THE BAGPIPES.

Kumara Times, Issue 420, 30 January 1878, Page 4

THE BAGPIPES.

The following good story is from a Scottish paper :—A well-known poet embarked not long ago at Oban in one of the Clyde steamers, having in his charge a party of ladies en route for Skye There came on board, in full Celtic costume, the piper of a chief of that isle, with the "blushing honours thick uppu him" of success from a piping 1 competition at a recent Celtic gathering. No sooner had the boat started than the piper commenced to stride the deck as if "monarch of all »he soxVeyed," deafening all with melody or discord, a§cording to taste. Our'poet and his party were of those to whom the piping was sheer pain, for a time they suffered patiently, in the hope that the piper would ere long ■exhaust himself. But as his vigour seemed to grow by exertion, the poet tried to bribe him to silence with two half-crowns, equivocally praising his performance, and hinting that that was"fenbugh ; for the present. ** Na—a," said 1 the indignantly, " she does na p*lay for siller, an' she'll no stop for siller," and strode off majestically, playing louder than ever. The continued noise being'.all but intolerable, the poet, finding money of no effect, tried what what sympathy would do, and standing in the •piper's path, entreated him to desist, as one of the ladies of his party was sick. r The piper, a little cross, replied,* "If thevlady be sick she should tak' a train off blowing defiance from! the'pipes to air creation—a rejoinder received with roars of laughter from the passengers on deck. The ladies, in despair, retreated to the cabin; and after a time, the poet finding money and sympathy of no avail, "thought he would try a little " chaff," Soj-'accosting the piper for a third time said; "I believe the bagpipe is a first-class i instrument for frightening the rats away i from any dwelling," to which' the piper dryly replied, "It is -well known to all well-informed persons that all vermin hate the bagpipes, specially Lowland vermin!":'.- - '