Glencairn Folk Riddles. 115 



of cleaning' clocks and watches. It lay in the Ring-ford smithy for 

 six months before being thoroug'hly overhauled. It was then 

 restored to its old quarters, and for more than a hundred years 

 continued to be the only standard by which the time in the district 

 was regulated ; but after the two-handed clock was put into the 

 parish church, the old timekeeper came to be looked upon with 

 less reverence, and its occasional erratic movements became more 

 noticeable, which had previously passed undetected, but were now 

 brought into prominence by the steadier action of its new 

 neighbour. It, however, kept moving on with wonderful regu- 

 larity under the doctoring care of several tradesmen, among 

 others, F. Walker, A. Millar, W. Law, and J. M'Skimming, until 

 this the diamond jubilee of Her Most Giacious Majesty, when 

 Provost Cowan, much to his honour, has commissioned Mr 

 M'Skimming to replace it with a splendid new illuminated-dial 

 clock; and, by resolution of the Council, the " Auld Knok " now 

 finds a fitting resting place in the Stewartry Museum. 



III. — Glencairn Folk Riddles. By Mr JOHN CORRIE. 



Publication of the short and fragmentary paper (m Folk Riddles, 

 contributed during Session 1891-92, was instrumental in making me 

 acquainted with numerous riddles not included in my collection. 

 These, together with several others completed from fragments pre- 

 viously possessed, are contained in the present supplementary paper. 

 A few noticed by the late Mr Shaw, in his incursion into the same 

 field, are not included ; but with this exception, I believe the col- 

 lection will be found to embrace almost all that are worth preserv- 

 ing. Numerous examples have no doubt perished. I have sought 

 in vain, for instance, for references to the crusie, the flail, the 

 strike-fire — all objects at one time familiar in every home. It 

 seems probable that some at least of these might yet be recovered, 

 and I may perhaps be allowed to suggest that any met with should 

 be communicated to the Society for preservation. 



Resuming the record of my gleanings, precedence may 

 fittingly be given to an example which has Eve, the mother of 

 the race, for subject : — 



The fairest flower in a' the garden, 

 That e'er the sun shone on, 



