . None o f his family reached the years of maturity “ but so n who his f delic htit one , , like ather, in arid who served with dis tinction under the Duke of his s w Wellington in campaign in Spain , and as b his s His greatly beloved y comrade . death was r s a ve y d. He had attracted the attention o f the Duke in an engagement which term inated in r was a victo y, and promoted to captaincy on the of I n the e f field battle. h ight o his excitement he got upon the parapet of the bridge on which he was standing to respond to the cheering o f his comrad es when a shot from a concealed enemy pierced his heart. '

Tlze P as t a nd P resent of A berdeenslzzre. 3 3

’

s s o f . Mr. Mercer habit living were very peculiar He s aid his garden and his glebe were his Wes t

s as f his s ff Indie , he manu actured oat into co ee which he sweetened with honey made by his own ’ e s s s o f b e . He u ed little butcher meat, but ham s of his f s pig own eeding, con idering what he called f A flas h meat an unneces sary article o diet. curious account i s given o f an interview between

s o n o f o f his s s him and Mr. Browne, a one pari hioner , who was f s s o f A a terward mini ter Coull , in berdeen shire. In that and in other parts o f thi s country when the name Brown was spelt Browne it was pro nou nc e f d Brownie. A ter having pas sed his courses in fo r s divinity, and travelled ome time on the continent ’ as s s on . tutor to a gentleman , Mr Browne returned his s to native pari h and called upon Mr. Mercer, f s s a . was so announcing him el Mr Brown . He greatly changed that Ben either did not or pretended f . A s not to know him ter ome explanation , how s ever, he aid , I ken , my young man , where ye are ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ son 0 an ners s o noo . Ye ll be a S Brownie O Brig ”

u te . was s Sc t ry. Mr Brown not a ked to dine f s ss his s s Ben , a ter con ulting Ba y hou ekeeper, aying, b o f for so was y way apology not doing , that there f no flas/z (flesh) meat in the house. Not long a ter M r f P s wards . Browne appeared be ore the re bytery f f s his s o Al ord on trial with a view to being licen ed . Af P s s s s ter the re bytery eemed ati fied , the Moderator, s in the u ual way, enquired whether any member of P s r s s re byte y had any other que tion to put to him . ” ae s s I hae que tion to put till him , aid Ben . Can TIn P as t and P esent o r en l nre 34 r f A be de s .

’ was erem eeah s ye tell me, my young man , what J ’ fader s nam e The other members o f Pres bytery

s Odd one . thought the que tion a very , and Mr ’ s Browne couldn t answer it. Upon which Ben aid ’ ’ s to him , Ye need na be a hamed at a , my young ’ ’ h erem eeah s f s man , t at ye dinna ken J ader name ; ' ’ ” o s his a zn f s mony a man d e na ken ader name. was One day, when Ben preaching, a man on the f f com er o f a seat near him ell asleep. O this Ben

s s took no notice, till he began to nore ; he then aid u to the beadle, Charlie, wauken p Sandy Mutch ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ he s s ittin i the corner 0 that squar seat b s Sandy, on eing rou ed , wakened up in a hurried s s s and excited tate, whereupon the mini ter aid to ’ f s ae s s him , Sandy, I m nae reely hard upon leeper ’ as s f s i the kirk ome olk, becau e the preacher i s sometimes as much to blame as the hearer and his e fist then holding out big cl nched , with a threaten ” s b n i n s r s or . ing ge tu e, aid , but, Sandy, I de ar g of his s s s his f One pari hioner , who had lo t wi e,

or s f s within two three week a ter her death, ent instructions to the Sess ion Clerk to have himself His m . s proclaimed with another wo an relative , h of s t having eard the fir t proclama ion , were greatly and to s vexed , took it upon them remon trate with so s s was him , and did the mini ter, who aid that it an outrage upon the decencies o f Christian s ociety to be proclaimed to another wife afore Kirsty was ’ cauld i th e and urged him forthwith to the e prevent proclamation b ing proceeded with. To the b th ’ which ridegroom replied, at may be a very

de nshi re 36 me P as t a nd P resent of Aber e .

f T end of h ot no . be ore the t at time, they g more hey ’ had a dry barley meal s cone for forenoon s piece of s m (lunch), and when any them aid , O , ma ma, u s s to o ur ? she s to gie omething piece u ed reply, ’ s s n e to indeed , my dear , ye ll ju t e d gar the black

s . s &c . pot kitchie the white (Butter, chee e, ham , , w ac s s ould be called kitchie, and the bl k pot were

s o f . the consequence o f hasty baking). Mo t Mr ’ Morice s family reached the age of man and woman o s o f the o - hood, and b re the mark go d upbringing at s the man e and all o f them pros pered in the world . of Two o f the s s Some them I knew intimately. on , who were wood merchants and contractors fo r fo r th e v s s r l f r s wood na y , ama ed ve y arge o tune . Many other ministers at the s ame period had also s s n s r great truggle , and , by economy, i du t y, and ’ d s ss s r few Go ble ing, u mounted them all ; but f s s amilie probably pro pered in the world like Mr. ’ Morice s . if s s s s s s But mini ter , who had tipend , man e , and

s o f glebe , had to endure the hard hand poverty,

s s r s s there were other , e ving in preaching tation ,

s s s s who had till greater hard hip to undergo. I hall mention the case of o ne Of them who s erved in a s s of s s preaching tation in the pari h Fettere o, near to

Els ick P s s and his f , which rovo t Mori on amily were of n was in the habit attendi g, and which called the So d s is s o s it was o Kirk, becau e, it upp ed , riginally or r a o f s s f wholly pa ti lly built od , tur taken from ’ f s The the s urface o a mos . minis ter s n ame was ’ Vilkie and he P s w l , , like the rovo t, as a staunch ad ’ ' T/ze a na resent ef' n P as t P of A o dee siizre. 3 7

of the s s f herent Brun wick dyna ty, and made himsel conspicuous by his public expressions o f attachment to T s th e it. hi attracted attention of Jacobites in A s s . se berdeen hire, and ubjected Mr Wilkie to per c utio n f fo r his s ss rom that party , which , but ucce in s f s h is f concealing him el , might have co t him li e, s o f but, no doubt, increa ed the bond union between P s s f. s the rovo t and him el He had , I under tand , nothing to live upon but the liberality o f his con re atio n g g , who were generally very poor, and the collections in the church were his main source o f

t s m livelihood but even he e, he co plained , were not f s f un requently dishone tly withheld rom him . It would seem that at that period a quantity o f bad copper found its way into church plates ; and ’ s f s s thi , happening very requently in Wilkie ca e, gave him grounds fo r reproving his hearers fo r their to h s s conduct in so doing. In adverting t i di credit s o ne f the able practice, he aid Sunday rom pulpit, s to A to. When ye gang berdeen ell your butter,

s s and your egg , and your chee e, and get a baw ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ dootfu bee that ye re about, I m tell t that ye ll ’ ’ geet a toss up atween ye r finger and ye r thoom , ’ ’ sa its t an y nae muckle wor h, but it ll dee weel ” ” “

f r . aneuch o Wilkie I ken , he added , when a ’ ’ ’ ’ s he s t I s man poor little hocht o , and under tan ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ when ye re amo yoursels ye ll be speakin lichtly 0 ’ ’ ‘ ’ s as s s h h me, an ayin , Wilkie ay ; but w et er I be ’ ’ wilkie o r buckie ye ll better min what I say to ’ ’ ” o r a be wi ou s . I n you, it m y the war y ome time ( s s this country whelks o r periwinkle are called wilk , c 2 ’ 38 Tlee P as t a na P resent of A

s fi d s o f s s . n the and their hell buckie ) I , in Record - ss o f ss b r o f the Kirk Se ion Fettere o, a out the pe iod ’ s st Tr s r s e Wilkie mini ry, that the ea u er tat d that he had taken eighteen pounds weight of bad copper to A he s h o n berdeen , which had old t ere ; and that ‘ another occas ion he had complained of the difli culty o f ff s s o f e counting the o ering , in con equence th ’ ' f z A o ao ts . number contained in it doit, I believe, i s f hal a farthing. ’ i s s s r s Mr. W lkie ermon we e u ually very long, and P s s s at s him rovo t Mori on , who oppo ite to , on s f s e his o getting tired , occa ionally a ten d watch t the top o f his s tick to warn him that he ought to th ’ s . o o top But Wilkie, who po r, had a very ih ’ s s the P dependent pirit, eldom gave heed to rovost s ’ T s was P . s s son . hint hi told me by the rovo t , Dr s George Mori on . ’ I s hall mention o ne other instance o f a minister s s traitened circums tances and the hards hips thence s T s ari ing. hi gentleman (Mr. Walker) was o f the s s s ffi s Epi copalian per ua ion , and o ciated at Muchall , s s f a fi hing village, about two mile rom the s cene o f ’ s s was Mr. Wilkie labour , which almos t entirely com i posed o f Episcopalians . H s congregation was drawn mainly from that village and another neighbouring r village, called Skate aw, now Newtonhill, which was

s s se o f s s al o almo t entirely compo d Epi copalian . It may be observed that there are three fishing villages

s Of etteresso h s of in the pari h F the in abitant which, few s s s with very exception , are Epi copalian , and the same is the case in the parishes of Dunottar The as re e n e P t and P sent of A b rdee shi r . 39

and Kinneff immediately adjoining to the s outh ; s o f - while in the pari h Banchory Devenick, imme diatel o f y adjoining to the north the Skateraw, now ' s noaa s aera of P h the pari h, g , ortlet en , there are

s s s n s P likewi e three large fi hing village , Do nie , ort s P s lethen , and Findon , where almo t all are re by terians s i s . I cannot tell how thi to be accounted fo s f r . s o the , eeing that Mr Gordon , mini ter latter paris h before the res toration o f Presbyterianis m 1 6 0 was s n in 9 , a rigid Epi copalia , and the author of f s its f a work, amou in day, called the Re ormed ” ’ s who the Bi hop , and one , tho he accepted benefit ” o f A ct of s the Indulgence, and continued mini ter of - 1 1 2 Banchory Devenick till 7 , encouraged and

s f s s . I find maintained Epi copalian orm to the la t , f ss s moreover, rom the Kirk Se ion Record , that in the year o f his death 300 copies of the English Prayer Book had reached the parish for the use of r se s h t the cong egation . It em probable, owever, hat, ’ s f s in con equence of the state o Mr. Gordon health at the time, they had all been returned without

s as s who to s being u ed , Dr. Mori on , came the pari h 8 C 1 s . in 7 5 , had never een a opy, and the late Mr Thomson of Banchory in vain attempted to obtain

o ne.

A f s s s s u ter thi long digre ion , I mu t ret rn to the s s s was r Epi copalian mini ter at Muchall , who a ve y s worthy man , and aid to be very attentive to all the s o f his ofli' ce fo r was s dutie , which he mi erably

s . s his t recompen ed But, notwith tanding pover y, he s s s o f married , and, like mo t other mini ter all he a t an P r t o erdee e 40 T P s d esen f A b nshi r .

s s s denomination with mall mean , had a large f To n of s s was to amily. no e the on he able give a e T s lib ral education . hey were bred to trade , and the s daughter , with , I believe, only one exception , were as s s s occupied dome tic ervant . He never had but s r hi s s f one e vant, who entered ervice in early li e and lived with him till her death at an advanced B r die i s Of age. Her name, Jane y , worthy r being recorded . She continued with Mr. Walke

his s s ifli lti s I f she s d cu e . in all trait and got wage , she if n ot she s e fo r accepted them , never a k d them f she was true and faith ul to the family to the last. f n far . Whe advanced in li e Mr Walker obtained , ’ s f f o f s thro ome kind riend , the O fice Epi copalian T minis ter at Ki rkaldy. hither he migrated with hi f f f o Br ie s ne d . aith ul wi e , daughter, and Jane y

The s emolument were not great, but they were ‘ afll n A ll f ue ce to Mr. Walker. the our are now

. The s s dead daughter died la t, about three year

v . ago, at an ad anced age She had made a good

was f marriage, and in great com ort during the

o f f latter period her li e. A n o f of u old woman the name Bell Meldr m , who was f s has s a midwi e at Muchall , told me ome

s s . amu ing anecdote about Mr Walker, all which tend to s hew the extent o f his difli culties in the

o f his f as s f bringing up amily , and , neither my el nor my readers need be much concerned about the s i n unitie and order my work, which will probably s only be read when people have nothing el e to do , I shall so far violate them by telling my readers r t r e shi r 1 The P as t a nd P esen of Abe de n e. 4

something about Bell herself. She began her f ss s r 1 8 1 2 s r pro e ional dutie in the yea , and di cha ged fo r of s s r as them a period ixty year , du ing which, s he s f ss s he fuschen h her el expre ed it, had ame 1 b aim s (brought into the world) 7 50 . She told me l s aw n to his f o n that when Mr. Wa ker her goi g wi e o f as s s to f who was one her occ ion , he aid a riend ’ T s e to see with him , hat the howdie. I never lik ’ ’ ” o s a o the s - in con ony thae kittie comin b ut hou e, s equence probably of the expense created on such s s to old occa ion , according the proverb, that ’ ” l e s n c eck n time ca ty time. Bell told another f A o n f n of his who anecdote o Mr. Walker. y u g rie d a had s o t s had been lately m rried , and ju t g the fir t n his f f s additio to amily, received the ollowing age f r s f advice rom him , along with othe coun el need ul in s s th s the circum tance . When e howdie are paid ’ ’ ’ ’ the re aye ready oot wi thar han s wi a luck ’ ’ n for if pe ny. But dinna tak it man you do, ye ll ” soon see them back again at you .

HI SI CATEC NG .

s r of t Catechi ing, a very important pa t clerical du y Of s i s now f during the earlier part my mini try, alling The s f into desuetude . mini ter intimated rom the pulpit that he would hold what were called diets of catechis ing at certain places in different dis tricts in s was th e the pari h, where it expected that neigh s f s s s bour with their amilie and ervant would attend . The r s was - oo s Shorte Catechi m the text b k u ed , and questions were asked generally at the younger people ' r sen er s zr 42 The P ast and P e t of Ah deen h e.

s s i as s o f p re ent, but not exclu vely, ome the older s people , who were the be t acquainted with the s s catechi m and the doctrine contained in it, were dis appointed when no ques tions were put to them . On these occas ions the minister had an opportunity of ascertaining what his audience knew o f the

o f s s s o f meaning the que tion a ked , and explaining with greater s implicity than he could do in the f s f s pulpit the leading truths o the Go pel. I ound thi exercis e very profitable to my parishioners ; but gradually the older people became unwilling to have — questions put to them whether because they thought themselves too wise to require this kind o f s s teaching, or becau e the children , by the uperior s s s s teaching in the pari h chool in recent year , s s became more intelligent than them elve , I cannot sa so i s s s y ; but it , and, in my pari h at lea t, they gave s up attendance at catechi ing altogether. I hear the Shorter Catechis m much decried in th e s as s to pre ent day, being ectarian , hard be under

s e . tood , and unintelligible to young p ople It is s , however, the Catechi m adopted by the Free , the P s h s United re byterian , and other Evangelical C urche s no in Scotland , and it contain , I maintain , doctrine which can reasonably be objected to by any one who ’ s ubs cribes hona -fi a e the 3 9 articles o f the Church o f The f England . great undamental doctrines of s set f s the Go pel are orth in it with logical preci ion ,

s s n and in the mo t clear and di ti ct language . I f the s s s m s f teacher comprehend the y te him el , and i s possessed o f the faculty of imparting

i re The P as t and P resent of A berdeensh . duty o f catechis ing a much less formidable busi ness han o rs A fr n o f i on his wa to Old t the . ie d m ne, y to s the m n s e m et wi an o ld Deer vi it i i ter ther , th s r n of his own o n s n w e she e va t , and, a ki g her had ’ e she s she had een at ane o M ister b en , aid b ’ ’ ’ o r so s ex aem i n s h i 0 an ex aem er s M i n . W at k nd ” P s fine he, Janet aid Janet, a terrible ’ ’ ex aem er s s o u s s s s ; pier a hantle q e ton , an an wer ’ them a

o ne s f t . On occa ion , when my grand a her, Mr H utcheo n was s saw an old m an who , catechi ing, he s s h his own u h s eemed to be olely occupied wit tho g t , and to be t aking no interes t in what was goin g on . n the s s o f Whe mini ter, however, in the cour e the ’ e se e to s o f s A rk of ex rci , b gan peak Noah , and the b s s was a l o n A t s l . ea t that were in it, he attenti la t, un a to s f s ble contain him el any longer, he aid in the ’ ’ ’ a of s Wis o s s he ring all pre ent , there a kin bea t ” ” “ ’ s A h was th e P 0 es s the s . er , irr y , aid mini ter ” the tod (the fo x ) there P There can be nae doubt ’ ”

0 h s s . s t at, aid the mini ter Wae wirth him , aid ’ ’ oo t o t fo r s the carle, that he ever wan , bonny the twa wedders that he worried to me this f s s . r s was s o My predece or, Dr Mo i on , mini ter P s o f f was Oyne, in the re bytery Garioch, be ore he s - e hn . Cus tran lated to Banchory D venick Mr. y, f Of the s n was ather late venerable mini ter at Ray e, i s ss T h s . ucce or, while a Mr uring, commonly called Ti wi n a i the s . er w s h s ss . in di trict Mr , predece or. Mr Cushn s f his t e h y, oon a ter appoin ment , whil olding a d e o f a si r s f un an old m an i t c techi ng in the pa i h, o d The P t n resent o A berdeenshi re as a d P f . 45

who o o n a c appeared t him t be very ig or nt. In o n sequence he very s harply rebuked him fo r his a was s r f to see ignorance, adding th t it di g ace ul a m an so far advanced in life unable to answer so s s The bo f imple a que tion . man re the reproo for but as s n patiently a while , the mini ter conti ued , ’ at s s hi s s h s he la t, lo ing temper, aid , Sirr, t at a ’ queston that I Cu d hae answered afore ye wis bo rn ’ ’ it s s ier A s only you that canna p t. uld Mai ter ’ ’ ’ Tierwin wad hae made m air oo t o a to (which ’ he pronounced toe) or a the than you o r George ’ Muirison m oot ff wad ake O a E ectual Callin .

