Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Seaforth News, 1937-05-13, Page 6PAGE SIX THE SEAFORTH NEWS. THURSDAY, MAY 13, 1937 Dose side; and likewise a 'bottle of whisk- ey; and as one guest after another took hold of the quaich with the thumb and forefinger of each hand, the inn -keeper fulled the small cup with whiskey, which had then to ;be drunk to some more or less appro- priate toast. These were in Gaelic for the most part -"To the goodntan of th inn;" "To the young girls that are kind, and old wives that keep a clean house;" "Good health; and good lucks :n trading things washed ashore," and so forth -and when it carne to 'dr. Hudson's turn, he would have a try at the Gaelic too "Guess I an wrestle with it. if yon give me an easy one," he remarked, a, be took the little swaich'. between his fingers and held it 1111 it was .tilled, "Oh, no. sir do not trouble about the Gaelic," said his pretty neighbor a-r.ue- blushing Very much, for there was comparative silence at the time. "But 1 want to have my two. There's nothing mean about me. if it's anything a white man can do, 1 ran do it." "Say. air do shladnte-that is, your good health," .said I,1eannie, blushing more furiously than ever. He :carefully balanced The cup in itis hands, gravely turned towards hi • hostess, bowed to her, repeated 'You lazy daddies," he said, "what to them -and the silence, to her rho are yr thinking o'? Here's a .names had unwittingly caused it, was ter for ve, if there's a pennyworth 0' ri'hle. But another of the girls, stilt bent on mischief, was 'bold enough to say, "Oh, it's Ronald that going to sing ue 0 song." 'Sing ye a Anne, ye thinner, ere ye're through with your supper?" Ronald said, sharply. "I'd make ye sing yourself -with a leather strap - if i had my will o' ye." But this was not heard up the table. "Very well, then, tRcnald," the inn- keeper cried. graciously. "Colne away with it noir, here is no one at all can touch you at that." "Oh, do not ask hint," the pretty Nelly said -apparently addressing the company, :but keeping her cruel eyes on dim "Do not ask Ronald to sing, Ronald is such a -shy lad." 'He glanced at her; and then he seemed to make up his mind. "Very well, then," said lie, "I'11 sing ye a song --and let's have a chorus, lads." Now in Sutherlaudsltire, as •in many other parts of the (Highlands, the chief object of singing in company is to establish a chorus; and the audi- ence no natter whether they haste heard the air or not, so 0000 as it begins, proceed to beat time with hand and heel, forming a kind of ac- companying tramp, as it were; so that by the time the end of the first verse is reached, if they have not quite .caught the tune, at least they can make some kind of rhythmic noise withtherefrain, And on this lccaeion, if the words were uea- and Ronald, 05 evil intent, took care to pronounce them olearly--the air was sufficiently like "Jenny damg the Weaver" for the general chorus to come in, in not more than half -a - dozen keys. This vas what Ronald sane' --and he sant; it in that resonant tenor of his, and in a rollicking fash- ion -just as if it were an impromptu, and not a weapon that he had care fully forged long ago, and hidden away to serve some such chance as the present: - O lasses, lases, gang your ways, And (lust the house, 0r wash the Claes, \'e put me in a kind o' blazc- Ye'll break my heart among yet The girls rather hang their heads- the imputation that they were all set- ting their caps ata modest youth -who aimed to have nothing to do with them was scarrely w•ihat they expect- ed. But the lads haul struck the tune somehow and there was a roaring ;horns, twice repeated, with heavy hoots marking the time - Yell break my heart :unnng ye! And then the singer proceeded- gravely - set kirk or market, morn or e'en, The like 0' tihem WAS never seen, For each is kind, and each aspleen:- Yell break my heart among yet And again same the roaring chorus front the delighted lads - Yell break my heart among yel '.