THE WALK HOME. 161 



and all present vie with each other in striving to catch 

 it, success in this being deemed a good omen of 

 peculiar potency. A glass of whiskey is passed round 

 to each of the guests, who then return to the ballroom, 

 and the dancing recommences, to be kept up with the 

 increased spirit till daylight. 



These wedding festivities not unfrequently extend 

 over three or four days in succession ; their length 

 indeed depends upon the day 'of the week on which the 

 marriage takes place, for they are usually continued 

 till the following Sunday, when the newly-married pair 

 attend the kirk together for the first time as man and 

 wife; and notwithstanding the proverbial propensity 

 for drink among the Scotch generally, in this neigh- 

 bourhood I am told it is seldom that a case of drunken- 

 ness occurs, many of the best dancers and singers, 

 being disciples of Father Mathew. 



Scarcely had I left the scene of merriment, vainly 

 flattering myself that my escape had been unobserved, 

 when I found myself joined by the bride's father, who 

 with the well-bred politeness which, so far as my own 

 experience goes, seems to be habitual to the High- 

 lander, offered to attend me home. And though I 

 remonstrated at the proffered attention, he still per- 

 sisted in accompanying me some distance on the way. 



Though the season was far advanced, the air was 

 still so mild, that the shepherd walked by my side 

 without any covering on his head. My road lay along 

 the shores of an arm of the sea. The northern lights 

 were darting through the heavens, and every ray being 

 vividly reflected in the bay sleeping beneath, the effect 

 was singular and impressive. At times it was difficult 

 to distinguish "the march" between sky and water, 

 both elements being in appearance equally irradiated. 



M 



