Page:Martha Spreull by Zachary Fleming.pdf/26

14 best table at ae time, each trying to beat the air sma’ and gain some imaginary victory by dint o’ lood speakin’, is gi ’ein’ a very mild description o’ this curious malady. Mercy be praised! I aye kent when it wis cornin’ on by the colour o’ their heads. Whenever I saw them searching their kists for their red, white, and blue bonnets, I took guid care to put aside the mantelpiece ornaments. It is true the thing is blamed on the appointment and installation o’ the Lord Rector; but I canna think that the worry and excitement o’ this simple duty could so completely upset a College-fu’ o’ itherwise fairly sensible men. To satisfy mysel’ I gaed to hear Lord Palmerston, in the capacity o’ Lord Rector, at St. John’s Kirk i’ the Gallowgate, and though I saw the distemper coming to a head there, in the puir creaturs howling, throwing peas, breaking gas-pipes, tumbling the wulcats and such-like, I must own the cause o’ this periodical derangement remained as great a mystery to me as ever.