Memoir of Marshal Keith

LAST VISIT TO INVERUGIE. 33
hurrahed and cheered in such a manner as Peterhead had
never seen before. Deeply affected, the Earl stood in his
carriage scarcely able to utter a word. A small incident,
which took place at this very time, served to make the
scene still more affecting. His old nurse, Mrs Gordon,
bent with age and feeble in her step, pushed her way
through the dense mass that surrounded the carriage, and
made herself known to him. With an exclamation of
surprise and joy, he bent down towards her, and took her
thin hand in his. Into each others face they gazed with
eyes blinded with tears, endeavouring to make out the
features that were so well known more than half a
century before. Kindly enquiring after her present
welfare and comfort as far as he could in the presence of
such a crowd, he shook into her hand, at parting, a sum
of money, remarking that he was sorry it was not more,
but that he was not now so rich as he once had been.
But a still more mournful duty was before him — the visit
to Inverugie. Attended by an immense crowd, and escorted
by the St. Fergus farmers as a guard of honour, he set out
for the Castle. As he proceeded, the people gathered from
every quarter to give him a hearty welcome and to testify
their joy at his return. One old man, near the Collieburn,
became so mad with joy that he set fire to his house for
the purpose, he said, of making a bonfire in his honour,
and threw some gold, with which he was to pay his rent,
on the top of it, declaring that he " wid thack his hoose
wi' gowd." Never did king or conqueror, from all classes
of the community, meet with a more joyous welcome.
D