I K RK OFFI CERS.

Under the title o f Kirk Ofli cer used to be c om i s s prehended , in country par he , the Beadle, the Bell m an er v er , and the Gravedigg , and a ery important p sona e was who s one and s g the man exerci ed , e pecially f s s f m o s f n . the whole , the e u ction He u ed , in or er s s his s s time , to attend the mini ter in pa toral vi ita tion s and at baptis m s it was his duty also to keep out and t s f to , p u out, dog rom the church ; hand up, wn s and take do , the church bible and p alm book to d s s s s a verti e ale by auction , and give other notice

f n s r s as a ter divi e e vice . He had , likewi e, to act o fli cer s ss s s to the kirk e ion , and to ummon culprit to undergo Church discipline he often also under o as a o f t ok , labour love, to attend upon and patronise min isters and probationers who offi ciated ’ i n s s s was so n the mini ter ab ence, and he al ews

m e o r sh. N o wi h ong r, chronicler, in the pari t t T e P as se n i r 46 h t and P re nt of A berdee sh e.

s s f s s ffi tanding the e multi ariou dutie , the kirk o cer was no t f s s un requently the idle t man in the pari h. The emoluments fo r the whole o f the duties were v s ffi was s e ery mall, and the o ce eldom covet d but s m by aged and u ed up en . A s others have observed most of the s taple anec s ffi s s s dote about kirk o cer , I hall only ubmit to my s few f s reader the ollowing, which I pre ume have f e T was never be ore app ared in print . here a beadle s s who s in thi pari h named Robie Still , u ed to ” sa s s the y the roup , and make other notice in was s s churchyard ; he al o carrier to the mini ter, my ss his s s fo r predece or, and to an invalid lady, i ter,

s s s A whom he executed little commi ion in berdeen . ’ as one o f But, Robie could nt read writing, he got his s s o ut neighbour to tand behind him , and read , f his s f the s s o f rom over houlder, rom lip paper s upon which they were written , the notice to be made, of i n a tone voice to enable Robie to hear them . On o ne occas ion he took out a wrong notice by

s s o f s s mi take and , to the great amu ement the li tener , ’ e o f his ss ri s s h bawled at the top voice, Mi Mo on ’ A o f s as s . f r s pill u ual beadle my grand athe , at ss is s to s s s Fettere o , aid have amu ed the li tener by ’ s s r A - s a- s thu c ying a roup , hoi e, an anither hoi e ,

s Stanehive T esd a neisht there will be old , at , on y y , ’ o f s o n b od s a quantity haberda h , an gin y y want to ’ ” i s it s - ken what that , piggery (crockery ware) . Those who have heard messengers-at-arms pro

s o r s s s claiming interdict , other uch notice , mu t have s r h o s 0 es Ob e ved that they begin wit the w rd , y , n r r The P as t and P rese t of A be deenshi e. 47

0 es 0 es is Of y , y , which a corruption the French o ez f r o er word y , rom which the law cou t y and term i ner hear a nd deter mi ne s its of ( ) take name, and which the a -hoise o f the Fetteresso bellman is a corruption . Many years ago minis ters were much annoyed by s n s to f dog , which were allowed by their ow er ollow them to church In consequence o f the dis turbance and distrac tion thus created du ring divine ’ s was ar o f s s ervice, it p t the beadle duty to put dog ' Fo r s s s s s out. thi purpo e in ome pari he he kept an s el z o f s f in trument called a jo, the con truction o a ’ s t s s s black mi h tong , and having long wooden handle

with a joint near the point by which , without injury m s f of to hi el , he could lay hold the intruding animal i u T s s and drag h m o t. he e in truments were n ot in use s f in my time, but the late mini ter o Durris told me that o ne of his friends being annoyed by a dog the of his s during delivery ermon , and being unable to s to his P bear it any longer, aid beadle, eter, ” m an o u out do P s , canna y put that g Na, aid “ ” n o t i P o s r. eter, he wi na gang , Canna ye clip ” ” P s a s s i r s him then id the mini ter. Na, , aid ’ ’ he s s Peter, I canna dee t, a terrible urly like ’ ’ f ’ ” b s ear t . ea t, an I m at him

fr . ss of the My old iend Mr Grant, the predece or s of was one o of worthy mini ter Methlick, at peri d

’ his minis try much annoyed by dogs during divine f s ervice in the church , and had ound clip and beadle and much scolding o f the congregation all ineffectual o ne for riddin g him of the annoyance. On occas ion P as P resent o n i re 48 The t and f Aberdee sh . he found an unexpec ted ally who did him good was a a ni service. He pre ching with gre t a mation and vigour as usual when a large black dog came s the as s h f tepping up p age wit great ormality, his f s s s ffi moving long tail rom ide to ide, and ni ng at the entrance of every seat in order to find out his A s fo r h mas ter. bad luck him would ave it he s topped at o ne o f the s eats where a rough half witted looking fellow was s itting with his chin s s o leaning upon a tick , which he cla ped with b th i s The f n h s . th the was hand ellow, thinki g at dog s i n to him s topping order bite, gave a mart blow s wn f the do s upon the no e, and do ell g tunned at i f s s the h s eet. On eeing thi minister was greatly and s i the delighted , , having halted , a d to man with h s s T o u fo r th si r great emp a i , hank y at, , and then his s s proceeded with di cour e . r ‘ s o f m was Har y Likely, mini ter Old eldrum , a r r o f os sa s ve y eccentric cha acter, wh e ying and

s s s i s The doing there are till tradition in the par h. following anecdote was told me in early life by a h m s o f f . riend , t en ini ter Ellon One day when M r. was s s Likely preaching he uddenly pau ed , and said b T as to the eadle, amm , pit oot that dog there ’ ’ ’ s l i n the ss he s that y in pa , like to gar me lauch , ’ ’ i ’ t s na n s . Pit him ga hin an g pp here at the flea oo t, ’ ’ ss man , an dinna mi a thud o him till ye hae him ’ ’ h Fowlie s h s bye Net er door, an a te ye bac k to the ” worship. P L ED ARS.

When communication between town and country s n The P as t and P re e t of A berdee nshi re. 49 was much mo re difli cult and less frequent than at s s was i pre ent, when a new paper a comparat vely s h s s s s rare ight , and w en hop were not e tabli hed as s t s s throughout the country at pre ent, he e want s s s who were in ome mea ure made up by pedlar , s s h supplied their cus tomer with new and clo t ing. Many o f them were o f a much more res pectable class than those who at present perambulate the T s s country. hey were generally welcome gue t , and ss s f were, when nece ary, upplied with ood and A s s d s s . s no twith lo ging by their cu tomer man e , s s s s o f the s s tanding the mall tipend mini ter , were s fo r s s alway noted ho pitality, the pedlar were not s A n was unfrequent gues t there. anecdote told me s of o f t s s many year ago one he e itinerant merchant , who was to s pend the night at the Manse of sh of T r s Craigdam, in the pari a ve , then occupied by - s o f ss a well known mini ter the Sece ion Church. The s h s s o f s s upper, whic con i ted owen and milk, was set down before the commencement of family s was c worship. While the wor hip being pro eeded h the n to wit , cat got upo the table and began lap s s the milk , which di concerted the mini ter, who every n w s o and then topped in the prayer and cried , ” eat s . The was e , but to no purpo e pedlar, who v ry ’ f s s h hungry, imagining rom the mini ter anxiety t at m s s his matters were beco ing eriou , took up ellwand a d s s on the s s n , giving the cat a mart troke no e, aid ’ ’ to s s s 0 aloud the mini ter, that worth a core your ‘ ’ i ” h sh s s r. i cat , Another anecdote was told me of a Highland 0 The P as t and P resent o A erdeenshi re 5 f b .

pedlar who used to take up his quarters at the s of A s s s f Man e lve , about even mile rom Elgin, generally making his appearance on a Satu rday

evening, and leaving on the Monday morning ‘ M Be n f . . a s was ollowing Mr , the mini ter, a good f hi s s o s . man , but omewhat vain preaching power The pedlar at the commencement o f his vis its a sh C s s attended the p ri hurch , but oon cea ed to do

so s s , and went to hear a eceding mini ter at Elgin, he se returning to t man in the evening. Mr. ‘ M Bean was in consequence hurt at the want o f

o f his s s s his appreciation pulpit ervice , and a ked s o ne his s gue t day why, while he lived in hou e and his s no t as s enjoyed ho pitality, he did at fir t attend o n his s s f mini tration , enquiring what ault he his was had to find with preaching, and what the attraction in the Elgin minister which induced him

so far . s to travel to hear him Oh, aid Donald, ’ ’ ’ s s s i r s yon a gran mini ter, , a terrible gran mini ter. ’ ’ e s 0 Teevil Fan y peak the evil one ye ca him the , ’ ’ ’ ji st s gin ye war fear t at him ; but yon man c a s ” ivvel s aw ee fo r him the D , an he di na care a p p him .

L S G FUNERA U A ES.

I m s s for s When ca e to thi pari h , and a con ider af s the s m f able time terward , corp e, im ediately a ter was two death, laid on a table, lighted candles were set s s be ide it, and a plate with alt upon it. Some of the relatives or neighbours sat up in the apart ment where the corps e lay the whole o f each night i n s ss o f ucce ion till the day interment, and the

P as a P resent o A berdeenshi re 5 2 The t nd f .

s fo r as traggling in about an hour, and , each entered , whisky was presented to him and as he pas sed by f the table, he took up a pipe, filled it rom the cut

e his s tobacco, light d it at the candle, took eat, s s and began to s moke . When the gue t were all ss s a embled , two men came in , one with a corn ieve containing o at cakes and chees e ; the other with a

f o f s pail ul mall beer in the one hand , and a drink

A ll o f s ing jug in the other. having partaken thi

f s s re re hment, the moking commenced again with f . ss o f renewed vigour About hal an hour later, a gla

s o f s s whi ky and a piece plain bi cuit were pre ented , s A f and partaken o f by every gue t. ter this the s moking recommenced and continued till another s rv was r o f s s o f e ice brought in and pa taken , con i ting

ss o f s o f s a gla rum , and a better de cription bi cuit

s ss of s called bun ; and la tly a gla wine, with what u ed s s to be termed s ugar bis cuit . Up to thi time little

as s f s s s rv o f w poken , but a ter thi la t e ice many the

s s s f s gue t became loquaciou , and , orgetting the olem n it o f s as as if y the occa ion , talked gaily it were a f s baptis m o r marriage ea t. I remember a convers a w e two of f tion bet e n old men the ollowing tenor. A f hi s o ne s ter having filled pipe, the aid to the ’ ’ A s -a- s ann rs other, thing terrible dear now day , S e ; ’ its an unco little s mite o tobacco that ye get n oo ’ fo r a bawbee I ve seen fan ye wad hae gotten a ’ fo r as s fu i e piece a bawbee lang a p tow, . . , a whip “ ” s fat was m aetter s his n la h . But the , aid eighbour,

fo fo r w u muckle ye got a ba bee, gin ye had na the ’ ” Af s bawbee to b uy t wi . ter the lap e of a short The P as t and P resent o A b rdeenshi re f e . 5 3

period on e o f the people having charge came in

o f s and invited any the company, who wi hed it, to go and s ee the corpse before the coffin lid was s crewed

down . A portion o f the guests went accordingly ;

‘ was s relatio n s m ale and , when all ready, the neare t ,

f r fo r few es and emale , carried the bie a pac , and s s the a then con igned it to other , comp ny relieving o ne another till the body reached the grave . It was melancholy to witnes s the contras t between the s orrow and angui sh o f neares t and dearest s S s relative , and the apathy and exuberant pirit manifes ted by many o f the gues ts through the

f f s s exhilarating influence o f the uneral re re hment . I never went to a funeral again till a short time

f s f be ore the body wa li ted . Such were the usages

s s s fo r in time pa t, but at pre ent, and a long time

f s o n bygone , uneral here have been c ducted with great propriety. Drinking us ages at funerals exis ted in a neigh b ou ring parish longer than anywhere else in this s s s quarter, and the late mini ter, in con equence, oon

f his s o f s s a ter ettlement, with the view e tabli hing a

s o f s o f more eemly order thing , called a meeting hi s s s f s pari hioner , and induced them to rame alu

s fo r f s tary regulations on the ubject uture ob ervance. The chief o f these were that the minis ter s hould s always receive an invitation to be pre ent , and that the refres hments offered to the company s hould be s s o f s s s limited to a s ingle gla pirit to each per on .

s r s f s s ob The e ule were, I believe, a terward trictly s e s o f erved , xcept on one occa ion , when a floater D 2 he P ast a n P resen o erdeenshi re 54 T d t f A b .

the s f wood on Dee, who e wi e , Nanny Skene, had

s s f r died , thinking it di re pect ul to her memo y that the moderation els ewhere practised s hould be o b s at f s to s erved her uneral , re olved exerci e a more

s l abundant ho pita ity , and, with that view, to relieve ’ himself of the res traint o f the minis ter s presence

The s by not inviting him . mini ter, however, on A f was s . hearing what propo ed , went uninvited ter ff s s o f s s o ering the company one gla pirit each ,

was s which the quantity allowed , the hu band came s s s s s o f everal time in ucce ion into the place meeting, with a glass and a large old -fas hioned bottle with

s his f set whi ky in it, under arm , and , a ter having the gues ts an example by qu affi ng O ff a glas s s f all s us e him el , vainly by the argument he could , s s as attempted to make the other do the ame , and s s s o f the la t and tronge t inducement he could think , ’ ’ s s i st ae less it s he aid , O , lad , tak j ither g , nae s ilka day that Nanny Skene dee .

RESURRECTI ON I STS.

