Midsummer to Michaelmas 
poorer classes was called in consequence a “ babie.” Even 
little babies of three and four have their coin to drop in 
the ladle, and go through the ceremony with faces of grave 
solemnity and unwinking eyes. As most of our church- 
goers come from a distance, they seem glad of the oppor- 
tunity of a weekly “ crack,” and on a fine Sunday I never 
climb the brae without seeing a number of men leaning 
against the Manse garden-wall discussing presumably the 
affairs of the nation, for your hind is a great politician. 
Then, when the last bell rings, called the “ ringing-in bell,” 
they will come hurrying in with their hats on, to get seated 
before the minister in his black gown comes marching 
along from the Manse through the Kirkyard (for we have 
no session- house, Anglice vestry). 
A stranger may think it irreverent to see the hats worn 
right into the church, but cannot fail to be struck with the 
otherwise reverent behaviour of all, even down to the tiniest 
child. Each person follows the Lessons with his own Bible 
as intently as if he thought to catch the minister omitting 
word or line, and the Scotch minister’s “ discoorse ” 
generally gets more attention paid to it than the shorter 
sermon of the Episcopalian priest. Certainly I have never 
seen people get up and troop out just as the preacher pre- 
pares to begin his sermon ! 
Boy and I went for a walk in the croft down by Fogo 
Bridge this evening, and got a lovely bouquet — Crowfoot, 
purple and yellow Vetches, Grasses, Ragged Robin or 
Meadow Pinks, Water Avens or Herb Bennet, Queen of 
the Meadow, Lilac Orchis, dark blue Geranium and Clover, 
called Sookies, and Sheep-gowans here; the children say 
they’ll be lucky if they find a four-leaved Clover. I remember 
I used to be told I should see the fairies if I could find one. 
An old name for the Clover was Meadow Honeysuckle. 
To dream of Clover meant a happy marriage and generally 
good-luck. The Clover was also an old love-charm, and 
there is an old saying : 
Find an even ash or a four-leaved clover, 
And you’ll see your true love ere days over. 
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