Ye sud a tell't them ye thocht it wis a lauchin' hoose insteed o' an eatin' yin.' 'He said they had nae saut fish, an' asket us if we wudna try sole.'

'Whit's that ye say, Mrs. McFadyan; the sole of whit?'

'I dinna ken whit he meent, fur we didna ask him, bit tell't him to bring us ham an' eggs.'

'Maybe he wis tryin' to tak' a bit rise. oot ye, Mrs. McFadyan.'

'Na, I think he wud see we wur oot the common. I didna enjoy it a bit, there wur ower mony folk glowerin' folk glowerin' roon', an' they cudna gi'e the weans paurlies, jist leemonade an' biscuits.'

'It wud be gey late whin ye got hame, Mrs. McFadyan?'

'Ay, it wis efter twelve; bit we mainaged to get oot to the kirk on Sunday; an' ye'll no' guess wha wis ha'ein' her wean christened bit Mrs. Hodden; ye'll ken her better as Beenie Nettle.'

'My my! I niver kent she wis mairret.'

I thocht ye wud a heard that muckle; she's mairret mair than a year noo.'

Weel, weel! there's aye chynges. Is it a boy or lassie ?'

'It's a boy. I met her on the street yesterday, she wis comin' frae her mither's, an' she stopped an' spoke.'

Ye wud get a luk at the wean, Mrs. McFadyan?'

'Ay, an' it's awfu' like hersel;' she wis tellin' me they're no for ha'ein' the pox on it.'

D'ye no ken whaur the stuff comes frae, Mrs. McFadyan ?'

'Na, I divna, Mrs. Balbirnie.'

My! Ye sud a went to the lecture that wis a while syne aboot it; it's got frae the cauves, if ye like to ken.'

Noo, that's no true, Mrs. Balbirnie. 'Ay, it's as true as you an' me's staunin' here; they're laid on their backs an tied doon, an' then dabbed ower wi' a sort o' knife.'

Mercy, guidness, Mrs. Balbirnie, dinna tell me ony mair or ye'll mak' me seeck.'

Ay, bit I maun tell ye, Mrs. McFadyan,' said her friend, after giving her some spirits; an' efter they're dabbed, stuff's pit in them, an' the cauves are kept tied doon till the scabs are beelin'. an' then the beelin' stuff's ta'en aff an' mixed wi' glycerine, an' the cauves are sell't to the fleshers.'

'Ah, bit whit's aboot that, Mrs. Balbirnie, if it keeps awa' smapox.'

'Bit that's whit it disna dae, Mrs. McFadyan, nor the big pox aither; it's dirt that brings ia on; so if a' the folk wud keep theirsel's clean an' their hooses too, there wudna be ony.'

'Weel, that's gey true, Mrs. Balbirnie, "Cleanliness is next to Godliness;" bit I think docturs ken aboot thae things better than ony yin.'

'That's jist whaur folk's ta'en in, Mrs. McFadyan; the docturs are jist teached hoo to pit on the pox, bit that's a'.'

'An', Mrs. Balbirnie, wis it no' a doctur that wis speakin' at the lecture aboot it?'

Na, it wis an anti-vaccinator; that's whit ye're ca'd whin ye divna believe in it. He kent a' aboot it, fur he learnt in a' the different countries aboot the cases

Here the conversation was stopped, Mrs. McFadyan being overcome with

sickness.

'Are ye feelin' a wee better noo?' kindly enquired her hostess.

Ay, the drap speerits has helped me.' Weel, I'll say nae mair aboot it; bit ye'll hae to go to the next lecture wi' Joe

an' me.'

'Ay, I'll keep min' o' that, Mrs. Balbirnie,' said Mrs. McFadyan, coughing badly as she went her way. To be Continued.

CLAN MACKENZIE.

of

The annual entertainment of Clan MacKenzie was held at Murray Hill Lyceum. on Wednesday evening, Feb. 21st. The entertainment was furnished by a company colored comedians, called, The Southern Fun-makers," and this new departure was enjoyed by the large audience. The second part of the program, "A Night on a Plantation," was especially good. The committee who had charge of this entertainment deserves great credit for its social and financial success.

THE SCOTTISH GAELIC SOCIETY of N. Y. gave a novel entertainment in the Caledonian Hall on Feb. 8th. The main feature of the evening was a presentation of the "Luadhadh," for waulking or thickening cloth, an ancient custom in the Highlands of Scotland, and still in some parts of Canada. It was a very interesting entertainment and the hall was filled to overflowing. The success of this presentation was largely due to Mr. Daniel Matheson. A leaflet giving an excellent description of the "Laudhadh," was furnished. From this we quote the following:

The first part of the presentation is the interior of a Highland cottage; the gude wife is spinning, one of the daughters is carding, and another is skeining yarn. The father and sons are engaged in other matters Some of the younger children coming in from school announce to the mother that "Am Figheadair "sends word that the cloth is ready. One of the lads is sent for it and the mother tells the girls to get all ready for the Luadhadh, to invite the neighbors, and be sure to have Murchadh Piobaire. The father, is somewhat averse to the dancing, which he knows is a usual termination to these occasions, but, as usually the case with fathers, his objections are overborne by "Am M'haithir" and the girls, who proceed to the making of oat cakes and other eatables, and the preparation of all other arrangements necessary to carry out a joyous aftermath to the Luadhadh proper.

The second stage of the proceedings shows the "Luadhadh a chio;" the waulking of the cloth in progress to the singing of the girls engaged in it, etc.