('here was het one more verse - There's that one dark, and that one fair, And pun has wealth d yellow hair; Gang lame, gang hame-•-1 can nae mair- Ye'll break my heart among yel Yellow hair? The allusion was so obvious that the pretty Nelly blushed starlet -s14 the more visibly 'because of her fair complexion; and when the thunder of -the thrice -repeated refrain had ceased, she leant forward and said to lain, in at Ins voice, but with tench terrible meaning- -My lad, when T get yen by your- self, ,V'I'I give it to yowl" They had nearly 'finished supper by this time; but- ere they had the decks cleared for action, there was a formal spunk among the lot o' ye. They lasses there wait on ye the whole year long. and make the beds for ye, and redd the house; I'm thinking ye might do worse than wait on them kr one 'night. and bring in the sup- per when they sit clown. They canna do both- things; and the fun 0 the might (belongs to them or to nobody at all. At first there was a 'little shame- faced reluctance - it seas "lasses' 'wank," they said -until a great huge Highland tyke -a Rose -shire drover who happened to be here an a visit - e man of about six feet four, with a red beard big enough for a raven to build in, declared that he would .lend a ,hand, if no one else did; and forth- with brought his huge fist down on the bar -room table to give emphasis to his worlds. There was some sus- picion that this unwonted gallantry was due to the fact that the had a cov- etous eye on Jeannie, Donald Mac- rae's lass, who was a very superior ,dairy -mistress, and was also also heir - presumptive to her father's farmstead and about a score of well -favored cat - tie; but that was neither here nor there; he was as good as his word; he organized the brigade, and led it; and if he swallowed a stiff plass of whiskey before setting out 'front the kitchen far the barn, with a steaming 'plate of soup in each hand, that was merely to steady his nerves and enable hint to face the merriment of the whole gang of those •girls. And when this red - bearded giant •of a 'Ganytnede and his attendatrts had served every one, they fetciTed in their own plates, and sat d own' and time was allowed them; for the evening was young yet, and no one in a .hurry. Now if Mr: Hodson had been ra- ther doubtful lest his presence might produce some little restraint, he was speedily reassured: to his ow•n great satisfaction, for he was really a most good-natured person, and anxious to the friendly with everybody. In the general fun anti jollity he was not even noticed; he could ask Mrs. Mur- ray any questions ire chose without suspicion of being observant; the young ,lady next him -who was Jeannie Macrae herself, and to whom the-.sxroye '10 be as gallant as might "beisewwas very winsome and gentle and shy: and'spoke in a more Highland fashion .than he had - heard yet; while .otherwise he did not fare at all badly at this rustic feast. for there were boiled fowls and roast haresafterthe soup, and there was plenty of ale passed around, and tea for those that wished it. Nay, on the contrary, he had rather to push himself forward .and assert himself ere he could get his proper share of the work that was going on. He insisted upon carving 'for at least half -a -dozen neighbors; he was most attentive to the pretty Highland girl next him; lie laughed heartily at Mrs. Murray's Scotch stories, which he did not quite under- stand; and altogether entered into the spirit of the evening. But there was no doubt it was at the other end of the table that the fur was getting fast and furious; and just as 'little doubt that Ronald the keeper was suffering considerably at the hands of those un- grateful lasses for whom he had done so much. Like a prudent man, he held his tongue, and waited his crppnrteni-. ty; taking their teasing with much good humor; and paying no heed to the other y out fellows who were 'urging hint to face and silence the saucy creatures. And his opportunity came in the must unexpected way, ,One of the girls. out of pure mischief, and without the least notion that she wound be overheard, rapped lightly on the table, and said: "Mr, Ronald Strang will now favor us with a song." '1'o her amazement and horror, there was almost instant silence; for an impression had traveled up the table that some announcement was about to be made. )ceremony to be gone through. 