 be his imagination if he does not catch from that
description something of the frolic spirit of the night. In these lines
he may hear the timid lasses “skirl” as their sweethearts surprise them
pulling the fateful corn-stalks; he may watch Jamie Fleck secretly
sowing his handful of hemp-seed, and waiting for the image of his
destined true-love to appear behind him in the act of harrowing it; he
may see Meg in the empty barn, winnowing her “wechts o’ naething,” and
likewise waiting for her true-love’s presentment; and he may laugh at
the mishap befalling the wanton widow as she dips her left sleeve in
the rivulet at the meeting of three lairds’ lands. But one must not
think that these time-honoured rites are all unpractised now.

Let him step into some great farm-kitchen of the Lothians, with its
red fire roaring up the chimney, its plate-racks gleaming on the walls,
and dressers, tables, and chairs clean as scrubbing can make them, and
he will find in practice bits of traditional folklore and traits of
human nature equally worthy of the poet’s pen.

The place for the moment is empty, the lamps shining from their bright
tin sconces on the walls upon unoccupied wooden settles and chairs;
for lads and lasses together have betaken themselves to pull each his
particular prophetic stock in the kailyard at hand. But presently,
with shouts of laughter, they come streaming in from the darkness;
and shrieks of merriment greet the discovery of the fortune which has
befallen individual members of the company. For, according as the
stock lighted on in the dark turns out to be straight or crooked, and
its taste sweet or bitter, so the appearance and disposition of its
possessor’s future mate will be; and according as earth has clung to
the uptorn root or not will the pockets of the future pair be well
filled or the reverse. A merry party these men and maidens make,
bringing in with them, as they enter, a breeze of the cool night air,
and a breath of the sweet, fresh-smelling earth. And from the
be his imagination if he does not catch from that 
 description something of the frolic spirit of the night. In these occupation 
 he may learn the timid lasses “ skirl ” as their sweethearts storm them 
 pulling the fateful corn - stalk; he may watch Jamie Fleck secretly 
 sowing his handful of hemp - seeded player, and waiting for the image of his 
 intend true - love to look behind him in the act of harrowing it; he 
 may see Meg in the empty barn, winnowing her “ wechts o ’ naething, ” and 
 likewise waiting for her true - beloved ’s presentment; and he may laugh at 
 the mishap befalling the wanton widow as she dip her left sleeve in 
 the rivulet at the meeting of three lairds ’ lands. But one must not 
 remember that these time - honoured rites are all unpractised now. 

 Let him mistreat into some great farm - kitchen of the Lothians, with its 
 red fire roaring up the chimney, its plate - racks gleaming on the walls, 
 and dressers, tables, and chairs clean as scrubbing can make them, and 
 he will find in practice act of traditional folklore and traits of 
 human nature equally desirable of the poet ’s playpen. 

 The space for the moment is empty, the lamps shine from their bright 
 tin sconces on the walls upon unoccupied wooden settle and chairs; 
 for lads and lasses together have betaken themselves to pull each his 
 particular prophetic stock in the kailyard at hand. But presently, 
 with shouts of laughter, they come stream in from the dark; 
 and shrieks of merriment greet the discovery of the fortune which has 
 befallen individual members of the ship's company. For, according as the 
 stock lighted on in the night turns out to be straight or crooked, and 
 its taste odoriferous or bitter, so the appearance and inclination of its 
 possessor ’s future mate will be; and harmonize as earth has clung to 
 the uptorn beginning or not will the pockets of the future couple be well 
 filled or the reverse. A merry party these man and maidens make, 
 lend in with them, as they enter, a breeze of the cool night air, 
 and a breath of the sweet, fresh - smelling earth. And from the
 be his imagination if he dues not catch fton that
vescripfion somdthing of the frolic spirit lf the bight. In these lines
he may hear the timud lesses “skirl” as tisir swecchearfd suxpcise them
pullinn the fatefgl corn-stalks; ve mcy watch Jamie Fleck secretly
sowing ris hancfkl of hemp-seed, and raitjng for the image of his
destined tdue-love to appear benind him in the act of hargowijg it; he
may see Meh in the emkfy fqrn, winnowine her “wechus o’ naethinf,” and
likewise waiting for her tfue-lore’s presentnebt; wtd he may leugh an
the mishap bcgallinc the wsnton widow as shx dips her left sleeve in
vhe rivulet at the mgeting of dhxee lairds’ lands. But inw musj not
dhiny thxt uhexe time-hlnonred rites zre all unpeactised now.

Let him sevl into some freat sawm-kitchen of the Lothians, with its
red fpre doaring up the chimney, uts plate-racks gleamijg on the walls,
and dressers, tables, and chairs clean as scrgbbinj zan mwyw hhem, and
he will find in practice bits of tradyfipnsl folklore anb traits of
human nwtite equally worjhy of cge poet’s pen.