Until provis ion was made by Parliament fo r

s s fo r ss s s o f procuring ubject di ection , tudent medi

o r s cine, other hired by them , were in the habit o f exhuming bodies from the retired and peaceful f n churchyards in the neighbourhood o Aberdee . ’ T s was so s f s hi abhorrent to the people eeling , that they used every poss ible means fo r its pre - s s s venti o n . Watch hou e were erected in ome o f the churchyards and fire-arms and other weapons were used in protecting from dis turbance by the resurrec The P as t and r sent r shi P e of Ahe deen re. 5 5

tio n is ts as s s s of , the tudent were called , the remain s s f s s o f decea ed relative and dear riend . Student

f s s medicine were requently hot at by the watcher , and one o f them was s aid to have been so severely wounded that he died s oon after he was carried ' s f home. Case o dis interment from churchyards are

now unknown . A s tory is told of the dis interment of an Old woman in the churchyard o f Dru m o ak which had wa es caped the vigilance o f her relatives . It s sus p ected s oon after her funeral that the grave had been s s s e di turbed , and the neighbour re olv d to go to the churchyard along with the husband of the deceased f to as certain the truth o the conjecture . While the

s s sat other were Opening the grave, the hu band upon s his -s ff an adjoining grave tone , holding walking ta

s s hi s its with both hand , and re ting chin on head , and apparently taking no interes t whatever in a o n what w s going . When the diggers at las t to o f came the bottom the grave, they cried “ ’ s s s out to the hu band , John , he nae here ; come ’ an s aetisfy John went with apparent s reluctance, and , on looking into the grave, aid, ’ w ss s 0 see ith great coolne , Fient a time her ’ ae I but I ken thing, I pat her into the grun ance , but they’ll look wi ’ clear een that’ll See me pit her ” Th e f i s . r e in again ollowing another g a v incident , of s ff s but a omewhat di erent a pect, which occurred

f a c o f ff at a uner l in the hurchyard Kinne , at which

ns s o f s was s . Drfl Mear , the mini ter the pari h , pre ent The s was s f who was decea ed a econd wi e, carried to T as t a nd P resent A berdeens hi r 5 6 he P of e.

r b h s s o n the g ave y her u band , along with other , a r s The us is ass is e ve y hot ummer day. h band likew e t d n n the r i lowering the c o fli into g ave. A t length he e h b came completely overcome wit the heat, and, taking o ff his hat and out his handkerchief to wipe o ff s f his ea f c s the per piration rom h d and a e, he aid

s s b s f was to the by tander , Fan I uried my la t wi e I ’ ’ ’ s wi s na s like to be mored , and thi time I m like to ’ be plotted wi heat ; but gin I hae this job to dee ’ ’ again I dinna think but I ll treat mys el till a

s hear e.

N S BI S O I I ON O MA NER , HA T , AND C ND T F

H PEASAN TRv T E .

o f s r At the beginning thi centu y, and during the minis try of my father in the adjoining parish o f s s of Maryculter, the cu tom the middle and poorer s The classes had a very patriarchal a pect. larger farmers were su rrounded by a number Of cottars in s z o f f s T s proportion to the i e their arm . he e cottars

s s s seldom held any land them elve , but had cottage f ss fo r of rent ree, gra a cow, the privilege digging ’ s f s potatoe in the armer potato field, and other per

uisites for h s f s q , w ich they and their wive and amilie f m of s gave the ar er a certain amount work, e pecially

s s s s of s s The in the bu y ea on eed time and harve t. s had s s r s farmer al o regularly engaged e vant , who, e h s s h s when marri d , had ou e , and w o e wives and families were also required to do farm work when s neces ary. e ser an s h t e The femal v t at t a tim , in all but the The P as t a nd P resent o A berdeens i r f h e. 57

f s wealthier amilie , were engaged , in addition to s s their ordinary hou ehold work, to pin wool o r o r t s s flax , to kni tocking during their spare time ; f of and , be ore the introduction machinery, more was frequently made in this way to their mas ters

s s s s o f s or mi tre e than the amount their wage . ” A s was ss to s ta k a igned them called a tent, s f which they had to fini h be ore night, and mos t o f them s ang s ongs and ballads during its f was s s f per ormance. It by the ame ort o work that many o f the old women in poor circumstances made Of r a livelihood , which they we e deprived when the work they were engaged in came to be performed r The s by machine y . price now paid by the manufacturers fo r knitting s tockings are so s mall o ld few that an woman can earn only a pence, by diligent labour, during a whole week.

A t f the s s furni the period I have re erred to, hou e , of o f s f rs s ture, and mode living the mall arme , cottar , s f s s few ex ce trade men , and arm ervant were, with p

s f to The tion , greatly in erior what they are now.

s s l o f s s hou e were general y built rough tone , and h f s f s thatched wit tur , with traw over it, a tened down

h s s s s of r s wit traw rope , and con i ted three apa tment , a bu t ben s s e h s , a , and a mall pace betwe n t em , enclo ed s s s s o f h a s as by the bed and pre e the ot er partment , s The there were generally no partition wall . chairs and tables in the principal room were made o f

e be s s . The ser hom tim r, ometime painted male vants and elder males o f the family s lept in the

s a . th few s h was not t ble Wi exception , t ere a carpet 8 The P as t a nd P resent o Aberdeenshi re 5 f .

s in any house in thi paris h fifty years ago . In a ’ f s s was s s great many amilie , butcher meat eldom u ed f o f A n rom one end the year to the other. able bodied man , a labourer, and an excellent workman , told me that during the firs t five years after his ’ s marriage, neither butcher meat nor tea had been

his The s o f s within door. wage labourer are about three times as high as they were at the period I have referred to and the s ame may be s aid o f the w wages o f farm servants . The linen and oollen s fo r thread pun by the women , and intended home “ use was s to s , ent what were called the cu tomer ” s weaver in the neighbourhood , to be made into

fo r f i clothing the amily. It may be readily imag ned f u t s r what r gali y, economy, and indu t y were required to f s s s bring up a amily upon uch lender mean . The ordinary paupers o n the roll received from our Kirk- Sess ion funds before the introduction of the ’ s s s s h poor rate , the higher cla , ten , and the lower, eig t shillings a quarter ; what was furtherneces s ary fo r their s upport was s upplied partially by the earnings o f the f s s s s emale , in knitting tocking and pinning, but principally through the benevolence of kind neigh

s s s bour , who e liberality and ympathy were greatly ’ f o f s s diminis hed a ter the introduction the poor rate . I perceive from our Kirk Sess ion Records that in 1 8 sum s the year 45 , the whole di tributed among the 5 d T poor amounted to £2 5 3 1 4 . 3 . here were no The f expen ses o f management . population o the T e sum paris h was then about 3 000. h raised by o f assess ment fo r the maintenance the poor, includ

e r 60 Th P as t a nd P resent of Aberdeenshi e.

he S f f sumed . T um o domes tic com ort and happi n s s s ss of re e acrificed , Godle upbringing child n , f - f wi e beating, the t, and murder, are the natural consequences which are faithfully chronicled in the

s f ss T s f s fo r column o the daily pre . he e act call

' far more eflec tual intervention on the part o f the legislature than has been hitherto adopted . Well regulated hotels and inns fo r the conven i ence and accom modation o f the rich cannot be s e s an s c om di p n ed with, y more than uitable f s o r if is f s s ort f the poor. But it ound that pirituou liquors are consumed by rich or poor under legal s anc tion in s uch a manner as to produce inj urious ff s th e a of s t e ect upon pe ce and g ood order ocie y, and that there i s an increas e o f s in s and crimes s uffi cient u s of to bring down the j dgment God upon the nation ,

fo r s I f s uch a state of things calls a harp remedy. s s s se s pirit were con umed at home, the con quence f f ss would be o a hundred old le magnitude. In public houses there are many decoys and tem pta tions to intemperance without any home influences to check the evil . When I came to this paris h upwards o f fifty a s s i x s s ye r ago, there were public hou e , and only about a thous and inhabitants,and no village . So that our public-houses were got up as well fo r decoy ing s trangers as fo r the alleged purpose o f aecom n A o s a o m odati g o ur own people. b ut thirty year g s ne T they were all p ut down ave o . hat place was a

s e s for . nui anc and a cur e a long time Now, porter is am no t re o f only sold in it, and I awa any he P as t a nd P resent o n h r 6 T f A berdee s i e. 1

i n s o f no o ne who drunkard the pari h , and I hear regrets the want o f a public-house fo r the selling o f s P spirit . eople who are addicted to the immoderate use o f s s s to ac pirit are, at fir t, very unwilling S in s o f T knowledge the or hame the habit. hey set up all their real or imaginary good qualities

as - s s s s in make weight again t thi , and exaggerate ’ their neighbours s ins and failings in vindication o f e f be . A th ir own ter a a time, however, they

s c ess s come quite demorali ed and re kl . It doe no t se to e s em , however, be incumb nt upon tho e, ’ s f s s who enjoy God gi t in moderation , to ab tain from the u se o f them because o f their abuse by ’ s is o f us e s other . It part our probation to God f s s s gi t without abu ing them , and to how the s trength o f o ur religious principles by the moderate ’ use o f i s s what anctioned in God s Word . The complacency with which people often view their own besetting s ins is illus trated by an anec o f a s of s h s dote a p ri hioner In c , during the mini f Meam s s o f se o . try Mr , an ance tor the pre nt ’

s e Of ff. A f s f o f his mini t r Kinne armer wi e, one

sh s to s o ne pari ioner , came the mini ter day and “ ‘ ’ s s s to aid , Sir, I wi h ye wad peak my man ’ ’ s he s as as wo m un (hu band), good a man a ’ ’ ’ h he s s he s f n fou cu d hae w en ober ; but gey an a te , ’ ’ ’ and then he s unco fashio ns I wish ye wou d s peak ”

s s s . to him . Thi the mini ter promi ed to do A short time afterwards he saw the farmer watering

his e ef cattle at the wat ring place b ore the door, and ’ ’ ” “ to wateri n the h . said him , Ye re cattle , Jo n I i 62 The P as t a nd P resent of A berdeens h re.

9 s i he s e am 0 a . e s t , d John We l , John , aid mini t r, a s f e a e e so a c n . t k y le n the attle , Joh Fan they ’ r he r ae s o d ink, t y d ink n thing mair that what go d for he oot a hon t t m . But I hear when ye gang , ye ’ ’ tak m r s fo r o u ai drink than good y , and come home ’ ’ ’ - u f s et drunk, an vex an ill g ide your wi e, an a verra f k’ f bad example to your amily. Ta a lesson ae the ’ ’ ca e s fo r ttl , John , an never drink mair than good ” ’ u To see s i r yo . which John replied , Ye , , they re ’ ’ o bu ss r s i r n wt , t I m nae a nowt an , ble your hea t, , ” ca ma raderie f s what ken they aboot (good ellow hip).

Y P HY S M AT .

A n f of of old riend mine told me an old woman , e s s was who b ing a ked how her hu band , who much

s f s f s s i r older than her el , employed him el , aid , O , , ’ s s o o t s he doe naething but daunder an daunder in , ’ ’ ’ i c l s The an fan he s tired he j st gaes s yte till bed . fe s of s same wi , when a ked by one her neighbour “ ’ foo wis A her auld man replied , ’ ’ s c wud na body de in but him , and I wonner gin he ’ ’ ” s e of wis sittin ho tin ther at the day judgment .

GGLI G ! CI I C S SMU N AND E SE OFF ER .

s a s all Within my memory , I may y that almo t the whisky used in this country was illicitly dis e was s s till d ; it u ed by mini ter and dominie , by laird

nd s s a . T tenant in hort, by gentle and imple here were s uch vexatious restriction s upon the legal d st a o f t was s i ill tion it, hat it neither whole ome nor

palatable. This evasion o f the Ex cise laws ex cited r s i re 6 The P ast and P resent of A be deen h . 3

s o f s the greate t vigilance on the part the exci emen , of who, whatever might be their excellence cha rac ter r as , were unpopular in the count y a general The was s s rule. public antipathy hown by uch s atyrical production s as the following

’ ’ ’ The deil c am fiddli n thro the toun ’ ’ And dan ed awa wi the ex sem an c ci , ’ ’ An a the auld w v s r ed a ld M a oun i e c i , u h ’ ’ I wi s ye luck 0 the p riz e m an . ’ There s t ree-som e r e s and four-som re s h e l , e el , ’ An hornpipes and strathspeys m an ; B ut the best dance that ever was danced ’ ’ ’ Was the e s awa wi h x m d il t e e cise an. Great ingenuity was con sequently used by the s fo r o f s s exci emen the detection the muggler , and every mean s poss ible employed by the s mugglers s P to evade the exci emen . itched battles were some s f s f time ought between them , which re ulted in atal s he o f consequence . T occupation the s muggler

s f s z f wa o a mo t demorali ing character, and that o

e ex cisem an s ss s th tended to har hne and everity. ‘ There was an exciseman at Skene o f the name o f

s fo r s was Gille pie, who many year a terror to the

s s f s fo r muggler , and who had been amou the f s z s number o ei ure which he had made. He carried

' s s s m as tifl hor e pi tol , and a fierce dog attended and H is z s ss aided him . eal and ucce were highly o f s valued by the Board Exci e . But to the great

o f s s s s joy all the muggler , and many whi ky drinker , e f r was i in the country, he committ d orge y, and tr ed A o f his and hanged at berdeen , when many enemies 6 The t a sent ber ns i re 4 P as nd P re of A dee h .

ame l s a c o see the o n c ong di t n es t exec uti n. Soo afte the old e se aws we e abo shed new r xci l r li , and laws te-ena ed h h ed f a rs to r w ct , w ic enabl air de le b e the oo h s m e t w s in g d , w ole o , and pala able hi ky now s i u e an end wi of t. , and put to the illicit bre ng

EDUCATI ON AN D TRAI NI NG AT HOME. I canno t avoid to—uching upon a subj ect o f vital and ene a m or nc a s too n g r l i p ta e ubject , which ca not be rea ed b an is na s b ch y y leg lative e ctment , or y any i s f influence from without. It a matter o s uch a eres h s s of s gener l int t, t at the happine individual , of f m s o f s s a ilie , and even communitie depend upon I a e to the s of it. llud mi management children , in a ears b h a s to e rly y , y t eir p rent the continual habit so me aren s h of o r r p t ave yielding, in whole in pa t, he ishes of the h is to t w c ild , until all control over it os and its se se of mo ral on to l t, n obligati obey the o of its are s i s a a r o auth rity p nt gr du lly o ted out. The diffi culty of i nc ulcating and fos tering th is all impo rtant habit o f obedience in the c hild arises from the contention between the head and heart o f h a n A n fan a s i t e p re t. in t e rly give ev dence of the n r affec on o f its h ar and f te de ti e t, o the bent an d stre n th of its wi l and h e at h s e s a e g l , , enc , t i arly t g it becomes the imperative duty of parents to trai n the ch ld to s h ab ts and i n u c a e i n it s ri n i uc h i , c l t uch p ciples as shall tend to pro mo te its happiness and s i l fe succes n i . al of stren th soon be i ns —resi stanc on the A tri g g , e of the chi d and eldin on the art of the part l , yi g p h P ast and P res o r ns T e ent f A he dee hi re.

. s s the to do i s t parent Rea on urge latter what righ , but his sympathetic nature leads him to yield to the s s of s s wi he the child, even though it de ire what may be for its hurt. The consequences of this leniency on the part o f the parent appear in most families in the form of dis f w ss s ss l Obedience, or ardne , ulkine , quarrel ing with s s s s r ss to s r s brother and i ter , udene e vant , and the h h k . T e f as li e parent, a ter long yielding, to give up s s s the truggle, and the child become the ma ter. Though unwilling at firs t to believe his authority s h as s f ss really lo t, the parent at la t to con e that he is as wi ths has bound , it were, with that the child s f- s i n s n become el willed , con idering, hort, othing s its o wn s A s a s ave plea ure. the child adv nce in

f ff s o f s - al li e, the e ect thi ill judged indulgence, s f s s s though, perhap , not uni orm in all ca e , cau e it to s of its rebel again t the authority, not only

s s of its s o f who parent , but al o teacher , and all

s have a right to exerci e control over it. In the world this evil i s not unfrequently the cause o f s f s s s the tri e that ari e between neighbour , and , s s s of f s con equently, ever the bond mutual riend hip s that ought to exi t between man and man . In my experience I have seen so much evil re sulti n f I s of g rom it, that cannot help warning parent the mis take they commit in thus giving to the child has no ss ss s what it right to po e , and what, in tead o f e its ss s s t s t nding to happine , in all ca e end to a ss s h s f h s h m ke it di ati fied wit it el , and with t o e wit whom it comes in contact. e P t and P rese nt o erdeens hi re 66 Th as f Ab .

