AN AMATEUR EXAMINER. 207 Our Mary is the cleverest lassie in all Sutherland; there's not a lassie in the Reay country like her. She's a grand scholar our Mary." "Your Mary?" said Norman. "Yes, our Mary." "I'll wager you my Jessie is as clever a lassie as your Mary." "Your Jessie?" "Ay, jist my Jessie." "What will you wager, Norman ?" "Half-a-mutchkin." "Done," says Duncan. "But who will examine the lassies?" says Norman. "Well," said Duncan, "I think you should let me examine them. You see, I have jist been down at the examination of Kinlochbervie school to-day, and the ministers wass there, and the parents wass there, and the ministers wass asking them questions, and the children would be answering them. It wass a grand sight, noble, and I wass there, and as I'll be jist fresh off the irons I think you should let me examine the lassies." Fery well, Duncan, you'll examine them." The girls meanwhile were amusing themselves outside. Norman rang the bell and asked the servant to send in Jessie. When she appeared Duncan commenced 66 'Jessie, your father says you're a grand scholar, and as clever a lassie as our Mary. Now jist tell me this, do you know the meaning of a verrub [verb]?" "No, I do not," said Jessie. "That will do for you; just go you away and send in our Mary." When Mary appeared Duncan said, "Now, Mary, I have been telling Norman that you're the best scholar in Sutherland. Jist show how clever you are. Do you know the meaning of a verrub [verb]?" "Yes," in quite a triumphant tone, "it's a noun." Duncan looks defiantly at Norman and says, "There, now, my friend, what do you think of that? Didn't I tell you she wass the cleverest lassie in the Reay country?' 66 'Well, I see she is cleverer than my Jessie whatefer. I have lost the half-mutchkin, and we had better send for it now," he added, contentedly ringing the bell. FARM-SERVANTS. 209 CHAPTER XVIII. FARM-SERVANTS TOO OFTEN REGARDED SIMPLY AS AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS-LITTLE ENCOURAGEMENT OR OPPORTUNITY FOR SELF IMPROVEMENT -SAFEGUARDS OF A VIRTUOUS LIFE BROKEN DOWN-FEEING MARKETS-TOO FEW TWO- HORSE FARMS AS OBJECTS OF AMBITION-TOO FEW COTTAGES ON THE FARM FOR MARRIED MEN-AN EXAMPLE WORTHY OF IMITATION-THIS SLACKENING OF KINDLY RELATIONSHIP NOT CONFINED TO FARMERS AND FARM-SERVANTS. DURING the fourteen years when my district was Aberdeen and the counties north of it, I had many opportunities of observing the social life and manners of farm-servants, or hinds, as they are sometimes called, and of conversing with people who lived among and were interested in them. I was painfully struck by the surroundings amid which their lives were spent, and felt that it was difficult to conceive of any conditions less favourable to the development of sound morality, manly effort, and healthy ambition for social advancement. I am glad to learn that there has been some improvement during the past quarter of a century, but I know there is still ample room for more. The notes which I quote from my diary, written thirty years ago, will be found to represent to a large extent with approximate accuracy the present state of matters. As a rule, the farmservant is regarded by his master as a creature from whom a certain amount of work is demanded, but with whose moral and intellectual condition he has, or need have, no concern. A man of strong will and earnest purpose can no doubt fight his way to advancement irrespective of his master's indifference, and some have done so, but the great majority of farm-servants, or servants of any kind, are not of this high type. The majority require opportunity and encouragement. Can it be said that they generally get either the one or the other? How few masters can say that their servants have opportunity for self-improvement by reading if they want it? How much fewer can say they have encouragement? The opportunity is a noisy kitchen with its distractions, or a comfortless bothy in which there is no privacy, or a badly lit sleeping-place in the loft above the stable. Surely more than this is needed and might be supplied. I am far MASTERS' INDIFFERENCE-IMMORALITY. 211 from saying that the servants are not to blame, but they are not alone to blame in their neglect of self-improvement. The same is to be said of their immorality, but they are the objects of much unthinking abuse. "What's done we partly may compute, There is no doubt much illegitimacy—in the circumstances the most inevitable of vices. Men and women are thrown together in the field, joining in work of (for women) a demoralising kind. Every restraint and safeguard of modesty and a virtuous life are broken down by their daily occupation and unchecked intercourse. What but the strongest virtue and very high moral principle (so high as to be beyond hoping for) could pass through such an ordeal unscathed either in fact or in feeling? The married farmservant is usually a model of conjugal fidelity and self-denial. His wages, say from £30 to £40 per annum, are almost entirely devoted to the support of his wife and family. He spends little on himself, except perhaps for tobacco and a dram at a feeing market. Tipsiness at a feeing market is no proof of much whisky being drunk or much money spent. Living, as a rule, most temper |