Oor ain folk times

10 A COUNTRY CHRISTENING
the Glen. Now in these times, as all readers of Scottish
reminiscences are aware, the sheep dogs formed a most
important element in the life of a Highland parish, and
indeed were as regular attendants at ' the ordinances '
of divine worship as their pastoral owners. Sluts
were not so frequently used for shepherding purposes
as dogs, being less tractable. The local name for a
slut was ' bick.'
Now a brawny shepherd of the name of ' Sandie
Christison,' whose ailing wife had been attended in her
sickness with much patient gentleness by the minister's
wife, happened to have just had an addition to her
already large family, and after a conjugal parliament
had sat, it had been determined that the wean
should be named after their beloved benefactress.
Accordingly one evening, after fauldin' the sheep,
Sandie trudged away down the G-len, through the
thick-falling snow and gathering mists, to have an
interview with the minister, and arrange the important
preliminaries of the meditated christening.
Arriving at the manse door, he gave a vigorous
summons with his trusty staff, and the lassock having
answered the ' chap,' proceeded to acquaint the minister
in his study of the arrival of this late visitor.
' If ye please, sir, Sandie Christi son's come doon the
Glen to see ye.'
' Send him in, Isie ; send him in.'
' Come awa' in bye,' cried the minister, as the
towering bulk of Sandie, his tawny yellow locks glisten-
ing with half-melted snow, appeared in the doorway of
the snug sanctum.
' It's a gey coorse nicht I'm thinkin', oot theroot.'