STATE OF EDUCATI ON ABOUT HALF A CENTURY

GO I TS P S T I P OV S. A , AND RE EN M R EMENT

1 82 6 fo r s s af In the year , and everal year ter s s s s o f ward , the chool here were in a tate wretched T s ix s inefficiency. here were pari h schools o n s t o s o f P s of Dee ide, wi hin the b und the re bytery I was o f s an Aberdeen , which in the habit vi iting nually as one o f a committee of Pres bytery ap if fo r the s . s of pointed di trict Mo t, not all, the teachers had been educated at the A berdeen Uni versities t no t of eli te o f , but hey certainly were the A s o f . t was the alumni the time I peak , there no reading book fo r the more advanced classes but the Bible none fo r the younger clas ses but selec tions from the Book of Proverbs ; and none fo r s ut e s s f beginner b the alphab t, and yllable o two s f o f o r three letter , printed on an outer lea the all of s s Shorter Catechis m . In the chool writing e h Th s . e wa taught, and a littl arit metic Shorter was s h Catechis m al o taught, wit out apparently any means having been used to render any part of T was no it intelligible. here examination on o f s s s o f the meaning the word , or on the ub tance ss The as any Of the le ons. reading w without taste was f or intelligence, and it wonder ul how little the s s o f h pup il under tood anything t ey read . A s a o f s sample the pelling, I may mention that I heard

ss . s s my predece or, Dr Mori on , dictate a imple verse h o f s s s of the Bible in t ree the chool , promi ing a shilling to every boy and girl who could write it

68 The Pas t a nd Present o rde ns i r f A he e h e.

s V s s in a queaky voice ; ara well , aid Daw on , and so it went on from the nominative s ingular to s the ablative plural , the boy alway repeating the cases after the mas ter in the s ame squeaky tone ;

s and the ma ter ending with the commendation , ” V s s s s ara well Daw on then aid to the vi itor , T s is Laeti n s hi , gentlemen , the only cholar

s s that I have at my chool . Daw on pronounced the

do as so as his s if s o word he did , and gave rea on ,

so s d -o do be , why hould not be . He once quarrelled ‘ o f hi s s f scu flle with one neighbour , and a ter a Daw so n s o f his , who proved the tronger the two, got

s r his n s adver a y over knee and bega to ca tigate him , which made the other bawl out so loudly that one of s see was the neighbour came in to what the matter. s was On eeing how he engaged he cried , Oh , Mr.

s s Daw on , what are you doing, to which Daw on

s ss replied with the greate t coolne , and without heed ’ ’ see I m ing the interruption , Don t you what

s was was to Daw on , who a preacher, chaplain a corps o f volunteers which had been rais ed i n the s s o f s di trict, on the pro pect the French inva ion at f s s o f the beginning o thi century. On an occa ion the assembling o f the corps fo r con secrating the

s s was s colour , Daw on a ked to pray, and in

s o f his s s the cour e prayer he he itated , and at la t s A o f o fli cers f s topped . party the a terward dined at s was s ss s . Fettere o Ca tle, and Mr Daw on likewi e

s Af f . pre ent. ter the wine had circulated reely, Mr

s s was s s Daw on , among other , a ked to ing , which he e ha did very readily and very well . Wh n he d ended , The P as t nd resent o r ns zre a P f A he dee h .

e s s ou s G neral Hay aid to him , Mr. Daw on , y ing ” ”

e ou . Vara s b tter than y pray likely, General , aid s s s o tener Daw on , perhap I have ung f than I have ” prayed . A lthough the cooling s tones were almost in ’ s s n s ta rd s was i n de uetude in Daw o time, the kept f f s A co active operation o r a long time a terward . s of s far pre byter mine, till alive and advanced in f t f a li e, mentioned to me hat, a ter h ving got a s o f r s was mattering Latin at a count y chool, it resolved that he s hould be s ent to the Grammar o f A his f a School berdeen , and ormer teacher g ve one of the s s him an introduction to Mr. Nicol , ma ter

o f s . was that in titution . Mr Nicol , who then teaching s ss the econd cla , received him very kindly, and took s his s him to the chool and placed him in own de k, s s s aying to him (he alway poke Scotch), Now ’ see if my young man , you ll how we come on , and , ’ ’ c an wi us to s ye think ye keep up , ye ll come thi ’ if e t s clas s and y canna, ye ll s gang into the fir t ” f h class . My riend thought he would ave no ss r difficulty in keeping up with the cla . Eve ything went on very pleas antly fo r a while ; but in con ff f no t sequence of some o ence given , my riend did as s ix o f s know what it w , Nicol made the boy leave their seats and stand up in a line o n the flo or to be t o f flogged. He hen gave them the word command s fo r t e to adjus t their garment h Operation , which they did without the mas ter putting a finger upon the them . He then walked up and down floor and ’ administered the castigation to his heart s content. E 2 0 The P as t a nd P resent o A erdeenshi re 7 f b .

Af ss was s ss s f ter the cla di mi ed he aid to my riend, “ t n Well , my man , do ye hink that ye could go o ” us P The t e with boy, al hough b lieving that he s was s o could have ea ily gone on with them, terri “ fied that he replied , I would rather go into the s s s s fir t cla , which he did , and in con equence los t a o f hi s year time. When a flogging was at that time adminis tered in the Grammar School o f A berdeen the porter was s fo r ss s t s generally ent to a i t, and, with hat view, u ed

' i The to take the suflerer on h s back. porter at that was a time little old man named William Michie, s his o with short leg in proportion to body, a br ad A s is f . r d o countenance, and a yellow wig to y tol his having been sent fo r to ass is t at the flogging of an Obs treperous boy who had a great dis like to the

s ss Af s s bu ine . ter he had been at la t hoi ted on ’ s s was William back , and the puni hment about to s o f be admini tered , when he could think no other ’ s protection , he took William wig and clapped it upon the part o f his body that was s pecially to s ff the us edification o f u er, to great am ement and all the beholders . s o f In the time I peak , the younger children in a paris h were taught by elderly women not very well

fo r s ss if a qualified the bu ine , but they did not te ch well most o f them did not fail in the exercise o f A e o f s s was at o f discipline. late eld r thi pari h one

s was r s these school when he ve y young, and u ed to give a very humorous account o f his mistres s somewhat in the following terms When I was e i r 1 Th P ast and P resent of Aberdeensh e. 7

’ ’ s O baim s f s young, mai t the near my ather were ’ ’ sent to a school taught by a wifie o the name 0 A t s s May Gallow. that time we u ed to wear kilt as till we were about s even years old . May w a ’ ’ an as s terrible wicked creature, lang we had on the ’ ’ ’ s she m ana ed s a t s f kilt g fine an p y pretty, but a ter ’ ’ s she win at s we got on the breek could na , an we ’ ” s were sent to the mai ter s . o o f ss Mr. Wo d , the Se ional School in Edinburgh, firs t introduced what was called the intellectual s s s s y tem , which took the whole country by urpri e, and loo ked like s ome discovery that had fallen f T s s s down rom heaven . hi intellectual y tem made little way in these northern di s tricts till the Dick s its s s n was Beque t, with rule and uperi tendence, introduced into A berdeenshire and the adjoining

' s of B fl and The T s s countie an Moray. Dick ru tee resolved that the benefits o f their beques t should not be conferred upon any school which was not s s s vi ited by their in pector, and who e teacher would not adopt their educational improvements . Thos e — — teachers not a few in number who were sens ible o f own s their deficiencie , and , being wedded to their

s s s old way , were prejudiced again t all innovation ,

s o r s f whether improvement not, cho e rather to orego the benefits o f the beques t than admit the Dick

s s s . In pector into their chool Moreover, a great proportion o f the clergy strongly remonstrated again st s uch inspection o f the parish s chools as an f of as in ringement a prerogative which, they thought , s s Th belonged to them elve alone. e trustees ins isted s i e 72 Th e P ast and P resent of A berdeen h r .

also upon examining all newly-appointed teachers f s be ore allowing them to participate in the beque t. A s these teachers had been previou sly examined and ! found qualified by the presbyteries this was an as f n additional objection , being an inter ere ce with s T s the constitutional rights o f presbyterie . he e obs tacles to the execution of the regulations framed by the trus tees would probably have been in sup c for s had the s s rable, a time at lea t, tru tee not had fo r their ins pector and advis er one m an am o ng a

s A z s W. S. thou and, Mr. llan Men ie , , Edinburgh, a o f m ss r man great fir ne and p udence, a highly

s s t h accompli hed cholar, and horoug ly acquainted f was s ss o . with the bu ine education He , moreover, s trongly impressed with the deficiencies of the s s s o f s exi ting y tem education , and devi ed the only f s s r m s dis ea ible remedy. He per eve ed a id t all cou ra em ents s his g , overcame all oppo ition , and f han s ss ef orts were at las t followed by triump t ucce . Those who knew what was the state o f education s i to when the beque t came nto operation , and f was s his r s what per ection it rai ed by exe tion , will acknowledge that he was one of the greates t bene f s to the t u s actor , directly and indirectly, hree co ntie s s he intere ted in the beque t. T great addition made ’ from the bequest to the s choo lmasters emoluments has s s s of s ecured a more highly educated cla teacher , most o f them the eli te o f our Univers ity graduates o f s s e the examination the teacher , and the in p ction o f the s chools by the in spector appointed by the s s s s s hoo s s tru tee , have rai ed the pari h c l in the e T e re n o A erdeenshi re h iP ast and P se t f b . 73

s r h s o f f T countie to a ve y igh tandard per ection . hey

’ have proved models to thos e i n the s urrounding

s s s s s di trict , and have hown to our Engli h neighbour w s s s s hat our Scotch y tem can accompli h . It doe no t lie within the s cope o f my little work to enter s s more particularly into thi ubject, but what I have s aid may sufli ce to s how the influence of the Dick s s 0 s Beque t within the la t 4 year upon the education , s s s intelligence, habit , manner , and material pro perity o f the people. It would be unpardonable in m e to pass over this s ubject without any reference to what i s called the ” s o f a -T s e Milne Beque t, which I have been ru te f o f its s s 1 8 6 s rom the period e tabli hment in 4 . I hall f as as ss re er to it however briefly po ible. A su m of to f money, amounting nearly fi ty s n s was thou and pou d , bequeathed by the late Dr. o f was of A Milne, Bombay, who a native berdeen , fo r the double purpos e o f benefiting the parish s s s A e s choolma ter in b rdeen hire, and educating poor Th e f s children within the county. und were directed to be dis tributed amongs t the mos t deserving pari sh s s s of was choolma ter in the county, each whom to

s a- o f his receive twenty pound year, on condition -five fee educating twenty poor children without . It was provided that the teachers should be selected as ’

s of the s . s T s s participant Beque t by Dr Milne ru tee , and that the children s hould be nominated by the

s s s s s s s kirk e ion of their re pective pari he . The In spector appointed by the Trustees is re to si the s e s s quired vi t elected and eligibl chool , and t o er m i re 74 The P ast and P resen f A b dee h . to class ify them according to m erit and the selec tion i s made mainly according to the qualifications o f the s s had teacher , regard being likewi e to the population

o f the sh s the sc s . pari e , and to attendance at the hool The children nominated are entitled to be i ns tructed in all the branches taught at the s chools which they s as as t attend, and to remain at chool long hey s s n of s a s no t a choo e. In con eque ce the e advant g e , few f h to s t o t em are fitted enter the Univer i y, s s of gain bur arie , go through the whole the s u s Of Univer ity curric lum , and enter into ome the s of s suc learned profession . Some them al o have ceeded in taking a share o f the coveted appo int n s ments in the India Civil Service and el ewhere. I o ut who ori i n could point more than one individual , , g ally educated at a country parish s chool by means o f s m s the Milne Beque t, beca e Senior Wrangler at s s far t Cambridge . Many other have ri en above heir original sphere in life through the in strumentality of s s -fiv s this excellent beque t. La t year eighty e chool s s as is ma ter were benefited by it and , each teacher required to instruct an average of twenty-five pupils during the year, the number entitled to be taught The o was was 2 1 2 . 5 actual number, h wever, con s iderabl e as of the s s y larg r, many teacher in truct h cons iderably more t an the number required . In s of s con equence the endowment I have mentioned , t e s s along with h Government grant , the pari h schools in Aberdeen shire are Objects o f ambition to ‘ of s of o u r s s any the be t Univer ity graduate , and ‘ICC to e f , agreeably th ir original oundation , they

hi re 76 The P as t and P resent of Aberdeens .

h s t s teac ing it during it second year Ma hematic , during its third year Higher Mathematics and Ph s its f ar Natural ilo ophy, and during ourth ye P s The s was Moral hilo ophy. ystem changed in 1 800 f f s rs was , when each O thes e Pro es o appointed to teach the s tudents of one year only ; the Profess or ’ who taught th e second year s s tudents confin ing himself to Elementary Mathematics ; the Professor of the third year taught Higher Mathematics and Natural Philosophy ; and the Profes sor o f the fourth P s year Moral hilo ophy only. ' The stafl of Profes so rs i n the A rts Classes then was

I- h A Professor of Greek.

c t A Professor of M athematics. h u A Professor of N atural Philosop y.

h A Professor of M oral Philosophy.

Th e was s ss o f but as er al o a cla Humanity, , it was s was not compul ory at that time , it very ill f was . T he ss . attended then pro e or, Mr Ogilvy, as s s w aid to have been a very accompli hed man , of as s o f great t te, and a very elegant tran lator the P s h was Latin oet . Being in weak healt , he very his f irregular in attendance, and it may, there ore, be inferred that that o f his pupils was not very

. ss was not punctual One year, I believe, the cla

was s 1 8 1 . taught at all . He ucceeded in 5 by Dr P F s s s s atrick orbe , a di tingui hed cholar and a very ffi se s ssf e cient teacher, who likewi taught ucce ully the str ss Chemi y Cla . The P ast s e s i r and P re ent of Ab rdeen h e. 77

The s tudents had very seldom any knowledge o f f r i ns tr c Greek be o e they entered College , and the u tion they received in that s ubject was therefore

T s o f a purely elementary. ho e them who were t tentive s s P f ss to their tudie , under ro e or Mac s ss pher on , made great progre in the time and cir c u m s an es T s s f t c . here was a econd Greek Cla s o r s s o f 2 nd tudent the year. Upon the whole there was then as much taught in every class as served the students fo r an introduction to the various sub ects if a t t j , and they did not le rn much, hey hought h h se few the more, and t ere were t o , comparatively

e f s . s s in numb r indeed , who a terward di tingui hed s s T P them elve highly in Literature, heology, hilo s h d ophy, and Science, though they a not nearly the advantages possessed by their successors of the present day. The Theological department was common to both ’ s s s a King and Mari chal College , each having f s o t P f ss of Pro es or f Divini y and a ro e or Hebrew. The students were obliged to attend both Theolo i al P f ss s s g c ro e or , and they had ome great and ’

s s as Drs . learned men , uch, in King College,

A lexander and Gilbert Gerard , and Dr. Duncan

s s s as Mearn ; and , in Mari chal College, uch P a and P rincipal C mpbell rincipal Brown , and Dr. r s o f the h Black. When the egulation C urch were was b altered, more attention paid to He rew, but st o f w r even now the udy Hebre in our Chu ch, except in so far as the pas s examination fo r licen se s is far f fo i concerned , rom being very pro und . hi re 78 The P ast and P resent of Ak rdeens .

When I was at co llege the Professorships o f Law and Medi in w re s inecu res altho h there were c e e , ug m o um ents a ach e l tt ed to bo th.

THE NI ON O T NIV R I I S U F HE U E S T E .

The following is a list o f the p resent Chairs

Facult s y of A rt .

Professo 1 Ass s an 1 . r, i t t, En lish and Lo i g g c, I . La i n t , 1 Ma ema i cs th t , 1 N a ural Philoso t phy, Mora P i oso l h l phy, N atura H s o l i t ry,

S s ema D vin t P of o I y t tic i i y, r ess r, n al Lan a es Orie t gu g , hur H s o C ch i t ry, B al t ism iblic Cri ic ,

o nve an n P ofesso I Ass stant 1 . C y ci g, r r, i , M d a u s n e u e 1 . ic l J ri pr d ce, The P as t and P resent o er i r f A b deensh e. 79

Facul o M e i ci ne ty f d .

