Blair Collection > Celtic monthly > Volume 1, 1893

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THE CELTIC MONTHLY.
know tliis bettor than the people of his native
county, where his munificence has been
princelj .
His intelligent sympathy with the Highland
land movement is well known, and many a long
jonmey he made to take part in meetings on
the subject, seme of his addresses being after-
wards printed. In 1883 he gave valuable
evidence before the Napier Crofters' Commis-
sion on the land question ; in subsequent years
he communicated interesting papers to the
Gaelic Society of Inverness on the " Place-
names of Sutherland " (vide '■ Transactions ") ;
and he also rendered into English many of Rob
Donn's poems. Recently he published a neat
little volume on the " Reay Fencibles;" re-
printed the thrilling story, " The Wreck of the
Juno," by Captain William Mackay ; and also
reprinted the "History of the Highland Society
of London." He is a Justice of the Peace for
Herefordshire, an Associate of the Institute of
Civil Engineers, ex-president of the Clan
Mackay Society (the formation of which was
largely due to his enthusiasm), and a member
of a host of other patriotic associations in
Scotland, England, and Wales.
Mr. Mackay has been appropriately styled a
true Highlander, and one of Nature's noblemen.
Long may we have him in our midst as a bright
incentive for others to follow his lofty example.
D. W. Kemp.
THE HIGHLAND SOLDIER.
By Annie MacKay.
iii. the departure.
y.T ICELANDERS love dancing, and enjoy
p-j . it in a way peculiarly their own. The
*4&\i. sound of the bagpipes stirs them up to
a pitch of enthusiasm truly marvellous. It is
nothing unusual for the same couples to dance
,< ei j dance for hours at a stretch.
Young Donald Gordon was the lite and soul
of the gathering. His high spirits knew no
bounds, and were quite infectious, lie dreaded
the parting on the morrow, and had a vague
Eear of " the future in the distance," but he was
determined that nothing would interfere with
this last glorious night's enjoyment ; for was he
away, as so many of his kith and kin
had done, to win honour, glory, and perhaps
rich ' Hi i in , the < lordons of (Jriamaeli-
darry, were all in I lie :uiny, ollieers certainly,
but he would be an officer by and bye. His
ile i eyes followed him wistfully as his
bright, handsome, laughing face flitted hither
and t Killer among tie- dancers, and one old
lady whispered to another —
" That boy is quite ' fay,' " and shook her
head sorrowfully. And the other answered in
the same tone —
'• Yes ; I fear me he is dancing his last dance
in Strathnaver ! "
Hugh and Margery had stolen out about
midnight to plight their troth and have a few
parting words. They walked about for an hour
under the soft light of the moon and stars.
The air was laden with the sweel smell of
heather, birch, and bracken. The familiar
murmur of the river came to them like a strain
of old music. It was truly a night to be re-
membered — a night whose marvellous beauty
and glory sunk deep into their hearts. It
would stand apart, and have an interest
all its own while they lived. And yet they
were too excited, and the glamour of their new
found love was still so strong upon their spirits,
that they did not realise the sorrow of parting —
at least not yet. The world around them was so
intensely beautiful, life was so full of promise
and possibilities, that they could not be sad.
They had no doubts and no misgivings— and so
they talked as lovers will talk, dreamt dreams,
built castles, and painted earth, sea, and sky
with the roseate hue of love and imagination !
Hugh took Margery to his mother, then
returned to the barn, where he, as well as his
father, remained dispensing Highland hospi-
tality till the last of the dancers left. As many
as possible were accommodated on the premises,
the rest dispersed among the neighbours, to
snatch a few hours' sleep, and be ready to
gather together for breakfast, to bid farewell to
the two young men, and possibly accompany
them a good part of the day's journey.
At nine o'clock four pipers stood on an
eminence above Rhifail and played the elan
gathering. This brought the guests to the big
barn, which, once again, became the banquetting
hall. After a hearty breakfast the two young
travellers were started on their journey. The
pipers led, and all the young people in the com
pany formed a procession and followed. Eugh
and young Gordon stayed for a few- minutes to
say goodbye. Their Spartan mothers parted
w till i hem almost cheerfully.
"We will have plenty time to weep," they
w hispered to each oi her.
" Meet mothers of a noble elan,
A brave and stalwart rare."
Rhifail and John Gordon had gone with t'"'
others. Very soon their two sons joined
them. Eugh was very pale, and there we r e
traces of tears on his young comrade's cheeks,
William Achool went with them a part of the
way, a boy leading his pony. William was a
bard as well as a musician, and recited many