CHAPTER X 



CUMMANSHEMENSLAIGE 



" Shottld not his care 

 Improve his growing stock, their kinds might fail ; 

 Man ynight once ?nore ojt roots and acorns feed. " 



— SOMERVILK. 



IT was the jubilee of the Talladale Farmers' Club, 

 and the occasion was being celebrated in a char- 

 acteristic fashion. There had been a 4 P.M. 

 heavy dinner of broth, joints, and plum pudding, to 

 which I and a friend had been invited. It was a 

 somewhat solemn and silent function, and ominously 

 temperate. Then the tablecloths were swept away, 

 and rummers and glasses, with basins of lump sugar, 

 were placed on the table, and bottles of whisky in 

 profusion, apparently in the ratio of one bottle to 

 three men, were set down, while large black kettles 

 of boiling water were handed round by waiting-maids 

 before being placed by the fire. 



The loyal toasts were given and received with great 

 heartiness ; after which pipes were stuffed and kindled, 

 and a loud hammering and applauding accompanied 

 the rising of the Chairman to propose the toast of 

 the evening — '' Prosperity to the Farmers' Club." He 

 spoke with a voice clear as a cornet, and began by 

 addressing his expectant hearers as ** Brother farmers 



all, high and low, that is, hill men and low country 



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