An m a o P ofessor 1 Ass stant 1 . t y, r , i , hem s r I C i t y, I . I ns tu es of M d ne 1 . ti t e ici , ur e S g ry, P ra t of M i n c ice ed ci e,

! oo o w h om ara v l gy, it C p ti e Ana om t y, M d a u s u den e ic l J ri pr ce, Mate a Me i a ri d c , Bo an t y,

To attes t the quality of the education now given it is only necess ary to advert to the distinction acquired by the Aberdeen s tudents in competition s s o f s e with tudent other in titutions . I take th liberty of quoting the following from a lecture P f ss o f A r his delivered by ro e or Black, be deen , to s tudents at the commencement of sess ion 1 880-8 1 Look firs t at those public examination s where our s tudents come in contact with s tudents from other n f s the s fo r the ins titutio s . O the e examination Ferguson Scholars hips and fo r the Civil Service o f — India may be taken as representative the former f S fo r or pecial and concentrated , the latter general ift -s s and extens ive scholarship. F y even Fergu on Scholarships have been given during the pas t twenty

s viz — fo r s s s P s year , three Cla ic and hilo ophy

o f h A jointly, all whic have been won by berdeen en hi re 80 The P as t and P res ent of A berde s .

se enteen for l s s cs al o o f whi we e v C a i ne , ch hav a ed fou se n e fo r P o so a lo n o f g in r ; ve t en hil phy e, which we have taken three ; and twen ty fo r

s o f h c rie no f we Mathematic , which we ave ar d e r I n e n s h s s o ut of fift than nine. all ninet e c olar hip y se e or - d Of the le fal n to t s v n , one thir who , have le hi v s w as o f o u r s u e s Uni er ity, here the number t d nt would not have warranted us to expect mo re th an - f f one hal o that proportion . In the examinations fo r the Civil Service o f India our s tudents seem to have wo n in the twenty years o -five n s ab ut twenty appoi tment , but I have no means o f comparing thes e with the s uccess es in the

o f t s s has s ame field the o her Univer itie . Much been spoken of the s uccess o f ou r mathematical s tudents far u s . A s at Cambridge, and not without good ca e as I o ut r f o f st can make , thi teen or ourteen our be mathematicians have proceeded to Cambridge within the twenty years and gained various disti nc s s s tion there, including a enior, three econd , and two

f s s s f ourth wrangler hip , with other arther down the a o f s s is s sc le. Not one them who e cour e fini hed has failed to take a high place . While according

s s s se s no all po ible credit to the e, it em to me that

ss h s is s le onour, comparatively peaking, due to tho e of our students who have won distinction in Class ics

o ne h o f E s s s Th at or ot er the ngli h Univer itie . e practice of prosecuting clas s ical s tudies at Oxford or Cambridge is Of much later date among us than in s of s f the ca e mathematic in act, I do not find that a 1 it prev iled at all between 860 and 1 870. But The P as t and P resent o A berdeens hi r 8 f e. 1 s ince the latter year as many as nine have sought

s s as se di tinction in thi way, and , in the other ca , every o ne o f them who has had time to complete his s has fi rst- as s s A t cour e taken a cl po ition . f os o f ss Ox ord , where m t our cla ical men go, there is no dis tinction exactly analogous to the Senior s The Wrangler hip at Cambridge. Honours men s s s and are merely arranged in cla e , placed individ u ally in the order o f merit. But all our men ss s ss hitherto have pa ed in the fir t cla , and with regard to Cambridge I shall be s urpris ed to be told that the position won by Mr. Robert Neil is not a o f n comparable even to th t a Senior Wra gler. us f ss s Let look at the pro e ion . A t the Bar is s s is promotion low, yet the Univer ity beginning s f ss to be well repre ented in that pro e ion . Bes ides

s s s has s practi ing barri ter , it uch a name to bo as t o f

as o f . . A . f ss of uri that Mr W Hunter, pro e or J sp ru s o f dence in the Univer ity London . In the Church

few s s s there are more di tingui hed name , among

s o s o f P f s s men young, than tho e ro e or Roberts on ’

of . s b Smith , Mr Whyte Free St George , Edin urgh , f P s o f P T and Pro essor ater on the U . . heological is Hall . It , however, in the teaching profess ion A s r - i that berdeen men mo tly tu n out pre em nent. Surely it is no s mall credit to the Univers ity that f of the s f ss our ten vacancie in the pro e oriate, which a occ ured s s s h ve within the la t five year , hould have been filled up by the appointment of men who had r d s 1 860 the r s of n g aduate here ince , with e ult givi g s of A r s of m o u a Faculty t entirely ho e gr wth. nd resent o A er 82 The P ast a P f b deenshi re.

The Professor of Mathematics in the Univers ity hi f . s s o Edinburgh, Mr Chry tal, took degree here 1 8 1 A f ss s s s in 7 . ltogether twelve pro e or hip eem to be occupied by alum n i of the United Univers ity. s of s s o f s s I might go on to peak in pector chool , s T s m s s lecturer in raining College , head a ter , and o ther p rominent teachers in various educational s s s w s in titution , but uch an enumeration ould perhap ‘ e s . Sufli ce sa b tediou it to y, that our men have s s s s proved them elve fit, not merely to pa examina s s s s but e tion and win cholar hip , to take an honourabl ” b s ss of f part in the varied u ine li e. ’ The lecturer s purpose was limited to a review o f the s r of s as no w s hi to y the Univer ity con tituted , h is s 1 if t at ince the Union in 860 . But he had s f t e taken into account the ten year be ore hat ev nt, so as his t to include in calculation men who, hough s till comparatively young, have had time enough to f to make their mark in li e , he would have been able name not a few whose career has given noble evidence o f the valuable education their University has ff a orded .

T V — RA ELLI NG PAST AND PRESENT. Within my recollection only three gentlemen in

A P s s o f Grandho lm berdeen , rovo t Jame Hadden s f P e a o h s . Work Mr. Crombie do and Dr Dingw ll

- F f s . ordyce, advocate, had our wheeled carriage The firs t modern two -wheeled carriage that appeared A b 1 8 1 2 was in erdeen , probably about the year ,

was . what called a Dennet , and belonged to Mr

The P nd r n i r 84 ast a P ese t of A berdeensh e.

A I —T P E GR CULTURE HE AST AND TH E PRES NT.

Agriculture has reached a high pitch of perfection t is t s o f during he present century. It in hi branch s s s of s indu try, e pecially, that the inhabitant thi country have given proofs o f their shrewdness and s T indomitable per everance . hey have achieved

s s marvellou triumph over a naturally cold climate, fo r s al s and the mo t part a rugged and ungeni oil. 1 2 s s o f c In 79 , when the tati tical account S otland was prepared on the s ugges tion o f that phil anthro ist o f s p , the late Sir John Sinclair Ulb ter, in many districts a comparatively s mall portion of the land was under tillage ; and the thorough cultivation o f s of wa te land , owing to the amount drainage which was ss f s was nece ary, both in main and urrow drain , only accomplished in later times at an enormous

s f b the co t both o money and la our. From circum stance that the greater part of the land in Scotland was s f held under entail, the proprietor had ormerly s fo r s s no way of rai ing money improving their e tate , of for the s and hence the reclamation land had , mo t s s s part, to be done by the tenant them elve under ’ s s s o f s improving lease . But the re ult the tenant s er s sf labour were v y un ati actory, and , where much had to be done in clearing O ff s tones and cutting s r was so f f drain , the wo k imper ectly per ormed that was not much had to be done over again . It until s the landlord , aided by the Government drainage m se s h sh e s the grant, the lve laid t eir ould r to work, The Pas t and P resent o A herdeens i re 8 f h . 5

t s s s s s hat the great re ult , at pre ent con picuou , were f mani ested . Since the year 1 792 the County o f Aberdeen has been beautified by great additional plantations o f wood the fields have been laid out and enclosed by s ubstantial fences ; and the farm houses and farm s s s s teading va tly improved in tructure, accommoda

f . s o f s f tion , and com ort By mean the helter rom

o f su f f wood , and the withdrawal the r ace water rom s the wet land , which , by chilling the atmo phere o f during a great part the year, had prevented early

s s tilling, early owing, and con equently early reaping,

the climate h as been modified and greatly changed . The so has so s il , moreover, been ubdued and cheered by the luxury o f the home and foreign manures laid upon it that the c rops are greatly more abundant s the s in quantity and uperior in quality, and owing and reaping are not far behind that o f the earliest s The A s f s district in Scotland . berdeen hire armer are s s wi e men , and recogni e and act upon the maxim V us ti rs i m a tel/us h f o f irgil , j , w ich may be reely “ ’ s I f ou tran lated y don t give the land anything, ” it will not give you anything. Strangers pass ing through this county may still think it bleak and i s . s un ightly It not, however, a county in which to s if they are likely tarve ; and , we can s atisfy t in t c an so s hem no o her way, we do by contra t, as e s the Highland r did to the Engli hman , who co m ’ plained of the roughness o f Mars hal Wade s highland s ou s s s f h road , Had y een the e road be ore t ey were ’ ad h s m e, you d have eld up your hand and blessed ” a Marsh l Wade . F 2 t n r 86 The P as a d P resent of Aberdeenshi e.

In i llus tration o f what I have s aid o f the great change which has taken place on the face of the County of A berdeen s ince the firs t publication o f s A of an fo r the Stati tical ccount Scotl d , I take, s of s example, the pari h Skene, the ea tern boundary of which reaches to within about five miles O f the

o f A is s s the town berdeen . It thu de cribed by minister of that paris h in the Statistical A ccount of it in 1 792 On the lands belonging to the proprietor of N o s e t s e . Skene only, have tree be n hi herto rai d has o f h to planting been done till late, and even t at

no r s of no great extent, improvement indeed any

s s . s kind , owing to invincible ob truction Con idering o f s the s the great quantity wa te land in pari h , fit for s the of only bearing tree , neglect cultivating

is A disad them much to be regretted . mong the vantages o f the paris h are to be numbered its difficulty o f improvement (being in general full of s s o f s rock , and a con iderable part it wet and pongy), the s mall progress that agriculture hath hitherto

o f ss made , and I may add the quantity mo in ” the pari sh . Now are to be seen the barren land cleared of s tones and cultivated ; the mosses s s drained , reclaimed , and covered, in the ea on , with waving crops of yellow corn or other produce the ground surrounding the beautiful loch fringed with wood o r cultivated to the very edge ; ’ s s s s proprietor eat erected, and the policie about them tastefully laid out and no lack ofwood in the i h s . pari h, both profitable and ornamental It s wort The P as t and P resent o A er s i 8 f b deen h re. 7

’ one s while to travel some distance to get s uch a magnificent view as may be had from the seat of f o f s my excellent riend the Laird Ea ter Skene, who has done much to the cultivating and beautifying of s The the district in which he live . same thing may be s aid o f many other paris hes in the county o f Ab o f s erdeen , and none perhap more truly than my own . The following is an account of the s tate of agri

i n o f s the s culture the end la t century, in pari h o f

T s s o ne o f s s arve , at pre ent the riche t and be t s s Ab e s f cultivated pari he in erde n hire, taken rom the s econd s tatis tical account of that paris h by my f o s late riend Mr. Kn x the mini ter, written in the year 1 845 s a s s as Seventy year ago griculture in thi pari h , o f A was generally throughout the county berdeen , The s in a truly wretched condition . tagnation Of water on the low grounds utterly precluded tillage while the arable lands were over-run with noxious s f to b in weed , and chilled rom November May y n e s s The w um rable land pring . cultivated ground as n was i n eld ou divided i to what called fi and tfield . The f o f f ormer received all the manure the arm ,

was e The n and perp tually in crop. latter co s isted o f was ri banlh i s o f what called g and , that , arable s r o f was ridge , between eve y two which there an s haul/5 interjacent pace termed a , which the plough s Th was never di turbed . e arable part cropped five s s ss to year in ucce ion , and then permitted lie in pas ture fo r the s ame number of years to recruit 88 The P as t and P resent o A berdeenshi re f .

w s of r its e s . s xhau ted po er p oduction Green crop , with the exceptio n of a few potatoes and coleworts “ ( green kail in the gardens of the farmers and Th s r e . e s o f pea ant y, wer unknown implement husband ry and the mode o f us ing them were equally

r Two . o r ude. men , with ten twelve oxen yoked a s in a team , b rely accompli hed the work which one two s s res man , with hor e in a plough , can at p ent f The s per orm without difficu lty. hor es employed r s z and u in agricultu e were diminutive in i e, sed for v fo r T t. c merely burden , ne er draugh hey arried o ut s i n s o r ee s manure, and home peat panier cr l , and the meal to be sold was conveyed to market in ’

s s a ss s s s . s ack , laid cro the hor e back Cart and wheel carriages were only to be found in the po s ” sessio n of landed proprietors . Perhaps many of my readers have never heard ’ ’ ’ of the o whistlin an old Scotch proverb, Hantle little red which i s equivalent to much labour s s of s and little work done, and perhap ome tho e who h and who w its a do not ave heard it, do kno me ning, s was s a f r e o s know it origin . It u u l o th g ad man e to s s w a rs f who drove th team whi tle lo i , requently

sa s to n . T s p lm tune , the oxen whe ploughing hi s s c is s to e mu ic, which uited their pa e, aid hav s timulated them to work with greater s pirit and and fa e was s teadiness than the goad , when it il d it ’ ’ ’ said that there was a hantle o whistlin an little

red Such was the state o f matters i n Aberdeenshire s a r a o and fo r and the adjoining countie centu y g , 8 The P as t and P resent of A berdee nshi re. 9

s s a the ea 1 2 w s ome year l ter. In y r 79 , hen the fir t s s c u was s n to tati tical ac o nt written , thing had begu

sh s . mend in many pari e , but not in all I n T ss fo r e r c ullyne le, example, wher ag i ulture, in its s is no w as s ood as all branche , well under t in any w s Aber eenshire itwas c s . pari hin d , in avery ba k ard tate It appears from the statis tical account of 1 792 that at that date there were n o turnips or rye gras s “ s s s s the r s s eed own in the pari h, and Reporte ay , that

o f u e the condition the people wo ld be improv d , i n ter ali a if s d f r s , the proprietor woul u ni h them at ss s s The first with turnip and gra eed . ploughing was then done o n the s mall farms by ploughs “ s s s s s e drawn by mall teer , or ometime by an int r s s The f s mixture o f cows and hor e . larger arm are ploughed by eight o r ten s mall oxen and carts had been introduced only about thirty years before

the date of the report . s o f s s &c the On the ubject price , wage , Reporter “ s s be ss ay , It may, without exaggeration , a erted s if of w that price are double , not triple, hat they s A were about thirty year ago. bout that time an

o x s s s w s s s old at twenty hilling , hich now co t at lea t s s to f s s fo r five pound ; heep, three our hilling the s s now the i s f s i x be t wedder , common price rom s hillings to ten and s ixpen ce ; two shillings and S ixpence to three shillings fo r the bes t ewes and s f f s s s lamb , now they etch rom five to even hilling or s s for en e now s ix more. Hen then old threep c , s e n f r e now o n e pence ; egg , a p n y the ou t en , tw pe c t ” he doz en . 0 The P as t and P resent o A berdeenshi re 9 f .

