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It was on the Friday before Martinmas, at dusk. Now, in the midst of what in less than twenty-four hours would be the Fair, was to be seen a strange and piquant sight namely, a group of three white-tied, broad-brimmed dissenting ministers in earnest converse with fat Mr Snaggs, the proprietor of Snaggs's Snaggs's being the town theatre, a wooden erection, generally called by patrons the "Blood Tub," on account of its sanguinary programmes.
'Are ye from Dumfries, sir? 'Not just from Dumfries, but I know the Borders fine. 'Ye'll no beat them, she cried. 'Not that this is no a guid place and I've muckle to be thankfu' for since John Sanderson that was ma man brought me here forty-seeven year syne come Martinmas. But the aulder I get the mair I think o' the bit whaur I was born.
"Yes," continued Allan, fixing his eyes with a ghastly stare upon the opposite side of the hall, "they may well begin as they are to end; many a man will sleep this night upon the heath, that when the Martinmas wind shalt blow shall lie there stark enough, and reck little of cold or lack of covering." "Do not forespeak us, brother," said Angus; "that is not lucky."
And from out of the plain where 'Mars loved to dance, rises the Muses' haunt, Helicon, by whose silver streams Corinna and Hesiod sang; while far away under the white aegis of those snow-capped mountains lies Chaeronea and the Lion plain where with vain chivalry the Greeks strove to check Macedon first and afterwards Rome; Chaeronea, where in the Martinmas summer of Greek civilisation Plutarch rose from the drear waste of a dying religion as the aftermath rises when the mowers think they have left the field bare.
'That sounds like nonsense, my dear. 'May be so, my dear; but it may be very good law for all that. I am sure, speaking of term-days, I wish, as Frank Kennedy says, that Whitsunday would kill Martinmas and be hanged for the murder; for there I have got a letter about that interest of Jenny Cairns's, and deil a tenant's been at the Place yet wi' a boddle of rent, nor will not till Candlemas.
"Ay, the pub!" "I believe there is an inn at the bend," said Mrs. Prockter; "but I don't think I've ever noticed the sign." "It's the Green Man," said James. "If you'll send some one round there, and the respex of Mr. Ollerenshaw to Mr. Benskin that's the land-lord and will he lend me the concertina as I sold him last Martinmas?" "Oh, Mr. Ollerenshaw!" shrieked Jos. "Can you play for dancing?
Had but one of you had the heart of a sparrow, ye had not furnished a tale to be the laugh of the Barbican and Cheapside. Look well at them. How old be you, my brave lads?" "I shall be sixteen come Lammas day, and Stephen fifteen at Martinmas day, sir," said Ambrose; "but verily we did nought. We could have done nought had not the thieves thought more were behind us."
"SIR, As you have been graciously pleased to continue that trust which your much-lamented father was pleased to repose in me a trust which, from my knowledge of local affairs, I hope I shall be able to discharge with honour to myself and advantage to you and as the leases of your farms of Nettlebank and Sunnybraes expire at Martinmas ensuing, I should hold myself wanting in that interest which I have ever felt for the prosperity of the family, if I did not acquaint you of the following particulars.
Here was a promissory note for 20 Pounds by the minister of the nonjuring chapel, interest marked as paid to Martinmas last, carefully folded up in a new set of words to the old tune of 'Over the Water to Charlie'; there was a curious love correspondence between the deceased and a certain Lieutenant O'Kean of a marching regiment of foot; and tied up with the letters was a document which at once explained to the relatives why a connexion that boded them little good had been suddenly broken off, being the Lieutenant's bond for two hundred pounds, upon which NO interest whatever appeared to have been paid.
"I have been at Sandal twenty-two years come Martinmas, but I'm going to Beverley next feast." "You'll not do it, Ann. It's but talk." "Nay, but I'm set on it. I have taken the 'fastening penny, and I'm bound to make that good. Things are that trying here now, that I can't abide them longer."
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