262 History of the 



Tuesday also was devoted to the like purpose. But sound, how- 

 ever sweet, is but sorry food for empty stomachs, and, consequently, 

 during the remaining days of the week, the loom had to be plied 

 with unremitting vigour to supply the ever-recurring wants of the 

 household. 



It is related of two of the " Layrocks " — Father and Son — 

 that they had long been busy trying to master a difficult piece of 

 music, one with the violin, the other with the violoncello, but were 

 still unable to execute certain of the more intricate movements to 

 their satisfaction. They had put their instruments aside for the 

 night, and had retired to rest. After his " first sleep," the younger 

 enthusiast, in ruminating over the performance of the evening, 

 thought that if he might only rise and attempt the piece theti, he 

 should be able to manage it. Creeping from under the bed- 

 clothes, he awoke his father, who also arose ; and soon the two in 

 their shirts might have been seen, through the unscreened window, 

 flourishing their bows at an hour when ordinary mortals are laid 

 unconscious in the arms of Somnus. The lonely traveller, had 

 there been one at that untimely hour, would, surely, like Tam o' 

 Shanter, as he passed " By Alloway's auld haunted kirk," have 



" Fie upon their dismal din! 



When I did hear it, 



I do declare it, 

 My hair it stood upright, 

 I trembled with affright, 

 With fear my knees did smite 1 



Such snaffling, snarling, 



Stamping, staring, 

 Sure I thought the fools would fight. 



" Sol, sol, sol, 



Fa, fa, fa. 

 Well done, lads ! 



Stamp, stamp, stamp ! 

 Mind your time ! 



Fa, sol, sol. 

 Well done, old Syh !" 



