310 FIELD AND FERN. 



Argaty, the old home of that fine prize-bull 

 Van Tromp, is not far from here ; and on Doune 

 Green there stood the green sentry-like boxes of the 

 "bankers, awaiting the last tryst, and the skeletons of 

 the tents wherein toddy has been drunk and the 

 handsel given on many a nourishing day. 

 : The carse of Stirling, where St. George's cross met 

 St. Andrew's in 



"As red and rude a fray, 

 As e'er was proof of soldier's thew, 

 Or theme for minstrel's lay," 



well nigh six hundred autumns ago, was a land of 

 mist that evening. ; We could scarcely discern the 

 proud old Castle and Craig landmarks, which still 

 bear their mute witness to the meeting of those 

 mighty hosts, when the ploughshare no longer turns 

 up the rusty pike-head, and even the memory of 

 the " battle sheaves" has died away; but Dunmyot 

 shrouded itself less sullenly behind us, and we caught 

 occasional glimpses of the range of the Sheriff- 

 muir Hills, with the little homestead of Pendrich 

 clinging to their side. Gallows Hill, where many a 

 " neck verse" has been sung, was on our right, and 

 then a ride of a mile and a-half brought us to 

 Keir Mains, the residence of Mr. Alexander Young, 

 factor to the estate. Keir includes about 1,000 

 acres within its policy wall, and a large portion of 

 it is in Perthshire (the Yorkshire of Scotland), which 

 Mr. Stirling has represented since 1852. 



The white nose of Peggy, was stretched affection- 



