A SCOTCH SHEPHERD'S PRAYER.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VI, Issue 211, 6 September 1871, Page 4

A SCOTCH SHEPHERD'S PRAYER.

The following is from " A Memoir of Charles Mayne Young, Tragedian, with Extracts from the Son's Journal," by the Rev. Julian Charles Young, A.M., Rector of Ilmington: — '

There is no class of persons more truly devout than the shepherds .of Scotland. Among them the exercise of, family worship is never neglected. It is always gone about with decorum; hut, formality being a thing despised by them, there are. ; . no compositions so truly original, occasionally for rude eloquence,' and not unfrequently for a plain and somewhat unbecoming familiarity. One of the most notable men for this sort of homely fireside eloquence was Adam Scott, of Upper Dalgliesh. I had an uncle that herded with him, and from him I had many quotations from Adam Scott's prayers. Hero is a short sample. "We parteeclarly thank Thee" for thy great gudeness to Meg; and that* it ever cam into your head to tak ony thought o' sic a useless bow-wow as heiralluding to a little girl who had been miraculously saved from drowning). For Thy mercy's sake — for the sake o' Thy puir sinfu' creeturs now addressing Thee in their am shilly shally way; and, for the sake o' mair than we daur weel name to Thee, hae mercy on bur Rob." Ye ken Yoursel'-, he's a.mischievous^allant,.. and thinks nae mair o'. committing sin. than a dog does o' licking a dish. But put thy hook intil his hose, and Thy bridle into his gab, and gar him back to Thee; wi' a jerk that he'll no forget the'laDgest day he has to live. Dinna forget puir Jamie, who's far awa frae us the night. Keep thy arm o' power about him, and, ech,. Sirs, I wish Ye wad endow him wi' a little spunk and smeddum to act for his sei'; for if Ye dinna, he'll be but a' buckle i' this warld, and a back-sitter in. ■: the next. Thou hast added ane to our family. [N.B. — One of his sons had.just married without his approbation.] So has been Thy will. It never would hae been mine. But, if it is of Thee, do Thou bless the connection. But, if the fule : hath done it out of carnal desire, against a' reason and credit, may the cauld rain o' adversity settle in his habitation," &_5. , Baron Rothschild has given the sum of £1000 to French, the jockey who rode Favonious, the winner of last year's Derby, and has bestowed on him an annuity of £200 for life. An American contemporary says : — "An anecdote, illustrating Queen Victoria's good sense and strict domestic discipline, came to me directly from one who witnessed the occurrence. One day, when the Queen was present iv her carriage at a military review, the Princess Royal, then rather a wilful girl of about thirteen, sitting on the front seat, seemed disposed to be rather familiar and coquettish with Borne young officer of the escort. Her Majesty .gave several reproving glances without avail— .winked at her, but she wouldn't stay, winked.' At-length, . in flirting with her handkerchief over the side,, she dropped it-"— too evidently not accidentally. . '. Instantly two or.;, three young heroes: sprang from their saddles to return, it to her fair hand, but tho awful voice of Royalty -stayed :; -them. : ' * Stop, gentlemen, said the, Queen, .'.just leave it where, it lies. daughter, get downi'from the.carriage and pick up your handkerchief.'-' There was no help L for it. The Royal lady proceeded to lift from the dust the ' pretty piece of cambric and lace. She blushed a good deal; though' Bh'etofesed her head , ' saucily,; andi she was -doubtless angry enough, but the mortifying lessbn jmay ?have .nipped ih * the ;bud $_# .fitat ( i-pj- ' , pulselowardr^qWJ^fi^j Mp/'btft ; ! .SparM-dwwpl^ '(.All 1 ._*,.. i ;__!-.. .ivxi»j-."iUi->'""! Ji<.j_ .v.'fvi.fT ii : I' 1 .