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ere I got to the kitchen, filled my mouth with the pudding. On his overtaking me, he made no scruple, but asked me directly if I thought nobody was to have any pudding but myself? I was in no condition to reply, but there was no remedy; and, with my mouth full, I gobbled out in return, “and what sort of a share should I have got, had I waited for your asking?" Several of the young ladies, who had more feeling for me, laughed secretly, but heartily, at my exploit ; and the day following, on the pudding being ready for removal, my young mistress gave me a signal, at which I quietly removed the dish, fixing it in full view upon the sideboard, but, in so doing, I contrived adroitly to remove its contents into my hands, and demurely walking out of the room, I enjoyed myself at my leisure.

With regard to meat, it was very seldom that any was left from the first table, and that was so excessively lean that I did not care much for it. I commonly dined with a few of the other servants, on kail, or the mixture of flour and greens, without even salt! We never sat down to dinner, but universally stood round the table, and all ate out of one dish. When I could do it slily, I always took care to purloin, for my own use, a lump of butter, with which I enriched my side of the dish, to the no small envy of the rest.

But I must not omit to mention some of their marriage ceremonies, which I also witnessed. The day before a wedding, a bucket of water is provided, and all the young women in the neighbourhood assemble together. The ring to be used is then

thrown into the water, and the girls scramble which can get it out first. Nor are their efforts few or feeble; much faith being placed on the circumstance, that she who happens to be successful shall take precedence at the altar of Hymen.

Festivities of weddings were generally held in some large room or barn. On their return from kirk or chapel, the party is met at the door by a person provided with a sievefull of short-bread; which he or she throws over the head of the bride as she enters the place: which is meant, I suppose, to prefigure the plenty with which they desire she may always be supplied. After this the bride takes her seat at the head of the table-generally a long one, not more than two feet wide. All the time she is so seated, she holds one arm round the waist of a girl who sits next her; but, neither did I learn what this ceremony meant. The wedding dinner always consisted of broth, or soup, the meat being boiled down. The bridegroom's duty is to wait, and see that the dishes are refilled as they become empty. After dinner the bagpipes play, and dancing commences. A little whisky also goes round, and the merriment is continued till the evening.

Nobody

When it gets towards bed-time, the bride disappears, and afterwards the bridegroom. seems to notice the circumstance till a person enters the room and summon all the company to follow him. They do so, and are led into the house of the new married couple, where, being conducted into the bed room, they find them both undressed, and seated in bed. The company all stand, and the

whisky goes round. The pair (for I saw the cere mony myself) made me smile, for I thought that their downcast faces and their night-caps made them look more as though they were going to Tyburn than any thing else. To conclude, each of the two has a glass of whisky thrown in their face, and the company retire ! Next morning, a bread creel, or sort of hamper, is tied in due form round the shoulders of the husband, and he, of course, bears its weight. The considerate and loving wife then takes a knife, aud dividing the cord which binds it, eases him of its burden. The meaning of this beautiful emblem, I think, every one will see. I actually saw this latter ceremony performed afterwards at the wedding of the Duke of Manchester with Lady Susan Gordon, when I was in the family; only, in this instance, the Duke's part was performed by proxy..

CHAP. XI.

SOME account of my Master.-Our unfortunate quarrel.— Results of our quarrel.-The barefoot Valet.-Excursion to Skye fair.-The Inn without accommoda. tions.-Private hospitality.-Further remarks concerning the Islanders.-The infidel Parson.- Rent paying.-Second sight.-Funeral ceremonies.--Further remarks on their music.

"Well, here I am, resolved to view the land,
Inquire, and ponder,-hear and understand."
CORN LAW RHYMES.

IT

may be expected that I should say something concerning the wedding of my young master, which took place sometime after we came to the island ; but as it was conducted with more than ordinary privacy, I have nothing particular to record concerning it; and the account given in the preceding chapter, is from observations which I made on other opportunities that I had of being present at those ceremonies. At the same time there are some circumstances which took place previous to my master's wedding, which, perhaps, I ought not to pass over, although some of them may not be very much to his credit.

My master was a distant relation to Laird M'L—. He had, as I learned, originally little or no property, and had been chiefly brought up in this family. An uncle, who had amassed a great deal of money in the East Indies, dying childless, left him a large share of his riches, and he thus suddenly, and while in the laird's family, became a rich man. Being somewhat attached to one of the daughters, stipulations were presently entered into for their future union. However, one of my young master's craniological developements, as I suppose, being instability, he came to me only a few days before the wedding, and seriously asked me what I would advise him to do, as he doubted the girl did not love him. I put on as grave a face as became me, and asked him what he would have the young lady to do; I really thought, I added, that she manifested, as far as I had opportunity of judging, all the tokens of love which young ladies in similar circumstances think it prudent to manifest. "Aye," said. he in reply, "but you know she has nothing! I cannot think of marrying her, and you and I will set off this very night for Scotland."

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Sir," said I in return, "I will not go with you. Consider for a moment; from the very circumstances of her poverty, you have an opportunity of extracting the greatest possible happiness. Would you not much rather be the liberal donor of happiness to one, whom you cannot but acknowledge you love, than to have the means of it to receive from another, as would be the case if she had been rich and yourself poor? In marrying this

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