1 6 Transactions. 



— at which the harvesters from a distance aimed their hooks, and 

 whoever was skilful enough to cut it, he or she wore a bit of it on 

 their person and led ofl' in the dance at the kirn. The rest was 

 hung up in the farm house until next harvest. The "huik," or 

 hand sickle, has been long ago superseded by reaping machines. 

 It was a short sharp curved instrument similar to what is 

 represented as having been used in the east from the earliest 

 times. The supper and dance were held in the barn, round the 

 sides of which were placed deal boards supported on barrels or 

 other trestles. Supper was laid out on a centre table laden with 

 substantial viands, also whisky, home-brewed beer, and cream 

 crowdie. Dancing was carried on until daybreak, and the barn 

 door always stood wide open. The barn was lighted up with thick 

 dip candles made for the occasion by dipping wick into the melted 

 tallow that had been accumulated in the farmhouse. An 

 itinerant fiddler, and sometimes the bagpipes, furnished music, 

 and the dances were chiefly reels and country dances. Songs 

 were given at intervals, and when daybreak appeared all parted 

 wishing to tlie master that he might live to see " iiiony niae sic 

 merry kirns." 



To " Aukl Lang Syne " they tune their voice, 



Sae noo the kirn is ended ; 

 The courtiship tiffs that liae been broke, 



By wedlock will be mended. 

 Ower Criffel hill the mune has sunk, 



Sae aff tae bed they've started, 

 Where lads will dream of kirns to come, 



And lassies — kirns departed. 



W. Taylor. . 



Kirns were held all over Scotland 40 years ago, but have been 

 gradually dwindling away, until now in many rural districts they 

 are known only by hearsay, and the barns have been gradually 

 demolished. 



N.B. — The English word churn is of Scandinavian origin, for which 

 the Dutch and (Germans have hernfii, the Icelandic Idrna, the Swedish 

 Mraa, the Danish kieriif. The Scotcli kirn is the original way of spelling 

 the English c/t?M-?«.— EniTOR. 