'The "What is it now? What are . you host produced his quafch-a small about down :there?" their host called cup; of 'horn, with a 'handle on each girl 'I know -cif in 'a go-as-youjlease Ging? I thought She would :do :that if race across -the stiffest ground any- she would gather not come to the where, 'There's not much the matter supper." with my •Carry, if she'd only not In truth he had had his eye on the ,pend 'the whole day in those stores door all • .the tine he was ,playing in 'Regent Street, Well, that will be •'Miss.Jennie .Gordon's 'Favorite," • aver when she comes here; I should "1 ani sure if she stays away," the think• it'll make her Mare some, if she little Maggie said "it ie no her own wants to buy a veil or a pair of doing, Meenie wanted to come. It is gloves." very hard that every body should :be tBtrt the girls at the foot of the table at the party, and dot Meenie," had been teasing Ronald to sing "4\!e'11, well, good -night, lase," said something, silence was forthwith pro- he: for the young folk were theme - eared: and presently -tor he was ing tleir partners again, and the pipes tery good-natured, and sang whenev were wanted. Soon there was another er be was asked --the clear and queue- reel going 00, as fast and furious as before. At the end of this reel-Meenie had not appeared,. by the way, and Ron- ald concluded that she was not to 'be allowed to look 00 at the dancing - Will -saolt gar •inany ferlie, the yellow -haired 'Nelly tante up to 1 or . trip, c' war hay just mute hi I the top of the roost, and addressed And landed royal Charlie." Mrs. Murray in the Gaelic; but ae she It was a swell -known sung with a re- finished up with 'the word quadrille, sounding chorus: and as she directed One mud(st little glance 'towards Mr. Hodson, that .uniable but astute on -looker na- turally inferred that he was somehow concerned its this speech. Mrs. Mur- ray laughed: • "Well, sir, the girls are asking if you would not dike to have a dance too; and they could have a •quadrfale." '1've no cause- to -brag about' my dancing," he - said, good-humoredly. `but if Miss 'Nelly Will see ane through, I dare say we''Il manage somehow. Will grow 'excuse my ignor- ance?" Now the tall and slender .Highland amid had not in any -way bargained for this -it was merely . friendliness that had prompted her proposal; but she could not well refuse; and soon one or two secs were formed; and a young lad called Munroe, from Laing, who had brought his fiddle with hits for this great occasion, proceeded to tune up, The quadrille, when it carne off, was performed with mare of vi- gor 05 15 science; there teas 410 igno- the magic words with a very fair ac- cent indeed, and drained off the whir-' key - amid the general a'p'plause; though none of thein suspected that the swallowing of the whiskey wets to hint a much more severe task than the pronunciation of the !Gaelic. AM then :it came to Ronald's turn, "Oh, no, 11r. Murray, said Me slim -waisted :\telly, who had recover- ed from her confusion, and whose eyes were now as full of mischief as ever, "do not ask (Ronald to say any- tdti,n:.g in the :Gaelic; he is ashamed to hear himself speak. d t is six years and more he has been trying to say 'a calf,' and he cannot do it yet." "Anel besides, he's thinking of the Bonnie Nannie' or 'Uy Peggy is minions shirking of steps -net idle lass he left 'behind in the Lothians," a yotung thing''- whatever ye like best and languid walking -but a thorough said her neighbor. and resolute 'flinging about, as the. yourself: ' lAnd they're all blasts -haired girlsnn said the pretty Nelly, somewhat bewildered Mr. Hodson " there," continued she fair-haired Net- No, speedily discovered. However, he did ly Ronald, dying nno ni Mean ask lion to sing 'When the kye come his ,part valiantly, and was 110Wg tante,' and he will be thinking of the ctnlbh'"' blade liaised lase he left in die Lo - of • so gay that when, at the end He fixed'his eyes on her steadily. ,thione, of the