THE FLAX-FLOWER, 169 
are with infinite toil and patience gathered from 
the earth, and piled into walls round the little 
fields, otherwise the mountain sheep, and perhaps 
the wild roes, would soon lay the whole waste. 
Here the mother, as well as the father, labours, 
and indeed the flax seems especially to belong to 
her, for she must spin it before she can convert it 
into family use. 
In the same way is the household provided with 
woollen garments; they are all home-spun and 
home-made, even to many a goodly tartan. The 
“tarry woo” of Scotland, like the “ lint-flower,”’ 
is a national thing; the affections, as well as the 
fire-side-interests of that country are connected 
with them. 
