The Highland monthly - National Library of Scotland

Willie Gillies. 199
CHAPTER VIII.
William Greaves came to the cottage rather late, and
flustrated with wine and disputation. He slapped Tommy
on the back when he opened the door, and asked loudly if
his uncle had come home. The affirmative reply was
couched in a sulky tone, for To ^ my, much as he loved
noisy demonstrations, did not exactly reciprocate the
vigour of friendship expressed by hearty thumps from
others. " 1 am glad to hear it "—shouted my undaunted
guest as he entered the room. Wiilie received another
thump, and I had to endure a grasp like a blacksmith's
vice. He seated himself on the chair opposite me, and siio
more, commenced a rattling conversation on farming.
" \'on was a grand article (I had, according to promise,
written for the Agricultural Journal). " Odd, it has made
hundreds open their eyes a little. Almost every second
one at the tryst was speaking of it. I am much obligated
to you, and so is posterity for putting it in black and
white. Could anybody believe it ? The laird up there
prides himself upon his farming, and he has never tried on
his moors surface draining to this blessed hour. He asked
vay opinion of his model farm, and I gave him what he
little dreamed of. Deil seize on these men of old blood,
and all that humbug ; since backgoing tenants and beggar
creatures too lazy to work, and who, therefore, should be
hanged at ae tow's tail, bare their heads to them, and give
them blethering thanks, do they think that the whole
world is to shut eyes and to groan amen to what-
ever they take it into their heads to say. We had a dour
battle, but I conquered the laird, and crammed your
article down his throat, without butter to ease the swallow-
ing. Ha, ha ! it was like offering the test to the old Covenanters.
But he did swallow it, for all the faces he made
over it."
I expressed satisfaction at his making converts.