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 THE LIBRARY OF THE 
 UNIVERSITY OF 
 NORTH CAROLINA 
 AT CHAPEL HILL 
 
 ENDOWED BY THE 
 DIALECTIC AND PHILANTHROPIC 
 SOCIETIES 
 
 PB1523 
 • W6 
 1898 
 
Ji 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF N.C. AT CHAPEL HILL 
 
 SEP 3 1976 
 
 10002756750 
 
 This book is due at the LOUIS R. WILSON LIBRARY on the 
 last date stamped under "Date Due." If not on hold it may be 
 renewed by bringing it to the library. 
 
 
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 I Form No. 513 
 
 
 
 
Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 in 2014 
 
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 https://archive.org/details/howtoreadgaelicoOOwhyt 
 
 i 
 
First Stage Gaelic as Specific Subject 
 
 HOW TO READ GAELIC 
 
 ORTHOGRAPHICAL INSTRUCTIONS 
 
 READING LESSONS ^5^5 
 
 AND 
 
 GRAMMAR * 
 
 JOHN WHYTE 
 
 AND / 
 
 ALEXANDER MACBAIN, M.A. 
 
 SECOND EDITION/ 
 
 THE "NORTHERN CHRONICLE 
 
the >. : ?.t:-:e?j» 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 A cheap and convenient Book of Lessons in Gaelic, to serve 
 as a companion to the existing Grammars, is a felt want. The 
 present little work has been constructed for the purpose, in 
 some measure, of supplying this want. In view of recent 
 movements in favour of more systematic teaching of Gaelic in 
 Highland Schools, the book has also been specially designed 
 to meet the requirements of the Gaelic Scheme adapted 
 to the Code by Mr Robertson, H.M I.S. There have, there- 
 fore, been added the special prose pieces suggested by the 
 Inspector, with suitable poetry for recitation, and a Synoptical 
 Gaelic Grammar. 
 
 As pupils, even when learning mere reading, are naturally 
 curious to carry with them an idea of the meaning of what 
 they may be repeating, English translations are appended to 
 all the Exercises and Reading Lessons, while in the case of two 
 of the latter — Calum Sebladair and Am Mac Strbdhail — a 
 literal interlinear rendering is also given. Of these two 
 selections specially it may also be remarked that they contain 
 a large variety of practicable and convenient phrases and 
 idioms ; and the possession of these by the pupil will form an 
 important basis upon which to build his future acquisitions in 
 Gaelic Grammar. 
 
 It need scarcely be said that the rules given for pronun- 
 ciation will not meet all the endless niceties and shades of 
 sound which prevail in Gaelic, in common with all other 
 languages, and which no system of phonotypes can exactly 
 represent ; nor will the rules cover all the various dialects 
 
 ^£ 566372 
 
 \ 
 
iv. 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 which prevail in different parts of the country ; but the 
 Authors are confident that a careful attention to the ortho- 
 graphical instructions here conveyed, and a thorough mastery 
 of the Exercises, will enable any ordinary student to read 
 Gaelic in a manner quite intelligible and satisfactory to the 
 ears of the Gaelic people of any district. Dialectal peculiarities 
 can only be learned in their respective habitats, or with the 
 assistance of a native speaker. 
 
 Other Text-Books, adapted to the more advanced stages of 
 the Scheme, are in preparation. The following are the require- 
 ments for the first stage of Gaelic as a Specific Subject and for 
 First Year Pupil Teachers : — 
 
 (A.) To read and translate any one of the following passages from Dr 
 Macleod's " Caraid nan Gaidheal" : — 
 
 Litrichean o Fhiannlagh Piobaire g' a Mhnaoi, 
 Sgeul mu Choire-na-Sithe, 
 Long Mhor nan Eilthheach, 
 
 Sealladh o Mhullach Beinne an Earra-Ghaidheal, 
 And to repeat and translate 40 lines of Gaelic poetry. 
 
 (B.) Grammar : — To point out the parts of speech ; declension of 
 noun ; spelling of simple words. 
 
 Inverness, February, 1898. 
 
HOW TO READ GAELIC. 
 
 GAELIC SOUNDS AND THEIR SYMBOLS. 
 
 THE ALPHABET. 
 
 THE VOWELS. 
 (1) Broad — a, 0, U : (2) Slender — e, L 
 
 THE CONSONANTS. 
 
 (3) Plain — 
 
 b, c ; d, f, g, h, 1, m, n, p, r, s, t. 
 
 (4) Aspirated — 
 
 bh, ch, dh, f h, gh, — (lh), mh, (nh), ph, (rh), sh, th. 
 
 (5) With aspirated I, n, r, the sign of aspiration, h, is not 
 used in spelling. 
 
 (6) The Consonants, with the exception of b,f, h, m, p, which 
 are immutable, have a broad and a slender sound, according as 
 they are in contact with broad or slender vowels, respectively. 
 This affinity is expressed in the old rule — " Leathann ri 
 leathann agus caol ri caol" — "Broad to broad and slender to 
 slender." 
 
 In the following pages the word ' final' applies to syllables 
 as well as words. 
 
 1 
 
2 
 
 VOWEL SOUNDS. 
 
 Gaelic Sounds. 
 
 ( 7 ) Long a 
 
 (8) Short a (a) 
 
 (9) Long O 
 (10) Short O (o) 4 lot 5 
 
 English 
 equivalents. 
 
 4 far' 
 4 sofa' 
 'lord' 
 
 (11) Long 
 
 (12) Short 
 
 (13) Long u 
 
 (14) Short u 
 (151 Long e 
 
 (16) Short e (e) 
 
 (17) Long e 
 
 (18) Short e 
 
 (19) Long i 
 
 (20) Short i 
 
 • hoe - 
 ' canto' 
 'pull' 
 'put' 
 1 where 1 
 ' whet ' 
 'whev' 
 
 Gaelic Examples. 
 
 cas, sail, cearr, ceaird 
 car, fail, geal, ceairsle 
 cbrr, oir, ceol, leoir 
 cor. toil, deoch, geoic 
 co, coig, leoghann, deoir 
 
 • sur vey 
 
 (noun) 
 
 'machine' i, io 
 'piano' i, io, 
 
 Gaelic by 
 
 a, ai, ea, eai 
 a, ai, ea, eai 
 6, oi, ed, eoi 
 o, oi, eo, eoi 
 6, oi, eo, eoi 
 
 o,oi,(eo),(eoi) tog, fois, (?), (?) 
 u, in, in, iui cu, cuil, ciiirr, ciuil 
 
 cur, cuin, fliuch, tiuighe 
 se, dean, seinih. sgeul 
 le, gean, crein 
 gle, ceir, teud 
 (?), fead, gen- 
 
 ii, m. hi, mi 
 
 e, ea, ei, eu 
 e, ea, ei 
 e, ei, eu 
 (e), ea, ei 
 
 mir, sioda 
 
 gin. crios. toeaidh 
 
 (21) The vowel digraph ao is really one single voweL It 
 is almost invariably long, and resembles ani in the French 
 word ' cceur,' or the u in the English word ' curl " lengthened. 
 
 (22) The short sound of ao is represented by a final and 
 unaccented (cionta, corsa, feola) : a (ea) short before dh, gh, 
 and unaccented ch (oladh, seadh. lagh, leagh, oglach, buileach) ; 
 a in the article in all its forms (a 7 , am, an, na, nan) : and in 
 most of the particles whose only vowel is a (mar, an, am, ag 
 (a J ), «fcc). 
 
 (23) Final and unaccented e (aite, uile) : (2±) i in the verb 
 i is.' in the conjunction ' is,' and in the word 'tigh' ; (25) o 
 short, before gh (rogha) : and (26) u in ' gun' ('without'), 
 ' mur,' and ' agus.' are also sounded like ao short. 
 
 (27) In the diminutive suffixes -ag (-eag) and -an, a has its 
 short, open sound a (8) (culag, caileag, caolan). 
 
 Towel Digraphs and Trigraphs. 
 
 : B The only proper and constant diphthongs in Gaelic 
 are ia and ua, in which both letters are always distinctly 
 sounded (grian, gual). 
 
 (29) In the other vowel digraphs and in the vowel trigraphs, 
 with the exceptions stated below, only one of the letters is 
 
 * The required sound is more purely met with in the French word 1 beau' (bo). 
 
3 
 
 sounded, the others merely indicating or regulating the quaHty, 
 broad or slender (6), of the contiguous consonants (graidh, 
 laigh, ceaird, oir, toil, le6ir, geoic, coig, cois, cuis, cuir, ciuil, 
 dean, gean, seimh, ceir, geir, sgeul, teud, sioda, fios, olaidh, 
 
 (30) Exceptions to observation 29 are, e and i in an initial 
 or final position (eolas, iolaire, mnaoi, naoi), or in contact with 
 b, bh, f y fh, m, mh, p, ph, sh, th, which suffer no modification by 
 vocalic contact (beann, beo, feart, feoil, caibe, fuaim, peann, 
 cnaip, sheann. thearr). That is, when e and i do not or cannot 
 indicate slender consonants, they make themselves heard in 
 vowel digraphs and trigraphs in which they should otherwise be 
 significant but silent, seen but not heard (beann, bheo, fheoil, 
 feart, caibe, fuaim, peann, cnaip, &c). 
 
 '31) 
 32) 
 
 (33) 
 (34) 
 
 (35) 
 
 (36) 
 (37) 
 
 (38) 
 
 (39) 
 (40) 
 (41) 
 
 CONSONANT SOUNDS. 
 
 Examples. 
 
 b = faintly voiced English p. barr, abair, cabar 
 
 bh = English v. When final it is 
 often sounded like oo in 'foot,' 
 
 or is altogether silent. 
 
 bha, gabh, dubh, 
 gheabh, treabh, 
 leabhar. 
 
 broad (that is, in 
 a, o, u,) = English c 
 
 contact with 
 hard. (Final 
 C, see 68). 
 C slender (that is, in contact with 
 e, i) = outer English c hard, like k 
 in 'king'('k'ing'). (Final C, see 68). 
 Ch broad, = ch in Scotch ' loch' or 
 
 German ' nach.' 
 Ch slender, = ch in German ' ich.' 
 d. broad, = faintly voiced English t, 
 pronounced with the point of the 
 tongue well down against the front 
 lower gum. (d in chd, see 69). 
 d slender, = faintly voiced palatalised 
 English t, as in ' tune.' The 
 position of the tongue is as for d 
 broad, (d in chd, see 69). 
 dh broad, = gh broad (45). 
 dh slender, = g"h slender (46). 
 f= English /. 
 
 corr, cu. 
 
 cir, ceum. 
 
 chum, luch, mach. 
 chi, teich. 
 
 dan, p-ad. 
 
 dlon, bid, diuid 
 
 fas, fuil. 
 
4 
 
 (42) 
 
 (43) 
 (44) 
 (45) 
 
 (46) 
 
 (47) 
 (48) 
 
 (49) 
 (50) 
 (51) 
 
 ' in which the / 
 voiced English c 
 
 (52) 
 (53) 
 
 (54) 
 
 (55) 
 
 (56) 
 (57) 
 
 fh is silent, except in ' fhathast, 
 
 ' fhein,' ' fhuair 
 
 alone is silent, 
 g" broad, = faintly 
 
 hard. 
 
 g slender, = faintly voiced outer Eng- 
 lish c hard, 
 
 gh broad, = gutturalised g, resem- 
 bling a burr, or g in the German 
 word 'tage.' When final it is 
 often but faintly heard. 
 
 g"h slender, =y in the English word 
 
 ' y es -' 
 
 h = English h. 
 
 1 initial, imaspirated, and 11 final, 
 broad, = / sonnded with the point 
 of the tongue well down against 
 the front lower gum. 
 
 1 initial, imaspirated, and 11 final, 
 slender, = Italian gl. It resembles 
 11 in the English word ' million." 
 
 1 aspirated (lh) broad (back /), re- 
 sembles I in the Eno-lish word 
 'hull/ 
 
 1 aspirated (lh) slender (front /), re- 
 sembles / in the English word 
 1 hill.' 
 
 m = English m. 
 
 mh = English v. When final it is 
 often silent or resembles English w . 
 
 n initial, imaspirated, and nn final, 
 broad, = n sounded with the point 
 of the tongue well down against 
 the front lower gum. 
 
 n initial, imaspirated, and nn final, 
 slender, = French gn. Eesembles n 
 in the English word c vineyard.' 
 
 n aspirated (nh) broad (back n),=n 
 in the English word ' nun.' 
 
 n aspirated (nh) slender (front n), = 
 n in the English word ' ninny.' 
 
 Examples. 
 
 dh' fhill, dh' fham 
 gab, mag. 
 gin, smig. 
 
 agh, dha. 
 
 righ, dhe. 
 
 a h-uan, na h-eich. 
 
 la, null, 
 leann, ciil. 
 mo lamh, cal. 
 
 mo leanabh, mil. 
 am, m6r. 
 
 damh, mhol, doinh. 
 
 nadur, lunn. 
 
 nead, cinn. 
 mo naire, dan. 
 mo nighean, min. 
 
5 
 
 (58) p = English p. (Final p, see 68). 
 
 (59) ph = English/. 
 
 (60) r broad (back r), = r in the English 
 
 word 'rim.' It is always trilled. 
 
 (61) p slender (front r), = front English r. 
 
 It is always trilled. 
 
 (62) S broad, = s in the English word 'so.' 
 
 It is silent after t-. In the Gaelic 
 words 'so' ('here') and ' sud' 
 ('yonder'), it has the sound of s in 
 ' sugar.' 
 
 (63) S slender, =s in the English word 
 
 ' sugar.' It is silent after t-. 
 
 (64) sh = English h. 
 
 (65) t broad, = t sounded with the point 
 
 of the tongue well down against 
 the front lower gum. (Final t, 
 see 68). 
 
 (66) t slender, = palatalised t. Resembles 
 
 English tch, or tj, voiceless, or t in 
 the English word 'tune.' The 
 position of the tongue is as with 
 t broad. (Final t, see 68). 
 
 (67) th = English h. It is silent in the 
 I ^ ! word 'thu' ('thou'). 
 
 (68) Final Q l = hc; p and t following a 
 
 short vowel = hp and fit, respec- 
 tively, in most dialects. 
 
 (69) chd = ckc. 
 
 (70) 
 
 when in contact 
 n, except e, e (17, 
 
 Vowels are nasal 
 with m, mh, or 
 18), and 6, o (11, 12). 
 (71) Long a and long o before 11 and nn = 
 au and ou, in most dialects. 
 
 Examples. 
 pog, pios. 
 phos, ,phinn. 
 
 run, mor. 
 
 rithist, cir. 
 
 cas, sar. 
 
 caise, sin, cis. 
 sheas, shar. 
 
 tonn, tal, tog. 
 
 teann, till, aite. 
 tha, sath, thog. 
 
 mac = mahc ; ap = 
 ahp ; cat = caht. 
 
 luchd = luchc; ochd 
 = ochc. 
 
 am, amh, dan. 
 call (caull), toll 
 (toull). 
 
 Exceptional and Irregular Sounds. 
 
 (72) ai and oi in 'ailm,' 'pailm,' 'sailm,' 'cailbh,' 'oidhirp/ 
 'oighre,' 'oighreag,' 'oilean,' ' oillt,' 'boile,' 'boillsg,' 'coileach,' 
 ^coille,' 'doille,' 'foill,' 'foillsich,' 'Goill,' ' moille,' ' coinneal,' 
 
4 airean,' 1 airm,' ' cairbh,' 1 gairm,' 1 mairbh,' ' sgairbh,' 'tairbh/ 
 'tairbbe,' 'coire' ('fault'), 'coireal,' 'doire,' 'doirbh,' * goireas/ 
 1 goirid,' ' soirbh,' ' sgoinn,' ' toigh,' ' toill,' ' toinn,' have the 
 sound of ao short. 
 
 ai in the prepositions ' aig"' ('at') and 'air' ('on' or 1 after'), 
 is, in most dialects, sounded like ai in the English word 
 ' mountain.' 
 
 n after initial c and g is commonly sounded r (cnu, gnath, 
 &c). 
 
 (73) All Gaelic words are accented on the first 
 syllable. 
 
EXERCISES. 
 
 In the Exercises letters very faintly sounded or entirely silent 
 are printed in italics. 
 
 The short , indefinite sound of ao is indicated by inverting the 
 letters ivhich represent it ; that is, inverted a and e in the 
 Exercises sound like o and e in the English word ' cover. ,' 
 
 Unaspirated 1 and n in an initial position are written double, 
 to indicate their peculiar sound (48, 49, 54, 55). This is con- 
 tinued all through the Reading Lessons, as some knowledge of 
 Gaelic or its Grammar is necessary before the reader can 
 distinguish the aspirated and non-aspirated liquids. 
 
 EXERCISE I. 
 
 (1) bha lkogh-'Bnn aon 11a v mach ts' sealg. 
 (2) bha ^n 11a fior bhlaih, oir bha teas mor aims 
 is' ghrem. (3) bha e sgith, ag-us thu.it e na 
 'chad-^1 fo sgail craoibh. (4) bha lluch-ag bheag 
 b' dol seach-^d. (5) rui£h i ^hair-is air T3 shrom, 
 ag-us dhmsg i e. (6) thog e v spog ag-us chmr e 
 air v.n lluch i. (7) bha e & dol ga 'cur gu bas air 
 son cho dan-B 's "Q bha i. (8) bha Bn an-ail s^n 
 uchd aic-9, ag-us i air chrkh. (9) ghu?'dh is 
 ghrios i air v lleig-eil as. (10) rtiuirt i nach ann 
 d' a debm ^ chmr i dr^gh air, nach robh innt-o 
 ach beo£h-i3ch beag, llag, faom, ag-us nach b'/Aiach 
 da t? chas 13 shal-'ech-'edh le 13 fuiL (11) rinn 
 
8 
 
 lkogh-'enii smezd-9 gair-9 'en ua?r T3 chunn-aig e 
 i3n t-eag-ul T3 bha air 'en lluch, agus leig e as i. 
 
 (1) A lion was out hunting one day. (2) The day was very warm, for there was 
 great heat in the sun. (3) He was tired, and fell asleep under the shadow of a tree. 
 (4) A little mouse was passing. (5) She ran across his nose and awakened him. (<.>) 
 He lifted up his paw and clapped it on the mouse. (7) He was about to kill her for 
 her boldness. (8) She was breathless and quaking. (9) She pleaded with him, and 
 implored him to let her off. (10) She said that she had no wish to annoy him, that 
 she was only a little, weak, trifling creature, and that it would be unworthy of him 
 to soil his foot with her blood. (11) The lion smiled when he saw how frightened the 
 mouse was, and let her off. 
 
 EXERCISE II. 
 
 (1) 'en ceann uin-9 ghozr-id T3n dezdh so, aon 11a 
 13 bha T3n lleogh-'enn /b' sealg. chazdh ghlac-^dh 
 aim T3n rib-9. (2) mi uair 'B dh' y/mr-ich e nach 
 Tobh dol as aig-9, £hb£s-ich e air ran-aich cho 
 cruazdh 's gun do dhmsg n^ cnuzc lets Bn y/maim. 
 (3) chual T3n lluch-ag e. (4) dh' a^hn-ich i v 
 ghu^h, ag-us rukh i gu llua^h far T3n robh e. (5) 
 bha e isn sin ^ cur nisn car dhe£h, ag-us gun 
 fhios aig-9 de v. dhean-'Bdh e. (6) arm 'Bn tiot-'B 
 £ho£S-ich T3n lluch air mi llion T3 chreim far T3n robh 
 mi t-sireim ceang-ail-to, ag-us cha b' /had- 1 ® gus 
 bii do ghearr i trormh-Q e, ag-us lezg i righ uaibh- 
 re'Bch nT3 cozll-9 fa-sgaozl. 
 
 (1) A short time after this, one day as the lion was hunting, he was caught in 
 a snare. (2) When he felt that there was no vvay of escape, he began to roar so loudly 
 that the hills rang with the sound. (3) The mouse heard him. (4) She knew his 
 voice, and ran quickly where he was. (5) There he was tumbling and not knowing 
 what to do. (6) In a moment she began to gnaw the net, where the knot was tied, 
 and she was not long in cutting it through, and setting the proud king of the forest 
 at liberty. 
 
EXERCISE III. 
 
 1 Gach u?l-Q shknsgh air Zhal-'emh 'rtia, 
 
 Semn-ibh le iol-'Bch arc! do Dhia ; 
 Le h-aoibh-n<2T3s dean-aibh seirbh-is dha, 
 'S le binn-cheol ard-aicb-ibh "en Tria£h. 
 
 2 Tm'g-ibh gur Dia le-ho-bha tvQuu, 
 
 'S e mham is chru£h-aich sinn 's v dhealbh ; 
 Misr shluTsgh 's nrer chaoir-ich fbs dha /hem, 
 Is llezs-sisn sinn gu Weil' rrnsr shealbh. 
 
 3 Le bmdh-e r Bch- f BS na 'lam-'r v steach, 
 
 Na 7 gheat-aibh arll-idh £hig-ibh dlii^h ; 
 Tog-aibh 'en cmrt-cen nnaomh' is £heach, 
 D' a amm-sisn mol-isdh ard is ik'u. 
 
 4 Oir ma mi Tigh-mn mam gu fior ; 
 
 Gu bram cha diob-air troc-air Dhe ; 
 Bidh yAir-inn mau'-min-isch gu sior, 
 Gun chaoch-la, buan, o re gu re. 
 
 1 All people that on eartli do dwell, 
 
 Sing to the Lord wii h cheerful voice ; 
 Him serve with mirth, his praise forth 
 Come ye before him and rejoice, [tell, 
 
 2 Know that the Lord is God indeed ; 
 
 Without our aid he did us make ; 
 We are his flock, he doth us feed, 
 And for his sheep he doth us take. 
 
 3 O enter then his gates with praise, 
 
 Approach with joy his courts unto ; 
 Praise, laud, and bless his name always, 
 For it is seemly so to do. 
 
 4 For why the Lord our God is good ; 
 
 His mercy is for ever sure ; 
 His truth at all times firmly stood, 
 And shall from age to age endure. 
 
 EXERCISE IV. 
 
 (1) Ar n-Amazr ts ta air Nneamh : (2) Gun 
 nnaomh -aichcer d' amio. (3) Thig^sdh do riogh- 
 vchd. (4) Dean-isr do thoil air isn Tal-ismh m^r v 
 
10 
 
 mth-evr air Nneamh. (5) Thoir dhumn an diugh 
 ar n-ar-an Uai^h-eil. (6) Ag-us makh dhuinn 
 ar flach-'Bn misr T3 mhai^h-e'es sinn-o d' ar lluchd- 
 fiach. (7) Ag-us na lleig buau'-eBdh sinn ; 
 (8) ach saor sinn o qlc. (9) Ozr is lleat-s^ 'en 
 riogh-'Bchd, ag-us 'en cumh-vchd, ag-us & ghlo^r, 
 gu sior-rmdh. A-men. 
 
 (1) Our Father which art in Heaven : (2) Hallowed be thy name. (3) Thy 
 kingdom come. (4) Thy will be done in Earth as it is in Heaven. (5) Give us this 
 day our daily bread. (6) And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. (7) 
 And lead us not into temptation ; (8) but deliver us from evil. (9) For thine is the 
 kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. 
 
 EXERCISE V. 
 
 1 Nis £ha 'n geamh-rBdh air gach taobh, 
 
 'S nna-dur rearm fo 'n reotfh-rdh chr'iaidh ; 
 'S fuar-aidh, Horn, gach lhis is craobh, 
 'S gach sion aog-naidh rrrer im uaigh. 
 
 2 Chan 'e^l e ach m^r un de 
 
 Bho 'n v riogh-aich samh-r^dh uam', 
 Bho 'n « chrumn-ich-ei3dh vm feur, 
 'So'n^ chrioch-naich-eudh -e' bhuam. 
 
 3 Llai£h-mi grian-t?ch dh' im-ich uamn ; 
 
 So misr theid ar bliadh-naidh as, 
 Aon air sail-tmi aom, gu buan, 
 'S iad na 's lluaitfh na che^l-8 bras. 
 
 4 jTha ar beath-v brebit-9 gearr ; 
 
 'S fa^'sg -en geamh-r^dh is t-eug ; 
 'S m^r -en duill-eag, searg-t' air liar, 
 Tm't-idh sinn-a bharr mm ge^g. 
 
11 
 
 5 Ach ni 'n tal-imih dusg-udh suas ; 
 
 Till-idh ridi-ist dreach nvm fliir, 
 'S ez'r-idh nna-dur as mi uaigh, 
 Beb le heath s ghl6r-mhcm', uir. 
 
 6 Dhm'nn-a fos, 'en de^dh ar fo*s, 
 
 Thig am-dusg-aidh aoibh-n^ch, mor, 
 'S gheabh ar iebil im doch-T3s clos 
 Gu riug earr-'Bch buan nt? G\bir\ 
 
 1 Winter reigneth o'er the land. 
 
 Freezing with its icy breath ; 
 Dead and bare the tall trees stand ; 
 All is chill and drear as death. 
 
 2 Yet it seemeth but a day 
 
 Since the summer flowers were here, 
 Since they stacked the balmy hay, 
 Since they reaped the golden ear. 
 
 3 Sunny days are past and gone : 
 
 So the years go speeding fast, 
 Onward ever, each new one 
 Swifter speeding than the last. 
 
 4 Life is waning ; life is brief ; 
 
 Death, like winter standeth nigh ; 
 Each one, like the falling leaf, 
 Soon shall fade and fall and die. 
 
 5 But the sleeping earth shall wake, 
 
 And the flowers shall burst in bloom, 
 And all nature rising break, 
 Glorious from its wintry tomb. 
 
 6 So, Lord, after slumber blest 
 
 Comes a bright awakening, 
 And our flesh in hope shall rest 
 Of a nevei'-fading spring. 
 
12 
 
 READING LESSONS. 
 
 LESSON I. 
 An Grbusaiche agus na Daoine-sith. 
 
 (1) Bha ann roimhe so greusaiche, agus bha e na 'dim in e 
 firirmeach, ceart. 
 
 (2) Bha e a' saothrachadh gu goirt, ach an deidh a li-uile 
 rud a bha aim, cha b' urrainn da a chosnadh na chumadh bed e. 
 
 (3) Mu dheireadh chaill e a chuid a'n t-saoghal, ach uiread 
 leathraich agus a dheanadh aon phaidhir bhrog. 
 
 (I) Anns an fheasgar ghearr e a mach an lleathar, a' cur 
 roimhe eirigh moch aims a' mhadainn a dheanamh nam brog. 
 
 (5) Bha inntinn ghlan agus cridhe sunndach aige am measg 
 gach cruaidh-chas a thainig air ; chaidh e a laighe ami an sith, 
 dh' fhag e 'uile churam air Dia, agus thuit e na 'chadal. 
 
 (6) Anns a' mhadainn bha e a' dol a shuidhe sios gu 'obair ; 
 ach de a chunnaig e ? — a' phaidhir bhrog, deas, glan, na 'n 
 llaighe air a' bhord-oibre ! 
 
 (7) [y gann a b' urrainn do 'n duino bhochd a shiiilean a 
 chreidsinn, agus cha robh fios aige de a theireadh e. 
 
 (8) Thog e na brogan agus sheall e thairis orra gu mion, 
 geur, ach aon ghreim mearachdach cha robh annta. 
 
