The Highland monthly - National Library of Scotland

184 The Highland Monthly.
In the pastoral districts their life was one of solitude amidst
the solemn silence of the hills, or exposure in the blinding
snow drift, to collect their flocks in safety. Perhaps, how-
ever, no better description is to be found of the life of the
classes noAV spoken of than in the striking description given
by Mr Carlyle of his father, with his patient sense of
duty and high Calvinistic feeling, going through his daily
work as if a higher hand was ever over him and guiding
him. This life of patient toil was varied by i^^^ amuse-
ments. The chief of these were Valentine's Eve,
Hallowe'en, with its games and mystic rites, so graphically
described by Burns ; first-footing on New-Year's Day,
shinty and football, golf and curling matches between rival
glens, and penny weddings, at which a dinner was prepared
with a special dish called the bride's pie. After this was
partaken of, the party retired to the barn to dance, the
expenses being defrayed by the company, and the surplus
going to aid the young couple in furnishing.
As a rule, however, a day of labour was closed by the
fireside, when the women knitted and spun, perhaps
" lilted" some song or recited some of the ballads still to be
collected by Scott, or they spoke of the times of persecu-
tion, of the traditions lingering in the neighbourhood, or of
the great struggle for national independence. The inner
life of the Border fed and lived on these, their remembrances
were the Borderer's most sacred possessions. They gave
him earnestness of purpose, whilst his isolated life, intensified
by his love of nature—almost a passion, and prominent in
every song and ballad—created around him a world of
marvels. Those familiar with the Border Ballads will
remember what a prominent part the Fairies play in these.
The hawthorn trees under which they met were preserved.
The knolls on which they held their revels were known by
the ring of greener grass on their summit, and were not
allowed to be ploughed up. Men had met them in " the
Greenwood Shaw," with their train clothed in green, on their
way to hold a Fairy Court. The fairy raid—occurring at