112 Notes and Sketches. 



when the laird saw a hoer standing too erect to suit 

 his ideas, he would march up to him and demand his 

 implement to have the handle curtailed. Certain 

 sturdy fellows, who claimed the right to use the form 

 of handle that was satisfactory to themselves, promptly 

 resisted any such interference, at which the laird 

 would explode in great wrath. He had no help but 

 submit, however, for, with all his energy and 

 vehemence, he possessed not the physical strength of 

 such men as Barclay of Ury, and therefore was not in 

 a position to follow his method of training In those 

 days they one and all believed in the maxim, " Kiss a 

 carle an' clap a carle, that 's the way to tine a carle. 

 Knock a carle an' ding a carle, that 's the way to win 

 a carle." 



But it was not in independent turnip hoers alone 

 that Laird Hacket encountered the " stalk o' carl 

 hemp." It was told how, on a "forcy" leading day 

 in harvest, he had gone to the stackyard, where a 

 " rick " was in process of building. It was well on 

 toward the " easin'," when Saunders, his grieve, who 

 was a-top of it, for some reason good and sufficient to 

 him, desired the " forker " to slacken his hand. The 

 laird, who, in his own impetuous way, had been 

 urging all speed for fear of broken weather, peremp- 

 torily ordered the man to go on. He was obeyed, 

 and * the sheaves were pitched up with redoubled 

 force. By and bye there was an ominous growl of 

 remonstrance from the top of the stack, which had no 

 result but a renewal of the laird's order with increased 

 emphasis ; next there appeared over the edge of the 

 sheaves a pair of very sturdy legs, the owner of which 

 evidently meditated a sudden descent to terra firma, 

 whatever else. No further hint was waited for. 

 With a just appreciation of Saunders's temper when 

 roused, the "cornyard" was forthwith cleared of human 

 occupants the laird, who led in flight, followed by 

 the forker, losing his stick as he doubled through 