 (9) Thainig ceannaiche an 11a sin, agus thaitinn na brogan 
 cho math ris 's gun do phaidh e orra gi toilcach barrachd agus 
 a b' abhaist da. 
 
 (10) Le pris nam brog chaidh aig a' ghreusaiche air uiread 
 leathraich a cheannach agus a dh' fhoghnadh air son da 
 phaidhir bhrog. 
 
 (II) Anns an fheasgar ghearr e a mach an obair, agus ghabh 
 e mu thamh, a' cur roimhe a bhith air bonn moch air madainn. 
 
 (12) Ach bha a shaothair air a caomlmadh dha ; oir an uair 
 a dh' eirich e anns a' mhadainn bha crioch air an obair. 
 
 (13) Cha b' fhada gus an d' thainig ceannaichean a phaidh 
 gu math air son a chuid bhrog ; agus bha a nis aige na 
 eheannaich lleathar cheithir paidhrichean eile. 
 
13 
 
 (14) Aon uair eile ghearr e mach an obair tra-feasgair, agus 
 a ris fhuair e deas, glan, i anns a' mhadainn. 
 
 (15) Mhair so car greis a dh' uine. 
 
 (16) Na bhiodh gearrte anns an fheasgar bhiodh e air a 
 dheanamh na 'bhrogan aig beul an 11a. "•'< "" 
 
 (17) Is e a bha ann nach b' fhada gus an d' fhas~an duine 
 c6ir soirbheachail, beairteach. 
 
 THE SHOEMAKER AND THE FAIRIES. 
 
 (1) Long time ago there lived a shoemaker, a truthful, upright man. (2) He 
 laboured hard, but after all that, he was not able to earn as much as would keep him 
 alive. (3) At last he lost all he possessed in the world, except as much leather as 
 would make one pair of shoes. (4) In the evening he cut put the leather, intending 
 to get up early in the morning to make the shoes. (5) He had a pure mind and a 
 cheerful heart in the midst of all the straits which had come upon him ; he went to 
 bed in peace, leaving all his cares on God, and fell asleep. (6) In the morning he was 
 about to sit down to his work ; but what did he see ? — the pair of shoes, neat and 
 ready, lying on the work-bench ! (7) The poor man could scarcely believe his eyes,, 
 and he did not know what to say. (8) He lifted the shoes and looked over them 
 minutely and closely, but there was not one faulty stitch in them. (9) A purchaser 
 came the way that day, and the shoes pleased him so well that he willingly paid for 
 them more than he was in the habit of doing. (10) With the price of the shoes the 
 shoemaker was able to buy as much leather as would suffice for two pairs of shoes. 
 (11) In the evening he cut out the work and retired to rest, intending to be on foot 
 early in the morning. (12) But his labour was spared him ; for when he got up in the 
 morning the work was finished. (13) It was not long till purchasers came who paid 
 well for his shoes ; and now he had what purchased leather for four pairs more. (14)' 
 Once more he cut out the work at early evening, and again he found it neat and 
 ready in the morning. (15) This continued for some time. (16) What was cut at 
 evening was made into shoes at break of day. (17) The result was that ere long the 
 good man became prosperous and wealthy. 
 
 LESSON II. 
 
 An Greusaiche agus na Daoine-sith. — Continued. 
 
 (1) Air feasgar araidh mu am na Nollaige, mar bha e fhein 
 agus a bhean na 'n suidhe taobh an teine, a' c6mhradh r' a 
 cheile, ars' esan rithe, " Bu ghle mhatti learn fuireach air mo 
 chois a nochd, feuch am faicinn co tha a' tighinn agus a' dean- 
 amh na h-oibre air mo shon." 
 
 (2) " Ni sinn direach sin fhein, a dhuine mo ghaoil," ars' a' 
 * bhean. 
 
 (3) Dh' fhag iad an solus llaiste agus dh' fhalaich iad iad 
 fhein air cul claraidh, ann an oisinn de 'n tigh, a dh' fhaicinn 
 de a thachradh. 
 
 (4) Mu mheadhon oidhche thainig da thacharan bheag a 
 stigh agus gun snathainn aodaich orra. 
 
 (5) Shuidh iad sios air b6rd-oibre a' ghreusaiche, thog iad 
 na bha de leathar air a ghearradh a mach, agus thoisich iad 
 air le 'n corragan beaga, a' fuaigheal, agus a' cnapadh, agus a' 
 
14 
 
 bualadh, air a leithid a dhoigh 's gun robh an greusaiche air a 
 lionadh le ioglinadh, agus cha b' urrainn da a shuil a thogail 
 diiibh. 
 
 (6) Shin iad air an obair an sin gus an robh crioch oirre, 
 agus na brogan reidh, gian, air a' bhord. 
 
 (7) Bha so fada roimh eirigh na greine, agus an sin thar 
 iad as mar an dealanach. 
 
 (8) An ath la thuirt a' bhean ris a' ghreusaiche, " Tha na 
 daoine-beaga an deidh ar fagail beairteach ; tha sinn gu mor 
 na n comain ; agus bu choir dhuinne coibhneas air chor-eigin 
 a dheanamh riii-san. 
 
 (9) " Tha e a' cur doilghis orin a bhith ga 'm faicinn ag 
 iurpais mar tha iad ; chan 'eil snathainn air an druim a chumas 
 a mach am fuachd. 
 
 (10) " limsidh mi dhuit de am mi : ni mi Heine bheag, agus 
 cota, agus brigis, do gach fear aca ; agus dean thusa brogan 
 doibh." 
 
 (11) Thaitinn comhairle na mna ris a' ghreusaiche gu 
 h-anabarrach ; agus air feasgar araidh, an uair a bha gach nm 
 ullamh. dh' fhag iad na deiseachan air a' bhord, an aite na 
 h-oibre a b' abhaist doibh a ghearradh a mach ; agus an sin 
 -chaidh iad agus dh' fhalaich iad iad fhein a dh' fhaire ciod 
 a dheanadh na daoine-beaga. 
 
 (12) Mu mheadhon oidhche thainig iad a stigh, agus bha 
 iad a' dol a shuidhe sios an taice na h-oibre mar a b' abhaist 
 doibh ; ach an uair a chimnaig iad an t-aodach rinn iad glag 
 gaire agus bha othail mhor orra. 
 
 (13) Chuir iad orra na deiseachan aim an tiota, agus 
 thoisich iad air dannsadh, agus air Ileum agus air gearradh 
 shinteag an sin, gus mu dheireadh an do dhanns iad a mach 
 air an dorus agus a nunn thar an ailein. 
 
 (14) Chan fhaca an greusaiche gu brath tuilleadh iad ; ach 
 chaidh gach cuis gu math leis as a dheiclh sin, cho fada 's a bha 
 e beo. 
 
 THE SHOEMAKER AND THE FAIRIES— Continued. 
 
 (1) One evening about Christmas time, as he and his wife sat chatting at the fire- 
 side, he said to her, " I should much like to sit up to-night and see who is coming 
 and doing the work for me." (2) "We will just do that same, my dear man," said 
 the wife. (3) They left the light burning and hid themselves' behind a screen in a 
 corner of the house, to see what should happen. (4) At midnight there came in two 
 little sprites without a rag of clothes. (5) They sat down on the shoemaker's work- 
 bench, they took all the leather that was cut out, and began with their little fingers 
 sewing and knocking and hammering, in such a way that the shoemaker was filled 
 with wonder, and could not take his eyes off them, (o) They lay to the work then till 
 it was finished, and the shoes neat and ready on the bench. This was long before the 
 
al~~-$- xu*r - — ' 
 
 • 15 
 
 sun was up, and then they made off like lightning. (S) Next day the wife said to 
 the shoemaker, ,! The li tie men have made us wealthy : we are much in their debt ; 
 nnd we ought to do them some kindness or other. (9) It grieves me to look at them 
 frisking about as they are ; there is not a rag on their backs to keep out the cold. 
 (10) I will tell you what I will do : I will make a little shirt, and coat, and trousers for 
 each of them ; and you make shoes for them." (11) The wife's advice pleased the 
 shoemaker vastly : and one evening when evervthing was ready, they left the suits on 
 the bench, instead of the work which they used to cut out ; and then they went and 
 hid themselves to watch what the little men might do. (12) About midnight they 
 came in and were about to sit down to the work as usual ; but when they saw the 
 clothes they broke out into a loud laugh and were in great glee. (13) They put on 
 the suits iu a twinkling, and they began to dance, and leap, and stride about, till at 
 last they danced out at the door and away across the lawn. (14) The shoemaker 
 never saw them again ; but everything went well with him after that, as long as he 
 lived. 
 
 LESSON III. 
 Iain Beag Mac-Aixdrea. 
 
 (1) Tha e air 'aithris gun robh Iain Mac-Aindrea o chiorm 
 r.naoi-fichead bliadhna a' tamh an Dail-na-h-Aitnich, an sgire 
 Ghlinn-Ceatharnaich, ann an Srath-Spe. (2) Bha e na 'dhuinea- . 
 chan beag, suarach, na jcholtas air gach doigh — na bu choltaiche 
 a bhith air 'fhagail a an coknam mart agus nan J 
 
 llaogh na bhith a' dol leis a' crioisrrun"do 'n bhlar. (3) 
 Gidheadh na^c^om^bha cridhe an llaoich, air a bhrosnachadh le 
 spiorad na gaisge ; agus fear-bogha na b' ealagta an am 
 tarraing gu comh-stri cha do tharraing riamh saignead ri sreing. 
 (4) Tha gach euchd gaisgeil a rinn e air an aithris le tuilleadh . 
 ioghnaidh an uair a bheirear fa-near cho tur neo-fhaicheil 's 
 bha e. (5) Tha e air a radh gun tilgeadh e da-shaighead- 5 
 dheug, agus gun sathadh e an darna h-aon ann an earball na 
 h-aoin eile. (6) Thainig e aon 11a seachad air bij^hinna bha #U<UJLe<u*<ri 
 ri giomanachd ann an Srath-h-Eireann. (7) DrV flTCoraTch cuid 
 diubh de 'n ghille bheag am feuch adh e ris an t-saighid, agus S*^ffry 
 le beagan moit dh' aontaich e. (8) Bhuail e an toiseach faisg J 
 air meadhon na targaid, ach an darna h-uair chuir e an 
 t-saighead direach na 'meadhon. (9) Thoisich iad air ioghnadh 
 a ghabhail agus air a bhith ga 'mhola^h ; ach thuirt e riu gun 
 deanadh iad na b'fhearr na sin/an Srath-Spe. (10) Dh' fhalbh 
 e agus shath e slatag sheilich ann an torn, astar math air falbh. 
 (11) Thilg e agus sgoilt e i leis a' chiad shaighid. 
 
 (12) Bha e na 'rogha fhear-aitribh, agus cha b' ainmig leis 
 a bhith ris an obair sin ann an Srath-h-Eireann. (13) Aig aon 
 am bha e ann ris a' cheart obair sin aig Fear Choileachaibh. 
 (14) Air feadh na h-oidhche thainig a' chrois-tara chum an 
 tighe. (15) B' e bha an so Rosach Chill-reabhaig an Srath- 
 
16 
 
 Narann, agus e air toir na creiche a thogadh uaith le Fear 
 Acha-luachrach an Lloch-abar, agus e air shiird posaidh. (16) 
 Dh' fhalbh Fear Choileachaibh agus a chuideachd maille ri 
 buidheann an Rosaich, agus Tain Beag Mac-Aindrea mar aon de 
 chach. (17) Bhuail iad air an aghaidh le surd agus le faicill, 
 gus an d' rainig iad a' Chro-chlach am braigh Srath-h-Eireann. 
 (18) Chunnagas solus ann am bothan nan ciobair. (19) An so 
 bha Fear Acha-luachrach agus a bhuidheann an deidh an 
 suipeire, a" seanachas r' a cheile gun fhiamh, gun eagal. (20) 
 Aig an am so bha Iain Mac-Aindrea air toiseach na buidhne. 
 
 (21) Shuidhich e e fhein mu choinne dor us a' bhothain. 
 
 (22) Bha an oidhche fuathasach dorcha — nni a thug fior 
 chothrom dhoibhsan a bha a mach, ach a bha gu tur an 
 aghaidh chaich, a bha air an lleigeil ris le solus a' ghealbhain a 
 bha aca anns a' bhothan. (23) An uair a dh' fhairich iad an 
 tailmrich a bha a mach, b' ann le spiorad na gaisge a thriall 
 gach fear chum an doruis, a thoirt coinne do luchd na 
 torachd ; ach cha d' rainig a h-aon diubh an stairsneach gun 
 bhith air an lleagail na 'n torr air muin a cheile. (24) Bha 
 llamh Iain Bhig Mhic-Aindrea bitheanta gu lleoir agus a shuil 
 an toir air ceannard na buidhne. (25) Air dhasan a bhith 
 aithnichte, a thaobh 'eididb, an uair a chunnaig Iain e, chuir e 
 saighead na 'uchd a cheangail e ris a' phost a bha air a chulaibh. 
 (26) An uair a chunnaig Fear Choileachaibh mar rinn e — 
 theagamh chum fios a thoirt do 'n Rosach mar thachair — 
 ghlaodh e mach, " Buaidh is tapadh leat, Iain Mhic-Aindrea 
 Dhail-na-h-Aitnich !" (27) An uair a chual Iain am miodal so, 
 aig am cho mi-fhreagarrach — air dha a thuigsinn na 'n rachadh 
 fear sam bith as, gun tugadh e 'ainm-san do Loch-abar ; nni a 
 dh' fhagadh e buailteach do chunnart na 'dheidh sin — fhreagair 
 e Fear Choileachaibh ann am briathran nach f urasda sgriobhadh. 
 (28) Cha d' fhuair a h-aon as de na bha stigh, ach aon ghille 
 maol, dubh. a thug fa-near a' chuis. (29) Bhrist esan a mach 
 air cul a' bhothain, agus gu truagh do dh' Iain Mac-Aindrea, 
 thug am fear so an nnaidheachd agus 'ainm do Loch-abar mar 
 am fear a fhuair urram na saighdearachd. (30) Agus bha a' 
 
 • bhuil : is gann gun d' fhuair Iain 11a no oidhche sona na 
 'dheidh. 
 
 LITTLE JOHN MACANDREW. 
 
 (1) It is said that Little John Macandrew lived some hundred and eighty years 
 ago in Dalnahatnich, in the parish of Duthil, in Strathspey. (2) He was a little 
 insignificant man in appearance in every way — more like being left at home about 
 the cows and calves than following the heroes to battle. (3) He was, however, 
 
17 
 
 possessed of a hero's heart, inspired with the spirit of bravery ; and a more skilful 
 archer, when the time of conflict came, never pressed arrow to bowstring. (4) The 
 many brave deeds which he did are related with all the more wonder, seeing how 
 altogether unprepossessing he was. (5) It is said that he could shoot twelve arrows, 
 and fix one after one of them in the end of the one before it. (6) One day he passed 
 a party of hunters in Strathdearn. (7) One of them asked the little fellow if he would 
 try his skill at the bow, and with some show of diffidence he consented. (8) At the 
 first attempt he struck near the middle of the target, but at the second throw he 
 sent the arrow direct to the centre. (9) They began to wonder and to praise him ; 
 but he told them they could do better than that in Strathspey. (10) He went and 
 thrust a willow wand into a little mound a good distance off. (11) He sent his first 
 arrow right through the twig. 
 
 (12) He was an excellent husbandman, and it was no rare thing with him to he 
 thus occupied in Strathdearn. (13) At one time he was so engaged for the Laird of 
 Kyllachy. (14) During the night the fiery-cross came to the house. (15) This was 
 Rose of Kilravock, in Strathnairn, seeking his cattle, of which he had been plundered 
 by the Laird of Auchluachrach, in Lochaber, who was on the eve of getting married. 
 (16) The Laird of Kyllachy and his retainers set off with Rose's party, and Little John 
 Macandrew among the rest. (17) They pushed on eagerly and warily till they came 
 to Cro-clach, in the heights of Strathdearn. (18) They observed a light in the 
 shepherds' hut. (19) Here were the Laird of Auchluachrach and his company, after 
 super, sitting talking to each other, and fearing nothing. (20) At this time John 
 Macandrew was at the head of the party. (21) He took up his position opposite the 
 door of the hut. (22) The night was very dark — a fact which gave the best advantage 
 to those who were outside, but which was altogether against the others, who were 
 made quite visible by the light of the fire which they had in the hut. (23) When 
 they heard the sound of footsteps outside, they all sprang bravely to the door to meet 
 their piirsuers, but not one of them reached the threshold, for they were all shot 
 down in a heap on the top of each other. (24) Little John Macandrew's hand was 
 active enough, and With his eye he ' watched for the leader of the party. (25) He 
 being easily recognised by his garb, whenever John caught sight of him he sent an 
 arrow into his breast, which transfixed him to the post that stood at his back. (26) 
 When the Laird of Kyllachy saw what he had done — perhaps to apprise Rose of what 
 had happened — he cried out, ' ' Victory and luck to you, John Macandrew of Dalna- 
 hatnich !" (27) When John heard this compliment at such an ill-chosen moment — 
 knowing that if one of them escaped he would carry his name to Lochaber ; a fact 
 which would expose him to danger in the future— he answered the Laird of Kyllachy 
 in words not fit to be recorded. (28) Not one escaped of those who were within, but 
 one black, beardless fellow, who had witnessed the fight. (29) He cut his way 
 through the back of the hut, and unluckily for John Macandrew, he carried the news 
 and his name to Lochaber, as the man who had won the honours of the fight. (30) 
 And the result was that John scarcely spent a day or night in peace after it. 
 
 LESSON IV. 
 Iain Beag Mac-Aindrea. — Continued. 
 
 (1) An uair a rainig an sgeul so Lloch-abar, a bha cho 
 craidhteach do bhean-na-bainnse, cha d' fhois agus cha do 
 thamh i gus an do rainig i Cro-chlach ; agus tha a cor an uair 
 a rainig i na 's asa 'thuigsinn na 'chur an ceill. (2) Tha e air a 
 radh gun d' fhuair i a mhial-chu fhein ag 61 fuil Fear Acha- 
 luachrach ; agus anns ann teinn-chradh anns an robh i, gun 
 d' thug i an cii na 'spathaltan as a cheile. 
 
 (3) An uair a sgaoil an nnaidheachd, bha cairdean nam fear 
 a thuit air an gluasad le cuilg bhuaireasaich. (4) Thog iad 
 orra, da-fhear-dheug, agus rainig iad tigh Iain Mhic-Aindrea. 
 (5) Bha Iain agus a bhean a stigh le cheile, agus thuig iad c6 
 
 2 
 
18 
 
 a bh' aca, air ball. (6) Dh' fhoighnich na daoine de bhean-an- 
 tighe am b' e so tigh Iain Mhic-Aindrea, agus c' ait an robh e 
 fhein. (7) Thnirt i gu misneachail gum b' e, agus nach robh 
 e fhein fad as. (8) Dh' iarr i orra suidhe gus an tigeadh e. 
 (9) Cha do smuainich iad gum b' e Iain fhein a bha na 
 'shuidhe taobh an teallaich ; oir ged fhuair iad 'ainm 's a 
 shloinneadh, cha d' fhuair iad a dhealbh 's a chumadh. (10) 
 Bha a bhean a' fuineadh aig an am, agus thilg i mir de 'n aran 
 air an fhear a bha na 'shuidhe taobh an teallaich ; agus le 
 bagairt choimhich dh' iarr i air dol a shealltamn nach robh an 
 fheudail ri dolaidh sam bith ; agus na 'm faiceadh e a mhaigh- 
 stir, fios a thoirt da gun robh daoin'-uaisle a' feitheamh air. 
 
 (11) Dh' fhalbh e le gearan, mar nach biodh e idir toileach. 
 
 (12) Chaidh ise gu seomar far an robh am balg-shaighead, agus 
 chuir i a mach air uinneig g'a ionnsaidh e. (13) Re na h-uine 
 so cha do sguir i a chumail seanachais ris na coigrich, agus ga'm 
 frithealadh leis a' bhiadhtachd a b' fhearr a bh' aice. (14) 
 Dhirich Iain am bruthach a bha fa chomhair dorus a thigh e ; 
 chuir e da-shaighead-dheug ami an rian freagarrach air an torran 
 llamh ris, agus ghlaodh e, fear sam bith a bha ag iarraidh Iain 
 Mhic-Aindrea e bhith a mach. (15) B' ann an sin a bha a' 
 chabhag, gach fear a' bualadh a mach chum ionnsaidh a thoirt 
 air Iain Mac-Aindrea ; ach cha luaithe rainig iad an dorus na 
 bha saighdean Iain ga'n comhlachadh agus ga'n lleagail gullar. 
 (16) Cha deachaidh am fear mu dheireadh dhiiibh fada o 'n 
 tigh an uair a thuit e, air chor 's nach deachaidh a h-aon diubh 
 as a dh' innseadh na nnaidheachd san tir as an d' fhalbh iad. 
 
 (17) Na 'dheidh so bha Iain Mac-Aindrea fo fhiamh a la 's a 
 dh' oidhche. (18) Cha robh e sabhailte dha a bhith oidhche 
 na 'thigh fhein, air chor 's gum bu duth dha gearan air an 
 oidhche sin aluaidh Fear Choileachaibh air 'ainm e. (19) TJime 
 sin, bha a leaba aige ann am barr craoibh ann an Coille Uisge- 
 Thuilnean, ann an ionad ris an abrar Giuthas-na-h-Uamha gus 
 an 11a an diugh. (20). Chual iad mu 'n lleaba so ann an Lloch- 
 abar, agus bha na h-Abraich gu trie ri fhaicinn air feadh na 
 coille sin chum a faighinn a mach. (21) Bha iad air uairibh 
 a' tachairt air Iain fhein ; ach cha robh iad idir a' samhlachadh 
 gum b' e bhiodh ann — nni a thug cothrom dha de 'n d' rinn e 
 gu minig feum, air chor 's nach do leig e aon de na chunnaig 
 e riamh air 'ais. (22) Am fear mu dheireadh a chunnaig e 
 dhiubh, bha e air feadh na coille gun duine leis. (23) 
 Dh' fheoraich am fear so de dh' Iain — mar gum b' ann air son 
 
19 
 
 mieonachais d' a fhein — o' ait an robh an lleaba-fhalaicli aig 
 Fear Dhail-na-h-Aitnich. (24) Fhreagair Iain gum feuchadh 
 •e sin da ; agus an uair a chunnaig an t-Abrach an lleaba, sheall 
 e mu'n cuairt car tiota bhig, agus cbuir e 'aghaidh air a dhuth- 
 aich fhein ; ach cha b' fhada chaidh e an uair a thug Iain 
 tarraing air a' bhogha a bha air a chleith fo 'bhreacan, agus leag 
 e am fear sin mar an ceudna gun a leigeil na b' fhaide air a 
 thuras. 
 
 (25) Chan 'eil cunntas air a liugha fear a mharbh e re a 
 bheatha, ach tha iomradh gur mdr a chuir e gun teagamh gu 
 dith ; agus cha d' thug duine riamh buaidh air fhein, ged 
 thainig e gu bhith na 'sheann duine mil 'n do chaochail e. 
 
 LITTLE JOHN MACANDREW. — Continued. 
 
 (1) When the tidings reached Lochaber, which were so distressing to the bride, 
 sh» neither stayed nor rested till she reached Cro-clach ; and her state when she did 
 so is more easily understood than described. (2) It is said that she found his own 
 hound lapping the blood of the Laird of Auchluachrach ; and that in her frenzy she 
 
 ' tore the dog asunder limb from limb. 
 
 (3) When the news spread, the friends of the slain were moved with fierce fury. 
 (4) Twelve of them set out direct for John Macandrew's house. (5) John and his 
 wife were both within, and at once they understood who their visitors were, (t>) The 
 men asked the goodwife if this was the house of John Macandrew, and where he was 
 himself. (7) she boldly answered that it was, and that he himself was not far away. 
 (8) She bade them sit down till he should arrive. (9) They never thought that it was 
 John himself that was sitting at the fireside ; for though they had got his name and 
 surname, they had not got his form and aspect. (10) His wife was baking at the 
 time, and throwing a pieee of bread at the wight who sat at the fire, she roughly 
 ordered him to go and see that the cattle were in no mischief ; and if he saw his 
 
 " master, to tell him some gentlemen were waiting for him. (11) He went away mut- 
 tering as if he were not at all pleased. (12) She then went to a room where the 
 quiver was kept, and handed it out to him at the window. (13) All the while she 
 kept talking to the strangers and entertaining them with the best provision she had. 
 (14) John ascended the slope which faced the door of his house ; he laid twelve arrows 
 in order on the hump beside him, and called upon any man who wanted John 
 Macandrew, to come out. (15) In great haste each one struck out to make the attack 
 ■on John Macandrew ; but no sooner had they reached the door than they were met 
 with John's arrows and felled to the ground. (16) The last of them had not gone far 
 from the house when he fell, so that not one of them escaped to carry the news to the 
 country from which they set forth. 
 
 (17) John Macandrew was after this in a state of anxiety night and day. (18) It 
 was not safe for him to be a night in his own house, so that he had occasion to regret 
 the day when the Laird of Kyllachy addressed him by name. (19) He made his bed, 
 therefore, in the top of a tree in Dulnan Wood, at a spot called the Pine of the Cave, to 
 this day. (20) They heard of this bed in Lochaber, and Lochaber people were often 
 seen searching the wood to try and discover it. (21) Occasionally they met John 
 himself : but they never imagined it was he — a circumstance of which he frequently 
 availed himself, so that Ke never allowed one of those whom he met to return home. 
 (22) The last one of them he saw was in the wood alone. (23) He asked John — as if 
 for curiosity — where was the secret lair of the Man of Dalnahatnich. (24) John 
 replied that he would point it out to him ; and when the Lochaber man saw the bed, 
 he looked about for a moment, and then set his face for his own country ; but he had 
 not gone far when John drew the bow which was concealed under his plaid, and shot 
 that one also without letting him further on his way. 
 
 (25) There is no record of all he slew during his life, but it is said that the 
 number of his victims must have been great ; and no man ever gained a victory over 
 himself, though he became an old man before he died. 
 
20 
 
 LESSON V. 
 A' Bhan-righinn ann am Bealach — 1842. 
 
 (I) Ged nach robh suil ris a' Bhan-righinn gu feasgar, bha 
 muinntir na duthcha a' cruinneachadh o mhoch-thrath ; agus 
 mu mheadhon 11a bha anabarr sluaigh air an turas gu Caisteal 
 Bhealaich ; oir thilg am Morair a' phairce mhor fosgailte air 
 an 11a so, chum gum faigheadh gach aon llan a shul de 'n 
 Bhan-righinn agus de 'n Phrionnsa, agus de na bha a' dol air 
 aghaidh. (2) Chan 'eil e comasach tuilleadh 's a' choir de 
 chliii a thoirt do 'n uasal fhlathasach so air-son a shuaircis 
 agus a choibhneis aig an am so. (3) Cha do dhiultadh neach, 
 bochd no nochd ; agus cha di-chuimhnichear sin dasan. 
 
