Page:Studies in Lowland Scots - Colville - 1909.djvu/182

158 one anothers Houses cracked there gocks: on the other six dayes were employed in the work of the farm; up in the morning at the flalie by five A.M. thrashed till seven, then had Brackfast went to the fields Came home in the Glooming had Dinner. then went to some Center House Plaid at the Cards till eight oclock then home to Supper. kale & kale brose Torneeps & Torneep brose Sometimes brochen a thick kind of grouel: at Christimes thay would have taken a whole week Playing Night & day with a Dram now & again Some of them went home to there food, back as fast as possable thay had a most intense desire for playin Cards: a play thay termed three cart 1½d the dale: thay would sometimes taken a day at Hunting there were no Gam laws then thay fished after Dark with torchlight, firs split up into long Candls the fish Clustord around the light & thay then spaired them.

“The first Minister thay had in Pluscarden after the Reformation was a Mr. Hesbon his Stipon was eight pounds english, a small manse, with a but & ben with a Closet in the Center, he was vary much esteemed, the wives in the Glen, were allways bring som present for him it was like a Hevn below Minister & people were envloped in the Atmosphere of love; big Stipens dos not always mak loving Ministers he had no Beedel no Gown or bands no Manesript he went ben the pass[age] with his Bible below his arm, up to the Pulpet there Preached the Gospel with such power his flock listining so inteently to the Power of God's spirit Minister & herers souls being filled “it was the strongest Man that was looked up to in these days I will give you an instence of it: in Lochcarron: that Parish had ben long without a Minister at last there was a Mr. McLachlen ordained to go he went on a Sabbeth forenoon: got all the young men playing at the Ball with a Mukel Rorey as there Chef he saw at once except he got to be master of him he might go as he came: all there playgreens were beside there Churches: these were the Old deserted Epispicle Churches: thay did not all leave there comfortable homes for in East Aberdeenshire thay turned Presbiterian but to return: Mr. McLachlen joined in the play & ultematly got the better of Big Rorey: there were three ways of testing there Strenth the sweertree, wrestling & a battle with the hands Mr. McLachlen got the