WEIRD SISTERS. 287 



Him that's ower a.' Prepare dy saul for what the Lord 

 will send.' And he made answer to me, ' The Lord 

 kens best. If my time is come, I canno gang by it.' 

 Yes, my dear, the Lord kens best at a' times. Blessed 

 be His name ! " 



Kirsty's language, besides being graphic, was dis- 

 tinctly not Parliamentary at times. She was often 

 heard to curse her enemies in the language of Holy 

 Writ, and call the Psalmist to "bear witness afore 

 the Throne that this is righteous anger." 



In her old age she had a habit of speaking her 

 thoughts aloud ; and if she had been engaged in heated 

 argument (as was frequently the case) one might learn 

 all that had been said on both sides if one took the 

 trouble to follow Kirsty within earshot as she trudged 

 along by herself unconscious of being dogged. 



On one occasion she had been quarrelling with 

 another noted Sibyl, and her road home lay past a hill 

 which has a clear echo. She was cursing her adver- 

 sary aloud as she went along, and the "Muckle 

 Heogue " gave back the words. All unconscious that 

 she had spoken, oblivious to the violence of her words 

 and feelings, Kirsty came home and reported that 

 " there were strange doings in the heart 0' the earth ; 

 and the Almighty kens — none besides — what sauls 

 were bound within the hills. Por as I cam' by the 

 Muckle Heogue I heard the spirits, chained in dark- 

 ness within the hill, curse and swear as only them 

 that's in torment ken hoo to misuse the Name 0' Him 

 that's ower a' ! " 