 (4) Beagan an deidh mheadhon 11a, chunnagas na Gaidheil 
 na 'n eideadh a' cruinneachadh fo chaithream iollagach nam 
 fichead piob, agus an cinn-fheadhna air an ceann. (5) B' ann 
 doibh fhein a thigeadh am feile ! (6) Bha na Caimbeulaich, 
 corr agus coig-ciad, fo chomannd oighre a' Mhorair — Tighearn 6g 
 Ghliun-falach ; agus da-rireadh bu dreachmhor a' bhuidheann 
 iad. (7) Bha iad air an roinn na 'n coig cuideachdan, agus 
 ceannard fuirbidh thairis air gach cuideachd. (8) Bha a r 
 chuideachd-aotrom air an eideadh ann am breacan glas nan 
 ciobairean, le gunna-caol an fheidh an llaimh gach fir. (9) So 
 an fheadhainn a bha ri dol air llorg an fheidh an lla-ar-na- 
 mhaireach. (10) Bha iad uile na 'n gillean anabarrach 
 eireachdail, air rogha cumadh o 'm mullach gu 'm brogan. 
 
 (II) An deidh do na Caimbeulaich a bhith an ordugh,. 
 chualas piob. (12) Co a bha an so ach Sir Mall Meinn 
 le 'thuath agus le 'chinneach, air an eideadh gu h-eireachdail 
 ann am breacan a theaghlaich, geal is dearg — e fhein, an llaoch 
 flathail, air steud-each cho geal ris a' chanach — a mhac 6g r' a 
 thaobh, agus na ceatharnaich shunndach a mearsadh na 'n 
 deidh. (13) Tharraing iad suas fo ard iolach an t-sluaigh do'n 
 aite a chuireadh air lleth air an son. 
 
 THE QUEEN AT TAYMOUTH— 1842. 
 
 (1) Though the Queen was not expected till evening, the country people were 
 gathering since early morning ; and by mid-day there was a vast multitude of people 
 on their way to Taymouth Castle : for the Marquis had this day thrown open the 
 great park, so that every one should have a full view of the Queen jnd the Prince, and 
 all that was happening. (2) It is impossible to give too much praise to this princely 
 nobleman for his generosity and kindness at this time. (3) No one was excluded — 
 poor or poorly clad — and this will not be forgotten to him. 
 
 (4) A little after mid-day the Highlanders were seen assembling in full costume, to- 
 the inspiring strains of bagpipes a full score, and with their chiefs at their head. (5) 
 And well did their uniforms become them ! (6) The Campbells, over five hundred, 
 
21 
 
 -were under the command of the Marquis's heir— the young Laird of Glenfalloch ; and 
 a truly handsome body they were. (7) They were divided into five companies, with 
 a, stalwart chieftain at the head of each. (8) The light company were arrayed in grey 
 •.shepherd's tartan, each one carrying- a rifle, (i*) This was the party who were to hunt 
 the deer on the morrow. (10) They were all exceedingly handsome fellows, well 
 formed from head to foot. 
 
 (11) After the Campbells were placed in order, the sound of the pipss was heard. 
 (12J Who should this be but Sir Neil Menzies, with his tenantry and clan, richly 
 arrayed in the tartan of his family — white and red— he himself, the noble hero, riding 
 a snow-white steed — his young son by his side, and his brave and hearty retainers 
 marching behind them. (13) They drew up amid cheers at the spot selected for 
 them. 
 
 LESSON VI. 
 A' Bhan-righinn ann am Bealach. — Continued. 
 
 (1) Bha seoladairean a' Mhorair a lathair cuideachd, le 'm 
 brigisean geala agus le 'n adaichean-fairge agus cuairt oir mu 'n 
 timchioll. (2) Bha bratach Bhraid-Albami fhein a snamh sa' 
 ghaoith air mullach a' chaisteil ; agus bha dithis de sheol- 
 adairean na Ban-righinn, fear air gach taobh de 'n chrann, chum 
 a tarraing a nuas agus a' bhratach dhearg bhuadhach a chur 
 suas na 'h-aite, cho lluath 's a thigeadh a' Bhan-righinn san 
 t-sealladh. (3) Bha cuideachd de 'n deagh reisimeid Ghaidh- 
 ■ealaich, Feachd Dhiuc Gordoin, maille ri marcaichean, air a'bhlar, 
 agus a' h-uile nni an ordugh, gun sraid a beul, ach gach suil air 
 a' chachaileith air an robh a' Bhan-righinn ri tighinn a steach. 
 (4) Chiteadh am Morair e fhein agus na flaithean arda bha 
 maille ris, air an ais agus air an aghaidh, le 'm boineid 's le 'm 
 feile, a' cur gach nni ceart, agus a' socrachadh gach cuis ; agus 
 gu dearbh chan olc a thig am feile dha fhein, an t-uasal 
 eireachdail, dreachmhor. (5) Tha e air a radh gun do chosd a 
 bhoineid i fhein eadar tri-fichead agus ceithir-fichead puund 
 Sasunnach. 
 
 (6) Chunnagas a nis an carbad BAoghail a' tighinn. (7) 
 Leum na marcaichean an glaic an diollaid, agus ghabh gach 
 losal agus nasal 'aite fhein. (8) Air lleth-uair an deidh se san 
 .anmoch bha i taobh a stigh na pairc. (9) Chualas a nis iolach 
 .an t : sluaigh a fhuair a' chiad sealladh dhi. (19) Sheid an 
 trombaid. (11) Ghlaodh am Morair le guth fearail, oscarach, 
 "Bithibh deas, a chlanna nan Gaidheal !" (12) Sheid coig- 
 piobairean-deug an aon phort-failte. (13) Thainig gach ad 
 agus boineid a nuas. (14) Reub na speuran leis an ard iolach. 
 (15) Thugadh bratach Bhraid-Albann a nuas, agus chuireadh 
 suas a' bhratach dhearg Bioghail Bhreatannach, agus Mac- 
 Dhughaill Latharna na'taice, le 'chlaidheamh ruisgce an tarraiug. 
 >(16) Dh' fhosgail na gunnachan-mora an craos, agus loisg iad o 
 
22 
 
 gach cnoc. (17) Fhreagair mile cnoc is glaic. (18) Ghiulains 
 Lloch-Tatha an fhuaim o chearn gu cearn, 's o thaobh gu taoblu 
 
 (19) Chiteadh fiadh is earb, le 'n croic-chabar, na 'n cruinn 
 Ileum a' direadh ri mullach nam bearm ; an coileach-dubh 's a' 
 chearc-tbomain air an sgeith ; na maighich 's na coineanan 
 na'n geathadaich ; agus am buar 's an earbuill air an guaillean. 
 
 (20) Bha coisir-chiuil amis gach aite ; agus cha robh ach 
 aighear, is solas, is greadhnachas, is pailteas air gach llaimh aim 
 am Braid-Albann. 
 
 THE QUEEN AT TAYMOUTH. — Continued. 
 
 (1) The Marquis's yachtsmen were present also, with white trousers, and sailor 
 hats encircled with gold bands. (2) The Breadalbane flag floated in the breeze, on the 
 top of the castle ; and two men of the Queen's Navy stood, one on either side of the 
 flag-pole, ready to pull down the flag and put up the famous red ensign in its place, 
 whenever the Queen came in sight. (3) A company of the fine Highland Regiment, 
 the Gordon Highlanders, with some horsemen, were on the ground, and everything 
 in order ; not a word was heard, and every eye was fixed upon the gate by which the 
 Queen was to enter. (4) The Marquis himself and the noblemen who were with 
 him, might be seen moving backward and forward, dressed in kilt and bonnet, 
 setting things to rights and putting all in order ; and indeed well does the kilt 
 become that well-formed, handsome nobleman. (5) It is said that his bonnet alone 
 cost between £60 and £80. 
 
 (6) The Royal carriage was now seen approaching. (7) The horsemen leaped into 
 their saddles, and every one, high ard low, took his appointed place. (8) At half-past 
 six in the evening She was within the park. (9) Now was heard the cheering of the 
 people who had caught the first sight of Her. (10) The trumpet sounded. (11) The 
 Marquis called out in a loud and manly tone, "Sons of the Gael.be ready." (12)' 
 Fifteen pipers struck up one strain of welcome. (13) Every head was bared. (14) 
 The sky rent with shouts of joy. (15) The Breadalbane flag was pulled down, and up 
 went the Royal British ensign, supported by Macdougall of Lorn, with drawn sword. 
 (16) The big guns opened their mouths and roared from every height. (17) A 
 thousand hills and glens re-echoed the sound. (18) Loch Tay carried the thunder 
 from place to place, and from shore to shore (19) Stag and roe with their branching 
 antlers, might be seen bounding to the hill tops ; black-cock and partridge were^ 
 instantly on the wing ; hares and rabbits went scudding off ; and the sober cattle 
 hoisted their tails and joined the general skurry. (20) Joy abounded on every side ;, 
 and mirth, and pleasure, and pomp, and festivity filled Breadalbane from end 
 to end. 
 
 LESSON VII. 
 
 TAILLEAR DUBH NA TlJAIGHE. 
 
 (1) Am measg nan comh-strithean guineach nacb 
 b' ainneamh aig clanna Ghaidheal, is iomadh Hatha fuileach 
 agus deannal cruaidh a chuireadh air Iraoch-bheannaibh gorma 
 nan Garbh-chrioch, air nach 'eil iomradh no ainm aig lluchd- 
 seanachais san llirm- so. (2) B' ami diubh so a' choinne 
 gharbh-bhuilleach a thug na Camshronaich do Chlann-an- 
 Toisich aig braigh Loch-iall. 
 
 (3) Bha Mac-an-T6isich san am sin ag agairt coir air fearann 
 Mhic-Dhomhnaill-Duibh, agus air tigh nan Camshrouach a chur 
 fo smachd. (4) Ghluais e le da-chiad ceatharnach sgairteil, 
 
23 
 
 fo 'n armaibh, do 'n tir Abraich. (5) Ghabh e air adhart 
 troimh 'n duthaich gun bhacadh, gus an do rainig e ceann 
 Loch-iall, far an do chaidil e fhein agus a dhaoine. (6) Aig 
 eirigh na greine sa' mhadainn thog iad orra mach ri gualaimi 
 Beinn-an-t-Sneachda, gu tilleadh dhachaidh d' an tir fhein 
 troimh thaobh Loch-Arcaig. (7) Cha b' fhada chaidh iad air 
 an adhart gus am fac' iad Mac-Dhomhnaill-Duibh le se-fichead 
 gaisgeach a' tighinn na 'n comhdhail. (8) Thuig iad gu math 
 nach bu chomhdhail chairdeil a bha air an aire, agus dheasaich 
 gach fear e fhein gu bas-ghleachd. (9) Bha cothrom a' bhruth- 
 aich aig na Camshronaich, ach bha am barrachd sluaigh air 
 taobh nan Toiseach. (10) Sheas Mac-an-T6isich agus a dhaoine 
 air lleanaig leth-bhruthaich, mu mheadhon a' mhaim, agus 
 cridhe gach fir air mhire gu comh-stri. (11) Mar bheum- 
 sleibhe a' sguabadh a' gharbhlaich, bhuail na Camshronaich 
 g' an ionnsaidh, agus buaidh no bas an gnuis gach seoid. (12) 
 Leum na glas-lannan a truaillean, agus ghrad thruailleadh 
 gorm-bhrat druchdach a' bhlair le fuil chraobhach nan llaoch 
 borb. (12) Ach comharraichte os cionn gach treun-fhir, 
 chiteadh ursann-chatha nan Camshronach, Taillear Dubh na 
 Tuaighe, le thuaigh bhas-bhuillich a' sgathadh cheann is chorp 
 mar chuiseagan rainich. (14) Gach taobh air an tionndadh e 
 ghearradh e bealach troimh shreathan nan nnaimhdean. (15) 
 A dh' aindeoin cruadal nan Catanach, cha b ; urrainn doibh 
 seasamh an aghaidh cath-chuthach nan Camshronach. (16) 
 Bhruchd iad air an ais air gach taobh ; agus ged rinn an 
 ceannard treubhach na dh' fhaodadh e, chuireadh an ruaig orra. 
 (17) Leis a' bhruthach dh' aom iad, agus na Camshronaich air 
 an toir. (18) Mu 'n cuairt ceann Loch-iall ghabh iad, agus 
 llasachadh cha d' rinn iad gus an d' rainig iad taobli Aird- 
 Ghobhar, far an do sheas Mac-an-T6isich Mor air mullach 
 c^oiche, an cladach na traghad, d' an ainm fhathast " Clach 
 Mhic-an-T6isich," agus thug a dhaoine an t-ath-thilleadh orra 
 mu 'n cuairt da. (19) Thoisich iomairt nan arm as ur. (20) 
 Le sathainnean troma nan cruaidh-lann dh' fhagadh iomadh 
 fear fearail gun lluths. (21) Bha Mac-an-T6isich Mor, le 
 'ch]aidheamh-da-laimhe a' cur gu bas gach fir a thigeadh mar 
 astar buille dha, gus an d' thainig an Taillear Dubh le 'thuaigh 
 thoirbheartaich m' a choinne. (22) Tharraing e an 
 c'aidheamh-mor le 'uile neart, a los an Taillear a sgoltadh gu 
 'chruachainn ; ach sheachain esan an ionnsaidh, agus le buille 
 guineach o 'thuaigh choimhich, theoma, reub e Mac-an-T6isich. 
 
24 
 
 (23) Dhomhlaich a dhaoine mil 'n cuairt da gu 'thearnadh o 
 bhuillean nan nnaimhdean, gun churaru mu ni fo "n ghrein ach 
 dioghaltas a thoirt a macb air son fuil an cinn-chinnidh ; ach a 
 dh' aindeoin an treuntais agus an ruin, b' eiginn doibh a rithist 
 an ruaig a ghabhail. (24) Thog iad an ceannard air an 
 guaillean, agus ged bha na Camshronaich ga 'n sgath as gach 
 taobh, ghiulain iad e gu Bun Gharbhain, far an do chasadh an 
 toir cho teann orra 's nach rcbh doigh air dol na b' fhaide. 
 
 THE BLACK TAILOR OF THE BATTLE-AXE. 
 
 (1) Among the sharp conflicts which were not infrequent among the Highland 
 clans, there was many a bloody day and fierce encounter on the purple hills of the 
 Wilds that are not recorded nor even mentioned by the historians of our time. (2) 
 Of these was the hard-fought meeting between the Camerons and the Mackintoshes 
 on the braes of Loch Eil. (3) Mackintosh was at that time claiming the right to 
 the lands of Lochiel. and sought to put the house of Cameron under subjection. (4) 
 With two hundred chosen champion-;, he set out for the Lochaber country. (5) He 
 proceeded through the district without interruption till he reached the head of Loch 
 Eil, where he and his men passed the night. (<j) At sunrise* in the rooming they 
 struck across by the shoulder of Snowben, purposing to return to their own country 
 by the side of Loch Arkaig. (7) They had not proceeded far when they saw Lochiel 
 with a hundred and twenty warriors coming to meet them. (S) Well they knew that 
 it was to be no friendly meeting, and every man prepared himself for a death-struggle 
 (0) The Camerons had the advantage of occupying the high ground, but the Mac- 
 kintoshes were the more numerous body. (10) Mackintosh and his men took then- 
 stand upon a smooth slope about the middle of the hill, and every man's heart beat 
 eager for the fray. (11) Like the avalanche that sweeps the mountain side, the 
 Camerons rushed down upon them, and victory or death was in every face. (12) 
 Swords leaped from scabbards, and soon the dewy green carpet under their feet was 
 stained with the flowing heart -blood of the furious combatants. (13) But conspicuous 
 above all the heroes might be seen the Cameron champion, the Black Tailor of the 
 Battle-axp, with his death-dealing weapon, shearing heads and bodies like bracken 
 stalks. (14) To whichever hand he turned he cut a gap through the ranks of the 
 enemy. (15) Despite the firmness of the Cattan men, they could not stand against 
 the battle-fury of the Camerons. (16) They fell back in a body on every side ; and 
 though their brave leader did his utmost, they were defeated. (17) Down the hill 
 they retreated, with the Camerons in pursuit. (1%) Round they fled by the head of 
 Loch Eil, and never halted till they reached the side of Ardgour, where Mackintosh 
 stood on a stone on the sea-shore, still called " Mackintosh's Stone," where his men 
 rallied round him. (10) Once more the play ef arms began. (20) The crushing blows 
 of their weapons laid many a brave man low. (21) The Mackintosh Chief, with 
 his two-handed sword cut down every man who came within reach of his blows, till 
 the Black Tailor, with his peerless axe, stood face to face with him. (22) He drew 
 his sword with all his might to cleave the Tailor to the haunches ; but he evaded the 
 stroke, and with one fell cut of his deft hatchet he wounded Mackintosh. (23) His 
 men closed about him to succour him from the blows of the enemy, caring for nothing 
 under the sun but to avenge their C hief : but in spite of their determination and their 
 strength they had to retreat a second time. (24) Lifting their leader on their 
 shoulders, though the Camerons were mowing them down on every side, they carried 
 him to Garvan Mouth, where the pursuit became so close that they could go no 
 farther. 
 
 LESSOX VIII. 
 Taillear Dubh na Tuaighe. — Continued. 
 
 (1) Thionudaidh iad an treas uair air an Uuchd-torachd, le 
 Han run seasamh no tuiteam anns an aite sando stad iad. (2) 
 Thoisich an gleachd basnihor le iirachadh goimh. (3) Thuit a' 
 
25 
 
 •chuid a bu mho de Chlann-an-T6isich air an raon. (4) 
 'Ghlacadh Mac-an-T6isich Mor, agus a mhac ; agus am beagan 
 a bha be© de 'n daoine, sgap iad as a cheile. (5) Ach chuir an 
 nnaimhdean guineach romhpa nach rachadh as dhiubh fear a 
 dh' innseadh sgeoil. (6) Dh' fhag iad Mac-an-T6isich agus a 
 mhac fo churam nam ban, agus air toir chaich ghabh iad. 
 (7) Shin iad orra a mach am monadh. (8) Bha an saighdean 
 siubhlach a' giulan bais gu fear is fear, gus an do rainig iad 
 mullach a' mhaim. (9) Bha a' ghrian a' cromadh san iar, agus 
 ,seamh-bhrat dubharach na h-oidhche a' sgaoileadh a sgail' 
 iarnaidh thar aghaidh shamhach nan speur. (10) Bha eoin 
 bhuchallach an t-sleibh gu caidreach, guamach, a' gabhail taimh 
 an cos nam bruach, agus udlaiche cabrach nam fas-ghlac, fo 
 dhubhar na daraig aosda, a' siabadh nan cuileag o 'bhian 
 •calgach, an uaira bhrist an ruaig a steach air Cona-ghleann, 
 (11) Bho 6g-mhadainn an Hatha shamhraidh, gu ciaradh 
 anmoch an fheasgair, fosadh cha deachaidh air sonn san strith ; 
 ach, mu dheireadb, bha ceum an treun-laoich a bu diorrasaiche 
 a' dol am maillead san ruaig, agus shaoil na bha beo de na 
 Catanaich nach racliteadh na b' fhaide air an toir. (12) 
 Chruinnich iad comhla a chur seachad na h-oidhche ami an glaic 
 uaignidli, air taobh Chona-ghlinn, d' an ainm Ciiil-nan-Cuileag ; 
 .ach is gann a ghabh iad gu fois an uair a bha an Taillear Dubh, 
 le buidhinn de na Camshronaich air am muin. (13) Leum 
 gach fear air a bhonnaibh, agus spionadh gach gias-lann a 
 duille : ach ged nach robh llaigse air an inntinn, bha an lluths 
 air an treigsinn. (14) Thuit iad far an do sheas iad, fofhaobh- 
 aran fuileach an lluchd-mioruin. (15) Cha d' fhagadh beo de 'n 
 da-chiad gaisgeach a ghlaais do 'n tir Abraich, neach a bheireadh 
 ;sgeul mu 'n deidhinn d' an duthaich fhein. 
 
 (16) Thill Mac-Dhomhull-Duibh agus a dhaoine gu Bun 
 •Gharbhain far an d' fhag iad Mac-an-T6isich Mor 's a mhac. 
 (17) Chuir iad an oidhche seachad san aite sin, agus air 
 madainn an lla-ar-na-mhaireach rinn iad deas gu dol dachaidh ; 
 ach so far an robh a' chuis-iomagain do Mhac-Phomhnaill- 
 Duibh. (18) Is i nnighean Mhic-an-T6isich a bha aige mar 
 mhnaoi ; agus ma 's fior an radh, cha b' i an t-sobhrach i. (19) 
 Cha chuireadh gnuis nnamhaid fo 'n ghrein athadh air ; ach 
 bha sgath nach bu bheag air dol dachaidh gu 'mhnaoi, an deidh 
 a cinneadh a sgrios agus a h-athair is a brathair a ghlacadh 
 na 'm priosanaich. (20) Cha b' e sin do 'n Taillear Dhubh e ; 
 fireann no boireann bu choma dhasan co dhiubh. (21) Air an 
 
26 
 
 aobhar sin chuireadh air falbh e roimh chach do dh' Achadh- 
 na-Cairidh, a dh' innseadh do 'n bhaintighearna mar a thachair. 
 (22) Rainig e am baile gu h-uallach, suigeartach ; agus air dha 
 bualadh aig dorus an tighe, dh' fhosgladh dha e leis a' bhain- 
 tighearna i fhein. (23) Dh' fhailtich i gu fialaidh, furanach e, 
 agns dh' fhoighneachd i ciod a bu naidheachd dha. (24) 
 Fhreagair e gu suilbhir gun robh nnaidheachd mhath — gun 
 robh Man cait an diugh air plang, agus rogha : s taghadh air 
 peighinn. (25) Dh'atharraich a gnuis air cluinntiim a sgeoil, ach 
 chum i oirre fheiii, agus thuirt i, "Thig a nios, a Thailleir, agus 
 fag do thuagh shios." 
 
 (26) " Far am bi mi fhein bidh mo thuagh," ars' an Taillear. 
 
 (27) Thuig i nach rachadh aice air a fearg a chaitheadh 
 air an Taillear ; agus le teum cuthaich rug i air a lleanabh fhein, 
 agus thilg i ami an teis-meadhoin na griosaich e. (28) Thug 
 an Tailleir duibh-leum far an robh i, 's a thuagh na 'laimh ; agus 
 le sgairt uamhasaich ghlaodh e, " A bhean a rug an lleanabh, 
 tog an lleanabh !" 
 
 (29) Chuir colg agus coltas an llaoich crith oirre. (30) Bu 
 bhuidhe leatha an lleanabh a ghrad theannachdadh, agus a 
 bhith reidh ris an Taillear, gus an d' thainig Mac-Dhomhnaill- 
 Duibh agus a dhaoine dachaidh. (31) Chumadh Mac-an- 
 Toisich M6r agus a mhac an Achadh-na-Cairidh gus an robh an 
 lleoin air lleigheas ; ach mu 'n d' fhuair iad dol a rithist d' an 
 duthaich fhein, thug Mac-an-T6isich coir sgriobhte o 'laimh do 
 Mac-Dhomhnaill-Duibh air oighreachd Loch-abar, a shealbhaich 
 a shliochd o 'n uair sin. 
 
 THE BLACK TAILOR. — Continued. 
 
 (1) They turned for the third time upon their assailants, fully determined to 
 stand or fall upon the spot. (2) The deadly strife began once more with renewed 
 ferocity, (3) The greater number of the Mackintoshes fell upon the field. (4) The 
 Mackintosh Chief and his son were taken ; and the few of their men who survived 
 were scattered asunder. (5) But their ruthless enemies resolved that none of them 
 should escape to tell the tale. (0) They left Mackintosh anel his son to the care of the 
 women, and set off after the others. (7) They pressed upon them across the moor. 
 (8) Their fleet arrows carried death to man alter man till they reached the top of the 
 bill. (9) The sun was sinking in the west, and the soft and dusky curtains of night 
 were spreading their gloomy shades over the face of the sky. (10) The winged 
 denizens of the moor were fondly and warmly resting under shelter of the banks, 
 and the antlered monarch of the wild stood under the shadow of the ancient oak, 
 shaking the flies from his tawny hide, as the rout broke in upon Cona Glen. (11) From 
 the golden dawn of the summer day, till darkening night, no rest found hero in the 
 strife ; but at last the step of the most obstinate became fainter in the flight ; and as 
 many as were still alive of the Cattans thought that their pursuers would come no 
 farther. (12) They meant to pass the night in a shady hollow at the side of Cona Glen, . 
 called the Xook of the Flies ; but they had scarcely lain down to rest when the Black 
 Tailor and a party of the Camerons were again upon them. (13) Every man sprang 
 to his feet, and every sword leaped from its scabbard ; but though their spirit was 
 unflagging, their strength was gone. (14 ) They fell where they stood, under the blood- 
 
27 
 
 > 
 
 thirsty blades of their enemies. (15) Of the two hundred heroes who had set out for 
 the Lochaber country, there was left alive not one man to carry home the story of 
 their fate. 
 
 (16) Lochiel and his men returned to Garvan Mouth, where they had left the 
 Mackintosh Chief and his son. (17) They passed the night in that place, and on the 
 morrow they made ready to return home ; but here Lochiel's perplexity began. 
 (18) His wife was a daughter of Mackintosh ; and if all tales be true, she was no 
 gentle floweret. (19) He would flinch trom no enemy under the sun ; but it was with 
 no slight misgiving he thought of going home to his wife, after destrojing her kindred 
 and making prisonei-s of her father and her brother. (20) But the Black Tailor had 
 no such qualms ; for male or female he cared nothing. (21) Consequently he was 
 despatched in advance to Achnacarry, to carry the tidings to her ladyship. (22) He 
 arrived at the mansion in his airiest, jauntiest mood ; and knocking at the door it 
 was opened by the lady herself. (23) She welcomed him warmly and heartily, and 
 inquired his news. (24) He answered her pleasantly that his news was good news — 
 that a cat's skin might be had that day for a plack, and the choicest and best for a penny. 
 (25) Her aspect changed on hearing this, but repressing her feelings, she said, " Come 
 forward. Tailor, but leave behind your battle-axe." 
 
 (26) " Where I go myself my axe must follow," said the Tailor. 
 
 (27) She knew that her rage would be spent in vain upon the Tailor ; and with 
 one wild swoop she lifted her own child and dashed it in the fire. (2S) The Tailor 
 made a furious bound towards her, with axe in hand : and with a terrific shout he 
 said, " Woman, who bore the child, take up the child !" 
 
 (29) His fury and his aspect made her tremble. (30) She was glad to succour the 
 child, instantly, and to make peace with the Tailor, till Lochiel and his men came 
 home. (31) The Mackintosh Chief and his son were kept at Achnacarry till their 
 wounds were healed ; but ere they returned again to their own country, Mackintosh 
 gave over to Lochiel under written title the estate of Lochaber, which his descen- 
 dants have held in possession from that hour. 
 
 LESSON IX. 
 
