YULE-TIME. 129 



sandy soils in Shetland. The thinnest parts of the 

 tanned hide were always secured for our football. 



A few days before the eventful day, we were on the 

 qiti vive of expectancy for the invitation from our uncle, 

 which we always looked for, but were never sure of 

 till it arrived ; and we kept a very constant watch for 

 the messenger. At last we would spy the little lassie 

 coming across the fields. The note which she brought 

 was delivered to our father, and commonly ran thus : 

 "My deak L , — We hope you will all spend Yule- 

 day with us, as usual ; and please say to the boys I shall 

 be very glad if they will come on Yule e'en and stay till 

 after New'r'sday." While the note is being read, we are 

 trying to look utterly unconcerned and unsuspicious, 

 as though we had no idea that we had the least interest 

 in its contents. Our father reads the note solemnly, 

 and then turns to us and says gravely : " Boys, this is 

 a note from your uncle. He asks us all for Yule day, 

 and he invites you to come on Yule e'en to stay till 

 after New'r'sday. I suppose I may say that you will 

 be very happy to go ? " We make no verbal response 

 — only a delighted smile, which he shrewdly interprets 

 to mean he will be strictly correct in saying that, and 

 very much the opposite if he does not say it. The 

 messenger takes back the reply ; and we bound across 

 fields and dikes and ditches to see how Charlie is get- 

 ting on. 



Yule e'en arrives at last. Our brand-new suit, new 

 boots also, and clean shirts and collars, and socks, are 

 carefully packed in our carpet-bag by the sympathetic 