dance, he inquired of the fair oust ofd; e' I'ir nam beaaun non gleans, hGae 0va,' •gee tva', said he, rising Nelly whether she would like to have is non gaisgeach; and may all the any little refreshment, and 'when she and shaking himself free from them. saucy jades in Sutherland find a sus- mildly suggested a little water, and band to keep them do order ere the T ken what'll put other things into offered to go for it herself, he would your heads -or into your heels, rash - year he out:' (hear of no such thing. No, no; he Anel note t11•n or three of the lasses er." He picked up his pipes, which had rose to clear the table; for the red- Ibsen left in a corner, threw the bearded' droner and his brigade 'had drones over his shoulder, and march - not the .shill to do .that; and the sten eft to the tipper end of lime barn; then lit their pipes; and there wan a good there was a preliminary groan or two, deal of joyous sell 1V rtnet•ei. In the ;aid presently the chanter broke away midst of i1 ail there 10,10 a rapping of 11110 a lively reel -tune. The effect of spoons and knuckles at the upper Iratiil:l" te.nn' voice was ringing alotma the rafters: "'The .nett', _ frac Moidant eau' yes- treen, "Come through the heather, around hint gather, l'e're a' the welcomer early; Around hint cling ter a' your -'kin, For w'ha'11 be king !but Charlie?" 'Nay, was not this the right •popular kind of song -to hove two chore: es instead of one? - "Cone th.rongh - the heather, around trim gather. Come R'onalld, and Donald, cone a'tluegitlter, And claim your rightfu' lawful' king, For wiea'll- be king but Charlie?" This song gave great satisfaction; for they had all token ],art in it; and they were :pleased -with the melodious result. :And then the lasses were at him again: -Ronald, sing 'Willie brewed a peck o' maut.'" Ronald, wilt you not give us 'Lo- gan Water' now?" - -Ronald, '(Auld Joe Nicholson'; PROFESSIONAL CARDS Medical DR. E. A. McMAST1ER-'Graduate of the Faculty of Medicine, Univers- ity of Toronto, and of the New York Post Graduate School and Hospital. Member of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario. Office on Iigh street. Phone 27. Office fully .equipped for x-ray diagnosis and for ultra short wave electric treatment, ultra violet sun lamp treatment and 'nfra red electric treatment. Nurse in attendance, end of the tabu; and it was stens, this signal, as it Wright he called, was from the importance of his look, that. magical; rvcry one at once ihilined Mr. 'Murray himself was about to fa- eat they were all helping to get the `ghat was needed; and the next mom - ver the contp0I1)'"-so that a general long table separated into it; compo - silence ensued. And very well indeed stent parts and carried out into the 414 the host ni the evening sing -in dark, 'There was a .cross table left at a shrill, It gh-pitched 0oice, it is true, the tipper, by the peat -fire. for the but still with such 0 multitude 'r1 eldest} p001(10 and the spectators to small tlou-isiies. anti quavers , and sit at, i1 they thio; the yonuger grace notes that slurred he had once 0111 hal tveoden forms al the lower been proud enough of his voice in end; but - the truth is that -they were the day; gone by, "Scotland yet le .so eager not to have any of the in - sang, and there was a universal rush spirntg music thrown away that sw- at the chorus feral sets were immediately formed "And trout• ye as I sing, my lads, and off they went to the wild strains I of \loss fenny Gordons Favorite" - The burden o't shall be, rntertwistiug deftly, setting to part - 'Auld Scotland's how'es, and Scot nets again, lingers and thumbs snap - land's 'knnwrs' ping in the air, .every lad amongst ,And Scotland', hills for rate, them showing oil' 'his best steps, and 1'11 drink a cup tri Scotland yet, ringing ick„ops sent rap to the rafters. \\'i' a' the honors three.' as the reel Broke off again into a c\tmd teas their American friend to be excluded?