CHAPTER IX. 

 HIS EARLY LIFE AS A COUNTRY WEAVER. 



FOR a short time, John lived in the distant village of Aber- 

 chirder known locally by the sweeter name of Foggieloan, 

 or the Mossy Glade away in the middle of Banff, on its 

 elevated plateau overlooking the Deveron, not far from the 

 church of Marnock, soon to become famous in Disruption 

 times. Returning from Banffshire, he took up his residence 

 for some years, between 1826 and 1832, at a place bearing 

 the pastoral name of Longfolds. It lies on the plain imme- 

 diately to the east of the Benachie hills, opposite the point 

 where the Don bursts through them, a few miles north of 

 Monymusk. It is in the middle of a beautiful, well-wooded, 

 well-cultivated district, full of fine scenery, backed by the 

 ever-charming mountains, which are headed by the fort- 

 crowned Mithertap, as the crest of Benachie is piquantly 

 styled, with its lower shoulder bearing the sonorous title of 

 Craig-na- thunder. 



It was a fine region to settle down in, the centre of 

 much that is picturesque and interesting, and John was the 

 very man to take full advantage of it. Here he made his 

 first acquaintance with Benachie. He ascended to the 

 cyclopean hill-fort on its top, and gazed on the country 

 round, which was to become his home for life and the final 