 Calum Seoladair. 
 malcolm sailor. 
 (1) Bha seoladair 6g aon uair air turas, 11a goirid 
 
 Was a-sailor young one time on a- journey, a-day short 
 
 geamhraidh, eadar da bhaile-puirt a bha astar fada o cheile. 
 
 of - winter, between two town s-of -seaport that were a-distance long from other.* 
 
 (2) Bha an 11a fuar, fiadhaich — gaoth mhor agus sneachd agus /t'^y&4« 
 
 Was the day cold, jtyrmy, — a-wind great and snow and f**4&i \= ^ 
 
 uisge trom aim. (3) Cha robh e eolach air an rathad ; bha 
 
 rain heavy there. Not was he acquainted on the way; was 
 
 an oidhche a' llaighe air gu bras, agus gun fhios aige 
 
 the night a - lying on-him quickly, and without ken at-him 
 
 c' ait an cuireadh e seachad i. (4) Mu dheireadh, an uair 
 
 what place that should-put he past it. About end, the time 
 
 nach robh fhios aige de a dheanadh e, chunnaig e Ileus 
 
 that-not was ken at-him what that should -do he, saw he a-gleam 
 
 beag soluis ; ghabh e misneach, luathaich e a cheum, agus an 
 
 little of-light ; took he courage, quickened he his step, and in 
 
 uine ghoirid rainig e tigh tuathanaich aig taobh an rathaid, 
 
 a-time short reached he (the) house of-a-farmer at (the) side of -the road. 
 * cheile, literally ' mate' or 'fellow.' 
 
28 
 
 (5) Bhuail e aig an dorus, agus aim an tiota dh' fhosgail 
 
 Struck lie at the door, and in a-moment opened 
 
 bean-an-tighe e. 
 
 {the) woman-of-the-house it. 
 
 (6) " Am bi sibh cho math," ars' esan, " agus gun 
 
 1 Will-be you so good," quoth he, "and that 
 
 toir sibh dhomh cead suidhe aig an teine gu madainn ? 
 
 will-give you to-me leave to-sit at the fire till morning ? 
 
 {7) Tha mi fliuch, sgith, agus chan urrainn domh mo rathad a 
 
 Am I wet, tired, and not (is) ability to-me my way to 
 
 dheanamh arms an dorcha." 
 
 make in the dark." 
 
 (8) " Thig a stigh, a dhuine bhochd," thuirt ise ; 
 
 "Come in-the-house, man poor," said she, 
 
 " cha teid thu na 's fhaide a nochd. (9) Bochd agus mar tha 
 
 * 1 not shalt-go thou what-is-f arther to - night. Poor and as are 
 
 sinn, ni sinn doigh air biadh, agus deoch, agus lleaba dhuit." 
 
 we, will-make we a-way on food and drink, and a-bed to-you." 
 
 (10) An uair a chaidh e stigh, fhuair e failte a cheart 
 
 The time that went he in-the-house, got he a- welcome just 
 
 cho cairdeil 6 fhear-an-tighe ; agus dh' eirich a' chlann bheag 
 
 as friendly from (the) man-of-the-house ; and got- up the children little 
 
 gu modhail, agus thug iad aite dha a choir an teine. (11) 
 
 respectfully, and gave they a-place to-him near * of -the fire. 
 
 Thug am boireannach cneasda aodach agus brogan tioram da, 
 
 Gave the woman kind clothes and shoes dry to-him, 
 
 agus cha robh i fada a' cur aird air aran, is im, is caise, 
 
 and not was she long putting readiness on bread, and butter, and cheese, 
 
 agus bahrne blath na buaile, do 'n t-seoladair. (12) Chuir e 
 
 and milk warm of-the fold, to the sailor. Put him 
 
 fhein agus an teaghlach grinn seachad an oidhche gu seasgair, 
 
 self and the family excellent past the niglit comfortably, 
 
 cridheil ; agus an uair a dh' iarr an tuathanach beanuachd an 
 
 heartily ; and the time that asked the farmer (the) blessing of-the 
 
 Ti-is-Airde air a' chuideachd, ghuidh e cadal math do 'n 
 
 One-(that)-is- Highest on the company, wished he a-sleep good to the 
 
 choigreach, agus chaidh iad uile a laighe. (13) Chaidil an 
 
 stranger, and went they all to lie-down. Slept the 
 
 seoladair gu trom gus an cual' e am buachaille a' freasdal do 'n 
 
 sailor heavily till that heard he the cow-herd attending to the 
 
 chrodh aig beul an 11a. (14) An uair a dh' eirich e bha 
 
 cattle at (the) mouth of-the day. The time that got-up he was 
 
 am biadh-maidne air a' bhord, deas, glan, agus aoibh air gach 
 
 the food-of-morning on the table, ready, clean, and cheer on every 
 
 * choir, lit. ' right.' Being a noun, it takes the genitive after it. 
 
aghaidh ris. (15) Dh' ith e a leoir mhor, agus an sin thog e- 
 
 face to-him. Ate he his plenty great, and then lifted he 
 
 air gu falbh. 
 
 on-him to go-away. 
 
 (16) "Chan urrainn domh," thuirt esan, " dioladh aig an 
 
 "Not (is) ability to-me," said lie, " to recompense at the^ 
 
 am so air son ur coibhneis ; ach cha di-chuimhnich mi 
 
 time this on account of-your kindness ; but not shall-forget I 
 
 gu brath e ; agus co aige tha fios nach cuir am Freasdal 
 
 till judgment it ; and who at-him is ken that-not will-put the Providence 
 
 am chomas, lla-eigin, rud is fhearr na buidheachas a 
 
 in-my power, a-day-some, a-thing (that) is better than thanks to> 
 
 thairgseadh dhuibh. (17) Chan 'eil agam duibh an drast ach 
 
 offer to-you. Not is at-me to-you in meantime but 
 
 mo mhile beannachd. (18) Slan leibh !" 
 
 my thousand of-blessings. Well with-you !" 
 
 (19) "Mar sin leat-sa, agus soirbheachadh math dhuit," ars' 
 
 " Like that with-thee, and success good to-thee," said. 
 
 an tuathanach. 
 
 the farmer. 
 
 (20) "D' fhaicinn slan!" ars' a' bhean ; "ach mu 'n 
 
 " Thy seeing well !" quoth the woman ; " but ere 
 
 dealaich sinn, innis dhuinn c' ainm a th' ort." 
 
 will-part we, tell to-us what name that is on-thee." 
 
 (21) "Foghnaidh 'Calum Seoladair' mar ainm domh gus- 
 
 " Will-suffice 'Malcolm (the) Sailor' as a-name to-me till 
 
 an till mi a rithist." 
 
 that shall-return I again." 
 
 (22) Dh' fhaisg e llamh gach aoin diubh gu teann 
 
 Wrung he (the) hand of-every one of-them tightly ; 
 
 thog e air, agus cha d' fhairich e an uine a' dol thairis gus } . 
 
 lifted he on-him, and not felt he the time going over till, 
 
 mu mheadhon 11a, an do rainig e am baile-puirt, far an 
 
 about (the) middle - of-day, that reached he the town-of-seaport, where that 
 
 do ghabh e air lluing a bha gu seoladh do na h-Innsean- 
 
 took he on a-ship that was to sail to the Indies- 
 
 an-Ear. 
 
 in - East. 
 
 MALCOLM THE SAILOR. 
 
 (1) Once upon a time a young sailor was travelling, on a short winter day, between 
 two seaport towns, which lay a long distance from each other. (2) Tne day was cold 
 and stormy, and there was a high wind, and snow, and heavy rain. (2). He did not 
 know the way ; the night was fast falling upon him, and he knew not where to 
 spend it. (4) At last, when he knew not what to do, he saw a little gleam of light ; 
 he took courage, quickened his step, and in a short time he came to a farmer's house 
 at the side of the road. (5) He knocked at the door, which was instantly opened by 
 the goodwife. (6) "Will you be so kind," he said, "as to allow me to sit at your 
 fireside till morning ? I am wet and tired, and I cannot make my way in the dark." 
 (8) "Come in, poor man," she answered; "you shall go no farther to-night. (9). 
 
30 
 
 Poor as we are, we will make shift to give you food and drink, and a bed." (10) 
 When he went in he had the same hearty welcome from the goodman ; and the little 
 children respectfully got up and made room for him beside the fire. (11) The worthy 
 woman gave him dry clothes and shoes, and she was not long in preparing bread and 
 butter and cheese, and warm milk from the fold, for the sailor. (12) He and the kind 
 family passed the evening comfortably and heartily ; and after the farmer had asked 
 the blessing of God on the company, he wished the stranger a sound sleep, and they 
 all went to bed. (13) The sailor slept soundly till he heard the cowherd attending 
 to the cattle at break of day. (14) When he got up, breakfast was trim and ready on 
 the table, and there was* welcome in every face. (15) He ate heartily, and afterwards 
 prepared to leave. (16) I am net able," he said, " to repay you at this time for 
 your kindness, but I shall never forget it ; and who knows but Providence may some 
 day put it in my power to offer you something better than thanks? (17) For the 
 present I have nothing for you but my blessing. (18) Farewell." (19) " Farewell, 
 and good luck to you,'' said the farmer. (20) " Safe return to you," said the woman ; 
 "but ere we part, tell us your name." (21) " ' Malcolm the Sailor' will do till I come 
 b^ck again." He shook hands with them all warmly ; set off, and did not feel the 
 time long till, about mid-day, he arrived at his port, where he joined a ship which 
 was about to sail for the East Indies. 
 
 LESSON X. 
 Calum Seoladair. — Continued. 
 
 MALCOLM SAILOR. — Continued. 
 
 (1) Bha an llong corr agus tri bliadhna air a cuairt ; 
 
 Was the ship more and three years on her circuit ; 
 
 agus bha companach do Chalum ag radh nach deachaidh 
 
 and was a-companion to Malcolm saying that-not went 
 
 11a seachad fad na h-uine sin, aims nach d' thug Calum 
 
 a-day past (the) length of -the time that, in which-not gave Malcolm 
 
 iomradh air a' choibhneas a fhuair e ami an tigh 
 
 mention on the kindness which had-received he in (the) house 
 
 an tuathanaich. 
 
 of- the farmer. 
 
 (2) Cho lluath agus a thainig an llong gu caladh, an deidh 
 
 So soon and that came the ship to haven, after 
 
 dhi tilleadh do 'n diithaich so, thug Calum a charaid 
 
 to-her returning to the country this, brought Malcolm his friend 
 
 leis, agusghabh e carbad chum an greasad a dh'ionnsaidh 
 
 with him, and took he a-carriage to their hurrying to * 
 
 an tighe amis an do mheal e a leithid de shuairceas. (3) An 
 
 of -the house in which enjoyed he its like of hospitality. The 
 
 uair a rainig iad dluth do 'n tigh, chunnaig Calum nach 
 
 time that came they near to the house, saw Malcolm that-not 
 
 robh ciiisean idir mar dh' fhag e iad. (4) Bha bean- 
 were matters at-all as (had) left he them. Was (the) woman- 
 
 an-tighe a nis na 'bantraich, agus a claim na'n dilleachdain. 
 
 of-the-house now in her widow, and her children in their orphans. 
 
 (5) Chan e mhain sin, ach aig a' cheart am sin, bha na 
 
 Not (is) it alone that, but at the right time that, were the 
 * ionnsaidh, lit. ' attack' or ' contact.' Being a noun, it takes the genitive after it. 
 
31 
 
 maoir a' cur a cuid a'n t-saogbal a mach air a' chnoc, gu 
 
 officers putting her share of-the world out on' the hill, to 
 
 bhith air an reic, a dhioladh fhiachan anns an robh i air 
 
 be on their selling, to (the) paying of-debts in which was she on 
 
 tuiteam. (6) Bha aireamh bheag shluaigh na 'n seasamh thall 
 
 falling. Were a-number small of-people in their standing yond 
 
 's a bhos, le cridheachan goirt, a' feitheamh gus an toisicheadh 
 
 and hither, with hearts sore a-waiting till that should-begin 
 
 an reic. 
 
 the selling. 
 
 (7) Leum Calum a stigh direach mar bha am maor 
 
 Jumped Malcolm in-the-house straight as was the officer 
 
 a' dol a thogail leis na creathlach anns an robh an lleanabh 
 
 going to lifting with-him of-the cradle in which was the child 
 
 a b' oige na 'chadal ; agus a mhathair bhochd na 
 
 that was youngest in his-sleep ; and his mother poor in 
 
 'suidhe r' a thaobh a' sileadh nan deur. 
 
 her-sitting to his side shedding of-the tears. 
 
 (8) De is ciall da so V dh' fheoraich e de 'n mhaor. 
 
 " What is meaning to this?" asked he of the officer. 
 
 (9) " Tha," fhreagair esan, "an airneis r' a reic air son 
 
 "Is," answered he, " the furniture to its selling on account 
 
 iiachan a' bhoireannaich so." 
 
 •of (the)-debts of-the woman this." 
 
 (10) "Air d' athais, a dhuine gun trocair, gun iochd," 
 
 t "On thy leisure, man without mercy, without pity," 
 
 arsa Calum, agus e a' dunadh a dhuirn ; " cuir llamh air 
 
 quoth Malcolm, and he closing of -his fist; "put a-hand on 
 
 slait de 'n chreathaill sin, agus chan fhag mi bior slan 
 
 a- withe of the cradle that, and not will -leave I a-stick whole 
 
 ann am fiodhrach-tarsaing do chuirp !" 
 
 in (the) timbers of-thy body !" 
 
 (11) Spion e an sin a mach a sporan, anns an robh 
 
 Pulled he then out his purse, in which were 
 
 aige tuarasdal thri bliadhna, aim am buinn oir. 
 
 at-him (the) wages of-three years, in coins of gold. 
 
 (12) "So," ars' esan; " paidh thu fhein as a sin, agus 
 
 "Here," quoth he; "pay thee self out-of that, and 
 
 cuir a stigh a h-uile ball de dh' airneis na mna coire 
 
 put in-the-house every limb of (the) furniture of-the woman good 
 
 far an d' fhuair thu iad." 
 
 where that foundest thou them " 
 
 (13) Thionndaidh e an sin a chur failte air a' 
 
 Turned he then to put salutation on the 
 
 bhoireannach bhochd, agus i na 'seasamh llan ioghnaidh, 
 
 woman poor, and she in her standing full of-wonder, 
 
 agus a cridhe an impis sgaineadh le taingealachd. 
 
 and her heart like-to bursting with thankfulness. 
 
32 
 
 (14) Cha robh an da sheoladair ach gle ghoirid a' our 
 
 Not were the two sailors but rather short putting- 
 
 ail tighe an ordugh, agus chuir iad thairis an 11a gu cridheil, 
 
 of-the house in order, and put they over the day heartily, 
 
 sunndach, gus an d' thainig am feasgar, agus am b' fheudar 
 
 merrily, till that came the evening, and that was necessary 
 
 dhoibh falbh. 
 
 to-them to-go-away. 
 
 (15) Cha robh bliadhna uaith sin gus an robh balachain 
 
 Not was a-year since that till that were (the) boys 
 
 an tuathanaich comasach air aite an athar a ghabhail,. 
 
 of-the farmer competent on (the) place of -their father to take, 
 
 nach do chuir Calum Se61adair suim airgid a dh' ionnsaidh 
 
 that-not did send Malcolm (the) Sailor a-sum of-money to 
 
 na bantraich, cho math ri goireasan feumail eile, agus 
 
 of-the widow, as well to handy-things useful other, and 
 
 gnothaichean nneonach a bheireadh e a nail as na h-Innsean 
 
 things curious which would bring he over out-of the Indies 
 
 di fhein agus do 'n chloinn. (16) Shoirbhich led- 
 
 to-her self and to the children. Prospered with-them 
 
 gu ciatach riamh tuilleadh ; agus mur do shiubhail iad uaith 
 
 admirably ever more ; and if-not have-departed they since 
 
 sin tha iad beo fhathast. 
 
 that are they alive still. 
 
 MALCOLM THE SAILOR. -Continued. 
 
 (1) The ship was over three years on the voyage ; and a companion of Malcolm's 
 used to tell that not a day passed during that time in which Malcolm did not speak 
 about the kindness which he had received in the house of the farmer. (2) So soon as 
 the ship returned to port after coming back to this country, Malcolm took his friend 
 with him, and hired a carriage to hurry him to the house where he had found such 
 kindness. (3) As they approached the house, Malcolm could see that matters were 
 not at all as he had left them. (4) The woman was now a widow, and her children 
 orphans. (5) Not only so, but at that moment the officers were putting her earthly 
 all out upon the hill, to be sold to pay ceitain debts into which she had fallen. (6) 
 Small clusters of people stood here and there, with heavy hearts, waiting till the 
 auction should begin. (7) Malcolm rushed in just as the officer was about to lift the 
 cradle, in which the youngest child lay sleeping ; with his poor mother sitting beside 
 him, weeping bitterly. (8) " What does all this mean?" he asked of the officer. (9) 
 " The furniture," he answered, " is about to be sold to pay this woman's debts." (10) 
 "Avast, you heartless, pitiless man," said Malcolm, closing his fist; "if you lay a 
 hand on a withe of that cradle, I will break all the timbers in your body !" (11) He 
 then pulled out his purse,, in which he had three years' wages in gold. (12) 
 "Here," said he, "pay yourself out of that, and put back every stick of the dear 
 woman's furniture where you found it." Then he turned to salute the poor woman, 
 who stood full of wonder, and her heart like to burst with gratitude. (14) The two 
 sailors were not long in putting the house in order, and they spent the day heartily 
 and cheerfully till evening, when they had to leave. (15) There was not a year from 
 that time till the farmer's boys were able to take their father's place, that Malcolm 
 the Sailor did not send a sum of money to the widow as well as other useful articles 
 and curious things which he used to bring home from the Indies for herself and the 
 children. (16) Everything prospered well with them ever after that ; and if they 
 have not died since, they are still alive. 
 
33 
 
 LESSON XL 
 
 Am Mac Strodhail, 
 the son prodigal. 
 (1) Bha aig duine araidh dithis mhac. (2) Agus thuirt am 
 
 Was at a-man certain twain of-sons. And said the 
 
 mac a b' 6ige dhiubh r' a athair, Athair, thoir dhomhsa 
 
 sou that was younger of-them to his father, Father, give to-me 
 
 a' chuid-roinn a thig orm de d' mhaoin. (3) Agus roinn 
 
 the portion-share that will-come on-me of thy substance. And divided 
 
 e eatorra a bheathachadh. (4) Agus an deidh* beagain de 
 
 he between-them his living. And after of-a-few of 
 
 laithean chruinnich am mac a b' oige a chuid uile, 
 
 days gathered the son that was younger his portion all, 
 
 agus ghabh e a thuras do dhuthaich fad air astar, agus 
 
 and took he his journey to a - country far on distance, • and 
 
 an sin chaitb e a mhaoin le beatha struidheasaich. (5) Agus 
 
 there wasted he his substance with a-life wasteful. And 
 
 an uair a chaith e a chuid uile, dh' eirich gorta ro mhor 
 
 the time that had- wasted he his portion all, arose a-famine very great 
 
 san tir sin ; agus thoisich e ri bbith ann an uireasbhuidh. 
 
 in-the land that ; and began he to be in want. 
 
 (6) Agus chaidh e agus cbeangail e e fhein ri aon de shaor- 
 
 And went he and bound he him self to one of (the) free- 
 
 dhaoine na duthcha sin • agus cbuir e d' a fhearann e, a 
 
 men of-the country that ; and sent he to his land him, to 
 
 bhiadhadh mhuc. (7) Agus bu mhiann leis a bhru a lionadh 
 
 (the) feeding of-swine. And was desire with-him his belly to fill 
 
 de na plaosgan a bha ua mucan ag itheadh ; ach cba d'thug 
 
 of the husks which were the swine a - eating ; but not gave 
 
 neach air bith dha. (8) Agus an uair a thainig ed'a ionnsaidh 
 
 a-person on being to him. And the time that came he to him 
 
 fhein, thuirt e, Cia lion de luchd-tuarasdail m' athar-sa aig a 
 
 self, said he, How many of folk - of - wages oi-my father at whom 
 
 bheil aran gu lleoir agus r' a sheachnadh, an uair a tha mise 
 
 is bread to plenty and to its sparing, the time that am / 
 
 a' basachadh le gorta. (9) Eiridh mi agus theid mi 
 
 a- dying with want. Will-arise I and will-go I 
 
 dh' ionnsaidh m' athar, agus their mi ris, Athair, pheacaich 
 
 to of-my father, and will-say I to-him, Father, (have) sinned 
 
 mi an aghaidh fhlaitheanais agus ad lathair-sa ; agus chan 
 
 I in (the) face of -heaven and in-thy presence ; and not (am) 
 
 airidh mi tuilleadh gun goirteadh do mhac-sa dhiom ; dean 
 
 worthy I more that should-be-called thy son of-me ; make 
 
 * deidh, after. Being a noun, it takes a genitive after it. 
 
 3 
 
34 
 
 mi mar arm de d' luchd-tuarasdail. (10) Agus clh' eirich 
 
 me as one of thy folk - of - wages. And arose 
 
 e agus chaidh e dh' ionnsaidh 'athar. (11) Ach air dha bhith 
 
 he and went he to of-his-father. But on to-him being- 
 
 fhathast fad uaith, chunnaig 'athair e, agus ghabh e truas 
 
 yet far from-him, saw his father him, and took he pity 
 
 dheth, agus ruith e, agus thuit e air a mhuineal, agus phog e 
 
 of-him, and ran he, and fell he on his neck, and kissed he 
 
 e. (12) Agus thuirt am mac ris, Athair, pheacaich mi an 
 
 him. And said the son to-him, Father, (have) sinned I in 
 
 aghaidh fhlaitheanais agus ad lathair-sa, a^us chan airidh 
 
 (the) face of - heaven and in-tlnj presence, and not (am) worthy 
 
 mi tuilleadh gun goirteadh do mhac dhiom. (13) Ach 
 
 I more that should-be-called thy son of-me. But 
 
 thuirt an t-athair r' a sheirbhisich, Thugaibh a mach a' 
 
 said the father to his servants, Bring out the 
 
 chuiaidh is fhearr agus cuiribh uime i ; agus cuiribh fainne 
 
 suit (that) is best and put about-him it and put a-ring 
 
 air a laimh agus brogan air a chasan. (14) Agus thugaibh 
 
 on his hand and shoes on his feet. And bring 
 
 an so an llaogh biadhta agus marbhaibh e ; agus itheamaid agus 
 
 here the calf fed and kill it ; and eat-we and 
 
 biomaid subhach ; ^ir bha mo mhac so marbh, agus tha e beo 
 
 be-we merry ; for was my son this dead, and is he alive 
 
 a ris ; bha e caillte agus fhuaradh e. (15) Agus thoisich iad 
 
 again ; was he lost and has-been-found he. And began they 
 
 air a bhith subhach. 
 
 on to be merry. 
 
 (16) A nis bha a mhac a bu shine mach san fhearann ; 
 
 Now was his son that was older out in-the land ; 
 
 agus an uair a thainig e agus a thar e am fagus do 'n tigh, 
 
 and the time that came he and that drew he near to the house, 
 
 chual e an ceol agus an dannsadh. (17) Agus ghairm e 
 
 heard he the music and the dancing. And called he 
 
 d'a ionnsaidh aon de na h-6glaich, agus dh' fhiosraich e ciod a 
 
 to him one of the men-servants, and inquired he what that 
 
 bu chiall do na nithean sin. (18) Agus thuirt esan ris, 
 
 was (the) meaning to the things those. And said lie to-him f 
 
 Thainig do bhrathair ; agus mharbh d' athair an llaogh 
 
 (Has) come thy brother ; and (has) killed thy father the calf 
 
 biadhta, a chionn gun d' fhuair e ris slan, fallain, e. (19) 
 
 fed, to the-end that found he again whole, sound, him. 
 
 Agus ghabh esan fearg, agus cha b' aill leis dol a stigh ; air 
 
 And took he wrath, and not was will with-him to-go in-the-house ; on 
 
 an aobhar sin thainig 'athair a mach agus chuir e iompaidh 
 
 the cause that came his-father out and put he persuasion 
 
35 
 
 air. (20) Ach fhreagair esan agus thuirt e r\a athair, Feuch 
 
 on-him. But answered he and said he to his father, Behold 
 
 tha mise a' deanamh seirbhis dhuit an uiread so a 
 
 am 1 a- doing service to-thee the amount this of 
 
 bhliadhnaichean agus uair air bith cha do bhris mi d' aithne, 
 
 years and time on being not broke I thy command, 
 
 gidheadh cha d' thug thu meann riamh dhomh, chum gum 
 
 yet not gavest thou a-kid ever to-me, to that 
 
 bithinn subhach maille ri m' chairdean. (21) Ach an uair a 
 
 should-I-be merry with my friends. But the time that 
 
 thainig do mhac so, a dh' ith suas do bheathachadh maille ri 
 
 came thy son this, who has-eaten up thy living with 
 
 striopaichean, marbh thu an llaogh biadhta dha. (22) Agus 
 
 harlots, hast-killed thou the calf fed to -him. And 
 
 thuirt e ris, A mhic, tha thusa a ghnath maille rium, agus na 
 
 said he to-him, My son, art thou of custom with-me, and the 
 
 h-uile nithean is lleamsa is lleatsa iad. (23) Bu choir dhuinn 
 
 all things (that) are with-me are with-thee they. It-was right to-us 
 
 a bhith subhach, agus aoibhneach ; oir bha do bhrathair so 
 
 to be merry, and joyful ; for was thy brother this 
 
 marbh, agus tha e beo a ris; agus bha e caillte agus 
 
 dead, and is he alive again ; and was he lost and 
 
 fhuaradh e. 
 
 has-been-found he. 
 
 THE PRODIGAL SON. 
 
 (1) A certain man had two sons. (2) And the younger of them said to his father, 
 Father, give me the portion of the goods that falleth to me. (3) And he divided unto 
 them his living. (4 ) And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, 
 and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous 
 living. (5) And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land ; 
 and he began to be in want. (6) And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that 
 country ; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. (7) And he would fain have 
 filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat : and no man gave unto him. 
 (8) And when he came to himself he said, How many hired servants of my father's 
 have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger ! (9) I will arise and go 
 to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against Heaven and before 
 thee ; and am no more worthy to be called thy son ; make me as one of thy hired 
 servants. (10) And he arose and came to his father. (11) But when he was yet a 
 great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion and ran, and fell on his neck 
 and kissed him. (12) And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against 
 Heaven and in thy sight, and am nu more worthy to be called thy son. (13) But the 
 father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe and put it on him ; and put a 
 ring on his hand and shoes qn his feet. (14) And bring hither the fatted calf and kill 
 it, and let us eat and be merry ; for this my son was dead and is alive again ; he was 
 lost and is found. (15) And they began to be merry. (16) Now his elder son was in 
 the field ; and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard music and dancing. 
 (17) And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant. (18) 
 And he said unto him, Thy brother is come ; and thy father hath killed the fatted 
 calf, because he hath received him safe and sound. (19) And he was angry, and 
 would not go in ; therefore came his father out and entreated him. (20) And he, 
 answering, said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither trans- 
 gressed I at any time thy commandment ; and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that 
 I might make merry with my friends. (21) But as soon as this thy son was come,, 
 which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf. 
 
 (22) And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.. 
 
 (23) It was meet that we should make merry and be glad ; for this thy brother was. 
 dead and is alive again ; and was lost and is found. 
 
36 
 
 SPECIFIC READINGS. 
 
 i. 
 
 Sgeul mu Choire-na-Sithe. 
 
