After a minute inspection of Mr. Graham’s little museum, I set off to
visit Mr. Brown. The farm towards which I directed my steps was
prettily situated near a "gleaming wood," the trees of which, now clad
in autumn’s russet brown, peacefully waved over the cottage roof, before
the grateful breeze, as it sped along the moor on its trackless way;
while a few plants of Indian cress, trained up against the wall evinced
a greater predilection for neatness than is generally to be seen in the
farm-houses of Scotland. A cleanly-dressed, pleasant-looking woman—whom
I afterwards ascertained to be Mrs. Brown—was standing near the
entrance; and on my inquiring if Mr. Brown was within, she invited me to
take a seat, as he was in the fields, and should be in presently.
Availing myself of the kind invitation, I entered, and taking possession
of the proffered chair, I amused myself with inspecting the cottage
interior, until the arrival of Mr. Brown. It presented the nicest
little picture of a moorland farm I had ever seen. Rows of
nicely-cleaned dishes, bright pewter plates, and spotless chairs, all
indicated the careful housewife.
In a few minutes Mr. Brown entered; and on my informing him of the
nature of my visit, he said, with a smile, that he did know a little
regarding these times, and should only be too happy were it in his power
to give me any information that might chance to be of service. This was
encouraging, so I at once began the conversation by remarking, "that
this seemed to have been a great part of the country for the Covenanters
in former times." Upon which he replied that it was, more particularly
the west end of the parish, where Peden and Cargill used to preach,
adding, "I suppose you have seen Peden’s Stone?" On my informing him
that I was then on my way to visit it, he said it was not above a mile
distant.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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