The Wee Scotch Piper Read online

  CHAPTER II

  SANDY'S FIRST VISIT

  Aberfoyle is the center of the "Rob Roy country." Rob Roy MacGregorwas, as every child knows, a great Scotch warrior and represented oneof the oldest Highland clans.

  In Aberfoyle, where Ian Craig lived, stands the old house in which SirWalter Scott wrote his famous story "Rob Roy." To-day it houses thevillage minister.

  Near by is a tumble-down thatched cottage known as "Jean McAlpin'sInn," where Rob Roy was wont to rest.

  THE "ROB ROY BRIG" AND THE HOUSE WHERE WALTER SCOTTWROTE "ROB ROY"]

  A landmark in the village is the old "Rob Roy Brig." Here on the oldbrig (which means "bridge" in Scotch) Ian would sit when school was outand his chores at home were finished.

  Something usually happened when he sat here, and many of hisexperiences had started from this bridge. Often, while he waited foradventure, Ian fished from the bridge. He brought home fine, fatmorsels, for the river Forth, which flows beneath the bridge, is richin fish.

  But Ian's dearest memory was of Sandy. The Sandy adventure had takenplace almost a year before, but it was as vivid in Ian's mind as thoughit had all occurred the day before.

  It happened while Ian was fishing from the brig. He heard the sound ofbagpipes--a sound that is nothing unusual to hear in Scotland. Still italways made Ian joyous and sad at once. And now he turned to listen.

  SANDY MACGREGOR]

  This playing was the loveliest he had ever heard. Jamie Robinson playedalmost every night in front of the old hotel, and Ian loved the music.But this playing was different. He had always thought Jamie's playinggood, but he now wondered how he could ever have thought so.

  This tune was from far away, but it carried across the meadow and alongthe road. And then he saw Sandy! Sandy was standing still in the middleof the road while he played.

  By his side was a handcart, and Ian knew at once what it meant. Sandywas a wandering piper, a man who has no home, a gypsy. He piped for hisliving and camped on the road.

  Many pipers passed through Aberfoyle, some with large families. Infact, Jamie was one of them, only Jamie did not travel. He lived in thewoods near Aberfoyle in a tent with his wife and babies.

  GYPSIES OF THE HIGHWAY]

  But no one had ever played like this before. Ian ran up the road. As heapproached the newcomer, he could see that the piper was a little oldman. He had a kindly, wrinkled face, and twinkling eyes which winked atIan as the boy came closer. Then suddenly he changed his tune.

  "Bonny laddie, Highland laddie," shrieked the pipes.

  Ian stopped in front of the piper and thought he should cry. The musicceased.

  A hand was laid on Ian's shoulder, and a voice asked, "And why, laddie,do you stand and look with eyes so big and sad?"

  Ian then realized that he had been staring as if in a trance. Hebrought himself back to earth, smiled, and put out his hand.

  "I'm sorry, sir. I was only admiring your bonny piping!"

  "Ach!" laughed the piper. "And I was only admiring the bonny laddie!What's your name?"

  "Ian Craig."

  "MA NAME'S SANDY!"]

  "And mine's Sandy. You may call me Sandy, though my name's really EvertRobert MacKeith MacGregor, and my great-grandfather was a cousin tothe great Rob Roy."

  With these words, Sandy MacGregor put his pipes into his cart. Then,slinging the rope over his shoulders, he started to pull his loadalong, while Ian kept step with him.

  "And a fine village this is--the scene of my ancestor's home! Do youlive here, my lad?"

  "Ay, Sandy, and not far from old Rob Roy Brig."

  "Well, well," sighed Sandy. "And could we bide a wee on the old brig ofmy ancestor while Sandy rests?"

  "Ay, could we," said Ian with great delight, "and I can pull your cartfor you, Sandy, until we get there."

  Gratefully the old man allowed the boy to pull his load, while hestretched his tired arms. He breathed in the sweet-smelling air of thevillage of his ancestor.

  When they came to the bridge, Ian put down the cart. He invited Sandyto sit beside him on the wall, his usual perch. The old man jumped upto the boy's side, as spry as the boy himself, and looked around.

  "Well, well," he said, "and to think 'tis Sandy's first visit to thehome of his ancestor--Sandy who has been nigh all over the land!"

  At these words Ian's heart gave a bound, and he said, "Have you seennigh all of bonny Scotland, Sandy?"

  SANDY TELLS THE LAD ABOUT BONNY SCOTLAND]

  "Ay, that have I, lad, and traveled on my own two feet through it all."

  "Sandy," said Ian wistfully, "would you be telling me about it?"

  "Ach, ay, laddie," smiled the old wanderer. "That would I, for 'tismany a fine sight these old eyes have seen."

  Sandy talked, and the boy listened. The sun grew lower and lower in theheavens. Ian Craig thought that never before had he known an afternoonto slip by so quickly.

  Sandy told Ian about the time he had visited Edinburgh, Scotland'scapital, and one of the most attractive cities in the world.

  He told of Princes Street, with its sunken gardens on one side, andits wonderful view of historic Edinburgh Castle, its pretty shops andstately monuments. It is considered by many to be the most beautifulstreet in all the world.

  PRINCES STREET, EDINBURGH]

  On the top of a winding hill is Edinburgh Castle. Here, in thecourtyard of the old castle is Half-Moon Battery, where is kept theone-o'clock gun.

  This gun fires every day at the hour of one. It is attached by electricwire to the time ball on the top of Nelson's Monument on Carlton Hillopposite. This ball falls, in turn, at a signal from GreenwichObservatory, near London, where is set the time for the whole world.

  In another part of the castle grounds can be found a pathetic littleplot of ground known as "The Dogs' Cemetery." Here are buried the petsof the soldiers who fought in the World War.

  THE DOGS' CEMETERY]

  Many of these little beasts were gallant heroes and were buried withgreat reverence. Lovely flowers decorate their graves, and inscriptionstell of each one's valor.

  But to one little dog in particular was a fountain erected. It standsin one of the streets of Edinburgh. This fountain represents"Greyfriars' Bobby," as the little dog was called.

  He was given this name because it was to the old Greyfriars Churchyardthat he went, day after day, to seek his master, who was buried there.The caretakers of the cemetery tried to keep him out.

  Still day after day he came. He always lay upon the grave of his masterand grieved, until one day they found him dead. And now the fountain isthere to remind the people of this faithful little creature.