Oatcakes were of two qualities: “twa breids an’a brose” i.e. All the white bread consumed was brought up once a week from Roughpark in a barrow by an old woman who met the Lumsden baker there. On “The Hillocks?” Came the reply, “Young folks areĪs a small child, Jamie would sit on winter evenings close by the fire with a short stick in his hand with which to ‘sned’ the ash from the burning rozzity root which helped to lighten the kitchen … A far cry from present-day illumination, but cheap! There were few luxuries in the glen in those days. Suspecting him of some nefariousĪctivity, the dominie asked, “Why aren’t you playing with the other boys School when all the others had scattered. One day, the dominie found a boy hanging around the The pupils at playtime disported on rough ground Map of Donside and Deeside showing were many of the places associated with James McHardy’s life are located.īad behaviour was punished by the miscreantīeing sent outside to ‘compose himself’ where, if lucky, he would be regaled byĪ ‘piece-and-jam’ provided by the lady of the schoolhouse. Jamie collected several prizes for general excellence and one for his hand-writing which to the end of his days was outstandingly beautiful. Offended his ear and he thoughtlessly called out, “That’s wrang!” thusĮarning a clout from the dominie for his uncomfortableĬan we picture in these days of over a hundred years ago a wee laddie in a home made “skirt” with a big pocket in front for carrying his oat-cake lunch and his peat for the school-room fire? At that time, the dominie coped in one room with over 60 of a roll spread over all classes from beginners to teenagers, and augmented his meager salary by breaking stones at the roadside after school hours! The older pupils herded sheep and worked on farms in summer and returned to school each winter to pick up the threads once more. He had early shownĮvidence of musical ability: came a day at school when the singing-lesson had Gaed as I was - an’ played the pipes up and down the fairground,” for heĪlready, though untaught, was making a name as a piper. Not a pretty sight, but, as Jamie used to say, “I On the occasion of another John’s Fair, hisĮlder brother, Alick, had been trimming Jamie’s hair in preparation when theyįell out about something and Alick refused to do any more.
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