 Thachair dhomh 'bhith a' siubhal, o chionn beagan bhliadh- 
 naichean, troimh Gharbh-chriochan na Gaidhealtachd, troimh 
 mhonaidhean fiadhaicb, far nach robh aon rathad, an uair a 
 thuit domh, air feasgar samhraidh, 'bhith air mo chuairteachadh 
 ann an ceo diimhail, an uair a bha mi a' gabhail ath-ghoirid 
 thairis air guala beinne cho ard 's a bha san duthaich. Mar bha 
 agh orm, bha fear-cuairteachaidh nan criochan farsaing sin maille 
 rium san am, a thug mi learn gu m' sheoladh gu bearradh 
 ard, as am faicinn sealladh air a' ghleann chum an robh mi 
 a' dol. Fada mu 'n d' rainig sinn am bearradh so, thuit an ceo 
 cho diimhail, ; s gum b' amaideach smuaineachadh dol na 
 b' fhaide air ar n-aghaidh. Bha Eachann Ruadh Saighdear, a 
 bha maille rium, na 'dhuine tuigseach ; bha e fada san arm ; 
 chuir e suas an c6ta-dearg fo 'n Cheannard urramach sin, 
 Ailein-an-Earrachd. Bha e maille ris ann an iomadh cath 
 cruaidh, agus b' fhiach e eisdeachd gach sgeul a bha aige mu 
 gach sealladh deistinneach a chunnaig e. An uair a thuig 
 e nach robh e tearainte imeachd na b' fhaide air bile nan 
 sgairneach a bha fodhainn, threoraich e mi gu bun na frith e, 
 far an robh ionad dionach anns am faodamaid fuireach gu 
 madainu. An uair a bha sinn a' tearnadh, dh' fheoraich mi 
 dheth an robh na creagan a bha na 'bheachd fada uainn. 
 " Tha creagan gu leoir far a bheil sinn, agus tha uaimh 
 fhasgach goiril o 'n aite so," ars' esan ; " ach ? s coma learn 
 iad ; tha e cho math dhuinn an seachnadh. Is e so," thuirt 
 esan, ann an guth iosal, mar gum biodh e a' cagarsaich am 
 chluais, " Is e so Coire-na-Sithe ; agus, a dh' innseadh na f irinn, 
 b' fhearr learn a bhith fliuch leis a' cheo, na fasgadh 'iarraidh 
 anns na h-aiteachan grannda sin." " Chan fhaod e 'bhith," 
 thuirt mi ris, " gu bheil thusa, Eachainn, a' creidshm a 
 leithid sin de dh' amaideachd ; gun teagamh chan 'eil thu 
 ach ri feala-dha." " Feala-dha ann no as," thuirt esan, " is 
 coma learn iad ; mar thuirt an seann duine, 4 Fhad 's a 
 
37 
 
 dh' fhuiricheas an t-olc uainn fuiricheamaid uaith.' Thig air 
 d' adhart ; tha sinn dluth do dh' Uaimh-na-h-Ochanaich ; ach 
 beannachd na 'n siubhal 's na 'n imeachd, 's i an nochd 
 Di-h-aoine, agus cha chlninn iad sinn." 
 
 Thug mi air seasamh car tamaill, is thoisich mi air cur an 
 ceill da faoineachd a leithid sin de smuaintean. Chual' e 
 mi gu deireadh, gun stad a chur air mo sheanachas ; ach a' 
 socrachadh a bhreacain thar a ghualainn, 's a' toirt sgrogaidh 
 a nuas air a bhoineid, ghreimich e na bu tinne am bata 
 'bha na 'laimh, agus thug e ceum air 'aghaidh, ag radh, " Bi 
 bruidhinn an drasta, eisdidh mi riut am maireach ; gabhamaid 
 seachad air an am ; chan aite so gu moran seanachais a 
 labhairt." — ■" Dean stad, Eachainn," thuirt mi ris ; "tha mi 
 a' cur romham an oidhche 'chur seachad ann an Uaimh-na- 
 h-Ochanaich - fuirich learn, 's na fag mi. Ach ma tha eagal 
 ort," — "Eagal !" ars' Eachann, 's e a' tionndadh air a shail ; "bi 
 air d' earalas, a dhuine choir, agus tagh do chainnt ; ged nach 
 tig dhomhsa a radh, is tu fhein a' chiad fhear a chuir eagal as 
 mo leth." " Tha mi ag iarraidh maitheanais," thuirt mi ris ; 
 " thig learn do 'n uaimh, agus feuchaidh sinn ciod a th' agad 
 ann an luib do bhreacain,. is ni sinn reite." " Theid mi leat," 
 ars' an saighdear coir, "agus fuirichidh mi leat, ged a bhiodh e 
 lan de na Frangaich,,gun teachd air na creutairean leibideach, 
 faoin sin, nach 'eil, ma dh' fhaodteadh, ann idir, ged tha 'leithid 
 de sheanachas mu 'n timchioll." 
 
 Bha sinn a nis aig beul na h-uamha, agus sheas Eachann 
 Ruadh. " Sin i agad a nis," thuirt e ; 16 agus urram na h-uaisle 
 do 'n choigreach, gabh air d' adhart." Chaidh sinn a steach 
 fo dhion, agus shuidh sinn air a' chiad chloich chothromaich 
 a fhuair sinn. Cha robh mo chompanach ro dheonach air moran 
 cainnte ; bha e a' sgioblachadh a bhreacain, an uair a ghrad thog 
 e a cheann mar gum buaileadh peileir e. " Ciod e so ?" thuirt e, 
 's e a' farcluais ; " mur creid thu mise, creid do chluasan." 
 Thainig a nuas oi'rnn sa' cheart am sin ceol tiamliaidh, binn, 
 nach d' fhiosraich mi eisdeachd r' a leithid riamh roimhe ; agus 
 bha dearbh fhios agam nach b'ann o aon inneal-ciuil a b'aitlme 
 dhomh a thainig e. Chan fhaodadh so gun mhor loghnadh a chur 
 oirnn. Bha an oidhche dorcha; bha an t-aite udlaidh, uaigneach ; 
 bha sinn fada o thigheadas dhaoine, am measg garbhlach chreag, 
 ann an coire fiadhaich. Eagal cha robh orm, oir bha mi lan- 
 chinnteach gum bu cheol saoghalta a bha ann, agus chur mi 
 romham, na 'm b' urrainn domh, 'fhaotainn a mach cia as a 
 
38 
 
 thainig e. "An teid ttm suas learn, Eachainn ?" " Theid," 
 ars' esan, agus e a' cur seachad na bha e a' toirt as a bhreacan ; 
 " is niinic a thachair e mar so fhein, eadar am bile 's an deoch. 
 Shaoilinn gum biodh e cho math fuireach gu madainn ; ach 
 cuimhnich, ' Am fear a theid san dris, gun iomair e teachd as 
 mar a dh' fhaodas e.'" Ghabh sinn suas, am feadh a bha 
 an ceol a' sior fhas na b' airde. Fa-dheireadh thainig leus 
 soluis oirun ; sheas Eachaun beagan air deireadh, 's an uair a 
 chaidh mi timchioll stuc creige, chunnaig mi sealladh nach teid 
 gu luath as m' aire. Dh' fhan mo chompanach far an robh e, 
 theagamh a' smuaineachadh gum faca mi tuilleadh 's a bu 
 mhiann learn. Bha lasair chridheil theine aig ceann skuas na 
 h-uamha, o ghiuthas seachdta a bha pailt mu 'n aite ; agus na 
 'shuidhe aig an teine bha leth sheann duine laidir, eolgarra ; 
 currac ard, molach, air a cheann, anns an robh dos de dh' ite an 
 fhirein, agus a chom uile air a chomhdachadh le biana fhiadh 
 agus earb. Bha lan shealladh agamsa air-san, ged nach 
 b' urrainn dasan mise 'fhaicinn. Bha e 'cluiche gu siirdail aiF 
 da thruirab mhoir Abraich, a bha air an deanamh 's an am sin 
 gu h-ealanta, dluth do sheana Chaisteal Dubh Inbhir-Lochaidh. 
 An crochadh ris gach meur d' a lamhan, bha clag beag airgid, 
 a rinn fuaim anabarrach binn, agus o 'n do tharmaich a' 
 cho-sheirm a chuir ormsa uiread iongantais, agus na 'm 
 faodteadh a radh, a chuir mo chompanach fo eagal cho mor. 
 "Thig air d'adhart," thuirt mi gu samhach ri Eachann. " A 
 bheil iacl an sin ? " thuirt e. " A bheil iad a' dannsadh 
 san t-solus, no ri fleadhachas-cuirme ?" Dhluthaich e gu 
 sgathach ri m' thaobh, agus air dha a' chiad phlathadh 'fhaicinn 
 de 'n fhear-chiuil, thug e sitheadh seachad orm, a' glaodhaich 
 a mach le aighear nach b' urrainn da a cheannsachadh, " Iain 
 Mhoir nan Creag, an tusa tha 'n so ? Mo bheannachd air do 
 cheann molach, is mi a tha toilichte d' fhaicinn !" 
 
 Dh'eirich Iain bochd, agus chuir e failte oirnn, a' tilgeil tuill- 
 eadh mhaidean air an teine. Shuidh sinn mu 'n cuairt air a' 
 chagailt ; agus dh' aidicli Eachann coir, oir cealg cha robh na 
 'chom, nach b' urrainn da gu brath a bhith cho taingeil 's a' 
 bhuineadh dha, air son nach d' fhuair e cead tilleadh, mar bha 
 run air, an uair a chual' e an ceol. " Is ioma sgeul," thuirt 
 e, "a chuala mi riamh mu Choire-na-Sithe ; 's na'm bithinn an 
 nochd air tilleadh' gun so 'fhaicinn, bha mo sgeula fhein chum an 
 dearbhadh. Cha tugadh am ministeir fhein orm a chreidsinn 
 nach robh na daoine-beaga arm an Uaimh-na-h-Ochanaich." 
 
39 
 
 Dh' fheoraich mi dheth an robh da-rireadh eagal air? 
 <l Eagal !" thuirt esan, agus e a' suathadh air falbh an fhallais 
 fhuair a bha fhathast air a ghnuis ; "air naile bha, 's gu 
 leoir dheth ; barrachd 's a bha riamh orm a' dol sios do 'n 
 bhlar le Ailein-an-Earrachd ; ach ma bha cha bhi tuilleadh 
 mu 'n ghnothach cheudna." 
 
 Tha so a' leigeil ris duinn cia co faoin an ni o 'n eirich 
 seanachas duthcha mu ni bha iad gnathaichte a chreidsinn : 
 agus na'n rannsaicheadh daoine gu mionaideach mu 'thimchioll, 
 thuigeadh iad gur e bha ann, an aite a bhith na 'chuis-eagail, 
 culaidh-abhacais agus fearas-chuideachd. 
 
 Fhuair mi mach o Eachann eachdraidh an duine bhochd so 
 a bha 's an uaimh. Bu neo-dhuine gun mhath gun mhilleadh 
 e, a nuas o 'oige. Ged a bha e gun mh6ran toinisg no tuigse, 
 bha e na 'sheol fhein fo chaileigin de mheas amis an duthaich. 
 Bha e eolach air aisridh chumhang an fheidh 's na h-earba, agus 
 b' e 'thoileachas-inntinn an fhaoghaid a leantainn le oigridh na 
 tire. Cha robh bearradh, no bealach, no aithghearradh troimh 
 mhonadh, no beul-atha air abhainn, no earn, no garaidh, air 
 nach robh e mion eolach. Be an t-samhraidh b' i uaimh nan 
 creag a chomhnuidh ; ghluais e o airidh gu airidh, 's cha 
 deachaidh e riamh air falbh falamh o aon diubh. Cha 
 bhiodh e gun Ion fhad 's a bhiodh dearc air torn, meas no 
 cnothan ann an coille ; chan fhailnicheadh a leaba am feadh 
 a gheabhadh e fraoch badanach, gorm, a' fas gu dosrach amis 
 gach aite ; agus mar thuirt e fhein, bha a chiiid tromb 
 soirbh r' an gleusadh. Bha a dhachaidh aims gach aite far an 
 laigheadh a' ghrian air ; agus comhla cha do dhruideadh 
 riamh air. Cha robh a mhaileid doirbh r' a giulan, cha robh 
 hmte ach a' chlach-theine agus am fada-spuinge ; sgian-dubh 
 a dh' fhionnadh nam fiadh ; ribe a ghlacadh an fhirein, agus 
 cromag iarainn a liibadh nan geug. Ach ma bha an duine 
 bochd so air bheag eolais, bu taitneach r' a fhaicinn an 
 t-saothair a ghabh a pharantan air ami an laithean 'oige. 
 Ghabh e dhuinn moran de laoidhean agus de dhanaibh 
 naomha ; rinn e so le uiread chrabhaidh, agus air doigh a bu 
 stolda na iomadh fear a b' fhaide leughadh. Sheinn e iad le 
 fonn tiamhaidh muladach, is e ri turaman air 'ais agus air 
 'aghaidh, a rainig mo chridhe. Mu 'n do leag e a thaobh ri 
 lar, dh' earb e e fhein ri Dia. " Allabanaich bhochd," thuirt 
 mi rium fhein, ; ' caidil gu tearuinte ; gabhaidh Dia ciiram dhiot. 
 Truagh 's mar tha thu ann am beachd an t-saoghail, tha thu 
 
40 
 
 cho priseil na 'shealladh-san ris an righ is mo air thalamh. Is 
 lioninhor iad a tha air an cidhclie nochd air an diteadh leat, 
 d' an d' thug Dia tuigse, fiosrachadh, agus foghlum, a tha a r 
 laighe sios air an leapaichean riomhach, gun suim dasan a tha 
 os an cionn, o bheil iad a' sealbhachadh gach beannachd." 
 
 II. 
 
 Litir o Fhioxxlagh Piobaire g' a Mhnaol 
 
 A MhairIj a ghraidh, — Is bliadhna leant gach la o 'n a 
 dhealaich mi riut f'hein agus ris na paisdean. Tha mi an drast 
 aim an Glaschu mor nan stiopall, baile na gleadhraich. nacli 
 robh mi aon uair eile am shineadh -air bruach na h-aibhne, far 
 nach cluinninn ach torman nan allt, bairich nam bo, agus 
 ccileireadh nan eun. Tha mi nis, mar a gheall mi, dol a 
 dh' innseadh dhuit mar fhuair mi a mach. 
 
 Tha euimhn' agad ihein mar a dhealaich sinn. Thog mi 
 orm le bocsa na pioba gu beul a' chaolais. Is aim an sin a 
 bha 'n othail — Marsali Mhor agus na buanaichean a bha leatha 
 cho aoibhinn, aighearach, 's ged nach biodh iad ach a' dol do 'n 
 choille-chno. Co bha am broilleach na cuideachd ach Para 
 Mor, le 'fheile-beag 's le 'bhoineid, mar a b' abhaist da ; cuaille 
 de bhata daraich na 'laimh, agus maileid de bhian gaibhre air a 
 dhruim. " Failt' ort, Fhiormlaigh Phiobaire," ars' esan ; " gum 
 meal thu do bhrigis." " Ma-ta," arsa mise, " tubaist oirre ! Is i 
 so a' chiad uair a chuir mi orm i. Na 'm fuirgheadh i shuas cha 
 bu ghearan e ; ach tha mi cheana cho sgith dhi 's a bha 
 da bhliadhnach eich de 'n ghad, a' chiad oidhche a chuireadh air 
 e." A mach ghabh sinn an coinne soitheach-na-smuide, 
 "A' Mhaighdean-Mhorairneach," mar their iad rithe. Bha i 
 'teannadh oirnn o Mhuile, a' cur na smuid di. "Tha i so a 7 
 tighinn," arsa Para Mor, " an aigeannach mhaol, ghrannda, 
 le 'gleadhraich, 's le 'h-upraid ; cha b' loghnadh learn ach 1 A'~ 
 Mhaighdean ' a radh rithe ; b' l sin a' mhaighdean gun mhodh, 
 gun eismeil." Tharraing i oirnn le caoiribh bana fo a sroin ; 
 a' slachdraich agus a' sloistreadh na fairge foipe, a bha ag 
 eirigh na 'h-iomairean bana, cobhragach, a nunn gu Aros. 
 Thainig i a nuas oirnn a' bagradh ar smaladh fo a cuibhlichean. 
 Fa-dheireadh stad a' bheist ; agus cha luaith' a stad na cuibh- 
 lichean a dhol mu'n cuairt na thug feadan fada, caol, a bha 
 suas ri taobh an t-simileir mhoir, aon ran as, a shaoil mi a 
 sgaineadh mo cheann. Is ann an sin a bha an uinich agus an 
 
41 
 
 othail, an dol ri cliathaich na luinge — a h-uile beul fosgailte- 
 san aon am ; gun urram fir d' a cheile. Ma 's i Marsali Mhor, 
 thug i mach a' Bheurla sin nach do chleachd i o 'n a bha i an 
 uraidh air a' Ghalldachd. Co ach ise ! Bha Bheurla 's a' 
 Ghaidhlig am measg a cheile. "Dean fodha," ars' an dara 
 h-aon. "Nach iomair thu, mhic do mhathar !" ars' an t-aon 
 eile. " A stigh an ramh-braghad shuas ; buille g' a deireadh 
 shios ; na dean thusa> Iain Bhain." " Cannie, cannie, 'illean," 
 arsa Marsali Mhor. " Gu reidh !" ars' a h-uile h-aon. Mur 
 bhi mo naire, 's mar bha mi ceaugailte sa' bhrigis, bha mi mach 
 a shnamh gu tir. Fa-dheireadh thainig ball cainbe le fead 
 m' ar cluasan, agus ghlaodh gach neach, " Cum air gu gramail, 
 Iain Bhain." Thug a' gheola aon sathadh aisde nunn gu taobh 
 na luinge agus shaoil mi gun robh sinn thairis. Fhuair mi 
 suas, ach chan fhios domh cionnas ; agus cha mho bha fhios 
 agam c' ait an tionndaidhinn. 
 
 "Tha thu an sin, Fhionnlaigh," arsa Para Mor, " ' mar 
 bho mhaoil am buaile choimhich.' Thig learn a dh' amharc 
 mionach na Maighdinn so fhein, a dh' fheuchainn an tuig sinn 
 mar tha 'bheairt innleachdach ag iomairt." Ach ma chaidh, is 
 ann an sin, a Mhairi, a bha am fire-faire — sailthean iarainn 
 agus slatan a' gluasad a nunn agus a nail, a sios agus a suas, 
 air an ais agus air an adhart, gun tamh, gun stad ; cnagan agus 
 g6bhlan, agus eagan a' freagairt d' a cheile ; cuibhlichean beaga 
 na 'n deann ruith muma cuibhlichean mora. Bha duine truagh 
 shios am measg na h-acfhainn, a' cur na smuid deth, far nach 
 saoileadh tu am b' urrainn do luch dol gun a milleadh ; ach 
 bha esan a' gluasad air feadh na h-upraid cho neo-sgathach 's a 
 rachadh Para Mor no mise am measg nan caorach — ag armadh 
 gach acfhainn, achlais, udalain, agus feadain, le h-ola agus le 
 h-im. "A dhuine thruaigh," arsa Para Mor, "is ann agam 
 nach 'eil suil ri d' aite ; is daor a tha thu a' cosnadh d' arain." 
 "C'ar-sonl" ars' esan, agus e a' tionndadh suas a shul, a bha 
 a' snamh ann am fallas. Ged a labhradh a' gheimhleag iarainn 
 a bha na 'laimh c^ia b' urrainn duinn barrachd ioghnaidh a 
 bhith oirnn na an uair a chuala sinn an duine so a' labhairt na 
 Gaidhlig. " Nach do shaoil mi," arsa Para Mor, " gur Sasunn- 
 ach, no Eireannach, no Gall bochd a bh' ann." Thainig e nios 
 a' siabadh an fhallais o 'ghnuis le bad corcaich a bha na 'laimh, 
 agus thoisich e air beachd a thoirt duinn air an acfhainn. Ach, 
 eudail, b' e sin an fhaoineis. " An saoil thusa, Phara Mhoir," 
 arsa mise, " nach ann sa' cheann a smaointich an toiseach air 
 
42 
 
 so a bha an innleachd ?" " Coma learn e fhein is 'innleachd !" 
 arsa Para Mor ; " is mi-nadurra, peacach, an innleachd so fhein 
 — a' cur sruth agus soirbheas an Fhreasdail g' an diilan, a' dol 
 na 'n aghaidh gun seol, gun ramh. Coma learn i ! — chan 'eil 
 an innleachd so cneasda. B' fhearr learn a bhith ann an geola 
 dhubh Acha-na-creige — E6ghan-an-Rudha air an stiuir — a' ruith 
 le croinn ruisgte troimh Bhuinne-nam-biodag, na a bhith innte. 
 Tha mi ag radh riut nach 'eil an innleachd so cneasda." 
 
 An uair a bha sinn a nunn gu ceann Mhusdail chuala mi 
 fhein sgal pioba air mo chill, agus air dhomh tionndadh c6 a bha 
 an so ach balach ronnach de mhuinntir Thir-idhe, a' gleusadh 
 a phioba fhad 's a bheireadh duin' eile cuairt aisde. " Ma-ta," 
 arsa Para Mor, " £ Is ceannach air an ubh an gloc' Ciamar 
 tha so a' cordadh riut, Fhionnlaigh V " 1 Is searbh a' ghloir,' " 
 thuirt mise, "'nach fhaodar eisdeachd.' " Chluich e, fa- 
 dheireadh, " Bodach nam Brigisean," agus mu 'n do sguir e 
 dheth bha mi cho sgith dhe fhein agus d' a cheol 's a bha mi 
 de 'n bhrigis lachdainn. 
 
 Co a bha an dcireadh na luinge ach Alasdair Rualh Mac- 
 Iain-Abraich, Tighearna Choi a. Mhothaich e dhomh fhein, 
 agus smeid e orm. Cha robh math a dhiultadh. Bha mdran 
 uaislean shios leis air clar-deiridh na luinge — Sasunnaich, 
 Goill, agus Frangaich--cuid diubh a' leughadh ; cuid na 'n 
 cadal ; cuid a' meananaich ; cuid ag itheadh, Bha fear 
 dhiubh le gloin'-amhairc fhada, riomhaich, r' a shuil, mar gum 
 biodh e a' dol a losgadh air Caisteal Dubhairt. Mhothaich mi 
 fear fada, caol, glas-neulach, le speuclair air a shroin, agus 
 bioran ruadh na ? laimh, leis an robh e a' t arming dealbh a' 
 Chaisteil. Bha baiutighearna mhor, riomhr ch, na 'm measg, 
 agus measan leibideach de chu beag, molach, na 'h-uchd, ris 
 an robh i a' briodal, agus ga 'phogadh. Thug mi fhein a 
 mach a' phiob mar a dh' iarr iad ; ach a' chiad sgal a thug i, 
 theich gach aon diubh ach aon Sasunnach mor, reamhar, a 
 shuidh mu ra' choinne le 'dha mheur na 'chluasan, agus 
 sgraing air mar gum bithiim a' dol g' a itheadh. 
 
 Ma bha ceol am measg nan uaislean bha ceol agus dannsadh 
 an ceann eile na luinge. Ach an uair a bha sinn a' dol sios gu 
 Eisdeal " chaidh an ceol feadh na fidhle." Bha an fhairge na 
 'mill agus na 'gleanntan. Thoisich soitheach na-smuide fhein ri 
 dannsadh. Cha robh ran a bheireadh am feadan m6r as nach 
 saoileadh tu gun robh muc-mhara r' a cliathaich. Cha chluinn- 
 eadh tu a nis ach osnaidhean o gach kite. Bha an Sasunnach 
 
43 
 
 mor a bha a' fochaid air a' phiob, agus a ch'eann thar beul-mor 
 na luinge, an impis sgaineaclh. " An tuilleadh tcannaidh ort !" 
 avsa mise ; " neo-ar-thaing mur 'eil pluic piobaire nis ort fhein." 
 Bainig sinn an Crionan. " Is priseil," arsa Para Mor, " a' chas 
 air tir" — a' chiad fhacal a thainig as a cheann o 'n a chaidh 
 sinn seachad air Beul Loch-Faochann. 
 
 An la-ar-na-mhaireach rainig sinn Glaschu, aig aite ris an 
 abair iad am Broomielaiv. B'e sin ceidhe na h-iipraid — 
 luingis-na-smuide a' falbh agus a' teachd lan sluaigh ; mar 
 gum biodh an saoghal a' dol do Ghlaschu agus an saoghal a' 
 teicheadh as. Bho nach d' fhas mi bodhar leis a' ghleadhraich 
 a bha am chluasan, cha churam learn gun caill mi mo chlaist- 
 eachd tuilleadh. Bha sreath dhaoiue air an tarraing suas fa 
 chomhair nan soithichean, le ball cainbe mu ghuala gach aoin 
 diubh, agus braiste riomhach air 'uchd. Bha iad so a' 
 smeideadh oirun mar a bha sinn a' dol gu tir, a h-uile beul 
 fosgailte mar ffum biodh iad a' cur failt' oirnn ; gaeh lamh 
 sinte, agus gach suil siubhlach mar gum biodh iad ag iarraidh 
 luchd-e61ais. Bha aon fhear gu h-araidh, a shocraich a shuil 
 orm fhein, agus air dhomh atnharc air gu geur a dh' fheuch an 
 cuirnhnichiun co e, chuir e a lamh r' a aid, agus chrom e a 
 cheann cho modhail, shiobhalta, 's nach b' urrainn domh gun an 
 fbailt' a fhreagairt. Ann am priobadh na sida bha e air clar 
 na luinge, agus thog e leis bocsa mo phioba agus maileid 
 Phara Mhoir, cho easgaidh 's a ghlacadh Gaidseir Thobar- 
 Mhoire buideal uisge-bheatha, gun chuireadh, gun chead. 
 " Air d' athais," arsa Para Mor ; " an cuala tu riamh, mo ghille 
 math, mar a thuirt clag Sgain, 'An rud nach buin duit na 
 buin da' V " Leanaibh mise, a dhaoin'-uaisle," ars' an duine. 
 agus e a' falbh ceum romhainn. " Is aim sa' bhaile-mh6r fhein," 
 thuirt mise, "a tha am modh. Is fhad o 'n a chuala mi gum bi 
 ' gille aig an fheannaig fhein a's t-fhoghar.'" Dh' iarr sinn air 
 ar toirt gu tigh Eoghain Oig, far an do rinn iad ar beatha gu 
 cridheil. \ 
 
 Slan leat, a Mhairi, a ghraidh, air an am. Cuiridh mi litir 
 eile ad ionnsaidh ann an uine ghoirid, an uair a gheabh mi 
 cosnadh. Chan 'eil thu fhein agus na paisdean tiota as mo 
 chuimhne. bi furachair mu Lachann beag, mo chuilean 
 gaolach. 
 
 Am Freasdal a bhith maille riut — guidhe durachdach 
 D' Fhir-phosda ghradhaich, 
 
 FlONNLAGH MAC-AONGHAIS. 
 
44 
 
 III. 
 
 MURCHADH AGUS MlONACHAG. 
 
