his snuff-horn. "Didna my ain father see the evil ane i' the schule o'
Auld Deer?"

"Indeed!"

"Weel, I wot he did that. A wheen idle callants, when the dominie was
out at his twal'-hours, read the Lord's Prayer backlans, an' raised him,
but couldna lay him again, for he threepit ower them that he wadna gang
awa unless he gat ane o' them wi' him. Ye may be sure this put them in
an awfu' swither. They were a' squallin' an' crawlin' and sprawlin' amo'
the couples to get out o' his grips. Ane o' them gat out an' tauld the
maister about it, an' when he cam' down, the melted lead was runnin' aff
the roof o' the house wi' the heat, sae, flingin' to the black thief a
young bit kittlen o' the schule-mistress's, he sank through the floor wi'
an awsome roar. I mysel' have heard the mistress misca'in her man about
offering up the puir thing, baith saul and body, to Baal. But troth, I'm
no clear to speak o' the like o' this at sic a time o' night; sae if your
honour bena for another jug, I'll e'en wus you a gude-night, for it's
wearin' late, an I maun awa' to Skippyfair i' the mornin'."

I assented to this, and quickly lost in sleep the remembrance of all
these tales of the olden times.




"HORSE AND HATTOCK."


The power of the fairies was not confined to unchristened children alone;