The Highland monthly - National Library of Scotland

1 62 The HigJiland Monthly.
when his position was in some degree confirmed, he married,
and had two sons born unto him, and for a time all went
well. Nay, better ! for his worldly affairs continued to
prosper more and more, until he became tenant of the
farm. But days of parting and sorrow set in. His sons had
not yet reached maturity when they were successively
seized with the fell pestilence then devastating the country,
and, taking their last sleep even in the morning of life, sank
into the grave. Nor did the mother long survive this severe
blow to her dearest hopes, for, while still endeavouring to
console the sorrows of her partner, she gradually succumbed
to her own, and then Mark Teviot, no longer young, was
again alone in the land of his adoption.
But let it not be supposed that this good man lost all
heart and ceased to take wholesome, genial interest in life
and its concerns. True, the withering blast of affliction
through which he had passed, brought on prematurely the
signs of old age, yet nearly all his former vigour remained,
while he bravely fulfilled that ancient pastoral precept :
" Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look
well to thy herds "
It was some years after this that I, the orphan
descendant of a near relative, was brought to Glenbeltane,
which thenceforth became my home. Here it was that I
emerged into intelligent existence, although I have some
faint recollection of the long journey northward, and of
crossing Queensferry, where I was met by old Mark Teviot,
who had been disposing of his stock at Teithmuir Tryst.
He rode a stout white mare, and carried me before him on
the saddle, folded in his plaid. General Wade's road
brought us to a point within half-a-dozen miles of our desti-
nation, and from thence w^e pursued a bridle track, w^hich I
was destined to traverse often since then.
A mere casual visitor might be apt to suppose that life
upon a pastoral farm such as that of Glenbeltane, must
necessarily be monotonous, but, in realit}% it was far indeed
from this, being characterised by a constantly varying
round of successive duties and amusements.
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