THE COMRADE OF THE HEATHER. 



ing a bevy of tired toddlers, lips and cheeks besmeared, 

 fingers dyed and "slips" and aprons almost indelibly 

 spotted with a color rivaling in brilliancy the Tyrian 

 purple, but withal happy in the proud possession of 

 ''flagons" brimming over with toothsome wealth, and 

 in the greedy anticipation of a treat fit for more ap- 

 preciative banqueters than the gods when by mother's 

 cunning skill the berries are transformed into that un- 

 surpassed of all delicacies, blaeberry jelly, or find brief 

 repose in the seductive heart of a tart. 



The blaeberry (blueberry) belongs to the genus Vac- 

 cinium, and is very often found in Scotland growing 

 where the Heather occurs, especially on the mountain 

 sides. Its fruits have at all times been valued for their 

 utilitarian properties. Pliny says that the Gauls em- 

 ployed the blaeberry to produce a dye that rivaled the 

 Tyrian purple. Doedens, Gerarde, and Parkinson 

 state that the berries possess medicinal value, as "they 

 be goode for a hot stomacke, they quench thirst, and 

 allay the heat of burning agues." Parkinson adds, 

 "With the juyce of the berries Painters doe color paper 

 or cards, doe make a kind of purple blew colour, put- 

 ting thereto some allome and Galles, whereby they can 

 make it lighter or sadder as they please. And some 

 poor folkes, as Tragus sheweth, doe take a potful of 

 the juyce strained whereunto an ounce of Allome, four 

 spoonfuls of good Wine vinegar, and a quarter of an 

 ounce of the waste of the copper forcings, being put 

 together, and boyled altogether, they put their cloth, 

 wooll, thred, or yarne therein, letting it lye for a good 

 while, which being taken out and hung up to dry and 

 afterwards washed with cold water, will leave the 

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