The o rdinary wages of m al e farm servan ts then e e five oun s of fem ales two oun s to two w r p d , p d ’ o u s ten s i s a The fi rs h rsem an s p nd h lling year. t o wages at las t feeing m arket i n A berdeen were £ 1 7 to 1 8 a ha f ea th foo i n a ition and £ , l y r, wi d dd , the second horsem an had fro m £ 1 5 to £ 1 6 a half year fo with od . The ordinary wages given to labourers when

re the d a 6d o rs d o r 6d . hi d by y were . ; tai l 5 . i 2 ll n sive of r s m aso s 1 3 . . a c u w ght 8d . n d i l

victuals. s o f the o ro On the ubject cattle, Rep rter p ceeds ; The common breed of blac k cattle in this paris h i s a middling o r rather small s iz ed f een to rt s hardy kind , weighing rom eight thi y tone A T r m rr e msterdam . hey improve ve y uch when ca i d s s oo into richer pa ture, and con equently bring g d s f s to e price rom the drover , who begin pick th m s and n up early in pring, continue buyi g through ” he t summer. A s s n s The b s n s regard re t e t infield la d let , at an for s sh s t average, about ixteen illing and eigh pence

f b s n s f an acre, in erior a out ten hilli g , and outfield rom

S five s to its two and ixpence to shilling , according s quality but in general the tenant pay in meal , in ”

ac of fo r s . pl e money, the outfield ground Eighteen shillings and Sixpence was about the highes t price paid fo r land per acre in A berdeens hire at the time o f the first statistical account was published . Many the farmers of the present day may not be aware f s s that in the earlier part o la t century, and in ome

s i re 92 The P ast and P resent of Aberdeen h .

t c m the s m h re f o r hey o e to Engli h arket, w e , r m thei w ho are re e and kno n hardi od, they in g at r pute, could not be so readily distinguished but fo r thes e

' s s o iflerent f e colour , d rom th white and brown of Fa c s brindled cattle England . n y uch a report upon the cattle of A berdeens hire coming from Mr. ‘ M ombie of s M r s o r C Ea ter Skene, . Cruick hank, s any o f the other great breeders of the pre ent day. Little attention was paid to the breeding o r feed ing o f cattle in A berdeenshire till about fifty years as r s s ago. It w about that pe iod that the fir t hort was b n o was horn bull rought i t that county, which r f A H a the joint p operty o the late Mr. lexander y hethi n s of T r s and then tenant at S , in the pari h a ve , f another riend of mine. A little before that period there were only two butchers in the Aberdeen m arket who kept prime f d The s who n oo e meat. fir t butcher i troduced g d ea h s s was m t in t i di trict a Deacon Martin . He was s s us ss H quite an enthu ia t in the b ine . e ’ h n of east as fa t ought othing b or body that w nt t. Having been told o f a woman who had thrown herself over the bridge of Montrose and been the a e was Wis drowned , only rem rk mad by him , ” the z z fat P was 1 82 6 o r hi ie It only, I think, in , bo s h s s therea ut , w en teamer began to ply between A r and o a c a to be deen L ndon , th t ttle began be s s t to n hipped , at lea t in any quanti y, the Londo A se si s s n . t e A e market pre nt, b de upplyi g the b r en m u o f de arket with ab ndance excellent meat, cattle not surpassed in any market within Her re The P as t and P resent of A berdeenshi . 93

’ s s s o f es t Maje ty dominion , and dead meat the b The a s . qu lity, are ent to the London market quantities s ent up during the year 1 880 are as follows 1 The n of s r t s f m . umber laughte ed cat le ent ro A berdeen to Lo ndon by sea and land aver 6 age g cwt. 2 o f to . Number live cattle London o f e t a s of 3 . Number live cattl to all o her p rt Eng land T s ut s ill good meat came to be upplied by the b cher , mos t of the country gentlemen fed and used their fo r s s e own cattle home con umption , and mo t peopl throughout the country o f s maller means were i n o f was the habit killing what called a mart, at the of s rved t f es beginning each winter, which e hem r h o f f a s and salted to the end it. I find rom the St ti A c o f o f tical c ount Chapel Garioch that oxen , in f s o f s ten ormer time , even , eight, nine, and even s o f f fed year age, were taken rom the plough , f o f s fo r con a ter the manner the time , and killed s was s v s umption but it ob er ed , and no doubt ju tly, m rec ollec that the meat was very dry. Within y fed was r o f e of tion , prime meat gene ally that cattl

f s s s . our year old , eldom under three year old

T as s the hey, a rule, got no turnip till third A t and fed f . year, they were only rom that year present the highes t feeders allow the calves to s uck and feed with their mothers on the grass till it ses be n fu The s are n a ed cea to ple ti l . calve the llow to f e n r s as th er ra s on t l the e d o tu nip e wint d w , il The P ast and P res t o 94 en f A berdeenshi re.

ne t ras s and af asturi n the f l owi n seaso n x g , , ter p g o l g so o as the rass i s en fu he are fed u on l ng g pl ti l , t y p , t rni s i h wh h the are iberal su lied and u p , w t ic y l ly pp , som es h h f ten n food s r n etim wit ot er at i g , till p i g, h e are s ac r in to s iz e and we t w en th y old , co d g ight, a from 2 0 not se m at w r f The £ , ldo up a ds o £30 a piece. m a is e and no t e ua vo to e t th n rich juicy, but q l in fla ur a is r wh t olde . A n im mense quantity o f the bes t a o f dea and ve att as h as bee alr a qu lity d li c le, n e dy sa is an f n id, nually exported ro m Aberdeen to Lo d on and elsewhere. The c auses which co ntributed m ost to the im ov me of n the s f u r and pr e nt land withi la t hal cent y, to the increase and fattening o f s toc k in this cen r are f r of tu y, ur ow draining, and the application bo s and s the ne , guano, other artificial manure . By water which s tood in ill-cultivated soils during the w e the was i e ed int r manure d lut d and weaken , to the s s of s i n s and , owing wetne the oil pring, u not be o r s and it co ld early p loughed early own , a e e f e w s consequently late in b ing reap d . Be ore th system of thorough trenching and furrow-draining was adopted in this paris h the harves t o n the banks of the Dee was ordinarily abo ut three weeks earlier the s s the than in higher, expo ed , and wet land in a s and the o f s on the no t p ri h , quality the crop latter ' e a o on f diflerence qu l t that the ormer. Now the in s and e h and s i s owing r aping in the hig er lower land , at s in ars sc arc l The n t ma e e . lea ny y , y perceptible grai is generally more abundant in quantity and equal in a t and he str w e r n in qu li y, t a g nerally mo e abunda t,

r 96 The P as t a nd P resent of Aberdeenshi e. i n this way whic h I sho uld no t have o therwise e se poss s d.

SEASONS AND C ROPS DURI NG THE LAST PERI OD

H N Y OF T E LAST CE TUR .

There can be no doubt that the increas ed extent of cultivated land has h ad cons iderable influen ce upon the climate o f the county o f A berdeen fo r the reasons which have been mentioned and this is very apparent from what has p as s ed o f the p re sen as n aste t s ars o f t, co tr d wi h the la t thirty ye r t is be the past centu y. I to hoped there will be no — such seed times and harves ts s uch failures of crop s and dearth and misery as exis ted in the latter he n o f the period . T improvement in the cultivatio s s nt oil and other cau es which have been me ioned, of f s us es and the importation grain , urni h with hop see that we s hall never the like again . But our f f the s n f m s s s b 1 8 ore a r , argui g ro the ea on etween 7 5 1 6 the s s and 7 5 , might have come to ame conclu ion f r a as as a s climate w concerned . I have in my possess ion a minute diary o f the 1 8 1 weather between 75 and 795 , in which the good and s are s b he bad year minutely de cri ed . T lady who wrote it was wife of th e Laird of Kemnay of ha and o f e t t period , aunt my late uncle, Dr. Georg s s he Mori on , to whom gave it.

I t b ns ar 1 8 . 2 1 s a egi in Janu y, 75 t M y, cut Spin a e h t was s w h r had as i g t a o n t at yea , and pe n r r The P as t and P esent of Abe deenshi re. 97

' full bloom ; the 1 8th Ju ne we had a full as het o f s pea and some cherries and s trawberries . In the year 1 760 we had a dis h o f green peas o n the 1 1 th o f 1 6 2 c s s the . ut n June 7 , we pinage ow that year l th is of s s y May, and had a d h pea , own that year, the 1 7th o f June had als o artichokes and some ripe 6 our r s s s s . 1 s trawberrie 7 5 , g een pea and trawberrie was only at table the 3 rd o f July ; and tas ted s ome s s s is to be trawberrie and cherrie in the garden . It

s s s ob erved , however, that the date here mu t be old s s tyle, and eleven day later, according to our reckon fo r ff o f ing. But making allowance the di erence st s s as n as yle, the e article were early the they are s at pre ent . The s not 1 6 diary doe become minute till 7 4,

is f but in that year there only re erence to the weather, no t s The f is s and to the crop . ollowing the um

r s s r -five s ma y thi year eighty day rain , thi ty day ” n s The s o a s . now the ground , and eventeen d y wind s of s o f s was 1 8 2 mo t terrible all the year thi period 7 , f M rs s o which . Burnet give a very particular and s ad s was de cription , and it all the more memorable in con sequence of its being s ucceeded by two s 1 8 1 8 T s s des bad year , 7 3 and 7 4. he e year are c ribe f s w w d in the ollowing line , hich ere repeated to f e was h are me by my ather wh n I a boy, and whic more remarkable fo r their truth than their poetical merit

A ara hrase on auc ht twa p p y , The sairest year that ere we saw r n o r ens i r 98 The P as t and P ese t f A be de h e.

’ An aucht r was e ra sair y th ee v r , For meal we haed it not to Spare ; ’ Auc ht f u the win blew h y o r igh, M ade m any a sailor for to di e ; h n th s a di s nk like ead S ips i e e d i l , Of that we i n the news did read ; ’ ’ H ouses were tirred an rucks blew o er ; ’ ” I m really feared at s uc hty four.

A uchty twa may well be s aid to be the s airest w s of year that ere they sa . In peaking that year, P s o f s o f the Rev. atrick Grant , mini ter the pari h

s s f desc ri Duthil, Strath pey, give the ollowing p tion o f the s tate of his parish in his statistical account of it in 1 792 The s ituation of the parish in 1 78 2 and 1 783 was ss not fo r truly distre ing. Had it been Government ’ s s s s f bounty, and Sir Jame Grant large upplie rom s s s s of di tant countrie , the poorer cla people would O r a s f have perished . S g eat w s the de truction O the in 1 82 f s s n so as crop 7 , by the ro t etti g in early the of A s s s s n month ugu t, that the mo t ub tantial cor which was sent to some of the mills in this parish was a crop o f wild oats from a piece of ground ” s which had been ploughed , but not own . It be as s may mentioned a triking coincidence, the of 1 8 2 having in view dearth 7 , and the recent

’ f Of the s h h was terri le f m i ailure crop , t at t ere a b a ne the 1 680 of about year , which Mr. Grant gi ves a his s s harrowing narrative in tati tical account.

The f is o f the s ollowing an account given . wind and

rm s of 1 8 b Mrs . i n 7 4, y Burnet, her diary Of the

r ns i r 100 The P as t and P retent of Abe dee h e. an i nteres t in agricultu ral matters in reference to the increas e in the value o f land s ince the m iddle of

l s . A F co i d . r c e a t century Mr o dy e, who had ac mpan A s n in his o s r n to his nati e Lord n o v yage , etur ed v a tra f m country bout the year 1 745 . He velled ro on n to A er e on s his z L do b d en hor eback, with all p ri e m e in s e i n his s - the on y, p cie, addle bag, and bought o f A rdoe s s for i r e 00. s p op rty , in thi pari h, £5 It h stated by Dr. Morison that when e took poss es s ion of his s e he f the s s s as it e tat ound man ion hou e, uch was the and f t s o f , with garden about or y acre land , he n s of a wh in t 8 . ha d tenant o paid about £3 65 . d a i st ua . n at erling, nn lly Having it contemplation that e o a s m a if tim to g broad again, he a ked the n he re his s at the would new lea e, which had expired, of s his s was annual rent £5 terling, and an wer , Na, ” f h The t God as n . by my ai h, gie me mair wit land as s the s a two rs w old to pre ent proprietor, bout yea a o for o t g , ab u no t i n th s Within my memory, landed proprie or i of the let his s his part country moor , or p artridge and s o s if s other ho ting ground ; and, I mi take not,

h of e was is ss o t e sale gam illegal . It impo ible t guess the amount now produced from their moors o s or sum now r s t the proprietor , the annual eali ed in A berdeenshire and the adjoining counties from the sale of gam e ; or to calculate the s ums of money s or the b h s f pent by, enefit ot erwi e derived rom , the tenants of shooting lodges and their dependants . To say nothing of the Opening up of the country ’ b a s the ere t on of entleme s seats and y ro d , c i g n se t o d ens i r The P as t and P re n f A ber e h e.

s n o f f s fo r villa , and the e largement avourite village the temporary residence o f lodgers from all parts of the c s s ountry, the money circulated by the e mean has in s s n to f Of the , variou way , co tributed the com ort s f r people and to the pro perity o the count y generally. s o n es s I n the village De ide, during the ummer

s s f o s of the month , there are lodger r m all part ’ co r of e n s s s unt y, and many the g ntleme eat are

s s s . vacated by their owner , and rented by tranger How different from the days that I have s een 1 I t m ay be readily i magined to what extent the causes I have mentioned have tended to the benefit of the s s s o f t r di trict intere ted , and the coun y s s f s generally. I mu t e pecially re er to the benefit ff s Of len anar w s as . G t hich uch men Mr Cunli e Brook , f f . z o and my early riend , Mr Macken ie Kintail and lenm uick ve o f u the s s i n G , ha c n erred pon di trict e which th y live. f lentan Wh . s o G ar en Mr Brook became tenant ,

e s a o s et now leven year g , he at once about improve ts of a s s a nd men ub tantial beneficial character.

‘ Much has been s aid about the depopulation of l f i f Two entanar or e s . G , which ther no oundation s fa s f s s in mall rmer , or rather cro ter , tood the c n way of improvements which Mr. Brooks o em lated I n or to n n f e t . p der i dem i y them , he gav the e s s for s u n s m larg bonu e rrenderi g their holding , and provided them with farm s larger and better than f rme ssesse —fa ms wh his o wn they o rly po d r ich, at e ense he re a med f om s e a s i n the xp , cl i r wa t l nd F r er t ants i n the len neighbourhood . o the oth en g G z r 102 The P ast and P resent of A herdeenshi e.

u lt new and eom m od ious hous es and stan din s he b i g , v inf the rents have n ot and , as I ha e been orm ed, i The ula on of Glentan ar is n ow been ra sed. pop ti s e considerably greater than when M r. Broo k W in s Throu o t ese e even tenant of the shoot g . gh ut h l years he has em ployed on an average about fo rty la rers m a in roads tin u fen es and re bou , k g , put g p c , claim ing waste lands ; bes ides as large a num ber of ed men bu in h us es and r es and skill work , ild g o b idg i e A s one f t th making other mprovem nts . ac wi ference to these erat ons I m a m n th t re op i , y entio a there would have been scant means o f livelihood for the people but for the em ployment p rovided them

Mr oo s. by . Br k I forget who it was that said in old times that he is a benefactor to his count ry who makes two blades h n ' u u h of grass grow w ere o e only sed to grow. S c b he as the b ssi i s a a eing t c e, le ng peculi rly applic ble But a is not l as r o s . m to M . Br ok wh t e t to be ad ired

' in his character is that while he is pa r p n najpi hns “ is e i n r i . h is communis n . h e he i e fi , W il s equal to the ” h hest he is o te s and affa e to the u s ig , c ur ou bl h mble t. sa s o ne us e s of Pom nius s So y C r li N po po Atticu . h f ’ Anot e tra t o . roo s hara is r i Mr B k c cter, which of rest to e m s e of the u h is inte ev ry ini t r Ch rc , that, a th h he is not a member of o ur c he has l oug Chur h , contributed towards the erection and adornment of a anse at D nn in his own ne ur church and m i et, ighbo

h h h ere er m h wante . ood, w ic w v y uc d

now Mr. roo s ha n ne er e er I do not k B k , vi g v ith r ha an n erco rse w th him and I seen him o d y i t u i ,

' em lzzre 104 Ti mP as t and P resent of Aberde . good Baron whose tragi c fate is commem o rated in st the ballad lore of the di rict.

OMNI UM GATHERUM .

