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CHAPTER II. 



HERDING AND HORSE-BREAKING. 



IN the early part of the century it was the custom 

 with the farmers in South Lanarkshire to hire a 

 strong girl who could milk the cows and who could 

 shear, that is, take her part with the reapers in 

 harvest, a small boy being engaged to herd during 

 the time the girl was occupied in harvest work. 

 It was to become such a deputy that David was 

 withdrawn from school. It happened to be a late 

 harvest, and the cows were put out in the morning as 

 soon as it was light. About an hour after daybreak, 

 a cog or wooden bowl of porridge made with whey 

 was sent out to the little herd. The cows were 

 brought home at 10 a.m. and milked. The boy then 

 got a piece of oat bread and some " float whey," that 

 is, the curd skimmed off when the whey was brought 

 to the boil. The cows were then again sent out to the 

 field, and the herd with them, whatever the weather, 

 wet or dry. About two o'clock his dinner was sent 

 out to him. It consisted of broth, with potatoes and 

 a piece of butcher's meat or cheese. The broth was 

 called kail, or, we ought rather to say, were so called, 

 for in the northern idiom broth, kail, and porridge are 