 Chaidh Murchadh agus Mionachag do "n choille aon la a 
 bhuain subh ; ach mar a bhuaineadh Murchadh dh' itheadh 
 Mionachag. Dh' fhalbh Murchadh a dh' iarraidh slat a 
 ghabhail air Mionachag 's i ag itheadh a chuid subh. " De do- 
 naidheachd an diugh, a Mhurchaidh V ars : an t-slat. "Is e 
 mo naidheachd gu bheil mi ag iarraidh— 
 
 Slat a ghabhail air Mionachaig 's i 'g itheadh mo 
 chuid subh." 
 
 " Chan fhaigh thu mise," ars' an t-slat, " gus am faio-h thu 
 tuagh a bhnaineas mi." Rainig e an tuagh. " De do naidh- 
 eachd an diugh, a Mhurchaidh?" "Is e mo naidheachd gu 
 bheil mi ag iarraidh — 
 
 Tuagh a bhuain slait — slat a ghabhail air Mion- 
 achaig 's i 'g itheadh mo chuid subh." 
 
 " Chan fhaigh thu mise gus am faigh thu clach a bhleitheas 
 mi." Rainig e a' chlach. " De do naidheachd an diugh, a 
 Mhurchaidh ?" " Is e mo naidheachd gu bheil mi ag iarraidh — 
 
 Clach a bhleith tuaigh — tuagh a bhuain slait — 
 slat a ghabhail air Mionachaig 's i 'g itheadh mo 
 chuid subh." 
 
 " Chan fhaigh thu mise gus am faigh thu uisge a fhliuchas 
 mi." Rainig e an t-uisge. " De do naidheachd an diugh, a 
 Mhurchaidh ?" " Is e mo naidheachd gu bheil mi ag iarraidh — 
 
 Uisge 'dhol mu chloich — clach a bhleith tuaigh- — 
 tua^h a bhuain slait— slat a ghabhail air Mionachaig 
 's i 'g itheadh mo chuid subh." 
 
 " Chan fhaigh thu mise gus am faigh thu fiadh a shnamhas. 
 mi." Rainig e am fiadh. "De do naidheachd an diugh, a 
 Mhurchaidh ?" " Is e mo naidheachd gu bheil mi ag iarraidh — 
 
 Fiadh a shnamh uisg' — uisge 'dhol mu chloich— 
 clach a bhleith tuaigh— tuagh a bhuain slait— slat a 
 ghabhail air Mionachaig 's i 'g itheadh mo chuid 
 subh." 
 
45 
 
 " Chan fhaigh thu mise gus am faigh thu gadhar a ruitheas 
 mi." Rainig e an gadhar. " De do naidheachd an diugh, a 
 Mhurchaidh 1" " Is e mo naidheachd gu bheil mi ag iarraidh — 
 
 Gadhar a ruith feidh — fiadh a shnamh uisg' — uisge 
 'dhol mu chloich— clach a bhleith tuaigh— tuagh a 
 bhuain slait — slat a ghabhail air Mionachaig 's i 
 'g itheadh mo chuid subh." 
 
 " Chan fhaigh thu mise gus am faigh thu im a theid ri 
 m' chasan. Rainig e an t-im. " De do naidheachd an diugh, 
 a Mhurchaidh?" "Is e mo naidheachd gu bheil mi ag 
 iarraidh — 
 
 Im a dhol ri casan gadhair — gadhar a ruith feidh 
 — fiadh a shnamh uisg'— uisge 'dhol mu chloich — 
 clach a bhleith tuaigh — tuagh a bhuain slait — slat 
 a ghabhail air Mionachaig 's i 'g itheadh mo chuid 
 subh." 
 
 " Chan fhaigh thu mise gus am faigh thu luch a sgriobas 
 mi." Rainig e an luch. " De do naidheachd an diugh, a 
 Mhurchaidh V " Is e mo naidheachd gu bheil mi ag iarraidh — 
 
 Luch a sgriobadh ime— im a dhol ri casan gadhair 
 — gadhar a ruith feidh — fiadh a shnamh uisg' — uisge 
 ; dhol mu chloich — clach a bhleith tuaigh — tuagh a 
 bhuain slait — slat a ghabhail air Mionachaig 's i 
 'g itheadh mo chuid subh." 
 
 "Chan fhaigh thu mise gus am faigh thu cat a shealgas 
 mi." Rainig e an cat. " De do naidheachd an diugh, a Mhur- 
 chaidh 1 ?" " Is e mo naidheachd gu bheil mi ag iarraidh — 
 
 Cat a shealg lucha — luch a sgriobadh ime— im a 
 dhol ri casan gadhair — gadhar a ruith feidh — fiadh 
 a shnamh uisg' — uisge 'dhol mu chloich — clach a 
 bhleith tuaigh — tuagh a bhuain slait — slat a ghabh- 
 ail air Mionachaig 's i 'g itheadh mo chuid subh." 
 
 "Chan fhaigh thu mise gus am faigh thu bainne dhomh." 
 Rainig e a' bho. " De do naidheachd an diugh, a Mhurchaidh ?" 
 " Is e mo naidheachd gu bheil mi ag iarraidh — 
 
 Bainne do 'n chat— cat a shealg lucha — luch a 
 sgriobadh ime — im a dhol ri casan gadhair — gadhar 
 a ruith feidh— fiadh a shnamh uisg'— uisge 'dhol mu 
 
46 
 
 chloich — clach a bhleith tuaigh — tuagh a bhuain 
 slait — slat a ghabhail air Mionachaig 's i 'g itheadh 
 mo chuid subh." 
 
 " Chan fhaigh thu bairme uamsa gus am faigh thu boitean 
 o 'n ghille-shabhail domh." Rainig e an gille-sabbaii. " De do 
 naidheachd an diugh, a Mhurchaidh V "Is e mo naidheachd 
 gu bheil mi ag iarraidh — 
 
 Boitein do 'n bho — bainne do 'n chat— cat a shealg 
 lucha — luch a sgriobadh ime — im a dhol ri casan 
 gadhair — gadhar a ruith feidh — fiadh a shnamh uisg' 
 — uisge 'dhol mu chloich — clach a bhleith tuaigh— 
 tuagh a bhuain slait — slat a ghabhail air Mionachaig 
 's i 'g itheadh mo chuid subh." 
 
 " Chan fhaigh thu boitean uamsa gus am faigh thu bonnach 
 o 'n bhean-fhuine dhomh." Rainig e a' bhean-fhuine. " De do 
 naidheachd an diugh, a Mhurchaidh 1 ?" " Is e mo naidheachd 
 gu bheil mi ag iarraidh — 
 
 Bonnaich do 'n ghille-shabhail — boitein do 'n bho 
 — bainne do 'n chat — cat a shealg lucha — luch a 
 sgriobadh ime — im a dhol ri casan gadhair — gadhar 
 a ruith feidh — fiadh a shnamh uisg' — uisge 'dhol mu 
 chloich — clach a bhleith tuaigh — tuagh a bhuain 
 slait — slat a ghabhail air Mionachaig 's i 'g itheadh 
 mo chuid subh." 
 
 " Chan fhaigh thu bonnach uamsa gus am toir thu stigh 
 uisg' a dh' fhuineas e." 
 
 " Co ann a bheir mi stigh an t-uisge ?" 
 
 " Chan 'eil soitheach ann ach an criathar-cabhrach sin." 
 
 Thug Murchadh leis an criathar-cabhrach, agus rainig e an 
 tobar ; ach a h-uile deur a chuireadh e sa' chiiathar-chabhrach 
 rachadh e troimhe. Thainig feannag os a chionn agus ghlaodh 
 i, " Gorag, gorag !" 
 
 " Tha thu ceart, fheannag," arsa Murchadh. 
 
 " Cre ruadh 's coinneach — ere ruadh 's coinneach," thuirt 
 an fheannag. 
 
 Chuir Murchadh cre ruadh agus coinneach anns a' chriathar; 
 thug e stigh an t-uisge do 'n bhean-fhuine, agus fhuair e — 
 
 Bonnach do 'n ghille-shabhail — boitean do 'n bho 
 — bainne do 'n chat — cat a shealg lucha — luch a 
 
47 
 
 sgriobadh ime— im a dhol ri casan gadhair — gadhar 
 a ruith feidh— fiadh a shnamh uisg'— uisge 'dhol mu 
 chloich — clach a bhleith tuaigh — tuagh a bhuain 
 slait— slat a ghabhail air Mionachaig 's i 'g itheadh 
 a chuid subh. 
 
 Ach an uair a thill Murchadh bha Mionachag an deidh 
 sgaineadh. 
 
 IV. 
 
 Cead Deireannach nam Beann. 
 
 Bha mi 'n de m Beinn-d6rain, 
 
 'S na 'coir cha robh mi aineolach ; 
 Chunna mi na gleanntan, 
 
 'S na beanntaichean a b' aithne dhomh. 
 B'e sin an sealladh eibhinn, 
 Bhith 'g imeachd air na sleibhtean, 
 'N uair bhiodh a' ghrian ag eirigh, 
 
 'S a bhiodh na feidh a' langanaich. 
 
 B' aobhaeh a' ghreidh uallach, 
 
 'N uair ghluaiseadh iad gu farumach, 
 
 'S na h-eildean air an fhaaran, 
 
 Bu chuannar na laoigh bhallach ann ; 
 
 Na maoislichean 's na ruadh-bhuic, 
 
 Na coilich dhubha 's ruadha, 
 
 'S e 'n ceol bu bhinne chualas 
 
 'N uair chluinnt' am fuaim sa' chamhanaich. 
 
 'S togarrach a dh' fhalbhainn 
 
 Gu sealgaireachd nam bealaichean, 
 'Dol moch a dhireadh garbhlaich, 
 
 'S gum b' anmoch tigh'nn gu baile mi ; 
 An t-uisge glan 's am faileadh 
 Th' air mullach nam beann arda, 
 Chuidich e gu fas mi ; 
 
 'S e rinn domh slaint' is fallaineachd. 
 
 Fhuair mi greis a in' arach 
 
 Air airidhean a b' aithne dhomh, 
 Ki cluiche, 's mire, 's manran, 
 
 'S bhith 'n coibhneas blath nan caileagan ; 
 
48 
 
 Bu chuis an aghaidh naduir 
 Gum maireadh sin an drast ami ; 
 'S e b' eiginn bhith ga 'm fagail 
 
 'N uair thainig trath dhuinn dealachadh. 
 
 Nis o 'n bhuail an aois mi, 
 
 Fhuair mi gaoid a mhaireas domh, 
 
 'Binn milleadh air mo dheudach, 
 'S mo leirsinn air a dalladh orm ; 
 
 Chan urrainn domh bhith treubhach, 
 
 Ged a chuirinn feum air, 
 
 'S ged bhiodh an ruaig am dheidh-sa, 
 Cha dean mi ceum ro chabhagach. 
 
 Ged tha mo cheann air liathadh, 
 'S mo chiabhagan air tanachadh, 
 
 'S trie a leig mi mial-chu 
 
 Ri fear fiadhaich, ceannardach ; 
 
 Ged bu toigh learn riamh iad, 
 
 'S ged fhaicinn air an t-sliabh iad, 
 
 Cha teid mi nis ga 'n iarraidh 
 
 Bho 'n chaill mi trian na h-analach. 
 
 Ri am dol aims a' bhuireadh, 
 
 Bu durachdach a leanainn iad, 
 'S bhiodh uair aig sluagh na duthcha, 
 
 'Toirt oran ura 's rannachd dhoibh ; 
 Greis eile mar ri cairdean, 
 'N uair bha sinn anns na campan ; 
 Bu chridheil anns an am sinn, 
 
 'S cha bhiodh an dram oirnn annasach. 
 
 'N uair bha mi 'n toiseaoh m' oige, 
 'S i ghoraich a chum falamh mi ; 
 
 'S e 'm fortan 'tha cur oirnne 
 
 Gach aon ni coir a ghealladh dhuinn ; 
 
 Ged tha mi gann a storas, 
 
 Tha m' inntinn lan de sholas, 
 
 Bho 'n tha mi ann an dochas 
 
 Gun d' rinn Nigh'n Deors' * an t-aran domh. 
 * His musket. 
 
49 
 
 Bha mi 'n de sail aonach, 
 
 'S bha smaointean m6r' air m' aire-sa, 
 Nach robh 'n luchd-gaoil a b' abhaist 
 
 'Bhith siubhal fasaich mar rium ann ; 
 'S a' bheinn is beag a shaoil mi 
 Gun deanadh ise caochladh, 
 Bho 'n tha i nis fo chaoirich, 
 
 'S ann thug an saoghai car asam. 
 
 'N uair sheall mi air gach taobh dhiom, 
 Chan fhaodainn gun bhith smalanach, 
 
 Bho 'n theirig coill is fraoch ann, 
 
 'S na daoine 'bh' ann cha mhaireann iad ; 
 
 Chan 'eil fiadh r' a shealg ann, 
 
 Chan 'eil eun no earb ann, 
 
 Am beagan nach 'eil marbh dhiubh, 
 'S e rinn iad falbh gu baileach as. 
 
 Mo shoraidh leis na frithean — 
 
 's miorbbailteach na beannan iad, 
 
 Le biolair uaine 's f ior-uisg', 
 
 Deoch uasal, riomhach, cheanalta ! — 
 
 Na blaran a tha priseil, 
 
 'S na fasaichean 'tha lionmhor j 
 
 Bho 'n 's ait' a leig mi dhiom iad, 
 Gu brath mo mhile beannachd leo ! 
 
 Y. 
 
 OlDHCHE NA CALLAINNE AN TlR CHEIN. 
 
 Is tiamhaidh, trom, mo chridhe 'nochd, 
 Is mi am aon'ran bochd learn fhein ; 
 
 Chan iarr mi tamh, chan fhaigh mi lochd, 
 Is mi fo mhuig an duthaich chein. 
 
 Is iumadh cuimhne thursach, throm, 
 
 'Tha 'dusgadh broin 's ga m' chur fo sprochd ; 
 
 'S e 'thog an osna ann am chom, 
 
 Nach 'eil mi 'n Tir-nam-Beann an nochd. 
 
 4 
 
50 
 
 Tha Tir-nam-Beaim mar bhi i riamh — 
 
 Gach gleann, is sliabh, is creag nam faobh, 
 
 An creachann ard 's am bi am fiadh, 
 'S an leacann liath 'tha sios o 'thaobh. 
 
 Tha, fos, gach allt a' leum le toirm, 
 Bho chreig gu creig a sios gu traigh ; 
 
 Tha barr an fhraoich fo 'bhadain ghorm', 
 Gu trom 's gu dosrach mar a bha. 
 
 Ach c' ait' a bheil na cairdean graidh 
 
 D' an d' thug mi baigh an laithean m' oig' ? 
 
 'S e fath mo mhulaid is mo chradh 
 
 A mheud 's a tha dhiubh 'n diugh fo 'n fhoid. 
 
 Tha al a' falbh is al a' teachd, 
 
 Mar thonn a' leantainn tuinn air traigh ; 
 Ar bliadhnaichean tha iad, gu beachd, 
 
 Mar sgeulachd dhiomhain, ghearr, gun sta. 
 
 Athair mo ghraidh, chan 'eil e beo ; 
 
 Mo mhathair chaomh chan 'eil i aim ; 
 'S mo cho-aoisean rinn falbh mar cheo 
 
 A dh' fhuadaichear le gaoth nam beann. 
 
 slan le comunn caomh mo ghaoil 
 A chuireadh faoilt am chridhe bochd ! 
 
 Mo chreach chan 'eil iad air an t-saogh'l 
 A dheanadh aobhach mise 'nochd. 
 
 Ach tha iad beo an duthaich chein — 
 An Tir-na-Grein, gun oidhch' a chaoidh, 
 
 'S coinnichidh sinn a ris a cheil', 
 
 Gun suil fo dheur, gun chridh' a' caoidh. 
 
 C' ar-son a bhithinn bronach, bochd, 
 A' caoidh fo sprochd an so leam fhein ? 
 
 Do shuil, a Dhe, tha orrns' an nochd, 
 Fo dheoraidheachd an duthaich chein. 
 
 Cha bhi mi 'caoidh, cha toir mi geill ; 
 
 Fo thaic do sgeith gun iarr mi tamh ; 
 Do thoil-sa deanar leam, a Dhe, 
 
 Ga m' striochdadh fhein a chaoidh fo d' laimh. 
 
51 
 
 VI. 
 
 Mac og ax Iarla Buaidh. 
 
 " Cha teid mise chaoidh de m' dheoi i 
 
 Gu mac 6g an Iarla Ruaidh, 
 Gus an cuir a' bheinn ud shios 
 
 Culaobh ris a' bheinn ud shuas. 
 
 " Cha teid mise chaoidh de m' dhfoin 
 
 Gu mac 6g an Iarla Ruaidh, 
 Gus an dean an eala bhan 
 
 Nead gu h-ard air bharr nan stuagh. 
 
 " Cha teid mise chaoidh de m' dheoin 
 
 Gu mac 6g an Iarla Ruaidh, 
 Gus an cuir am bradan breac 
 
 Tri cuir mhear' an cro nan uan." 
 
 Thog a muime thall a ceann — 
 
 " ; S gorach learn do chainnt, a luaidh ; 
 
 Bheir thu gaol, roimh Fheill-an-R6id, 
 Do mhac 6g an Iarla Ruaidh. 
 
 " Cainnt nan 6g-bhan tha mar dhruchd 
 A m 'ghrian a shughadh suas ; 
 
 Mu 'n tig Samhain bidh tu posd' 
 Aig mac 6g an Iarla Ruaidh." 
 
 'Bheinn ud shuas 's a' bheinn ud shios, 
 Cha do charaich rianih 's cha ghluais, 
 
 Ach thag Mairi gaol gun gho 
 Do mhac 6g an Iarla Buaidh. 
 
 Tha 'n eala 'gur san eilean bhan 
 
 'S am bradan tarr-gheal feadh a' chuain, 
 
 'S tha Mairi nis na 'ceile phosd' 
 Aig mac 6g an Iarla Buaidh. 
 
52 
 
 VII. 
 Linn an Aigh. 
 
 "An uair bha 'Ghaidhlig aig na h-e6in," 
 Bha 'm bainne air an Ion mar dhriichd ; 
 
 A' mbil a' fas air barr an fhraoich, 
 'S a h-uile ni cho saor 's am burn. 
 
 Cba robh daoin 5 a' paidheadh mail ; 
 
 Cha robh cain orra no cis — 
 Iasgach, sealgach, agus coill, 
 
 Ac' gun fhoiglmeachd is gun phris. 
 
 Cba robh cogadh, cha robh comh-stri, 
 Cha robh connsachadh no streup — 
 
 H-uile h-aon a' gabhail comhnuidh 
 Anns an t-seol bu deoin leis fhein. 
 
 Cha robh gath air creich no toir ; 
 
 Bha gach duil 'tigh'nn beo an sith ; 
 Feum sam bith cha robh air mod, 
 
 'S lagh na corach aims a' chridh'. 
 
 Dh' or no dh' airgead cha robh miadh, 
 Sogh is fialachd air gach laimh ; 
 
 Aire cha d' fhiosraich duine riamh, 
 Is cha d' iarr aon neach cuid chaich. 
 
 Bha coibhneas, comunn, iochd, is gradh, 
 Anns gach ait am measg an t-sluaigh ; 
 
 Eadar far an eirich grian, 
 
 'S far an laigh i 'n iar sa' chuan. 
 
 Bha gach achadh fo throm bharr, 
 Gu lan 's gu torrach, air a' chluain ; 
 
 Bliochd is bainne aig an al ; 
 Innis amis gach ait aig buar. 
 
 Cha robh feum air cleith no crann ; 
 
 Chinn gach ni neo-ghann leis fhein ; 
 Meas is blaths sa' h-uile h-am — 
 
 A' bhhadhna na 'samhradh gu leir. 
 
53 
 
 VIII. 
 
 TUIREADH. 
 
 Dh' iadh ceo nan stuc'nm aodann Chuilinn, 
 
 Is sheinn a' bhean-shith a torman mulaid, 
 
 Tha suilean gorm, ciuin, san Dun a' sileadh, 
 
 Bho 'n thriall thu uainn 's nach till thu tuilleadh. 
 
 Cha till, cha till, cha till Mac-Cruimein, 
 An cogadh no sith cha till e tuilleadh, 
 Le h-airgead no ni cha till Mac-Cruimein, 
 Cha till gu brath gu La na Cruinne. 
 
 Tha osag nam beann gu fann ag imeachd, 
 Gach sruthan 's gach allt gu mall le bruthach ; 
 Tha ealta nan speur feadh gheugan dubhach, 
 A' caoidh gun d' fhalbh 's nach till thu tuilleadh. 
 
 Tha 'n fhairge fa-dheoidh lan broin is mulaid, 
 Tha 'm bata fo sheol, ach dhiult i siubhal, 
 Tha garthaich nan tonn le fuaim neo-shubhach, 
 Ag radh gun d' fhalbh 's nach till thu tuilleadh. 
 
 Cha chluinnear do cheol san Dun mu fheasgar, 
 'S mac-talla nam mur le muirn ga fhrea^airt, 
 Gach fleasgach is oigh gun cheol, gun bheadradh, 
 Bho 'n thriall thu uainn 's nach till thu tuilleadh. 
 
54 
 
 OUTLINES OF GAELIC GRAMMAR, 
 
 THE NOUN— DECLENSION. 
 
 The noun has four cases — Nominative, Genitive, Dative, 
 and Vocative. The Accusative is of the same form as the 
 Nominative. 
 
 There are two numbers — Singular and Plural, but remains 
 of a Two, or Dual, number exist with da, which in the nom. 
 takes a form agreeing w T ith the dat. sing. ; as da /hear, two 
 men ; da chirc, two hens, iromfear and cearc, respectively. 
 
 The Gender of a noun is known only from the influence 
 upon it of the article preceding it, or from its own influence on 
 the adjective following. Feminine nouns are initially aspirated, 
 if possible, by the article, and themselves aspirate the initial 
 consonant, if it exists, of adjectives and other words in close 
 contact following. This process is reversed in the gen., 
 masculine nouns showing initial aspiration and aspirating the 
 succeeding word, while the feminine gen. makes no other 
 change than its own gen. inflection. There is no distinction 
 of gender in the plural. 
 
 As to Declension, nouns are firstly classified according as 
 they form their plural, which should end in a consonant. 
 Nouns having i in the plural, either singly or in digraph form, 
 before the final consonant or consonants, belong to the Strong 
 Declension ; nouns adding final n, broad, for the plural belong 
 to the Weal- Declension or to the Mixed Declension. The 
 Weak Declension shows no inflection for cases either in the 
 singular or in the plural. 
 
 I. — Strong Declension. 
 
 The root vowel or digraph in monosyllables, or in poly- 
 syllables the final vowel or digraph, is broad ; the gen. and voc. 
 sing, and nom. pi. insert i. The dat. pi. may be in ibh final, 
 if the word is a monoysllable. All nouns of this declension are 
 masc. 
 
55 
 
 bard, a bard. 
 Singular. Plural. 
 Worn, bard baird 
 Gen. baird bhard 
 Dat. bard baird, bardaibh 
 
 Voc. a bhaird a bharda 
 
 The final vowel is usually a singly or in digraph. Diminutives and 
 other nouns in -an, and most derivatives in -ach, belong to this 
 declension : aran, bread, gen. and voc. sing., and nom. pi. arain ; 
 balach, g. balaich. 
 
 In monosyllables the following changes take place on the root 
 vowel or digraph in forming the plural : — 
 
 1 a becomes . . . . ai : gradh, love 
 a „ . . . . ai : cat, cat 
 
 a with liquids becomes ui : fait, hair 
 
 2 ea becomes . . . . ei : each, horse 
 ea with liquids becomes i : ceann, head 
 
 3 ia becomes . . . . ei : fiadh, deer 
 
 4 ua ,, ... . uai : sluagh, people 
 
 5 6 ,, . . . . di : 61, drinking 
 o with liquids becomes ui : bord, board 
 
 6 o becomes . . . . ui : hoc, buck 
 
 7 ao ,, , . . . aoi : laogh, calf 
 
 8 eb ,, ' .... iid : ceol, music 
 
 9 lo ,, . . . . i : sio-1, seed 
 10 ii, u ,, ... in, ui : cul, bach 
 
 g. graidh 
 g. cait 
 g. fuilt 
 g. eich 
 g. cinn 
 g. feidli 
 g. sluaigh 
 g. oil 
 g. biiird 
 g. buic 
 g. laoigh 
 g. ciu.il 
 g. sil 
 a. ctiil. 
 
 Polysyllables usually have a or ea as the final vowel ; a becomes ai 
 in the genitive ; ea becomes i, save before liquids, when ea becomes 
 ei. E.g. coileach, cock, g. coilich. Polysyllables in io have i. 
 
 Strong Decl. Nouns iveakened in the Plural. 
 
 bealach, a pass ; Ion, a mead. 
 
 Sing. N., D. bealach Ion 
 
 G. bealaich loin 
 
 V. a bhealaich a loin 
 
 Plu. N. t D. bealaichean lointean 
 
 G. . bhealach Ion 
 
 V. a bhealaichean a lointean 
 
 Polysyllabic nouns, especially in -ach (nearly all in -lach) and -an, 
 are apt to be thus declined. Derivatives in -as, -us, and -adh, belong 
 here usually, as do even monosyllables in n, which takes a t before the 
 plural n. So broilleach, bosom, g. broillich ; saoghal, world, pi. 
 saoghalan; cuan, sea, pi. cuantan; dorus, door, has the pi. dorsan ; 
 aingeal, angel, has ainglean ; while dos, bunch, tassel, has g. dois and 
 pi. dois or dosan. 
 
56 
 
 Some pollysyllables in -ar are apt to make the plural in contracted 
 -ichean : leabhar, m. and f., book, pi. leabhraichean ; but briathar, 
 word, pi. briathran. 
 
 II. — Weak Declension. 
 
 Nouns ending in a vowel, in -chd, and in -air, denoting 
 agents or instruments, are of the Weak Declension. They are 
 of either gender. 
 
 gille, m., a lad. 
 Singular. Plural. 
 Nom. gille gillean 
 Gen. gille ghillean 
 Bat. gille gillean 
 Voc. a ghille a ghillean 
 
 There is usually an inserted ch, th, or nn, between the final vowel 
 and the -an of the plural. In words having liquids before their final 
 vowel a t is inserted in a few cases. When the last vowel of the root 
 is slender the tendency is to flank the inserted ch with broad vowels, 
 
 and vice versa : thus bdta, bdtaichean ; bliadhna, bliadhnaichean ; 
 cridhe, cridheachan. 
 
 1, Words in a : 
 
 iarla 
 
 m., 
 
 earl, 
 
 pi. iarlan 
 
 
 bata 
 
 m., 
 
 stick, 
 
 pi. batachan, 
 
 
 
 
 bataichean 
 
 
 teanga 
 
 f; 
 
 tongue, 
 
 pi. teangan, 
 
 teangannan 
 
 2. Words in e : 
 
 buille 
 
 A 
 
 blow, 
 
 pi. buillean 
 
 
 uisge 
 
 m., 
 
 water. 
 
 pi. uisgeachan 
 
 
 coille 
 
 
 wood. 
 
 pi. coilltean 
 
 
 baile 
 
 m., 
 
 town. 
 
 pi. bailtean 
 
 
 teine 
 
 m., 
 
 fire, 
 
 pi. teintean 
 
 3. Words in o, o, it : 
 
 cno 
 
 /., 
 
 nut, 
 
 pi. cnothan 
 
 4. Words in chd : 
 
 mallachd 
 
 curse, 
 
 pi. mallachdan 
 
 5. Words in air (eir, oir) : 
 
 dorsair 
 
 m., 
 
 doorkeeper, 
 
 pi. dorsairean 
 
 piobaire 
 
 7)1. , 
 
 piper, 
 
 pi. piobairean 
 
 III. — Mixed Declension. 
 
 In this declension the singular is Strong, or has inflections 
 as the Strong Declension has, while the plural is Weak, and 
 ends in broad n. 
 