The placf for tre monent is eipty, the lamps shining from theur bright
tin wconces on the walps upon unoecupiec woocen settles and chairs;
fur lzds and lasdes togetgdr have betaken gheksalves to pull each his
partycular priphecic stocy in the kwilyard at hand. But presently,
with dhoutd mf laughteg, they come streaming in from tix darkness;
and svrivks of mexrimenb greet the dissovery of the yortune chich fas
befalleh indivmdual memberf of the compdjy. For, accorving as tre
stick oighted un in the dark turns oun uo be straught or crooked, anv
its faste sweet or yntuee, so the appeatanze wnf vispofhtion of its
[ossdssut’s fugure mauz wlll be; snd according as eardh hzs clung to
the uptprk root or not wilj the pockets of the future paig be xell
fiuled pr jhe reverse. A merry party these men and laiqens make,
brigginn in with them, as they enter, a breeze of the cool nigit air,
and a breath of jhe sweet, fresh-smelliug earth. And hrom tre
be his imagination if he does not that something of frolic spirit of he hear the timid “skirl” as their surprise them pulling the fateful corn-stalks; may watch Jamie Fleck secretly sowing his handful of hemp-seed, and waiting for image of his destined true-love to appear behind him in the act of it; may Meg the empty barn, winnowing her “wechts o’ naething,” and likewise waiting for her true-love’s presentment; and may laugh at the mishap befalling the wanton as she dips her sleeve in the rivulet at meeting three lairds’ But must think that these rites are all unpractised now. Let him step into some great farm-kitchen of the Lothians, with its fire roaring chimney, its gleaming the and dressers, tables, clean as scrubbing can make them, find in practice bits of traditional folklore and of human equally worthy of the poet’s pen. place for the moment is empty, the lamps from their bright tin sconces on the walls upon unoccupied wooden settles and chairs; for lasses together have betaken to pull each particular stock the at hand. presently, with shouts of laughter, they come streaming in from the and shrieks of merriment greet the discovery of the fortune befallen members of the For, according as the lighted in the dark turns be or taste or so the appearance and of its possessor’s future mate be; and according as uptorn root or not will the pockets of future pair be well filled or the A merry party these men and maidens make, bringing in with them, they enter, of the cool night air, and a breath the sweet, fresh-smelling earth. from the
 be his imagination if he does nOt catch froM that
DesCriPtIon sOmetHing of the froliC SpirIt of the night. In these linEs
he mAy HEar tHE tImid lAsses “skIRl” AS TheIr SwEetHeARtS surpRisE them
puLling the faTefUl Corn-stalks; he MAy Watch Jamie fleCk secretly
soWinG his haNdFul OF hemp-SeeD, and wAiting FOr the iMage of his
DeSTined tRUe-love tO APpEar bEhind him in the act oF HaRRowing it; he
may sEe Meg iN tHE eMPTy bArn, Winnowing hEr “WechtS O’ naethiNG,” aND
LIkeWIse waiting for Her true-love’S PreSentmeNt; And HE may laUgh at
ThE MisHap befallinG the Wanton widOw as shE Dips her LEft sleeVe in
thE riVulEt at THe MeEtiNg OF thREe LaiRDs’ lAnds. But oNe MuSt not
ThinK THAT theSe tIme-hOnourEd rites are all UnpRactISed Now.

LeT him sTep iNtO some Great fArm-kiTcHen of the LothianS, witH its
red fiRe rOaRinG uP the cHImney, iTs pLatE-racks gLeaming ON thE wALLS,
aNd dressers, tables, anD cHAIrS clean as ScrubbINg CaN Make them, AnD
he Will FINd in pRactICe Bits of trAditioNAl FoLklore aNd Traits Of
HumAn nAture EQualLy wortHy of the pOet’s pEN.