There is a well authenticated fact which occurred in the Church o f U dny during the vacancy in that s a I t s be pari h about s ixty years go . mu t well known in this country that during a vacancy in a parish it is the duty of the Pres bytery of the bounds to see i s I n s se the s rst t upplied . thi ca mini ter who fi s of c- n preached was the then mini ter Logi Bucha , “ a fo r his A nd was ma n who g ve text, Jacob a plain ” s The was s of dwelling in tent . next the mini ter s A nd a was Ellon , who gave out the ame text, J cob ” a m n The n was the plain a dwelling in tents . ext s of th who to late Mini ter Daviot, en a probationer, , the s s r s of he r ve till greater u pri e t cong egation , ga “ out the s A nd was a n ame text, Jacob plai man ” n i n s The n not dwelli g tent . congregatio could a s b n be r thi any longer, and on the text eing give out for the t s t a third ime, a black mi h got up in gre t “ e and i The dwall him xcitement excla med , deil , ’ he s dwalt here for the las t three weeks

The following is an example of s elf-po ssess ion b a m an a e ar a s oner y nam ed J mie L on d , pari hi her He his he one ser e. lived with aged mot r and an to h s s had f rm v t, w om the m other u pected he o ed n ac att hment which did not meet with her approval. mie was of en a e n ht and the s rv n t l t out at ig , e a t ’ be P n ur T ast and P rese t qf Aberdeensi e.

was in the b of the to ne ha it opening door him . O n h was o ut his o to ight w en he late , mother, in rder as a n the r ss of s s s s the cert i co rectne her u picion , ent a o r s serv nt t bed and sat up to wait fo him her elf. On e o he her op ning the d or, and t re being no light, t was his s his Jamie, thinking tha it weetheart, threw s ne and ss arm round her ck gave her a hearty ki , ’ on his s m an e up which mother aid , 0, Jamie, , ye r ’ ” n h to the kin the ic t. Jamie, however, equal o s o f i n his s and a her cca i n , olded her again arm g ve an ss s s i Oh other ki , aying to her at the ame t me, , ’ ’ ” i is t to to ou. m ther, weel my duty be kin y ar was a o r s f m o n the Ch lie Reid cottar, mall ar er, esta e of u h s s his su e t Dr m , in t i di trict, and in lei r ti me was employed as a s ort of gamekeeper to the

- a . was t a s a e L ird He a all g unt looking carle, with p r h of d - H e n c d b . abit bo y, la ky che ke , and large oned us n s b ue ed to wear a broad Scotch bo net, a coar e l

s o oat a s h rt c with l rge metal button , knee corduroy

b e s o h s d s s and h s. re che , r ug wor te tocking , t ick brogue He was an old carle of great self-possession and ” e s s one independ nce. I hall give my reader only f s was illus tration o the two latter qualitie . He a n b his s on o ne s o he t ke y ma ter occa i n , when was bou s s o f a e a s n a t eventy year g , on hooti g ’

s n to s o f . A t t excur io Mr. Gordon Nethermuir tha e s s tim Mr. Gordon had only a maiden i ter living i i r f h m r r fa e. w th , ve y plain and ve y advanced in li T e wo f the h t Lairds had given Charlie, a ter s of the da e s was o for labour y, mor whi ky than g od him and t o aff n the , h ught to ront him by telli g him , Tlze P ast a nd P resent o Aberdeens/ti re I 06 f .

nex da ha had issed ss o do n w n he t y, t t he k Mi G r he s ha l e v was t . w who was not ver ip y C r i , ho e er, y ’ eas ut out o d ee a e an ily p , c olly replie , W l , maybe y ’ a e na—nae r haerm sa ll rrant m I . I yb g et , daur y wa ’ ’ e s nae m e 0 t c s w e wa ther uckl hat ome her y ( y). s o s fo r s s Charlie occa ionally broke p inter dog tranger , and had an odd phraseology in s peaking o f his em s and on s his af ployer matter relating to cr t, m ixing up the fas hionable s ports man express ions o f s se his own ass the time with tho e u d by cl . He ” he r To r used t wo d ho ve y properly, and with an air o f great importance. On the other hand he ” c alled scent guff and partridges fools (fowls) was o f s when a dog on the track partridge , he ’ ” s was roadin f s was aid it ool , and when it a drawing up to them , he c lled the movement o f s n one s re d raewin t ool . O occa ion that I

' h a was s o h member, w ile Ch rlie howing a dog that he was breaking for a so n o f the then proprietor of Devanha r r s his odd the B ewe y, whom he tyled , in ” The Devann way, Young , the dog made a very s h th e taunc point, and Charlie went up to him with f t was . The cer ainty that game be ore him dog, how e not f w n s ver, would go or ard , but bega to hew s s s o f his ome ign uncertainty by moving tail , and at as ou was f s n l t it turned t that the point a al e o e. o s to s Charlie, however, being anxi u make the be t apology he could fo r the d og to The Young ” “ ” Devann s s ir wisna fawm ous o ff ? , aid , Eh, , that a er was not h so n t the do He , owever, i dulgen when g

o m n f . A ar a u the c m itted the ext ault h e h ving got p ,

' 1 08 TIre P ast an P resent o erdeens/zzre d f A b .

T is s e s te e here a fi hing villag in thi quar r, wher gentlemen us ed to get fis h dinners in a s mall inn ke One t at the pt by a widow. day a par y called ” inn and s if et fis h . a , a ked they could g a dinner N , s c fo r s aid the widow, ye anna get that, the boat ’ n s s t s fis h hinna bee oot thi ten day , and here nae . ” But I deuks t n fae fis h i s hae hat ye wad a ken . It well known that few articles o f diet are more rep ul s ive to connois seurs i n gourmandis ing than fish s s ta ted duck . Wonder is often expressed why the lawyers in Aberdeen are the only body o f legal practitioners in c n x t of s of the S otla d , with the e cep ion the member who a s u re s t a t . bar in Edinb rgh , yled dvoca e I s h e een under tand that, whatever may av b the origin of has the n of the the title, it received recog ition

e s . se s Sover ign in two royal charter It em , how o f s s w n ever, but a title courte y , and doe not arra t its possessors to practise at the bar o f the Supreme s s was Court of Scotland . Why thi courte y ex en f to t ded to them , in pre erence all the other o s of s f ss n I can b die the ame pro e io in Scotland, n The b s ot tell . only pro able rea on that I can think of is as s the , that they are regarded uperior to

es . s as sa s r t Be thi it may, I can y that , at pre ent, o e they are a highly intelligent, able , and hon urabl bo o f f s s e dy men . I have o ten , however, ob erved om soreness among the Edinburgh people about the of s s n to s recognition thi title, and ome tende cy neer f at it when applied . Once when dining with a riend in s A een Edinburgh , he a ked me what title the berd ’ t n r r 1 The P as a d P esent of A berdeensi n e. 09

la s of s and wyer had to the name advocate , , on my te s be t he lling him what I under tood to their ti le, ’ s But s not s n h a f of aid, that the rea o whic riend o s of was s b y ur gave to me the matter. It aid y him n o n the s of s of o ne o f the that, occa ion a vi it s s A e n was re Scotti h king to berdeen , a p titio p sented to his Majesty by the A berdeen lawyers to grant them all the privileges of the advocates in T s is s he . t Edinburgh hi petition , it aid , king per a t s emp to rily refus ed to gr nt. A la t the petitioners s s o f if availed them elve a popular notion that, they cou ld persuade the king to call them advo s tha t s ffi so cate , would be a u cient title but that al f s The . is he re u ed to do deputation , however, it ’ s r s s f his s s aid , were ve y per i tent, and ollowed Maje ty s s 0 s carriage to ome di tance, crying, , your Maje ty, ’ ’ ’ s us s T s us . is s ca advocate , ca advocate hi , it aid , n o n his s s his s we t till Maje ty, lo ing patience, aid to ’ ’ wi the ou them , Gang hame ye, and deil tak y , ’ ’ s n thin s o . T s and ca your elve y g that ever ye like hi , ” is f . your riend told me, their only charter I had a carrier fo r many years o f the name of was A s . as ndrew Sandi on , who an original He w a

i t s s and z z l ttle man , wi h mall piercing eye , a qui ical fa r s ce. He could not read w iting, but had uch a good memory that he almost never forgot any A t m ess age given him . an early period of life he ha ot i to s i d g n a crape, into which young men n his sta n s ! to o f f t tio , ala o ten all, hat preyed upon his mi so s s nd much that he re olved to commit uicide. On the n ight o n which he had decided to carry out rro Tire Past and P resent of A ba dger s/ti re.

his fatal resolu ion he wen t to the m s tres s with t , i , whom he was a f rm servant and sa id to her a , , ’ ” oodwife dinna ak o n so wens to m e the n cht. G , m y i ” ’ - Fat for A n rew said the od w fe. I m uaen , d , go i g ” un as h re l A ndrew however to d ro m se w t e . y l, p y , , han ed his m i c g nd . A regulatio n had been m ade in Aberdeen that no one should ride in a cart without a double rein fo r his ho se ne d a w n A n w was i u r . O y he dre rid ng p ion t et his ca wit a s e r was U n S re in rt h ingl ein , he seen b a a e Pro ura o - isc who ot a fi n e o f y l t c t r F al , g s i n A nd rew c e five shilling mposed upo him. am ho e in reat wr and S no r c f t m g ath , poke in ve y om or s h s The I saw able term about t e Fi cal. next time A n r n out o f Aberdeen I as o e d ew, comi g , ked him in j k ” ha s i A e I s d t d n s . whe her he ee the F cal y did , ai ’

A n u n t. drew, I keppit him comin do n U ion Stree I s na ist m earie a n e aid ething, but j gied my udg ’ ’ wi m e w and sa sec s s s y lbo , id till her , mi ie, there i ’ vinegar n b. On o ne occas ion A ndrew met with an accident on his wa f A e ee o f he e fo l y rom b rd n , which gav the lowing humorous description to a lady who was f his em ers as one o ploy . On her king him how it ha e he re see w e had pp ned, plied , Ye , Madam , the y ’ ’ s s. The s e e Garioch s t s wa thi hou eke p r at Mr. own ’ at i n e an n c hu ns c house p a h n te cke into my aert. e ere twa ffer s The chuc kens Th y w in di ent hamper . ’ ’ ’ was i n ane an h was i , their mit er the tither, an they ne er he n u s fae the ft v ld their to g e , time that I le ’ A erdeen the h t oot 0 b , till time t at I took hem my

' 1 1 2 The P as t a nd P r s t o A erdeensizzre e en f b .

and t s s s f see a n hu ju tified him el , Ye , M dam , whe ’ ’ she e hide wi m e hae f cam to , I cu d gotten a wi e ’ ’ on w e us t an e th s u n y y ,j y w , but noo ere nae an mma ’ ’ ” in a the ou c ntra that 11 leuk at m e.

There was an ol o f o f d man my acquaintance, eat s t of was h of a gr implici y character, who teac er s e s in the s of o f the id chool adjoining pari h Nigg, e of fe nam David Symon . He had a wi , a large fam m s was f e a ily, and a i erable living, and o t n in gre t a w ed and s s s . b tr it He had een t ice marri , in peak i n of his s f a g to me fir t wi e, and giving pathetic of s s 0 but account her death , he aid , in conclu ion , ’ my first wife was a fine young youth . With a s he ot his f set great truggle g amily brought up, and out into the world tolerably qualified fo r making i n e s to S ff their way it. H u ed peak with una ected feelings of gratitude to God fo r carrying him through all his ffi es h at i s s di culti , whic t me eemed to be u r his e s had the tterly ove whelming. In latt r day I good fortu ne to procure for him an allowance from a u ic fu w a e him f i fo a fo r p bl nd , hich m d a rly com rt ble the s ofhis f s e s re t li e. In con equ nce he poke to me and of s h ur ss me in a mo t ono able manner, addre ing me ” as ess was the h of as your holin , and in abit king an of f s s his ss y my riend when they had een holine , “ while he addressed his own minister only as your ” rever nceshi was f of s o f e p . He ond peaking rc s and se e r ss his s Chu h matter , u d to xp e view upon that s ubject in a very quaint and o riginal is s ool s o on the s of the tum manner. H ch t od ide ' r n r T/ze P ast and P resent of Abe dee s/ n e.

f A s his pike road rom berdeen to the outh, and s s s of o f pupil , who con i ted principally the children the men who began the reclamation of the surround i n t of s e s f g ract wa t ground, u ed to run a ter the

s for rs s s . coache coppe . I di liked thi very much , and told him one day he should try to put a stop h s to it. While he quite agreed wit me, he aid , s s fo r e for But great allowance mu t be made th m , ’ ” ou see s ir h see ta ble talk 1 y , , t ey don t much at home ’ Drumforskie s s was , where Mr. Symon chool s was two s f of ituated , about mile rom the Bridge

s o f of s Dee, which was the cene one the battle fought between the army of the Marquis of Mon s the s of A I t was tro e and brave burgher berdeen . e s b f was a cold xpo ed barren moor, and , e ore it was s s to cultivated, it a mo t un ightly object travel s on h T e s of the is ler t at road . h cene battlefield ’ s s perpetuated by the name o f the Covenanter Fold . The t D m fo rskie to h s a es and con iguity of ru t e e pl c , the description given by Sir Walter Scott of the nc s al of Dal ett s a e tr property Dugald g y, and ome s n the ff s re embla ce in name, a ord a trong probability that the Drumforskie I have mentioned is Sir ’ r s ru m a Dal ett D thw cket. Walte g y, in bargaining o nt h fo r s with L rd Me eit joining the Royali t army, s A nd if I u conclude ; yet, my lord , co ld but be m ade certiorate that my natural hereditament of Drum thwacket had fallen into possess ion of any of s s of n s who ou th e the e loon Cove anter , c ld be, in e ent of our s ss n ntl a v ucce , conve ie y made traitor of I ha e so h ue for th fer e , v muc val at til and ' x x f ire P as t a nd P resent o A ber ens l ure 4 f de .

’ s s w on t o plea ant pot, that I ould e en take wi h y u ” ’ o h n o f r t e campaig . T this Lord Menteith s atten ’ nt e e I can r s e n Dal e t s da r pli d . e olv Captai g t y s fo r if his es e of Dru mthwac ket be as que tion , tat , I v w s or so ed s concei e, the long a te mo , call , that lie i s s of A e was five m le outh b rdeen , I can tell him it s s as re e lately purcha ed by Elia Strachan , rank a b l ” s o th e f n e as ever w re Covenant. I my co j cture is well founded this is a rem arkable example o f Sir ’ s a o f s and s t Walter accur cy ob ervation de crip ion . ’ I shall mention another instance of Sir Walter s s rv f u t a f n f he ob e ant ac l y, in a ci ul nam e given in t A ntiquary to a bay near which Lieutenant Taf ’ fril s s s the was s s at F r ve el, Search, uppo ed ai port to e a ll s i have been wr cked nd a hand lost. L eutenant ' Taflril as is n ad s of A , know to all the re er the nti ” uar h ad to sea s ! who q y, put on a crui e with Love , had ’ ’ M I ri re l c k t O dbu s w . N o wounded y , nephe , in a duel s h of s fo r s m tiding were eard the hip ometi e , but at as ev r m s ou fo un a l t the il u our pread , happily with t d n h she had s ru on the reef of tio , t at t ck Rattray i rtenal n and s l s D a os . rock near bay, all hand t ss i r a i in s on Doubtle , S W lter, wh le thi quarter, or his r s a n A e s e s had see c ui e lo g the berde n hir coa t, n or heard of a large sea gull which watches the s maller ones catching and swallowing their prey th s and s a ows and pursues them till ey di gorge it, w ll s I e f n seen h s n the it him elf. hav reque tly t i do e at the Don a bo and e a mouth of , when y, rem mber th t this unsavoury bird went under the name of the l n ma n te Dirtena a . We y co jecture that Sir Wal r,

" 6 Tire P as t and P resent of Aberdeensfii m

r r a time afte wa ds, and sked him how the minister ” an he were e in n er V erra l d tt o to eth . bad g g g y, “ s r r fri a d M o do n. sa d his end it m ust i . G Well, i , be o r own fau fo r M r A lan seem ed m ch y u lt, . l u i n li ned to be o n a fr d foo in with c ien ly t g yo u. What is the m atter now A fter detailing a few in r ri s r n s m o e an e . o do a as h a g v c , Mr G t ted the e d ’ of M r A a s ff A n an f o n . d on d r t ll n o ending, the ” urteent o f b s -c d m e a fo day Octo er la t he call dog . r was a m an o f r a so n s ren th Mr. Go don g e t per al t g , which he was ready to exert without much provo e was a b - a n. e ss a ad c tio Onc , wh n he pa ing long y ro h h was be i -o f- was (w ic held to a public r ght way), he e se o f the challeng d by a rvant proprietor, the late Dr. a nc e f- s i of A William D u y, th n Sherif Sub t tute ber eenshire e old i nfi rm i d , a v ry man , who, with other s o f s his e for tic age , had lo t t eth , which a remedy f as s The could not be ound in the pre ent day.

as . his t e servant ked Mr Gordon to turn , and , on fusal e s f , att mpted to top him by main orce, upon o f s h i which Mr. Gordon laid hold him and da hed m the s s into the ditch by road ide, aying he would go

' that wa s e of ff. s n y in pit the Sheri In con eque ce, a s f ff f he w s ummoned be ore the Sheri or assault. I n the course o f the examination the Sheri ff s aid to im s a o h , Did you y, Mr. Gordon , that you would g ” a o i n s o f s s th t r ad pite my teeth I aid , an wered “ M r Go o wa but no . rd n , I would go that y, I had ’ ” r 0 in s s e wo d your teeth. Even tho e day there wer s s u es for e ffs w re s s es ub tit t Sh ri , but there e no ub titut o ee f r t th. TIn P ast and P resent o Abera’eenskzre f .