 1. The Feminine Broad Declension. 
 
 Feminine nouns whose vowel or digraph, if monosyllabic, is 
 broad, or whose final vowel or digraph is broad, are thus 
 declined : — 
 
57 
 
 cluas, ear cas, foot caileag, girl 
 
 h N. cluas cas caileag 
 
 G. cluaise coise caileig(e) 
 
 D. cluais cois caileig 
 
 V. a chluas a chas a chaileag 
 
 Dual da chluais da chois da chaileig 
 
 Plu. N. cluasan casan caileagan 
 
 G. chinas chas chaileag(an) 
 
 D. cluasan, cluasaibh casan, casaibh caileagan 
 
 V. a chluasan a chasan a chaileagan 
 
 The vowel changes in this declension are similar to those in the 
 Strong Declension, only a nearly always changes to oi in the gen. 
 and dat. sing. In monosyllables the following changes occur : — 
 
 1 a becomes cli : lamh, hand g. laimhe 
 
 a ,, ...... oi : clach, stone g. cloiche 
 
 2 ea ,, i : cearc, hen g. circe 
 
 ea with rg, Ig, g, ch, becomes ei : creag, crag g. creige 
 
 creach, spoil g. creiche 
 
 3 ia becomes ei : grian, sun g. greine 
 
 4 ua ,, uai : tuagh, axe g. tuaighe 
 
 5 d ,, oi : brog, shoe g. broige 
 
 o ,, , ui : long, ship g. luinge 
 
 6 ao ,, aoi : gaoth, vrind g. gaoithe 
 
 7 lo ,, i : crioch, e>id g. criche 
 
 8 eu ,, 6i : breug, lie g. breige 
 
 2. Feminine Slender Declension. 
 
 Feminine nouns whose root vowel or digraph is in i, or 
 whose final syllable has i alone or in digraph, have the genitive 
 either in suffixed a or e, as thus : 
 
 (a) su.il, eye. (b) cainnt, speech. 
 
 Singular. 
 N. suil 
 G. sul a 
 D. suil 
 V. a shuil 
 
 Plural. 
 suilean 
 shul 
 
 suilean, siiilibh 
 a shuilean 
 
 Singidar. Plural. 
 
 cainnt cainntean 
 
 cainnte chainntean 
 
 cainnt cainntean, cainntibh 
 
 a chainnt a chainntean 
 
 (a) Of the sidl class may be mentioned mil, meala, honey ; fuil,fala, 
 blood ; febil, fedla, flesh ; uaimh, uamha, cave ; buaidh, victory, g. 
 buadha and buaidhe, g. pi. bhuadh. Contraction may take place in 
 polysyllabic nouns, as didhaich, country, g. didhcha, pi. didhchannan ; 
 fiacail, tooth, g.Jiacla, pi. fiaclan. 
 
 (b) Of the cainnt class, which is numerous, are gniiis, gniiise, 
 countenance ; sith, peace ; caoir, blaze ; druid, starling ; cuirm, feast ; 
 
58 
 
 tuil, flood, pi. tuiltean — a liquid final with inserted t in the plural. 
 
 Contracted nouns, usually with liquids, are — 
 
 madainn, morning, g. maidne, pi. maidnean 
 banais, wedding, g. bainnse, pi. bainnsean 
 obair, work, g. oibre, pi. oibrean 
 abhainn, river, g. aibhne, pi. aibhnichean 
 To this declension form belong muir, f. and m., sea, g. mara, pi. 
 
 marannan ; cndimh, m., bone, g. cndmha, pi. cnaimhean or cnamhan. 
 
 3. Stems in a Broad Vowel with suffixed a Gen. 
 
 These nouns are generally masculine ; the plural is in -an 
 or -annan. 
 
 loch, m., a lake. 
 Singular. Plural. 
 N. and V. loch lochan, lochannan 
 
 67. locha loch 
 
 D. loch lochan, lochaibh, lochannan 
 
 So cath, g., catha, m., fight ; sruth, m., stream ; luch, f., mouse, g. 
 lucha, pi. luchan, and luchaidh ; lagh, m. and f., law ; fios, m. and f., 
 knowledge ; earb, f., roe ; dealbh, m., picture ; piob, f., pipe. 
 
 4. Liquid Stems ivith the Gen. in a suffixed or inclusive, 
 (a) druim, m., ridge ; (b) cathair, f., chair ; (c) athair, father. 
 Sing. N. druim cathair athair 
 
 G. droma cathrach athar 
 
 D. druim cathair athair 
 
 Plu.K. and D. dromannan cathraichean athraichean 
 
 G. dhromannan chathraichean athraichean 
 
 (a) To the druim class, which oftenest have the stem vowel eu f 
 belong ceum, in., step ; Mum, m. and f., leap ; beum, m., blow ; am, m., 
 time, g. ama ; anam, m., soul, g. anma. 
 
 (6) Like cathair are declined luachair, f., rushes, g. luachrach ; 
 lasair, f., flame ; litir, f., letter ; coir, f., right, g. cbrach ; sail, f., heel, 
 g. sdlach, pi. sdiltean, sailean, to which add caora, f., sheep, g. caorach, 
 pi. caoraich, caoirich. 
 
 (c) Words of kinship are declined like athair, as mdthair, mother ; 
 brdthair, brother, pi. brdithreaii ; and piuthar, sister, g. peathar, pi. 
 peathraichean. 
 
 5. Stems suffixing n for the Gen. and other cases. 
 
 guala, f. shoulder. 
 Singular. Plural. 
 j\ t . guala, gualainn guailneaii, guaillean 
 
 G. gualainn, guailne, guaille ghuailnean, ghuaillean 
 D. gualainn guaillean, guaillibh 
 
59 
 
 Somewhat similarly are declined talamh, m. and f., earth, g„ 
 talmhainn ; bru, f., belly, g. 6ron?2, d. broinn, v. bhrit, pi. bronna ,. 
 gobha and gobhaiun, m., smith, g. gobhainn, pi. goibhnean ; cii, m., 
 dog, g. com, d. cm, v. r/iom, pi. com ; b6, f., cow, g. and d. boin, or frtf, 
 v. Vh6, pi. &ct, g. pi. bhd. 
 
 6. Masculine or Common Stems with suffixed e Gen. 
 
 About a dozen nouns have this inflection, which is as 
 follows :— 
 
 tigh, m., a house. 
 
 Singular. Plural. 
 
 N. tigh tighean 
 
 G. tighe thighean 
 
 D. tigh tighean, tighibh 
 
 V. thigh thighean 
 
 So neamh, m., heaven, g. neimhe, or neimh ; ugh, m., egg ; im, m.,, 
 butter, g. ^wze; tir, i. and m., land; and gleann, m., glen, g. glinne, 
 with sliabh, m., moor, g. sleibhe or sleibh, which both take a i in the 
 plural — gleanntan and sUibhtean ; to which add ainm, m., name, g.. 
 ainme, pi. ainmean or ainmeannan. 
 
 IV. — Irregular Declension. 
 
 Here belong 6<?cm, f., wife, g. mw«, mnatha, d. mnaoi, v. 
 bhean, n. pi. mnathan, g. &Acm, d. mnathaibh or mnathan, v. 
 mhnathan ; deoch, f., drink, g. dibhe ; duine, man, pi. daoine ; 
 leaba or leabaidh, f., bed, g. leapa, pi. leapaichean ; beinn, f., 
 hill, g. beinne, n. pi. beanntan, g. bheann, v. bheanntan ; la, m., 
 day, g. latha, pi. laithean. Two plurals in r occur — H^A, king,, 
 pi. righrean, and gnwmh, m., deed, g. gniomha, pi. gniomha rr a 
 or gnlomharan, which are allied by termination to the abstract 
 nouns bigridh, youths, youth, and macraidh, young men. 
 Some d stems are peculiar — caraid, in., friend, pi. cairdean ; 
 namhaid, foe, g. namhaid, pi. naimhdean ; braighe, f., neck, 
 upper part, g. braghaa 1 (Braid-Albann in dat. or locative), pi.. 
 braigheannan; and traigh, f., shore, g. traghad, pi. traighean. 
 
 THE ARTICLE. 
 
 The base form of the Definite Article in Gaelic is cm in the 
 singular and in the plural. In the following paradigm the 
 sign + means preceding, and s jtnwe means s preceding a vowel 
 or the liquids /, ti, r. 
 
GO 
 
 Singular. 
 
 Feminine. 
 As gen. mas. 
 
 7/1 k. 
 
 na 
 
 na h- 
 
 ( + vowel) 
 
 Plural 
 Common. 
 
 na 
 
 na h- ( + vowels) 
 nan 
 
 nam ( + b,f,m,p) 
 
 Masculiue 
 
 Xom. an 
 
 am ( + &,/, rn- p) 
 an t- ( + vowels) 
 Gen. an 
 
 a' ( + bh. ch, gk, 
 ph) 
 
 an t- (+s y^re) 
 As gen. 
 ('n, 'n t- after vowel- 
 ending prep.) 
 
 The gen. sinsr. masc, nom. sing, fern., and dat. sing. ru. and f. 
 aspirate all initial consonants of the succeeding noun, save d, t, and #, 
 which last is eclipsed if pure, i.e.. before vowels and I, n, r, as an t-su.il, 
 the eye, pronounced an tu.il | = an t-shuil). The aspiration of /, n, r is 
 not indicated in writing;/, becoming fh, disappears in sound after 
 an. Anns + art. is contracted into son, sa\ ma. 
 
 Examples of Article axd Noun. 
 
 As dat. rnas. 
 
 Art. — vowel 
 Art. 
 
 the 
 
 Art. 
 
 b, m,p 
 
 c, 9 
 
 d, t 
 I, n, r 
 sp, st, 
 sg, sm 
 
 ArL+f 
 Ait. +s pure 
 
 Art. -f vowel 
 Art. -i-b,m,p 
 
 c, g 
 
 Xom. 
 an t-each, 
 
 horse 
 am mac, the son 
 an cii, the dog 
 an duine, the man 
 an laoch, the hero 
 an sporan, the 
 
 purse 
 am fear, the man 
 an saor, the joiner 
 
 Masculine. 
 Singular. 
 
 Plural. 
 
 Gen. 
 an eich 
 
 a' mhic 
 a' choin 
 an duine 
 an laoich 
 an sporain 
 
 an fhir 
 an t-saoir 
 
 Xom. 
 na h-eich 
 
 na mic 
 na coin 
 na daoine 
 na laoich 
 na sporanan 
 
 na fir 
 na saoir 
 
 Gen. 
 nan each 
 
 nam mac 
 nan con 
 nan daoine 
 nan laoch 
 nan sporan 
 
 nam fear 
 nan saor 
 
 Art. 
 
 Art.- 
 Art. 
 
 d, t 
 I, n, r 
 sg,sm, 
 sp, st 
 
 pure 
 
 Xom. 
 an earb, the roe 
 a : bhean.fAe wife 
 a' ghruaidh, the . 
 
 cheek 
 an tonn.the "-ace 
 an reul. the star 
 an sgian, the knife 
 
 an fhras, the 
 
 shower 
 an t-slat. the rod, 
 
 Feminine. 
 Singular. 
 
 Gen. 
 na h-earba 
 na mnatha 
 na gruaidhe 
 
 na tuinne 
 na reil 
 na sgine 
 
 na froise 
 
 na slaite 
 
 Plural. 
 Xom. Gen. 
 na h-earban nan earb 
 na mnathan nam ban 
 na gruaidhean nan gruaidh 
 
 na tonnan 
 na reultan 
 na sgionan 
 
 na frasan 
 
 na slatan 
 
 nan tonn 
 nan reul 
 nan sgian 
 
 nam fras 
 
 nan slat 
 
61 
 
 THE ADJECTIVE. 
 
 The Adjective is inflected for case and number, and initially 
 aspirated to show gender. The case inflections in the singular 
 are the same in kind as those of nouns of the Strong Decl., the 
 Weak Decl., and the Fern. Broad and Small Declensions with 
 suffixed e genitive. The plural in monosyllables is, if the root 
 vowel is broad or the digraph ends in a broad vowel, in a 
 uniform -a ; in monosyllables with a small syllable the plural 
 is in -e throughout. Polysyllables suffix vowels neither in the 
 singular nor in the plural. There are thus three declensions. 
 
 Strong Declension. 
 
 Masc. 
 Nom. m6r 
 Gen. mhoir 
 Dat. mor 
 Voc. ' mhoir 
 
 mor, great. 
 
 Fern. 
 mhor 
 moire 
 mhoir 
 mhor 
 
 Plural. 
 
 Common. 
 mora 
 mora 
 mora 
 mora 
 
 So decline in the sing, polysyllabic adjectives in -ach, -mhor, -ar, 
 -or, omitting the e of the fem. gen. as a rule. The changes of vowels 
 are the same as in the nouns of the Strong and Fem. Broad Decl. : 
 thus, dearg, red, g. m. dheirg, g. f. deirge. With double liquids, 
 however, a becomes oi, not iii, as doll, blind, g. m. doill, g. f. doille, 
 and pi. doll, rarely dalla. 
 
 Weak Declension. 
 
 In this declension there is no inflection for case or number, 
 only the initial changes for gender ; as in bed, living, m. g. and 
 v. bkeb, f. n., d. and v. bhed, g. bed ; pi. bed. 
 
 Mixed Declension. 
 
 glic, wise. 
 
 Sing. 
 Mas. Fem. 
 Nom. and Dat. glic ghlic 
 Gen. ghlic glice 
 
 Voc. ghlic ghlic 
 
 Plural. 
 Common. 
 glice 
 glice 
 glice 
 
(32 
 
 Noun and Adjective Conjoined. 
 cat glas, m.j a grey cat. 
 Sing. Plural. 
 Nom. cat glas cait ghlasa 
 
 Gen. cait ghlais chat glas 
 
 Dat. cat glas cataibh giasa 
 
 Voc. a chait ghlais a chata glasa 
 
 Note that the dat. mas. with the article is do 'n chat ghlas, 
 where the adj. is aspirated. 
 
 Note also that the nom. plural of nouns of the Strong Decl. 
 aspirate the initial consonant of the Adjective. No plural in n 
 does so. 
 
 cearc bhreac, /., a speckled hen. 
 Sing. Plural. 
 Nom. cearc bhreac cearcan breaca 
 
 Gen. circe brice chearcan breaca 
 
 Dat. circ bhric cearcaibh breaca 
 
 Voc. a chearc bhreac a chearca(n) breaca 
 
 Comparison of Adjectives. 
 
 The adjective has only one degree of comparison — the 
 •comparative. In form the comparative is the same as the 
 gen. sing, fern., as ban, white, baine, whiter. The indeclinable 
 adjectives of the Weak Dec. add, if consonant-ending, a or e, 
 as bochd, poor, bochda, poorer, cecwr, wrong, cearra, more 
 wrong. 
 
 The commonest adjectives are, as in English, irregular in com- 
 parison, as olc, bad, miosa, worse ; and in addition they have, with 
 the Assertive form of the verb " to be," an agglutinate form in -d or 
 -de, from the prep, form cle, " of it, therefor." E.g., Is misde e an 
 rath, He is the worse for the battle, which in Early Gaelic is more 
 idiomatically thus — Is mesai-de in cath d6, The battle is worse therefor 
 to him. The Gaelic grammars call this form the Second Com- 
 parative. A Third Comparative is found in the abstract nouns in 
 -d, as giorrad, shortness, daoiread, dearness, which, with the verb 
 rarh, go, may express comparison, as — Tha 'mhin a' dol an daoiread, 
 literally, " The meal is going into dearness," but which is translated 
 as—" Meal is getting dearer." 
 
 The Superlative is expressed by the comparative with the relative 
 form of the verb " to be." Thus : 'S i Mdiri as sine de r n teaghlach = 
 " Mary is the eldest of the family," literally, "It is Mary who is 
 older of the family." Ordinary comparison is thus expressed : 'S i 
 Mdiri as sine na Sednaid= " Mary is older than Jessie." The fore- 
 going is the Assertive form ; pure statement is done thus : Tha Mdiri 
 na 's sine na Seonaid, literally, " Mary is what is older than Jessie." 
 
G3 
 
 Irregular Comparison. 
 
 Positive. 
 beag, little 
 dona, olc, bad 
 duilich, difficult 
 fagus, faisg, near 
 furasda, farasda, easy 
 gearr, goirid, short 
 laidir, strong 
 leathann, broad 
 math, maith, good 
 mor, great 
 toigh, beloved 
 
 Comparative. 
 lugha 
 miosa 
 
 dorra, duilghe 
 faisge 
 fha^a, fusa 
 giorra 
 treasa 
 
 leatha, leithne 
 fearr 
 
 mo, raotha 
 docha 
 
 Agglutinate in -d. 
 lughaid 
 misde, misd 
 duilghid 
 
 giorraid 
 treasaid 
 
 feairrd 
 
 moid, mothaid 
 
 Numeral Adjectives. 
 Cardinal. 
 
 9 
 10 
 11 
 
 12 
 13 
 
 20 
 21 
 22 
 23 
 30 
 40 
 41 
 
 50 
 
 60 
 100 
 101 
 
 With Noun. 
 aon 
 da 
 tri 
 
 ceithir 
 coig 
 
 se, sia , 
 
 seachd 
 
 ochd 
 
 naoi 
 
 deich 
 
 aon (fhear) deug 
 da (fhear) dheug 
 tri (fir) dheug 
 fichead 
 
 aon air fhichead 
 da air fhichead 
 tri air fhichead 
 deich air fhichead 
 da fhichead 
 da fhichead 's a 
 
 h-aon 
 leth-chiad, or da 
 
 fhichead 's a 
 
 deich 
 tri fichead 
 ciad, ceud 
 ciad 's a h-aon 
 
 Without Noun. 
 a h-aon 
 a dha 
 a tri 
 a ceithir 
 a coig 
 a se, sia 
 a seachd 
 a h-ochd 
 a naoi 
 a deich 
 a n-aon-deug 
 ,a dha-dheug 
 a tri deug 
 a fichead 
 a h-aon air, &c. 
 a dha air, &c. 
 a tri air, &c. 
 a deich air, &c. 
 
 200 dachiad 
 
 300 tri chiad 
 
 1000 mile 
 
 2000 da mhile 
 
 1,000,000 muillion 
 
 Ordinal. 
 
 an ciad, a' chiad, f. 
 
 an dara, darna 
 
 an treas 
 
 an ceathramh 
 
 an cdigeamh 
 
 an seathamh, siathamh 
 
 an seachdamh 
 
 an t-ochdamh 
 
 an naoidheamh 
 
 an deicheamh 
 
 an t-aona (fear) deug 
 
 an dara (fear), &c. 
 
 an treas (fear), &c. 
 
 an ficheadamh 
 
 an ciad (fhear) fichead 
 
 an dara (fear), &c. 
 
 an treas (fear), &c. 
 
 an deicheamh (fear), &c. 
 
 an da fhicheadamh 
 
 an da fhicheadamh 
 
 (fear) 's a h-aon 
 an leth-chiadamh, an 
 da fhicheadamh (fear) 
 's a deich 
 an tri ficheadamh 
 an ciadamh 
 an ciadamh (fear) 's a 
 
 h-aon 
 an da chiadamh 
 an tri chiadamh 
 an mileamh 
 an da mhileamh 
 
64 
 
 Personal or Collective Numerals. 
 
 2 dithis, twain 7 seachdnar, seven 
 
 3 triuir, three persons 8 ochdnar, eight 
 
 4 ceathrar, four 9 naoinear, nine 
 
 5 coigne&r,jive 10 deicbnear, ten 
 
 6 seanar, sianar, six N.B. aonar, alone-ness. 
 
 Aon aspirates the initial consonant of the next word, save d, i\ 
 and s. Da takes the dual number, which corresponds in form with the 
 dat. sing, aspirated ; as da chirc, but the adjective is not inflected— 
 da chirc bhreac, except gen. and dative dual : le da chirc bhric. 
 
 The numerals fichead, ciad, mile, and muillion are nouns, and 
 govern the gen. pi. unaspirated of the noun, as ficheadfear, twenty 
 men. The Collective numerals govern the gen. pi. aspirated, as dithis 
 mhac, two sons. 
 
 The expression " and a half " is done by " gu leth," as ciad gu leth, 
 one hundred and a half, that is, 150. 
 
 THE PRONOUN. 
 
 I. — Personal Pronouns. 
 
 Singidar. Plural. 
 Simple. Emphatic. Simple. Emphatic. 
 
 1 mi mise sinn sinne 
 
 2 tu, tlm tusa, thusa sibh sibhse 
 
 3 e, i, he, she esan, ise iad, they iadsan 
 
 The addition of fhe'in = SQ\i adds more emphasis : mi fh6in=-\ 
 myself. 
 
 II. — Possessive Pronouns. 
 
 Singular. Plural. 
 
 1 mo, my ar, ar n- ( + vowel), our 
 
 2 do, thy bhur fur), bhur n- ( + vowel), your 
 
 3 a (aspirating), his an, am ( + b, f 3 m, p), their 
 a, a h- ( + vowel), her 
 
 Emphatic Form. 
 Singidar. Plural. 
 
 1 Mo chii-sa, my m' athair-sa ar cu-ne ar n-athair-ne 
 
 -dog 
 
 2 do chu-sa, thy d' athair-sa bhur cu-se bhur n-athair-se 
 
 dog 
 
 3 a chu-san, his 'athair-san an cu-san an athair-san 
 
 dog * 
 a cu-se, her dog a h-athair-s e 
 
 These emphatic particles come last when an adjective qualifies the 
 subject, as mo chic dubh-sa, my black dog ; m' each ban fhe'in, my own 
 white horse. 
 
65 
 
 Demonstrative Pronouns. 
 
 The Pronominal Adverbs so, sin, and sud (ud), here, there, 
 and yonder, do duty for Demonstrative Pronouns : thuit so, 
 this fell ; dtt fhalbh sud, yon went. 
 
 The Demonstrative Adjectives are represented by the article, 
 noun and demon, pro. together: thus — Am fear so, this man; 
 literally, "the man here." Am fear sm = that man ; am fear 
 ud, yonder man. E so = this one, m. ; i sin = that one, f . ; iad 
 sud = yon ones, iad so = these. 
 
 Relative Pronouns. 
 
 The Relatives are three in number : a, who, which, that ; 
 nach, who not, that not, but ; na, what or that which. There 
 is no change for number or gender, and the only change for 
 case is in the rel. a, which after preps, takes the form an or 
 am ( + b, f m, p). Examples are — 
 
 Am fear a thuit = The man who fell. 
 A' bhean nach do thuit = The ivife that fell not. 
 Dh' fhag e na thuit = He left what fell. 
 An t-aite arms an do thuit e = The place in which he fell. 
 There being no distinction between the norm and acc. of a 
 and nach, the rel. clause with a transitive act. verb is 
 ambiguous: An t-each a bhuail mi == " The horse which I 
 struck " or " The horse which kicked me." 
 
 The verb has a relative form for the future tense and the 
 verb M to be" for both present and future tenses : Am fear 
 a bhuaileas = The man who will strike ; am fear as motha = the 
 man who is bigger, that is, " The biggest man." 
 
 Interrogative Pronouns. 
 
 Co ? Who ? Co e ? Who (is) he ? 
 
 Cia ? Which ? Cia lion or Cia meud ? How many ? 
 
 Ciod? What? Ciod e, or Gu de, or De? What (is) it? 
 
 Co dhiiibh ? Which of them ? Cdaca ? Which (among them)? 
 
 Cuin ? When ? Ciamar ? How ? C arson ? Why ? 
 
 These all take the relative construction of the verb : Cd 
 bhuaileas mi ? Who shall strike me ? Literally — " Who that 
 shall strike me V 
 
 C aite ? Where ? This takes the dependent form of the 
 verb : C aite am buail e mi ? Where will he strike me ? 
 
 5 
 
66 
 
 Indefinite Pronouns. 
 Cdch, the others, the rest, used without a noun. 
 
 EUe, other ; fear eile, another man or one ; muinntir e?7e,£other people. 
 Gach, each, every ; gach fear, each man, each one. g ; j _. ,\ 
 
 UUe, every, all ; a h-uile fear, all men, every one. 
 
 Bith, world; mm bitk and air bith = " ever," anyj?a^cd]/wr*6i£A= 
 whoever, fear sam bith — any one. $j 
 
 Eigin, necessity : fear-eigin, some one ; rud-eigin, something or other; 
 cuid-eigin, some one. Uw^ a ' 
 
 Cuid, share ; used for " some," as Tha cuid ag rddh — Some say ; cuid 
 eile, others. Cuid also is used with the gen. pi. >for "own": 
 a chuid daoine, his men ; a cuid mac, her sons. 
 
 Fear, te, aon, man, female ( or female one), and one, are used indefin- 
 itely alone and also with the above words and expressions. 
 
 Prepositional Pronouns. 
 
 
 mi 
 
 tu 
 
 e 
 
 i 
 
 aigl 
 
 ° } at . . 
 ag / 
 
 agam 
 
 agad 
 
 aige 
 
 aice 
 
 ' pi. againn 
 
 agaibh 
 
 aca 
 
 
 air, ) 
 
 orm 
 
 ort 
 
 air 
 
 oirre 
 
 it \ Yon . 
 (for) / 
 
 pi. oirnn 
 
 oirbh 
 
 orra 
 
 
 ann, in . . 
 
 annam 
 
 annad 
 
 ann 
 
 innte 
 
 
 pi. annainn 
 
 annaibh 
 
 annta 
 
 
 T} out °f ■ 
 
 asam 
 pi. asainn 
 
 asad 
 asaibh 
 
 as 
 asta 
 
 aiste 
 
 bho ) r 
 
 o j f rom 
 
 (bh)uam 
 
 (bh)uat, (bh)uait (bh)uaith 
 
 ( bhjuaipe 
 
 pi. (bh)uainn 
 
 (bh)uaibh 
 
 (bh)uapa 
 
 de, of, off . 
 
 diom 
 
 diot 
 
 deth 
 
 di 
 
 pi. dinn 
 
 dibh 
 
 diiibh 
 
 
 do, to . . 
 
 domh 
 
 dut, duit 
 
 da 
 
 di 
 
 
 pi. duinn 
 
 duibh 
 
 doibh 
 
 
 eadar, between ^>/. eadarainn 
 
 eadaraibh 
 
 eatorra 
 
 
 fo, under . 
 
 fotham 
 
 fothad 
 
 fotha 
 
 foipe 
 
 
 pi. fothainn 
 
 fothaibh 
 
 fopa 
 
 gu, to . . 
 
 thugam 
 
 thugad 
 
 thuige 
 
 thuice 
 
 
 pi. thugainn 
 
 thugaibh 
 
 thuca 
 
 
 His } — 
 
 learn 
 
 leat 
 
 leis 
 
 leatha 
 
 ' pi, leinn 
 
 leibh 
 
 leo 
 
 
 ™m)} ab0Ut 
 
 umam 
 
 umad 
 
 uime 
 
 uimpe 
 
 
 * pi. umainn 
 
 umaibh 
 
 umpa 
 
 
 Ti )to . . 
 
 ns j 
 
 rium 
 
 riut 
 
 ris 
 
 rithe 
 
 * pL rinn, ruinn 
 
 ribh 
 
 riutha, riu 
 
 
 roimh, before 
 
 romham 
 
 romhad 
 
 roimh e 
 
 roimpe 
 
 pi. romhainn 
 
 romhaibh 
 
 rompa 
 
 thar, over . 
 
 tharam 
 
 tharad 
 
 thairis air 
 
 thairte 
 
 pi. tharainn 
 
 tharaibh 
 
 tharta 
 
 
 troimh, through tromham 
 
 tromhad 
 
 troimhe 
 
 troimpe 
 
 
 pi. tromhainn 
 
 tromhaibh 
 
 trompa 
 
67 
 
 mi tn e * 
 
 Emphatic forms agam-sa agad-sa aige-san aice-se 
 
 pi. againn-ne agaibh-se aca-san 
 
 Prepositional Possessives. 
 
 mo do a ar bhur 
 Aig, ag, ga, at ga m' ga d' ga ' g' ar g' ur 
 Ann, an, na, in am ad na ' na 'r n' ur 
 
 THE VERB. 
 
