Books and other items printed in Gaelic from 1871 to 1900 > Orain

MEMOIR.
IX
his service, or rather into his family, at the early
age we have mentioned. His first employment, as
a matter of course, in a country then purely pas¬
toral, was to herd calves. The precocity of the
boy, his quickness, and amazing power of repartee,
were sources of frequent amusement and wonder
to Mr Mackay himself, and unceasingly to the
younger members of his family, with whom it may
be supposed he soon became a favourite. On one
occasion, having been requested by his landlord,
during a winter night, to go and report to him the
appearance of the sky, and whether it indicated
thaw, on returning into the house, he made his
report in verse (page 330), and administered
a wholesome reproof to his master, for too
great an anxiety about his cattle, in terms more
forcible than delicate—alleging that his soul was
bound up in them. A succeeding occasion pro¬
duced a higher effort. A marriage and wedding
were to take place in the neighbourhood, to which
Mr Mackay had been invited, and waited on the
parish clergyman, to accompany him to the place.
Robert desired most anxiously that he might be
allowed to accompany his master to the wedding.
He was put off with a promise, and in the mean
time ordered to look after his calves,—that probably
the gentlemen would not set off till evening, when
he might accompany them, his duties for the day
being over. Robert returned home in the evening,
not later, it may be supposed, than usual, and
inquired with eagerness whether they had set off
for the wedding. To his great mortification they
had. He took high offence at the breach of pro¬
mise, and indulged his humour in a verse, at the
expense of the party. The bridegroom had the
misfortune to be known by the nick-name of “ The
Grey-headed”—“Am fear Hath.” The verse (page
209) enumerates all the more conspicuous persons
assembled on the occasion. The bridegroom is
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