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Updated: June 16, 2025
Already the young ones look like contemporaries of their father. Devout-under-difficulties would have been the name of Lang Tammas had he been of Covenanting times. So I thought one wintry afternoon, years before I went to the school-house, when he dropped in to ask the pleasure of my company to the farmer of Little Rathie's "bural."
The Earl's son met me one day, aboot that time, i' the Tenements, and he didna ken 'at Chirsty was deid, an' I'd married again. 'Well, Haggart, he says, in his frank wy, 'and how is your wife? 'She's vara weel, sir, I maks answer, 'but she's no the ane you mean." "Na, he meant Chirsty," said Hendry. "Is that a' the story?" asked T'nowhead. Tammas had been looking at us queerly.
"That's what I'll do." muttered Jean, but she said aloud "But it micht be that particular rose he liked?" "Havers, Jean. To a thinking man one rose is identical wi' another rose. But how are you speiring?" "Just out o' curiosity, and I maun be stepping now. Thank you kindly, Tammas, for your humour." "You're welcome," Haggart answered, and closed his window.
He got grave again when I asked him what there was in Lang Tammas to smile at, and admitted that he could not tell me. However, I have always been of opinion that the thought of the precentor in his box gave Cree a fleeting sense of humour. Tammas and Hendry Munn were the two paid officials of the church, Hendry being kirk-officer; but poverty was among the few points they had in common.
"Fair means or foul, ye're content sae lang as Wullie and me are beat. I wonder ye dinna poison him a little arsenic, and the way's clear for your Bob." "'The way is clear enough wi'oot that," from Tammas caustically. Then a lengthy silence, only broken by that exceeding bitter cry: "Eh, Wullie, Wullie, they're all agin us!" And always the rivals red and gray went about seeking their opportunity.
Pete is a U. P., and may be left to his fate, but the Auld Licht minister thinks that though it be hard work, Tammas is worth saving. To the Auld Licht of the past there were three degrees of damnation auld kirk, play-acting, chapel. Chapel was the name always given to the English Church, of which I am too much an Auld Licht myself to care to write even now.
Many an eye was directed on the handsome young pair who stood in it, conspicuous and unconscious, above the crowd: Maggie, looking in her simple print frock as sweet and fresh as any mountain flower; while David's fair face was all gloomy and his brows knit. In front of the wagon was a black cluster of Dalesmen, discussing M'Adam's chances. In the centre was Tammas holding forth.
Noo then," he roared out, "'A pie sat on a pear-tree." We all knew this song of TAMMAS'S. A shout of laughter went up from the whole gathering. The stranger fell backwards into the sty a senseless mass. "Man, man," said HOOKEY to TAMMAS, as we walked home; "what a crittur ye are! What pit that in your heed?"
Two hours later MacLure came out from Annie's room and laid hold of Tammas, a heap of speechless misery by the kitchen fire, and carried him off to the barn, and spread some corn on the threshing floor and thrust a flail into his hands.
"The gentleman, Sir Tammas," said Jack, on going down stairs, "will be glad to see you. He's overhead." Fenton, himself, on hearing that Sir Thomas was about to come up, prepared to depart; but the other besought him so earnestly to stay, that he consented, although with evident reluctance.
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