 The Gaelic verb has Voice, Mood, Tense, Number and Person. 
 It differs from the English and Classical verbs in not having par- 
 ticiples active, and in having two forms of the Indicative mood, 
 one used when the verb is or can be the very first word in the 
 sentence, and the other when the verb comes after a particle, 
 such as the interrogative particles an and nach, the negative 
 cha, and the conjunctions gun, nach, mvln, mur, and na'n. The 
 form used after these particles is called the Dependent Form ; 
 the other is called the Absolute Form. For instance, Buailidh 
 mi, I shall strike, becomes, when in the Dependent Form, Am 
 huail mi ? Shall I strike 1 
 
 The Gaelic Infinitive is also peculiar ; it is an abstract noun 
 variously formed by the abstract suffixes -adh, -did, -t, -nn, &c. 
 
 The Verb " to be." 
 Besides the Absolute and Dependent Forms, the verb " to 
 be" has also an Assertiye or Emphatic Form, viz., is, as, Is 
 gbrach thu = 'Tis foolish you are : is mi a rinn e = it was I who 
 did it. 
 
 Indicative Mood. 
 
 Absolute. Dependent. Assertive. 
 
 Pres. 1, 2, 3 tha mi, thu, &c. bheil (* - a for am, is mi, tu, &c. 
 
 gu for gum) 
 beil ( - am) 
 
 'eil (-nach, mur,' Eel. as (a's) or is 
 chan) 
 
 Dept. nil 
 
 (Am mi ? 
 Cha mhi) 
 
 Fut. 1, 2, 3 bithidh or bidh bi 
 
 mi, tu, e, &c. bhi (-cha) 
 Bel. bhitheas or bhios 
 Past bha mi, thu. &c. robh mi, thu, &c. bu mhi, tu, 
 
 sinn, sibh 
 b' e, b' i, b' iad 
 ( aspirating 
 nouns and 
 adjectives ) 
 
 *■ The sign - means after. 
 
 an, am 
 ga 'n, ga 'm 
 na 'n, na 'm 
 
68 
 
 Subjunctive Mood. 
 Absolute Dependent 
 
 (and after cha and rel.) (after am, nach, na'm, mur). 
 
 1 bhithinn, / would be bithinn 
 
 2 bhitheadh or bhiodh tu bithcadh or biodh tu 
 
 3 bhitheadh or bhiodh e, i bitheadh or biodh e, i 
 
 1 bhitheamaid or bhiomaid bitheamaid or biomaid 
 
 2 bhitheadh or bhiodh sibh bitheadh or biodh sibh 
 
 3 bhitheadh or bhiodh iad bitheadh or biodh iad 
 
 Imperative Mood. 
 Singular. Plural. 
 
 1 bitheam, let me be bitheamaid 
 
 2 bi, be bithibh 
 
 3 bitheadh, biodh e, i, let him be bitheadh, biodh iad 
 
 Infinitive — bith, being ; a bhith, to be. 
 The verb "to be" has the impersonal forms thatar (thdthar} 
 and beilear, there is ; bitear (bit/tear), there will be, let there 
 be ; and bhatar (bhathar) and robhar, there was. 
 
 CONJUGATION. 
 
 To conjugate a Gaelic verb the parts to be given are the 
 imperative, fut. and past indicative, and the infinitive. With 
 the regular verbs the imperative and infinitive are sufficient. 
 
 There are two conjugations —the Consonant Conjugation, 
 where the verb begins with any consonant save/; the Vowel 
 Conjugation, where the verb begins with a vowel or with /. 
 
 Consonant Conjugation. 
 buail, strike. 
 
 active voice. 
 Indicative. 
 Absolute. Dependent. 
 Future 1, 2, 3 buailidh mi, tu, &c. buail mi, thu, &c. 
 
 Rel. bhuaileas mi, tu, &c. bhuail ( - cha) 
 Past 1, 2, 3 bhuail mi, thu, ike. do bhuail 
 Sidjjunctive. 
 
 Absolute 
 (and after cha and rel.) 
 Sing. 1 bhuailinn, / would strike 1 buailinn, / should strike 
 2, 3 bhuaileadh tu, e, i - 2, 3 buaileadh 
 
 Dependent. 
 
69 
 
 PI. 1 bhuaileamaid 1 buaileamaid 
 
 2, 3 bhuaileadh sibh, iad 2, 3 buaileadh 
 
 Imperative. 
 
 1 buail earn, let me strike buaileamaid, let us strike, 
 
 2 buail, strike _ buailibh, strike ye 
 
 3 buaileadh e, let him strike buaileadh iad, let them strike 
 
 Infinitive — bualadh, striking ; a bhualadh, to strike ; 
 a' bualadh, a-striking. 
 
 PASSIVE VOICE. 
 
 Indicative. 
 Absolute. - Dependent. 
 
 Future 1, 2, 3 buailear mi, thu, &c. buailear mi, & 
 
 bhuailear - cha and 
 re I). 
 
 Past 1, 2, 3 bhuaileadh mi, thu, &c. do bhuaileadh mi, &c. 
 Subjunctive. 
 
 Absolute 1, 2, 3 bhuailteadh mi, thu, &c. — / would be struck. 
 and after cha 
 
 Dependent 1, 2, 3 buailteadh mi, thu, &c. — I should be struck. 
 Imperative. 
 
 1, 2, 3 buailtear mi, thu, &c. — let me be struck, be thou struck, 
 
 let him, &o. 
 P article — buail te, struck. 
 Vowel Conjugation. — 61, drink. fag, leave. 
 
 ACTIVE VOICE. 
 
 Indicative. 
 
 Fut. Absolute 1, 2, 3 olaidh mi &c. fagaidh mi, &c. 
 
 Eel. dh' olas mi, &c. dh' fhagas mi, &c. 
 
 Dependent 1, 2, 3 61 mi, &c fag mi, &c. 
 
 \ (but chan fhas; mi, &c.) 
 
 Past Absolute 1, 2, 3 dh' 61 mi, &c. dh' fhag mi, &c. 
 
 Dependent 1, 2, 3 d' 61 mi, &c. d' fhag mi, <fec. 
 
 Subjunctive. 
 
 Absolute 1 dh' olainn dh' fhagainn 
 
 2, 3 dh' oladh tu, &c dh' fhagadh tu, &c. 
 
 Dependent 1 olainn fagainn 
 
 2, 3 oladh tu, &c. fagadh tu 
 
 (but chan fhagainn, &c.) 
 
71 
 
 Imperative. 
 
 Sing. PL Sing. PI. 
 
 1 61am olaniaid 1 fagani fagamaid 
 
 2 61 61aibh 2 fag fagaibh 
 
 3 oladh e, i oladh iad 3 fagadh e fagadh iad 
 
 Infinitive — 61, drinking ; a dh' 61, to drink : ag 61, a-drinking ; 
 fagail, leaving ; a dh' fhagail. to leave ; a' fagail, a-leaving. 
 
 PASSIVE VOICE. 
 
 Indicative. 
 
 Future 1, 2, 3 olar mi, etc. fagar mi, etc. 
 
 {hut chau fhagar mi) 
 Past 1, 2, 3 dh' oladh mi, etc. dh' fhagadh mi, etc. 
 Dependent d' oladh mi, etc. d' fhagadh mi, etc. 
 
 Subjunctive. 
 
 Absolute 1, 2, 3 dh' olteadh mi, thu, e dh'fhagteadh mi, thu, e 
 Dependent 1, 2, 3 olteadh mi, thu, e fagteadh mi, thu, e 
 
 (but chau fhagteadh, etc.) 
 Imperative — 1, 2, 3 olar mi, etc. fagar mi, etc. 
 
 Participle — olte, drunk fagte, left 
 
 Periphrastic Tenses. 
 
 By the use of the verb " to be" and the inf. Avith preposi- 
 tions (a\ ag, at, and air, after, on), at least as complete a staff 
 of tenses can be formed as in English. 
 
 Indica tive A ctive. 
 
 Pres. Progressive : I am striking = Tha mi a' bualadh, i.e., I am at 
 
 striking. 
 
 Perfect: I have struck = Tha mi air bualadh, i e., I am after 
 
 striking. 
 
 ,, Perfect Continuous : I have been striking = Tha mi air bhith a' 
 bualadh, i.e., I am after being str king. 
 Fut. Indefinite : I shall strike = Buailidh mi. 
 
 Progressive : I shall be striking = Bithidh mi a' bualadh. 
 Perfect : I shall have struck = Bithidh mi air bualadk. 
 ,, Perfect Continuous : I shall have been striking = Bithidh mi air 
 
 bhith a' bualadh. 
 
 Past Indefinite : I struck = Bhuail mi. 
 
 Progressive : I was striking = Bha mi a' bualadh. 
 ,, Perfect : I had struck = Bha mi air bualadh. 
 
 ,, Perfect Continuous : I had been striking = Bha mi air bhith a' 
 
 bualadh. 
 
71 ' 
 
 Indicative Passive. 
 
 Pres. Definite : I am struck = Tha mi buailte. 
 
 ,, Progressive : I am being struck = Thatar ga m' bhualadh. 
 
 ,, Perfect : I haVe been struck = Tha mi air mo bhualadh. 
 Fut. Indefinite : I shall be struck = Buailear mi. Bithidh mi buailte. 
 
 ,, Perfect : I shall have been struck = Bithidh mi air mo bhualadh. 
 Past Indefinite : I was struck = Bhuaileadh mi. Bha mi buailte. 
 
 „ Perfect : I had been struck = Bha mi air mo bhualadh. 
 Another method of expressing the passive in Gaelic is by the use 
 of the verb " to go" — th&id and chaidh. The future in this case is 
 Th6id mo bhualadh (lit. " My striking shall go, i.e., occur) and the past 
 is Chaidh mo bhualadh. 
 
 Irregular Verbs. 
 
 ACTIVE VOICE. Indicative. Subjunctive. Imperative. Infinitive. 
 
 
 
 
 Fu tare. 
 
 Past. 
 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 Bear 
 
 Abs. 
 
 beiridh 
 
 rug 
 
 bheirinn 
 
 beir 
 
 beirsinn 
 
 
 
 
 Rel. bheireas 
 
 
 
 breith 
 
 
 
 Bept. 
 
 beir, bheir 
 
 d' nig 
 
 beirinn 
 
 
 
 2 
 
 Say 
 
 Abs. 
 
 their 
 
 thubhairt 
 
 theirinn 
 
 1 abram 
 
 radh 
 
 
 
 
 thuirt 
 
 
 2 abair 
 
 
 
 
 Bept. 
 
 abair 
 
 d' thubhairt 
 
 abrainn 
 
 3 abradh 
 
 
 3 
 
 Give 
 
 Abs. 
 
 bheir 
 
 thug 
 
 bheirinn 
 
 1 thugam 
 
 tabhairt 
 
 
 
 Bept. 
 
 toir 
 
 d' thug 
 
 toirinn 
 
 2 thoii* 
 
 toirt 
 
 
 
 tabhair 
 
 tugainn 
 
 3 thugadh 
 
 
 
 Come 
 
 Abs. 
 
 thig / 
 
 thainig 
 
 thiginn 
 
 thip- 
 
 
 
 
 Bept. 
 
 tig 
 
 d' thainig 
 
 
 
 
 Go 
 
 Abs. 
 
 theid 
 
 chaidh 
 
 rachainn 
 
 h 
 
 dol 
 
 
 
 Bept. 
 
 teid 
 
 deach(aidh) 
 
 
 
 
 g 
 
 Reach 
 
 Abs. 
 
 ruigidh 
 
 rainig, ruig 
 
 ruig inn 
 
 ruig 
 
 ruigsinn 
 
 
 
 
 Rel. ruigeas 
 
 d' rainig 
 
 
 
 ruigheachd 
 
 
 
 Bept. 
 
 ruig 
 
 
 
 
 7 
 
 Hear 
 
 Abs. 
 
 cluinnidh 
 
 chuala 
 
 chluinninn 
 
 cluinn 
 
 cluinntinn 
 
 
 
 
 Rel. chluinneas 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Bept. 
 
 cluinn 
 
 cuala 
 
 cluinninn 
 
 
 
 8 
 
 See 
 
 Abs. 
 
 chi 
 
 chunnaig 
 
 chithinn 
 
 faic 
 
 faicinn 
 
 
 
 Bept. 
 
 faic 
 
 faca 
 
 faicinn 
 
 
 
 9 
 
 Do 
 
 Abs. 
 
 ni 
 
 rinn 
 
 dheanainn 
 
 dean 
 
 deaaamh 
 
 
 
 Bept. 
 
 dean 
 
 d' rinn 
 
 deanainn 
 
 
 
 10 
 
 Get 
 
 Abs. 
 
 gheabh 
 
 fhuair 
 
 gheabhainn 
 
 faigh 
 
 faighinn 
 
 
 
 Bept. 
 
 faigh 
 
 d' fhuair 
 
 faighinn 
 
 faotainn 
 
 
 PASSIVE VOICE. 
 
 
 
 
 Participle. 
 
 1 
 
 Bear 
 
 
 beirear 
 
 rugadh 
 
 bheirteadh 
 
 beh ear 
 
 beirte 
 
 2 
 
 Say 
 
 
 theirear 
 
 thuirteadh 
 
 theirteadh 
 
 abrar 
 
 
 
 Bept. 
 
 abrar 
 
 d' thuirteadh 
 
 abairteadh 
 
 
 
 3 
 
 Give 
 
 bheirear 
 
 thugadh 
 
 bheirteadh 
 
 thoirear 
 
 tugte 
 
 
 
 Bept. 
 
 toirear 
 
 d' thugadh 
 
 toirteadh 
 
 thugar 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 tugteadh 
 
 
 4 
 
 Come 
 
 
 thigear 
 
 thaineas 
 
 thigteadh 
 
 thigear 
 
 
 5 
 
 Reach 
 
 
 ruigear 
 
 raineadh 
 
 ruigteadh 
 
 ruigear 
 
 ruigte 
 
 6 
 
 Go 
 
 
 theidear 
 
 chaidheas 
 
 rachteadh 
 
 rachar 
 
 
 
 Bept. 
 
 teidear 
 
 deachas 
 
 rachteadh 
 
 
 
 7 
 
 Hear 
 
 cluinnear 
 
 chualas 
 
 chluinnteadh 
 
 cluinntear 
 
 cluinnte 
 
 8 
 
 See 
 
 Abs. 
 
 chithear 
 
 chunnacas 
 
 chiteadh 
 
 faicear 
 
 faicte 
 
 
 
 
 chitear 
 
 chunnacadh 
 
 
 faictear 
 
 
 
 
 Bept. 
 
 faicear 
 
 facas, facadh 
 
 faicteadh 
 
 
 
 9 
 
 Bo 
 
 Abs. 
 
 nithear 
 
 rinneadh 
 
 dheanteadh 
 
 deanar 
 
 deante 
 
 
 
 Bept. 
 
 deanar 
 
 d' rinneadh 
 
 deanteadh 
 
 (deantar) 
 
 
 10 
 
 Get 
 
 Abs. 
 
 gheabhar 
 
 fhuaradh 
 
 gheabhteadh 
 
 faighear 
 
 faighte 
 
 
 
 Bept. 
 
 faighear 
 
 d' fhuaradh 
 
 faighteadh 
 
Semi-Auxiliaries. 
 
 The verbs corresponding to Eng. may, must, and can are 
 faodaidh, feumaidh, and is urrainn (domh) ; dependent forms 
 — faod, fe'um, and urrainn. Past tense — dh' fhaodadh, 
 dh! fheumadh. and V urrainn, with dept. forms for the first 
 two — faodadh and feumadh, is the same as the subjunctive 
 dh' fhaodainn, dh' fheumainn, and V urrainn f domh). Thus — 
 I may stand = faodaidh mi seasamh, where seasamh is the inf. 
 
 Defective verbs are arsa, quoth, as ars' iad = said they ; 
 theab, had almost, theab mi tuiUam = I almost fell ; feuch, 
 behold ! siuthad, proceed thou ; tiugainn, come thou : trobhad, 
 come hither ; thugad, get out ! 
 
 THE ADVERB. 
 
 Adverbs are formed from adjectives by prefixing gu, which 
 has h- before a vowel, as, gu math, well ; gu fior, truly ; gu 
 h-ard, highly, above. 
 
 The words ro, gle, and fior qualify adjectives and denote a 
 high degree of quality. Cho, with ri or agus as correlative, is 
 equal to Eng. as .... as : cho luath ri cii, as fast as a dog ; 
 cho luath agus = as soon as. 
 
 Time. 
 
 cheana, already roimhe, before 
 
 fhathast, fos, yet riamh, ever 
 
 chaoidh, ever daonnan, always 
 
 Phrases: — a nis, now; an dra<ta, just now: a rithist, 
 again ; an diugh, to-day ; an de, yesterday ; am maireach, 
 to-morrow ; an nochd, to-night ; an raoir, last night ; am feasda 
 and gu brath, for ever. 
 
 Pronominal Adverb : cuin ? when ? 
 Place. — Pronominal are ann, there ; an so, here, hither ; an 
 sin, there ; an sud, yonder ; a so, &c., from here. 
 Rest. Motion to. Motion from. 
 
 shios, below a sios, down a nios, from below 
 
 shuas, above a suas. up a nuas, from above 
 
 thall, over a null, nunn, over a nail, from over 
 
 a stigh, inside a steach, into 
 
 a muigh, outside a mach, out 
 uthard, up an aird, up 
 
 a bhos, on this side a bhan, down 
 Negatives and Verbal Particles. — Cha (chan before a 
 vowel), not ; nach asks a question negatively, an positively.. 
 
73 
 
 PREPOSITION. 
 
 The Primary Prepositions are : — 
 
 aig, at do, a, a dh', to mu, about 
 
 air, on eadar, between ri, ris, to 
 
 an, amis ) . fo, under roimh, before 
 
 ann an ) gu, gus, to seach, past 
 
 a, as, out of gun, without thar, across 
 
 bho, o, from le, leis, w&A thun, to 
 
 de, of mar, troimh, tre, through 
 
 These take the dat. case, with the following exceptions — 
 ■eadar and seach, govern the accusative, i.e., the nom. case ; 
 gus and mar similarly take the nom. of nouns definite (with the 
 article or a genitive), as gus a' chrioch ; thar, in the Southern 
 dialects, and thun govern the genitive. 
 
 The most important Compound Prepositions are : — 
 a chum, chum, for the purpose of am measg, among 
 
 a dh' ionnsaidh, to, towards 
 a reir, according to 
 an deidh, after 
 air beulaibh, in front of 
 air culaibh, behind 
 air fad, throughout , 
 air feadh, feadh, amongst 
 air son, on account of 
 re, during 
 
 an aghaidh, against 
 an ceann, at the end of 
 ah coinne, to meet 
 mu choinne, opposite 
 mu dheidhinn, concerning 
 mu thimchioll, about 
 mu 'n cuairt, around 
 os cionn, above 
 o chionn, since 
 
 The above preps, govern the genitive, which depends on 
 the noun or adjective in the phrase. 
 
 CONJUNCTION. 
 
 I. Co-ordinating : — 1 
 
 (1) Cumulative : agus, is, and. 
 
 (2) Adversative : ach, but ; gidheadh, however. 
 
 (3) Alternative : no, or ; air neo, otherwise. 
 
 (4) Explanatory : oir, for. 
 
 II. Subordinating : — 
 
 (1) Substantival : 
 
 a. Of Statement : gu, gun (gum), that ; gur, that 
 
 (with adj., nouns and pron.) ; nach, that. ..not. 
 
 b. Of Interrogation : an, if, whether. 
 
74 
 
 (2) Adverbial : 
 
 a. Time and Place : nuair (an uair a), when ; dar, 
 
 ( = do-uair), when; mu'n or mus, before; gus 
 an, until ; far an (am), where. 
 
 b. Condition : ma, if ; mur, unless ; na J n, if (false 
 
 supposition) ; ged, though ( = ciod, with same 
 verbal dependence). 
 
 c. Reason : o'n, since. 
 
 d. Comparison : mar, as ; na, than. 
 
 NOTES ON SPECIFIC READINGS. 
 
 Page 36, line 18 — " Ailein-an-Earrachd" — Allan Cameron of Eracht 
 in Lochaber, who raised the 79bh Regiment, known as the Cameron 
 Highlanders. 
 
 Page 40, line 17 — " Marsali Mhor agus na buanaichean." This 
 refers to the time when it was customary for Highland shearers to go 
 to the South country to the harvest. 
 
 Page 42, line 16 — " Bodach nam Brigisean" — The name of a well- 
 known pipe tune. 
 
 Page 42, line 19 — " Mac-Iain-Abraich" — The patronymic of Maclean 
 of Coll. 
 
 Page 43, line 28— " Clag Sgain"— The bell of Scone. As with 
 Whittington and the bells of London, the Highland people interpreted 
 the message of the bell of Scone thus— "An rud nach buin duit na 
 buin da" — " Mind your own business." 
 
 Page 43, line 33—" Tigh Eoghain Oig." " Eoghan Og" was one of 
 the noms-de-plume of Lachlan \laclean, one of the principal con- 
 tributors to the " Teachdaire Gaidhealach." 
 
 Page 43, line 38 — " Mo chuilean" — A common term of endearment 
 
 Page 44, line 2 — " Murchadh agus Mionachag." In some versions 
 the male actor is called Murachan. There may possibly be the shadow 
 of a . ■oral in the piece, Murachan being the well-doing person, from 
 " m ..rrach," thrifty ; while the name Mionachag may be from 
 " mionach," and thus a personification of greed. 
 
 Page 49, line 26 — " Oidhche na Callainne" — Hogmanay night. 
 " Callainn" or " Collainn" is the Latin word " Calendar," the first of 
 the month. 
 
 Page 51, line 2—" Mac Og an Iarla Ruaidh." This exquisite 
 ballad appeared in " Albyn's Anthology," accompanied with the 
 following very free rendering by Sir Walter Scott ■ — 
 
75 
 
 Noras Vow. 
 
 Hear what Highland Nora said— 
 " The Earlie s s<>n I will not wed, 
 Should all the race of nature die, 
 And none be left but he and I. 
 For all the gold, for all the gear, 
 And all the lands both far and near, 
 That ever valour lost or won, 
 I would not wed the Earlie s son." 
 
 " A maiden's vows," old Callum spoke, 
 "Are lightly made and lightly broke ; 
 The heather on the mountain's height 
 Begins to bloom in purple light ; 
 The frost- wind soon shall sweep away 
 That lustre deep from glen and brae ; 
 Yet Nora, ere its bloom be gone, 
 May blithely wed the Earlie's son." 
 
 "The swan," she said, "the lake's clear 
 May barter for the eagle's nest ; [breast 
 The Awe's fierce stream may backward turn 
 Ben-Cruachan fall and crush Kilchurn ; 
 Our kilted clans, when blood is high, 
 Before their foes may turn and fly ; 
 But I, were all these marvels done, 
 Would never wed the Earlie's son.' 
 
 Still in the water-lily's shade, 
 Her wonted nest the wild-swan made ; 
 Ben-Cruachan stands as fast as ever, 
 Still downward foams the Awe's fierce river 
 To shun the cla=>h of foeman's steel, 
 No Highland brogue has turned the heel ; 
 But Nora's heart is lost and won— 
 She's wedded to the Earlie's son 
 
 Page 51, line 15 — " Muime." The term "muime" here means, not 
 stepmother, but nurse or lady-attendant. 
 
 Page 51, line 17— " Feill-an-R6id"— the Feast of the Holy Rood, 
 14th September. 
 
 Page 52, line 3—" An uair bha 'Ghaidhlig aig na h-e6in ?" The 
 author poetically fixes the period of the Golden Age as the time 
 " when the birds spoke the Gaelic language." The line quoted is from 
 a poem by Ewen Maclachlan. 
 
 Page 53, lines 5 and 19 — "An Dun." This refers to Dunvegan 
 Castle, the seat of Macleod of Macleod. 
 
 Page 53, line 7 — " Mac-Cruimein." The Mac-Crimmons were the 
 hereditary pipers of Dunvegan. The one of them who forms the 
 subject of this popular Lament fell at the Rout of Moy. 
 
 Page 53, line 13 — " Ealta nan speur" — " the coveys of the sky" — 
 the fowls of heaven. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 Page. 
 
 Gaelic Sounds and their Symbols 1 
 
 Exercises 7 
 
 Reading Lessons— 
 
 i., ii. The Shoemaker and the Fairies 12 
 
 in., iv. Little John Macandrew 15 
 
 v., vi. The Queen at Taymouth 20 
 
 vii. , viii. The Black Tailor of the Battle-Axe ... 22 
 
 ix., x. Malcolm the Sailor , 27 
 
 xi. The Prodigal Son . 33 
 
 Specific Readings — 
 
 i. Sgeul mu Choire-na-Sithe 36 
 
 it. Litir o Fhionnlagh Piobaire 40 
 
 in, Murchadh agus Mionachag 44 
 
 iv. Cead Deireannach nam Beann 47 
 
 v. Oidhche na Callainne an Tir chein . . , .49 
 
 vi. Mac Og an Iarla Ruaidh 51 
 
 vn. Linn an Aigh £W 
 
 viii. Tuireadh 53 
 
 Outlines of Gaelic Grammar 54 
 
 Notes on Specific Readings 74 
 
 AUTHOR OR SOURCE. 
 
 Reading Lessons — i., il— Fairy Tale, adapted by J. W. ; m., iv. 
 —Spdach, in " Cuairtear nan Gleann ;" v., vi.— Rev. Dr Norman 
 Macleod ; vii., viii. — Aonghas Bdn in "Cuairtear;" ix., x. — J. W. ; 
 xi.— Luke xv. Specific Readings— l, ii.— Rev. Dr N. Macleod; 
 in.— Folk Tale adapted by J. W. ; iv.— Duncan Ban Macintyre ; 
 V. — Rev. Dr N. Macleod ; vi. — " Albyn's Anthology ;" vn. — 
 " Duanaire ;" viii.— Old Gaelic Song. 
 
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