CLAN CAMERON, PHILADELPHIA "The Pibrock of Donuil Dhu

To its summons they came, in their gay

array,

Both gentles and commons,

Fast they came, fast they came; See how

they gather!

High waved the eagle plume, blended with Leather."

There was on Feb. 23rd a gathering of the Scots, reminding us of long years gone by when the biggest Ha' was considered sma' for our annual Scotch Concert and Ball, Girard Assembly Hall was crowded to the doors, wi sonsy men an' bonnie lassies, and the large audience listened with attention to one of the finest Scotch concerts given in Phila., for many years. Every artist on the program seemed to draw inspiration from the large gathering, and gave back their enthusiasm to the hundreds who heard and saw and warmly aplpauded them.

The concert was opened with a few suitable remarks by Chief Wm.McG, Cull. Then Mr. Horrocks and Mr. Cairns, accompanists for the evening, he gave a duet on the piano which aroused great applause, Mr. Allen M. Connell with his fine baritone voice made the Scotch bluid leap thro' a' o'or veins," with stirring rendition of Hurrah for the Highlands," Allen grows in favor the more he is heard. Miss Julia D. Smith, our young and rising soprano, in her sweet expressive style acquitted herself most creditably in everything she sang. The duets and songs of the two best known artists of the evening, Mr. A. Glen Murray and Mrs. Isabel F. Scaife, received by all with a newness and charm that thrilled or stilled the hearts of their hearers. Then Miss Mary Dolan, accompanby Hugh Urquhart, piper, proved once more her undisputed right to the title of cham pion Highland Dancer of the world and danced nimbly her way into the hearts of the large audience. Mrs. N. Wallace Alexander, captivated every one in "Owre Young to Marry Yet," and other songs and duets which she sang with Mr. Connell, during the evening.

Then came the surprise of the night in Mr. R. Feichny, who only arrived a few months ago from Scotland; his first song was, "Hello MacPherson," which at once made him at home here wi his ain' folk, and in all his selections he proved to the best Scotch comedian we have had for years; he is refined in his style and can be comical without vulgarity. The Grand March opened the dancing and was finely conducted by ex-Chief, Jno Burleigh, assisted by A. McMillan and Geo. R. Stewart. The whole affair was an undoubted success and will add name and fame to the Scots of Philadelphia and add a wee bit mair tae oor treasury. PETER MILLER.

THE SEA MAIN, By Ranald MacDonald. Henry Holt and Company. New York Publisher. 1906.

Those who for years have enjoyed the writings of George MacDonald, cherish a very kin ly feeling for his son, and eagerly welcome each new book as it is given to the public, "The Sea Maid" is in many respects a remarkable book; the plot is very original and the descriptions of unknown places and interesting people are exceedingly clear and good. "The Sea Maid" herself is not introduced, until the story is quite far advanced, and we begin to wonder who the heroine may be for we are sure that she can not be Miss Greenhalche or even the original Miss Wetherby; but when we at last make the acquaintance of charming "Polynesia," we realize that she is a worthy subject, Meeting and privacy at sea, and life on a desert island are unusual themes, and the author has shown great skill and success in handing them. There are many very humorous passages, and enough danger to add spice to the tale, and sustain the interest to the happy end.

The book is well printed and has an attractive and appropriate cover with representatives of palm trees and the blue sea, We prediet a large sale.

SCRIBNERS MAGAZINE for March has an exceedingly entitled good opening article "The Flowing Road," by Henry Norman, M. P It is an account of an automobile trip through France, Switzerland, Italy, Austria and Germany, and gives a very interesting description of five Alpine passes trough which their route lay, The illustrations are photographs taken during the trip and are exceptionally fine. "A Day with the Roundup," by N. C. Wyeth, with illustrations by the author reproduced in colors gives an exciting account of cattle herding in the West. The magazine has a number of other good articles, and several interesting stories.

magazine continues to present excellent contributions from Ida M. Tarbell, Carl Schwarz Ray Staunam Baker and others, and there are a number of interesting stories.

THE CENTURY MAGAZINE.

There is as frontispiece a beautiful reproduction in colors of a painting by Henry Golden Dearth entitled "A sunset in Picardy," "The Garden of the Sun" by William Sharp in the first of a series which promises to be both interesting and intsructive. "Art in the Street," by Sylvester Baxter and "A friend nip with John Hay," by Joseph Busklin Bishop are very worthy articles.

APPELTON'S BOOK LOVERS MAGAZINE for March opens with a story "The Habit of Work" which has several magazine illustrations "Barrie, A Triumph of Personality," by Jesse Lynch Williams, "The Northwestern Whaet Trek," by Hon J. Obed Smith, and E. Beach's third installment on "The Looting of Alaska," are notable articles, "The Most Beautiful Building in the World," by Frederic le Penfield, describes a mausoleum at Agra, India, of which an English writer says: Works are worthless in describing a building which is absolutely faultless."

66

THE SHAKESPEARE MONTHLY is a new publication of sixteen pages, edited by Dr. John Phin, 16 Thomas St., New York, Dr. Phin is the author of "The Shakespeare Cyclopædia," and is an authority on Shakespearan literature. This is a neat little magazine and some of the articles are of great value, especially the following by the editor: Shakespearean Names as Applied to American Plants and Animals," Light Perhaps, on a dark Pasage in Hamlet," and "That Second Best Bed." Many of our readers will remember the able articles that Professor Phin has contributed to "The Caledonian."

When George IV., visited Ireland an election for Galway was pending.

The King inquired of a Galway gentleman, who came up to Dublin to attend his levee, which candidate would probably be returned. "The survivor, sir," replied the gentle

men.