A STORY ABOUT THE " HERD LADDIE."

Otago Witness, Issue 2896, 15 September 1909, Page 65

A STORY ABOUT THE " HERD LADDIE."

The following interesting story is new to us, and will be so to most of or all our leaders. For it we are indebted to Mr R. Bos well, Sockburn, who has htfti. it' in his possession nearly 40 years: — A belief in ghosts and fairies, and other kindred apparitions which frighten frail mortals by their unearthly practices, is still rooted in the minds of a large portion of the population of Scotland ; and though the light of modern science has tended greatly to bring the evidence upon which the ghostseeing theories into disrepute, still, among the rural' population, and particularly in remote and mountainous districts, the knowledge which among the better educated classes accounts for all such wonders as the effects of natural causes, or as illusions of the mind, has made no sensible progress. The following story, which we can vouch for on the best au-tharily, as it came from the hero himself, shows that some of our countryman in the south oi Scotland are not less tenacious than others in the west and. north, of the popular belief in such subjects. • James- Wylie. the celebrated draughts ; player, alias the' "Herd Laddie," was not J Long ago crossing the hill of Moffat, in pursuit of- his business. It was a very dark and stormy night in mid- winter, and the I war of elements soon came such ac to make man and beast cower. Wylie, quite weatherbeaten, was anxious to find the shelter of any roof. Wylie betook himeelf. with all convenience, to the nearest habitation, which was a decent farm-house. He knocked at the door, was at once admitted, *nd the people of the house treated him with great kindness and hospitality, directing him to dry his clothes at the kitchen fire, and make himself comfortable for the night. At the fireside were two men, who appeared keenly enguged at draughts. The stranger for a. while looked modestly on, and the players having concluded a game, which they considered a " draw," asked the silent onlooker if ho could do anything at draughts. " Ou, ay, I ke a. little o't," was the unpretending reply. " Weel," said one of them, "if you like to try ycur hand, you may take a while o't; but mind, we aye play for 3d a game — maybe you winna venture on't gin ye kinira ken muckle «bout it." " I dinna mind muckle; I'll try't," answered the other. " F-eggs. lad, and gin ye would tap tent o' your siller, you'll do nae sic a thing," said the honest guidwife to the stranger; "for," continued she, " thae twa chaps are the best at it in this oountra-side, and canna gettlieir match." " On. I dinna mind muckle ; I'll try't," was still fhe rejoinder. So the stranger sei to in his own quiet way. and his opponent, reckoning on an easy victory, | began to " move " with an arch smile, quite confident of success. But somehow the stranger won, and having tried each chap alternately, continued to win every game, till, to the amazement of the whole house, he had disburdened them of some 20 shillings. The money was put down with- the - moefc scrupulous exactness, and the guidewife, for reasons which will afterwards appejir, joined with the rest in demanding, with much concern, "if a' was paid," and would not be satisfied until she knew such was the case. Supper was then brought in at a late hour, and the stranger invited to partake. During the meal Wylie'a natural taciturnity was not once interrupted, but the most profound silence reigned, and the inmates exchanged . ~ ; tih one another looks oi the most solemn

and mysterious import. After supper- th« stranger went out, and the night continuing dark and stormy, he stumbled on a stona and fell, making a thundering noise, and scaring away a black cat, which made a -speedy retreat" through the window. WyUe,after a few minutes, returned, but, to his surprise, found the doors bolted^- and secured. He knocked again and again, but in vain ; there was no answer ; all within was as still as the grave. At last he looked in , at the window, and found the whole family, - on their knees, evidently engaged in solemn devotion. He waited a reasonable time, then: knocked louder than before, but to no purpose; everyone continued in the same unvarying posture. Amazed and confounded, he saw no alternative but to seek shelter elsewhere. Returning the same way some months afterwards, he called at the house, and expressed surprise at being so mercilessly shut out on such a stormy night, after having been treated with so much kindness. " Losh, man, if you be a . man, who are ye?" interrogated the dame" with great concern j.". we thocht you was the deevil! When; you gaed out at the door our Betty saw ye flee up i' the air; and a blaze o' fire cam' frae your heels." The truth .now flashed on the mind of the astonished draughts player. "My name," said he, "is James Wylie. I fell at the door, and maybe my tackety shoon struck sparts out of the stanes." "My certy," said the guidwife, " thocht there was something no canny about ye. There was ne'er _a' game played i' tEis hoose sin syne." ' Had Wylie never returned to disclose his human identity, the*© can be no doubt the traditions'- of the- family at the farmhouse would have long -been-.- enriched by at least one memorable tale of a supernatural visitant.