A s tory was told me by the late excellent and

. ss of of s of s learned Dr Bi et Bourtie, the view chool s o n e of his s a s di cipline held by elder , very imple e e who an and illit rat man , had been ordained elder f f was s late in li e. He ancied that it a pecial duty of to s s he an elder examine the pari h chool , and did so occas ionally alone He generally as ked s s s f h s the boy que tion rom the S orter Catechi m , bo s s and , when a y gave a correct an wer, he u ed ’ ” to sa to . y , Weel , tak ye tent that , my cockie o n his s o s to One day, leaving the ch ol, he aid the Gueed ou Maester teacher, day to y , Stott, ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ c ti cht - o e ye re de in fine ; keep a bra bridle han th m, ’ ’ man , an be aye chappin tee ahin .

Dr - s n . Gregory, the well known Edinburgh phy icia o f f s was son of P f ss o f ormer day , a a ro e or ’ f ed s e A e . r M icine in King Colleg , berde n My athe ’ used to tell the following anecdote of the Doctor s o o n s his f t b yho d , which prog o ticated u ure energy u of o ne s n and vigo r character. On occa ion , whe the boy was setting out fo r an evening entertain ss of r s s his ment , dre ed in a pair white t ou er , atten

was to s o s f tion attracted ome b y who, a ter a heavy ’ n his f s rai , were making a dam in the gutter at ather The f as s u d . was gate gutter ull , and , the boy co l

s n o f was s u not upply e ough mud , the water ju t abo t r To v s s o . to ove top the brea t f the dam pre ent thi , his ss sat it young Gregory, in eagerne , down upon , s s his on o white trou er and all ; and mother, c ming f s out to the out, ound him itting there and bawling ” he s s s cl s 1 ot r , Mair dub , boy ; mair ub ' berd enslzzr 1 1 8 7 718 P as t a nd P resent of A e e.

A clerical friend of mine mentioned to me an inc ident which occurred to him on his vis iting an old

s ss The was l box m an in his la t illne . man ying in a and f s s o f the bed , my riend , noticing that three ide

s t s s bed were clo ely hung round wi h walking tick , “ s o w use aid t him , John , hat could you have had s s s i r the for so many tick Weel , , replied “ ’ s fo r s ac an 0 man , I never had ee e mony at y time f far ss hae fo r sae n noo my li e, and le need I mo y

see risso n s was i s s ir m but, ye , the (rea on) th , , y

' ” i s tannes g ennzns lay n . s ss was on one o s n Dr. Mori on , my predece or, cca io baptiz ing a child to a fisherman in the village o f

his o wn s f s fo r its or Findon , in pari h , amou Findon s f of Finnan haddock . In the per ormance the

s as s ceremony he prinkled , he u ually did , more ’ was s s r s f water than nece a y upon the child ace , and , ’ the borders o f the child s cap having prevented it a- T r o ff set . s unning , it the little creature coughing hi alarmed the grandfather and made him has tily bawl ’ ’ ” out h is s o n H eel t h eel t as to , , Sanny , man , but, was i n r it ol Sanny no great hur y in heeling , the d s n a man cried out, with till greater veheme ce, C nna ’ heel t s fo r in i ye , ye tupid idiot, g ye d nna make ’ ’ ’ ’ ” r u n t The fl eeti f haste an heel t ye ll d o . ng o a

i s its s to t the boat turning it upon ide , emp y it

mo re s peedily o f the water. There was a man in this parish o f great strength and

s his s z activity, notwith tanding diminutive i e, called was of n Geordie Walker, who in the habit improvi g waste land on the property of a small proprietor i n

’ he P as t and Present o Aberdeens/nre l z o T f .

’ ’ steadmg) than a yo ung man an an auld stuog o a ” wife. In former days strangers coming from England to Aberdeen used frequently to bring letters of intro duction to some of the booksellers from their English s A s s n corres pondent . bout ixty year ago a gentlema

s from England brought an introduction to Me s rs . A s o s s A ngu , bo k eller in berdeen , which , in the s o f ab ence the managing partner, he delivered to i I n s o f s h s brother. the cour e conver ation this r t was s - n e s to b o her, who a imple mi d d man , aid the “ ’ ” entlem an I ou s fae x f rd O oo . g , think y aid you cam ”

You s . are quite right aid the other Weel , noo, s s aid the man , i na that very remarkable ; Ye x foord u come fae O , and our co ntry place at the ’ ” -f Sto cket s called Coo oord . Many years ago there were so many jealous ies ’ and disputes among the profes sors o f King s Col and so s lege, they were con tantly quarrelling among ’ s as s A the themselve , to give ri e to the proverb, ’ warld s at peace but the Orkney lairds and the ” The a s of A uldtown College. m rche their pro perties were the subjects of dispute among the

Orkney lairds .

RY R Y N URSE H MES.

rs r h es s The following are Nu e y R ym , which u ed r her r to be s ung by my mothe to child en . I have h as he m a eas recollec published t em , t y y revive pl ing s who a h a tions in some of my reader , h ve e rd them in s a s o hers who no their early year , and mu e t have t. T/ze P ast and P resent of A 1 2 !

I regret that I cannot give the tunes to which they s s s I of u ed to be ung. Many year ago, gave a copy h s s the t e e rhyme to late Mr. George R . Kinloch, R s s h e egi ter Hou e, Edinburgh, who may av pub lish h s s s ed e f h . , or ot erwi e di po d o t em

’ TH E RAW KI LLED THE F SSEY C U . , o

’ The usse craw killed the p y, O , ’ The us se craw killed the p y, O ’ The muckle cat s at doun an grat ’ ’ ’ I s s Johnny little hou ie, O . ’ ’ ’ s Comin thro the mos ie, O , ’ ’ ’ ss Comin thro the mo ie, O ; licket I oot my puckle meal , ’ ’ ’ A n wi ockic played me my p , O .

I D P I L Y THE CATT E RA E TO A S E .

The P s P s P s cattie rade to ai ley, to ai ley, to ai ley, The cattie rade to Pai sley upon a harrow tine ’ ’ ’ A n she lou in cam p hame again , ’ ’ ’ A n s he lo in cam up hame again , ’ ’ ’ A n she lou in cam p hame again , ’ o Up n a mear o mine. It was upon a Wednesday A s winny, winny Wedne day, was s It upon a Wedne day, ’ Gin c a r l I n icht y min . 1 2 2 Tire P as t and P resent of A berdeens/zi se.

’ san nv cour t s LITTLE nocc ms .

’ a s s s S nny Coutt little doggie , doggie , s little doggie , ’ Sanny Coutts little doggies ’ ’ ic ke nn s m L t a ou . S y , man

s Sanny ran aboot the tack, ’ ’ ’ ’ A n s s s a doggie at back , ’ A n ilka doggie gied a bark , ’

An . Sanny ran awa, man

’

MY I E DAI N Y o . DOGG T .

’ ’ ’ he s o O my b nnie doggie Dainty, O , ’ ’ ’ ’ A n 0 he s my bonnie doggie Dainty, O

I fo r widna gie my bonnie doggie a wedder hoggie , ’ ’ ’

A 0 . ltho I had my choice twenty, O

W N W A DRA E GOWN .

’ I t s I hae gotten a braw new gown , ’ The colour 0 the moudiewort ; a tail er I b de the y mak it weel , ’ ’ ’ ’ A n o t pit linin i the body , ’ ’ ’ ’ o t o t I the body , i the body , tail er I bade the y mak it weel , ’ ’ ’ ’ An o t pit linin i the body .

' re P as t and P resent o A r ns/n re t2 4 TI f be dee .

I f he had done what a m an could do ’ The coo had come hame wi her ta il behind P u uir a ld Simon Brodie, Puir wee doited body ; I will awa’ to the North Countrie ’ A n see my ain auld Simon Brodie.

o he f Sim n Brodie had a wi e, ’ A n wow but s he was wondrous bo nny ’ ’ H e s taen the dishclout oo t o the bink ’ A n rinned - p it till her cocker nonny. P uir auld Simon Brodie , P o uir auld wee doited b dy, I will awa’ to the North Countrie And see my ain auld Simon Brodie.

9.

WAS H WEEL T H E FRESH SH FI .

s f s fis h s f s fish Wa h weel the re h , wa h weel the re h , sh f s fis h Wa weel the re h , ’ A n s kim weel the bree, ’ Fo r h s n f -fitted t ere mo y a oul thing, mony a foul

fitted thing, ’ f -fitted the s s Mony a oul thing i aut ea.

’ ’ I ll t h h fish the h fish ca c the w ite , I ll catch w ite , ’ I ll fish catch the white , To please my l asme 3 c c ; But the -backit fis h bonnie black , The o b -backit fish b nnie lack , The b -bac kit fish bonnie lack , as sw s H aye the eete t bree. r ns are x 2 7711: Pas t and P resent of Abe dee /z . 5

A H I N H I EVE S I ES U C DOGG .

’ ’ A uchi nhieve s doggies were a here yes treen T was Boo s ie B a s here and p y, r M a s Mer yman , and p y, s R inwell A u c hinhieve n Ro y and , and Ho ey Bell , ’ Were a here yestreen .

TH E H I RDY DI R DY.

’ The B Dird fae irdy y cam hame the hill hungry, ’ ” hungry : Faar s my growl P s aid the H irdy Dirdy ’ ’ I t s s chuc ken ittin there i the bowl , the black and ’ ’ the grey hae been p eckin amon t a the day He ’ ’ ” wi his the : P up club an gied it o lug eak, peak, “ ” chucken : s e cried the Will a win , cried the h n ” ’ m aetter s su d t Little , aid the cock, ye hae gaen o ’ ” fan yer bed I bade you .

’ I TH E CATT E AN THE Moosm .

’ ’ he sat o the wa T cattie kiln barn , S inn in s inn in p , p , ’ s By cam a little wee mou ie , n i n rin in R i n , n

The s s c mou ie aid , What are de in there, ” My lees o m lady P inn in s to son Sp a ark my young , she s she Said , aid n leesom Weel mat ye br ik it, my lady i as n resen rdeens/zi r 1 2 6 T re P t a d P t of A be e.

’ b n b n Gin I dinna r ik it weel I ll r ik it ill, she s she Said , aid swee it hoo sie leeso m I p my , my lady. ’ ” s it f Ye did na oul in t then ,

she s she. Said , aid ’ e s s f r Th manu cript here wa n t very legible, but I ea that at last the poor polite mous ie was eaten up by

- the hard hearted cattie.

1 3 .

The geese chaps at the yitt the gaaner he cries ’ ’ fa s s it s st (who) ; Ou , ir , Mai er Middleton , the ’ ’ laird o Gowdie Ha .

1 4.

’ ’ T was Tam 0 Ta m here my back , an i my lap, ’ ’ ’ ’ A n Tam 0 Tam sookin my knee, an me , ’ Tam Tam Tam wi le t cc fiddler, piper, the g y , ’ Tam Tam Tam Tam here , there , , o the lea.

’ The Tod an s wife They made a strife ; They never eatit s aut To f their meat in their li e, ’ eatit wi f a f Nor yet it a ork or kni e, f ’ But rieve it ae the bone O . ’ The T s f s he was bed od wi e brocht to , ’ ’ An saeven s she h bra young tod aed , ’ And she wis hed fo r a bit 0 gaeslin meat i ’ ’ Afore her ly n doun O .

' 1 2 8 Tbe P r zre ast and P resent of A be deensn .

1 8.

’ The cock an the hen, The deer in the den , s f Shall drink in the cleare t ountain, A nd venison rare ’ s f Shall be my love are, ’ A n f l w the a d I ll ol o him over mount in .

\ ’ ’ O he s n my bon y Johnny Collie, ’ T s hat live into Cairn a holly , ’ Fo r you I d drink eelly dolly

Until the day I dee.

to ae d b Dance your d d y my onnie leddy, daedd Dance to your y my bonnie lamb, ’ ’ A n s s ye ll get a fi hy in a little di hy, ’ ’ f rl - i T m A n u s a . a y g ggy, an a ouple

d aedd Dance to your y my bonny leddy, d aedd Dance to your y my bonnie lamb, ’ ’ ’ A n slic s ye ll get a y o a di hy nicey, ’ ’ A n s a weety wiggy, an a mutton ham .

’ The above little ditty appeared in one o f Galt s s I s s f novel , but heard the fir t ver e rom my mother ’ f s s s long be ore Galt novel were publi hed , and the second verse from a gentleman o f my acquaint

se bef e of s s. ance, likewi or the publication the e novel ’

Tire P as t and P resent of A berdeens/ nre.

Johnny come lend me your fiddle I f ever you mean to thrive ’ ’ I ll an 0 m . no, not lend my fiddle to ony alive

s h Johnny hall ave a blue bonnet, ’ A n s f Johnny hall go to the air, ’ A n h s Jo nny hall have a new ribbon,

To . ie is t up h bonny brown hair.

’ A n why s hould no t I love Johnny P ’ A n why s hould not Johnny love m e ? ’ A n wh s y hould not I love Johnny, A s weel as another b o -dye ? — ’ ' ’ A n is le fo r a s toc kin here a g z , ’ A n h is f fo r s ere a oot a hoe, ’ A n i s ss fo r his a here a ki d ddy, ’

A n fo r his t . two mammy, I row

o GI N J OCKY WAD BU T STEAL ME.

0 gin Jocky wad but s teal m e I wad s hortly burn my wheely ’ s s cankert f My minnie he a airy, ’ wi r Wadna let me court Hai y. ’ ’ he s aff f e Now an le t me lon ly, ’ A n I hae but J oc ky only O gin Jocky wad but steal me s I wad hortly burn my wheely. ' r 1 30 TIre P as t a nd P resent of Aberdeensnz e.

2 3 .

Gae T Las s ikies tell the orry , Gae tell the Torry Las s ikies Gae tell the Torry Las s ikies To s wive langer ho e, ’ ’ For there s o er mony m uffitees ’ ’ T s m u ffi tees here o er mony , ’ ’ T s m uffitees here o er mony ,

u r s Woven to o boy .

2 4

’ ’ The s s grey cat kittled in Charlie wig, ’ ’ The s s grey cat kittled in Charlie wig, ’ ’ ’ ’ There s ane o them livin and twa o them ’ ’ The s e i n s grey cat kittl d Charlie wig.

2 5 .

T wis Hielan m an here a axed at me,

s s sea What, grow there berrie into the , A s I s w could an er him again , s s - - n What , grow there kate upon Cloch na be .

2 6 .

AN REW a n D m .

He A A r y, my ndrew, nd ew, How A , my ndrew Carr, A A Hey my ndrew, ndrew, A How , my ndrew Carr, ’ I t s fo r I fo r w ur what care I better, and what care a , And h fo r A w arr w at care I better, gin I get ndre C .

’ 2 P as t a nd re n z e 113 l e P se t of A berdeens/z r .

LITTLE M N Y R AY U C G .

’ s e Little Muncy Gray ittin on a cr epy, f ’ Hal an ell o grey,

r Wad mak him coat and b eeky.

The s 5 00 k ss outer gaed the a i , i i Tan t r o ru m .

’ it s fo r bi rs s Fie ye rogue my ,

T - an tio ru aran m .