284 THE HOME OF A NATURALIST. 



away. She believed and affirmed that they were 

 afraid to meet her in open fight. 



She had Scripture at her finger ends, and on the tip 

 of a most eloquent tongue. All her language was 

 steeped in the rich colouring of Jewish lore, and when 

 deeply stirred, her speech " poured forth like the rock 

 of Moses " in a torrent that was quite startling in its 

 picturesque and forcible volubility. She loved an 

 active out-of-door life, and worked upon our farm as 

 well as the best man could have done. Spade, shovel, 

 pitch-fork were all one to Kirsty. 



Some cottages (that of her ancestors among the 

 rest) had been cleared away to make room for our 

 father's house and home-farm, therefore Kirsty felt as 

 though she belonged to the soil of the place. 



A friend of ours asked her once, " How long have 

 you been about Halligarth, Kirsty ? " 



She struck an attitude after her usual fashion when 

 intending to be impressive, and stretching forth both 

 hands with dramatic effect, made answer, "When the 

 first foundations were laid, lo, I was there ! " 



Kirsty married her cousin, a large, soft-hearted, 

 soft-headed man ; and, when telling us of the court- 

 ship, she said "He was been after me for mony a 

 season, and I had tokens frae abune that it was 

 appointed to me. So, in the course o' time when it 

 appeared that Willie was no' like to speak out, I just 

 says to him one nicht — ' Willie, if it is to be that do 

 (thou) and I is to join hands, let us have it so:' 

 and it was so ! " 



