Three generations

CONTENTS
PART I
BALASS DAYS
CHAPTER I
IAGES
" The cauld corp of Dauvit Gib " — The ancestress who attended
conventicles — The gay bachelor doings of young Harry
Gibb of Balass — His runaway marriage at nineteen with a
bride of sixteen — Helen Burn of the Lothians — The couple's
solitary visit across the Firth to introduce the bridegroom
to his new relations — The gift of the initial ring from the
elder to the younger Helen Burn — The homely old "farm
town" of Balass, with the young "good-wife" — Her numerous
friends and retainers — The drinking habits of the time — The
market night — The Yeomanry Cavalry during the wars with
Buonaparte — Harry called out to lie in camp on Kelly Law
to receive the invader — His wife's injunction to his brother-
in-arms ------- i — 21
CHAPTER II
The education of the Balass young people under their uncle,
Mr. Adam Wiseman, and the " Little Master," his youngest
son and only assistant — The sole fragment of Mr. Adam
Wiseman's muse which has been saved from oblivion —
Candlemas, with its " Creeshy [greasy] King " — The annual
cock-fight with " Victor " and " Victor's Man " — The school
held in the parish church — The small scholar sent to stand
behind the recumbent figure of " Long Fernie " because of
her sins — The quaking walk to school through the planta-
tion, which might harbour Buonaparte and his men —
The cheerful return escort — The six sons of the house — The
vii