200 NLMROD'S NORTHERN TOUR. 



but the sound of music arose in one part of this large room, and as if by 

 the tap of the enchanter's wand all present, excepting Mr. and Mrs. Baillie 

 and myself, were upon their legs in one minute, and in " attitude," as 

 the fighting' men used to say, in another. But the music ! It was not — 

 *' Daughter of Toscar bring my Harp ;" but the chief performer in this 

 rapid, and consequently difficult execution, was Andrew Lumsden, the 

 laird's old huntsman, and how little soever in accordance may be the 

 unison of huntsman and fiddler, Scotland cannot, I understand, show a 

 better performer in this department of the fiddling art, than the said 

 Andrew, whose ear was once, perhaps, more tuned to more congenial 

 sounds. Being no judge of music, I have pronounced this encomium on 

 Andrew, upon authority better than my own ; but I must say, as far as 

 1 am a judge, he is capital over the catgut, whatever he might have been 

 over the grass, on Vixen, Snip, or Rattler, his three favourite hunters, 

 which he is very fond of talking of, but which T, to my cost, never saw. 

 I can only say, I stood by his side this evening whilst he accompanied 

 one of the young ladies on her piano forte, in a Highland reel, and I can 

 answer for his having gone the pace then. No fiddler's elbow, I should 

 think, ever travelled faster. 



Between the reels I had a word or two with Andrew, whose old soul 

 seemed mellowed— first, by the inspiration of music, which he appeared 

 really to enjoy ; secondly, by seeing his worthy master's family amusing 

 themselves, partly through his means ; and lastly, by a jug of good 

 Scotch ale which he had very nearly found the bottom of. " The wrong 

 sort of music this, for you, Andrew," said 1 to him, in a kind of under 

 tone. '' It's na like t'other," said he, " I ken what you mean ; but its 

 na much amiss when a man grows auld." I looked at Andrew, then at 

 his master, and muttered to myself, *' I wish I could give you both the 



