146 THE POPULAR RHYTHMES OF BERWICKSHIRE. 



his descendants ever after inherited his patrimony at Earlstoun. About 

 a century ago, it is said, that a hare actually took up her residence in the 

 " Rythmer's Tower," and produced her young upon the hearthstone of 

 the dilapidated tenement. About this time a person of the name of 

 Murray inhabited this ancient edifice. According to Chambers he was " a 

 kind of herbalist, who, by dint of some knowledge in simples, the posses- 

 sion of a musical clock, an electrical machine, and a stuffed alligator, added 

 to a supposed communication with Thomas the Rythmer, lived for many 

 years in very good credit as a wizard." * The person here so ludicrous- 

 ly introduced appears to be no other than Mr Patrick Murray, surgeon 

 in Earlstoun, who details a case of an " Uncommon tumour of the belly, 

 and a Dropsy cured," in the " Medical Essays and Observations, by a 

 Society in Edinburgh." vol. vi. p. 1 33, and published in 1 747. The 

 ruins of the Rythmer's Tower may still be seen near the Leader, at the 

 west end of the village of Earlstoun, and a stone in the wall of the church 

 bears the following inscription 



" Auld Rythmer's race 

 Lies in this place." 



2. " This thorn tree as lang as it stands, 

 Earlstoun sail possess a' her lands." 



This Rythme was very popular about Earlstoun some years since. 

 The tree referred to was a very large one, and stood near the east end 

 of the village. It was blown down by a high wind during the night in 

 the spring of 1821. The lands, originally belonging to the community 

 of Earlstoun, were from time to time alienated by the magistrates, till 

 there is scarcely now an acre left. What gave additional weight to the 

 prophecy was, that, at its fulfilment when the tree fell, " the greater part 

 of the shopkeepers in the town happened to be then, on account of a 

 tissue of unfortunate circumstances, in a state of bankruptcy." t 



3. " A horse sal gang on Carrolside brae, 



Till the girth gaw his sides in twae." 



This refers to some period of desolation in the history of our country, 

 which we fondly hope has been fulfilled long since. Carrolside lies on 

 Leader Water, and is the property of an enterprising proprietor, James 

 Home, Esq., who has much improved and ornamented his estate, so that 

 the former sterility of Carrolside Braes is no longer proverbial. 



4. " There sal a stane wi' Leader come, 



That'll make a rich father, but a poor son." 



The small river Leader, of classic celebrity for its " sweet hauyJis" 

 and the " Homes that dwelt on Leader side," takes its rise near the 

 quarry, which supplies the district of Laudcrdale with lime, and the pro- 

 * Chambers' Popular Rjthmcu. t Chambers. 



