the conversation going on somewhat in the same strain, and ending by one of the company saying, Wha made Provost Mackenzie wiser than ither folk, that's what I want to know?"

66

It serves us right," answered another, "for if Scotland had but spoken out, the chiel wad never ha’ gotten his act passed." And then I went to bed.

BORDER GAMES.

333

CHAPTER XXIII.

A Bright Holiday-Kindly Greetings-The Lists on the Dunion-Cakes and Ale-Rustic Talk-Grand Prospect-Jedburgh Games-Dingleding-ding-Compeetitors-Boy Wrestlers-Rustic Criticism-Boy Racers-An Awfu' Wund-Men Racers-Putting Light Ball-Putting Heavy Ball-Hop-step-and-leap-Hercules and Red Sark-Hitch and Kick-A Nimble Tailor-Single-stick, Dreary Pastime—Highland Piper, Highland Reels-Hurdle Race Dinner-time-Orderly Throng -Reel o' Tulloch-Men Wrestlers-A Grand Match-Cumberland for ever-Ghillie Callum-Running and Leaping-Grand Steeple ChaseDeparture.

A BRIGHT blue sky enlivened by great floating islands of snow-white cloud, the jangling of bells, a flag waving merrily on the abbey tower, and gay banners hanging from windows and housetops, are the sights and sounds that greet my eyes and ears on awaking. The earliest trains bring throngs of visitors, and word that more are coming. At nine o'clock the Jedburgh bands assemble in the Market-place, and do their best to inspirit the gathering, and presently with heart-stirring music, away they march up the steep ascent to the Dunion, followed by a straggling procession. It does one good to see how heartily the town sets about enjoying its holiday, and makes no pretence of being ashamed of amusement.

The musicians play as lustily, and the people walk and talk as briskly as if the long toilsome hill were an easy level. It is a pretty sight to look back when half way up on the numerous groups, men, women, and

children all clad in their best; some wearing a holiday decoration; a few of the men with their mauds thrown loosely over the shoulder, notwithstanding the July sun. And pleasant it is to hear the honest hearty voices of the country-folk as they salute one another, and speer kindly after friends at home. "Brawly, brawly, thank ye for speering," is the reply; and in the general gladness the three very dismal beggars who raise their voices by the wayside, are favoured with unwonted doles.

About half a mile brings us to an elevated grassy table-land, traversed by the road which stretches onwards to Hawick, and abutting in the rear upon a second hill, a rugged cone, the summit of the Dunion. Near the centre of this plateau the ground is fenced off for the games; an admirable site with room for thousands of spectators. Flanking the inclosure stand rows of refreshment booths, bearing the signs of the publichouses in the town, and stalls with cakes and gingerbread, and berries, and toys, around which the children already congregate in prattling glee. Here a fiddler, there a piper, there a ballad-singer, tries the effect of popular airs on popular generosity, and not without a profitable result. On one side is a large stand with tier upon tier of seats open to all who pay a shilling; on the other are the stands for the musicians, on which the banners flutter noisily, for up here the wind blows half a gale. Rows of spectators sit on low benches, or on the ground just within the fence; while the outside is crowded with solid belts of those who pay nothing, and take their chance.

Taking my seat on the stand next in front of a party of rustics who occupy an upper tier, I soon become aware that they afford me something more than shelter from

the wind, which changes to a chilly blast when clouds hide the sun; for they speak the rustic vernacular, the real Doric, to perfection. One who talks more than all the rest is rich in native accent. Here in the north on both sides of the border, the double is spoken as a guttural,-in our rustic's throat you would fancy it came out with a bubble, when he addresses his companion" Wull-y."

Apart from the immediate spectacle, there is a charm almost indescribable in the prospect which meets the eye from this lofty site. Westwards, the view is bounded by the topmost slopes of the Dunion; but to the south-east, and north we see hill and valley for miles and miles, the brown heath chequered with bright green or pale yellow, revealing the fair dominions of the plough, and touched with endless light and shade as the clouds drift by. And facing me as I sit there rises the Carter, dark and sullen some three leagues. distant. Think of the pleasure that befals spectators in such a place, with a magnificent panorama to feast their eyes on every time they look up from the lists!

The Jedburgh games were first held four years ago to celebrate the Marquis of Lothian's coming of age, and proved so successful that they have been repeated every year since, and may now be considered as an institution. It may be fairly questioned, whether in the Merry England of the olden time, the sports and games excited lustier emulation, or yielded more enjoyment.

It is ten o'clock, the throng is multiplied on all sides, the stand is well-nigh filled, the judge and stewards take their places, and the bellman with a dingle-dingding, calls on "compeetitors to come in." A few lads start up from the ground where they have been lying,

a few more get over the fence, others come from the dressing-tent in the corner, until altogether there are eight couples ready for a wrestling-match. Most of them throw off their upper garments and appear in close-fitting drawers and vest, and as soon as one couple have had their round another takes their place. With some it is an affair of a moment, no sooner gripped than one is thrown others make a struggle and display considerable strength and agility. The grip was new to me; the two look over shoulders, as in an embrace on the stage, pass their arms round each other's back, and make fast by clipping the two hands together. The strain exerted when the interlocking is complete, is very great, at times to danger of choking; but it not unfrequently happens, that a back is too broad for the arms to encircle, in which case the one who cannot reach, is at a disadvantage, for no grasp of the garment is permitted, as in Cornwall.

"Thot's no wrostlin!" cried the rustic behind me, as a big lad opposed to a little lad keeps him at arms' length, and after a stubborn resistance bends him backwards by dint of mere strength. "Thot's no wrostlin.' Ca' he a lod? Look at his theegh. ye ever see a lod wi siccan a theegh. Thot's a mon's theegh.' He sympathises with the little one, and thinks he would have conquered "if his fit had na' slippit.'

Did

"The muckle one" does not win after all: that honour is achieved by a bony youth, who when he has taken his grip seems to become as unyielding as iron. He gets the first prize-seven shillings, and four, three and two shillings, are awarded to the three next in order.

Another dingle-ding-ding, and "compeetitors" for the foot-race are bidden to come in. A course of a