- nut if he knew it. die could make a noise as well as any; Oid he waved the quaierlr--swims•] had wandered back to hits -round his head; and strident enough cats his voice with' 1'll drink a cup to Scotland yet, \\'i' a' the honors three. "I feel half a S cotohntan already,” said 'he, gaIy, to his hostess. "Indeed, sir, II wish you were al- together one," she said, in her ;gentle way. "1 ant sure I think you would look a little better in health if you lived in •this 'country," "But S don't look so ill, do I?" said he -rather 'disappointed; for he 'had been striving to be hilarious, and had twice drunk the contents of the quaich, out of pure friendliness, "Well, no. sir," said Mrs. Murray, politely, "snot snore than most of thews 1 hare seen .from your country; hitt sorely it cannot he so :healthy as' oth- er places; the young ladies are so thin and delicate -looking whatever; many a one I -would like to -lief kept here for a while -for more friendly young ladies 1 hef never stet anywhere - just to :see what .the mountain air and the ,sweet milk would do dor Ther," "Well, then, Mfrs.'iMurray, you will have the chance of trying your doc- toring on my daughter when she comes up here a few weeks .hence: 'hut I 'think you 'won'tfind nnrch of the invalid about 'her -s-ht's my belief she could give twenty pounds to any yttirk strathspey. It was wild and barharic, nu doubt; but there was s kind of rhythmic poetry in it too: Ronald grew 'prouder and prouder of the fire that he could infuse into this tempestuous and yet methodical crowd; the whoops became yells; and if the red= bearded drover, dancing• op- posite the stint -figured .Nelly, would challenge her to do her hest, and could 'himnse'if perforin some remark- able steps and shakes, well, :Nelly was not ashamed do raise her gown an inch or two just to show that he was mat dancing with a flat-footed creature, but that she 'haul swift toes and 'graceful ankles to compare with any. And then again they 'would trip off into the 4igu're 6, swinging round with artnis interlocked; and again roof and rafter would "d'!rl" with the eri ump'leant shorts of the men. Then came the long wailing monition from. the pipes, the lasses were .led to the benches 'by their partners; and a gen- eral halt was called. Little 'Maggie stole up to her hro- ther. "I'm going home now, Ronald," Ale said. "Mind you go to bed as soon as ye get in. And yell ,find a package of oranges and netts that Mrs. Mur- ray sent over for ye; :but if 1 were you I would keep them for the morrow and next day. Cood-night. lass." "Good -night, Ronald," She was going away, when he said to her - "Maggie, do ye think .that Miss Douglas is no coming to see the dan- went and got sone soda waiter; autd declared that it was much more wholesome with a little whiskey in it; and had some himself also. Cray and gallant? -why, certainly. He threw off thirty years of los life; he forgot that this was the young per- son who would he waiting at the table after his tlanghter Carry cause hither: he would have danced anoth- er quadrille with her; and felt almost jealous when a young fellow cattle u, to debit her for the Highland Schot- tische -thus sending hint hack to the society of ,airs. 'Murray. And it was not until he sate down that he re - 515111 beret) he had suggested 10 hi= daughter the training of this pretty Highland girl for the position of maid and traveling companion. Ilut- what of that? If all men were born equal so were women; and he declared t' himself that any day he would rather converse with Nelly the pretty 'parlor - maid than with Her IllustriousHigh- ness the Princess of Pfalzgrafwe•iter- G snzetthauseu. In the meantime, Ronald, his pipes not being then needed, had wandered nut into the cold eight -air, There were scone .stars visible, but they sited no great light; the world lay black enough all around. He went idly and dreamily along the road -the sounds in the barn growing fainter and 'faint - em -until iie reached the plateau where ' his own cottage stood. There was - no 'light in it anywhere; doubt- less Maggie had at once gone to 'beet, as she had been hid. And then he wandered on again -waking a little more quietly -until he reached the doctor's house. Here all the lights were out but one; there ,was a red glow in 0 