148 Field Meetlnyif. 



The three stars of Murray and three hunting horns figure as the 

 heraldic devices of the pair. The little parish of Trailtrow was 

 formally annexed to Curamertrees in 1609, its chapel having, we 

 fancy, disappeared long before ; but the burial ground, in which 

 hemlock is found growing, is still in occasional use. 



Driving on to Hoddara Bridge, the company here made a short 

 halt to allow tlie botanists to scan the banks of the stream, while 

 others walked along to the old Hoddam churchyard. A singular 

 feature on the gravestones here is the indiscriminate and 

 apparently irrelevant use of heraldic devices. There is one 

 obvious play on a name several times repeated. This is the 

 carving of tliree bells on stones which mark the resting places of 

 persons bearing that patronymic ; and the name here seems to 

 have been about as common as it was in a neighbouring parish, 

 where ** the Bells of Middlebie " was a phrase in the common 

 currency of speech. Here also the three holly leaves recur 

 associated with the name of Irving. The oldest date observed 

 was 1677, which was that of the interment of the spouse of 

 Archibald Corrie. The parochial schoolmaster who in this quiet 

 vale would be teaching rustic youth their letters during the 

 profligate days of the Restoration, and while peaceful Presbyterians 

 were hunted on the hills, is commemorated by a simple upright 

 slab in good preservation, which sets forth that — 



Here lyes lohn Short, schoolmr. in Hoddam, who departed thi.s life 

 Febr. 7, 1707, aged 60 years, and Helen Wilson, his spouse, who deptd. 

 this life Deer. 12, 1717, aged 63 years. 



Death did come in by loathsome sin, 



but Christ for all did die, 

 And unto those yt. wt. him close 



he gives the victory. 



The parish church of Hoddam stands about a mile from 

 Ecclefechan at a place known as the Cross of Hoddam, a site 

 which was chosen about the time of the union of the three 

 parishes of Hoddam, Luce, and Ecclefechan ; but the present 

 building, although of antiquated appearance, dates only from 

 1817. In this churchyard is the burial place of the Sharpes of 

 Hoddam. Here is interred Charles Kirkpatrick Sharpe, the 

 accomplished, but dilettante man of letters and antiquary and 

 friend of Scott ; and beside him rests his elder brother. General 

 Matthew Sharpe, who sat as M.P. for Dumfies Burghs from the 

 passing of the first Reform Bill until 1841. This laird of 