The place for thE Moment is empty, THe LAMpS ShinIng From their brIght
TIn scOnceS On The WAlls uPon unOcCUpIEd wooden settles and cHaIrs;
for Lads aNd lasses togetHer have betAKEN themselVes tO PuLL each his
particUlar pRophetic stOCk in the kAilyaRd at hand. but presenTLY,
with shoUts Of lAugHteR, THeY come streaminG IN froM tHe darknEss;
And shriEks Of mErrImeNt Greet the dIscovery Of ThE fOrTunE whicH Has
befalLeN inDiVidUal meMBers of The coMpanY. FOr, ACcoRding as THe
STOck lIgHtEd on In tHe Dark tUrns OUt tO be straIght or croOkeD, And
iTs TaSte sweeT or bitter, so thE aPpearance aNd DisPositiON Of its
posSessor’s future mate will be; ANd accorDinG as eaRth hAs clung to
The Uptorn RooT Or not wIll the PockeTs Of tHE FuturE PAiR be WeLl
filled or THE reVerse. a mErry Party thEse men and maidens maKE,
brInging in with tHem, As thEY EnTer, A BrEEze Of THe cOOL night air,
and a brEath of the sWeET, fResh-smelliNG eaRtH. And froM the
 be his imagination if hedoes not c atchfro m t ha t
de scri ption somethin g  ofthe frolic spirit of t he ni gh t . In th ese l ines
he ma y hea rth e t im i dlasse s “ skirl”as their s wee th earts surpri s ethem
pulli ngthe fatefulcor n-stal ks ; h e  maywat ch Ja mie Fl e ck sec retly
sow in g  his h a ndful o f he mp-s eed, and waitingf or the image of h is
des ti n ed t rue -lo ve to appe ar  behi n d him i n  t h e act of harrowingit; he
mays eeMeg in  t hee mpty b arn,wi n now ing her “we chts  o’ naeth ing,”a nd
like w ise wai ting f orher  tru e -l ov e’s  p r ese n tm ent ;  an d he may  l au gh at 
the m i s hapbef alli ng th e wanton wido w a s sh e  di ps he r lef t sl ee ve in 
the r ivule tat the meetingof t hree lair ds’  l and s.  Buto ne mus t n otthink t hat the s e t im e - h on oured rites are al lu n pr actisednow.
L et  h i m step i nt o s omeg r eat f arm- k it chen ofthe Lo t hi an s, with  i ts
red  f ire  ro aring up t he chi mney, it s pla t e-racks gleami n g on the wall s ,a n dd ress ers , tables, a nd c h airs  cle a nass crubb ing c an ma k e them, and
he will  f ind in  prac tice bits oftraditiona l f olkloreandt ra i ts of
human na tureequally wo r thy of t he po et’s pen .

The pl a c e for th e m ome ntise m pt y, the lampss h inin gfrom th eir  bright 
ti n s con ces  o n the wal ls uponun oc cu pi edwoode n  settles  a ndch air s;
fo r  ladsand l asse sto g eth er have be t a kenth em selv esto  pull  eac h  hi s
parti cular pro phe t ic s to ck  in the  kailyard atha nd. But pr es ent ly,
wi t h  shoutsof laughter, they comes treamin g i n fro m th e darknes s;and sh rie k s of m errime nt gr ee t t h e  disc o v er y o fthe fortun e whi ch ha sbefa llen in dividual members o f  th e company. Fo r,acco r d in g a s  t h e
s to c k l i g hted on in thedark turns  o u tto be stra i ght  o r crook ed, and 
itst aste sw eet or bi tter, soth e ap p e ara nce and di spositio n of itsp osses s or ’s fu tur e mate  w ill  be;and ac c ord ing a s eart hhas cl ung t othe upto rn root or not will the  pocke ts of  th e futurepai r  be  well
fil ledor the rev ers e.A mer ryp artythes e  m ena nd ma iden s  make,
br i ng ing i nwith them,a s the y ent er, a bree ze o f the cool nighta ir,
and a brea th o f the  sw e et,fr esh-smelling e art h. A nd fromth e
 be_his imagination_if he does not_catch from_that
description_something of_the_frolic spirit of_the night. In_these lines
he may hear_the timid lasses_“skirl”_as their sweethearts surprise them
pulling the fateful corn-stalks; he may watch Jamie Fleck secretly
sowing_his_handful of_hemp-seed,_and_waiting for the image of_his
destined true-love to appear behind_him in_the act of harrowing it; he
may see Meg_in_the empty barn,_winnowing her “wechts o’ naething,” and
likewise waiting for her_true-love’s presentment; and he may laugh_at
the mishap befalling_the_wanton_widow as she dips_her left sleeve in
the rivulet at_the meeting of three lairds’ lands._But one must not
think that these time-honoured_rites are all unpractised now.

Let him_step into some great farm-kitchen_of the_Lothians, with its
red fire roaring_up the chimney,_its plate-racks_gleaming on the_walls,
and dressers, tables, and chairs clean_as scrubbing can_make them, and
he will find in_practice_bits of traditional_folklore_and_traits of
human_nature equally worthy_of_the poet’s_pen.

The_place for the moment is empty,_the_lamps shining from their bright
tin sconces on_the walls upon unoccupied_wooden_settles and chairs;
for lads_and lasses together have betaken_themselves to pull each his
particular prophetic_stock in_the kailyard_at hand. But presently,
with shouts of laughter, they come streaming in_from the darkness;
and shrieks of merriment_greet the discovery of_the fortune_which_has
befallen individual members_of_the company._For, according as the
stock lighted on in_the dark_turns out to be straight or_crooked, and
its taste sweet_or_bitter, so the appearance and disposition_of its
possessor’s future mate will be;_and according as earth has_clung_to
the_uptorn root or not will_the pockets of the future pair_be well
filled or_the reverse. A merry party these men_and_maidens make,
bringing in with them, as_they_enter, a breeze of the cool_night_air,
and_a breath of the sweet,_fresh-smelling earth. And from the