solitary window; and it know that that was' 7feenie's roost. Surely she could not Ibe sitting up and listening? -even the skirl of the pipes could scarcely be heard so far; and her window was closed. Reading, per- haps? lHe knew of so many of her favorites - "The Burial '(arch of Dundee," 'Jeannie .Morrison," "Bon- ny hilmenv," Christthel." the "l-iymn before Sunrise in the (Alley of Chamourix," and others of a sim- ilar nolle, or mystical, or tender kind; and perhaps. after all, 'nese were more in •cunstmanre with the gentle dignity and rose -sweetness of her mind and nature than the gam- bols of a lot of farm -lads and went rhes) He walked on to The bridge and sate down there dor a while, in the dark and the silence; -he could hear the 'Modal Waster 'rippling by, but could see nothing. And .when he -pass- ed along the road again, the light in the small - red-ibli'n}ed window was gone; Meenie was .away in the world of dreams and phantoms - and he wondered if the people there knew DR. GILB'ERT C. JARROTT - Graduate of Faculty of Medicine, Un- iversity of Western Ontario. Member of College of Physicians and'Surgeons of Ontario. Office 43 Goderich street west. Phone 37, Hotu•s 2-4.30 pan., 7.30-9 pan, Other hours by appoint' meat. Successor to Dr. Chas. Mackay. DR. H. HUGIH ROSS, Physician and Sturgeon Late of London Hos- pital, London., England. Special at- tention to diseases of the eye, ear, nose and throat, Office and residence behind Dominion Bank. Office Phone No 5; Residence Phone 104, DR. F. J. B'URROW'S, Seaforth, Office and residence, 'Goderich street, east of the United Church. Coroner for the County of 'Huron, Telephone No. 45. DR. F. J. R. FORST'ER- Eye Ear, Nose and Throat. Graduate in Medicine, University of Toronto 41197. Late Assistant New York Ophthal- tttic and Aural Institute, Moorefield's Eye, and Golden Square throat •hospi tale, .London. At Commercial Hotel, Seaforth, third Wednesday in each month front 1.30 p,m, to 5 p.m. DR. W. C. SPROAT Physician - "Surgeon Phone 9.4-W. Office John .St. Seaforth, Auctioneer. GEORGE ELLIOTT, Licensed Auctioneer for the •County of Harron. Arrangements can be made for Sale Date at The Seaforth News. Charges moderate and satisfaction guaranteed, F. W. AHRENS, Licensed Auction- eer for ,Perth and Huron Counties. Sales Solicited, Terms on Application, Farm Stock,chattels and real estate property. R. R. No, 4, Mitchell, 'Phone 634 r 6, Apply at this office, WATSON & REID REAL ESTATE AND INSURANCE AGENCY (Successors to James Watson) MAIN ST., SEAFORTH, ONT. All kinds of Insurance risks effect- ed at lowest rates in First -Class Companies. THE McKILLOP Mutual Fire Insurance Cil HEAD OFFICE-SEAFORTH, Ont. OFFFICERS President -Alex. Broadfoot, Seaforth; Vice -President, John E. Pepper, Brucefiedd; Secretary - Treasurer, M. A. Reid, Seaforth, AGENT'S F. McKercher, R.R.1, Dublin; John E. Pepper, ,R,R,1, :Brucefiedd; E. R. G. Jarmouth, Brod'hagen; James Watt, Blyth; C. F. Hewitt, Kincardine; Wm. Yeo, Holmesville, DIRECTORS Alex, Broadfoot, Seaforth No, 3; James Sholdice, Walton; Wm. Knox, Londesboro; George Leonhardt, Bornholm No. 1; Jahn Pepper, Bruce - field; James Connolly, Goderich; Alex: McEwing, Blyth No. l; Thom- as Moylan, Seaforth No. .5; Wm. R. Archibald, Seaforth 'No, 4. Parties desirous to effect insurance or transact other business, will be promptly attended to by applications to any of the above named officers addressed to their respective posts offices, who this was who had come amongst them, .with her wondering eyes and sweet Ways, (To Be Continued) :Everybody knows how Theodore Hoop used to •take t lie wand out ni pompous peoples sail by .going up to 1115111 and sayintg, "'fray, sir, are you somebody of i•tnportance?" This was once 'tried on'Beerbohm .free, but it did not ,etre :off. Stand - ng outside ,the !Garrick :Club one relay, and ',possibly looking very ,pleased with him'sel'f, 'Tree was approached +by a •straruger who said Hook's very words. Tree was not at alt taken aback. Looking at the man with -a cynical mile, he replied, "i' don't think II can .be, or I should hardly be seen alkinig to you."