Mark W. Ingalls
Contributors
Chuckling over one of HighZ's posts ("I don't know about Patrick, but I always leave rocks where I find them. I find them on the ground and I leave them on the ground.") the signature phrase, "look aboon ye," caught my eye.
Dr. S, I wonder if you've crossed this snippet before, from The Hereditary Sheriffs of Galloway by Andrew Agnew--
The roof-tree of Monreith rang with merriment; the wine passed freely, and the colonel indulged in tall talk, and seemed playing into the hands of his guest, who was on the watch to get him to back his reckless assertions.
The opportunity offered.
The colonel asserted that from a hill close by, we could any clear day see five kingdoms. The gambler betted him £100 that we could not. The colonel closed, making the reservation that the old kingdom of Man was one of these. To this, after a rapid mental calculation, the guest agreed; his great anxiety being to have the bet booked forthwith, and the company present named the judges.
On a fine clear morning, Colonel Maxwell led the party to the top of Barhullion, and proceeded to business; "Here," he said, pointing below, "is the kingdom of Scotland."
"Good" said his friends.
"To the west is Ireland."
"Good again."
"Eastward you see St. Bees Head, there's England."
" Right."
"And south there's the Isle of Man."
"Agreed." A long pause ensued, the wagerer mentally discounting his cheque. At last, chuckling, he said, "Well, my friend, and how about the fifth?"
The colonel looked him steadily in the face, then slowly and solemnly raising his hand, said, "Look aboon ye, man; there's the kingdom of Heaven, and maybe ye'll never be nearer it."
Fisherman, are you also a Scot?
Dr. S, I wonder if you've crossed this snippet before, from The Hereditary Sheriffs of Galloway by Andrew Agnew--
The roof-tree of Monreith rang with merriment; the wine passed freely, and the colonel indulged in tall talk, and seemed playing into the hands of his guest, who was on the watch to get him to back his reckless assertions.
The opportunity offered.
The colonel asserted that from a hill close by, we could any clear day see five kingdoms. The gambler betted him £100 that we could not. The colonel closed, making the reservation that the old kingdom of Man was one of these. To this, after a rapid mental calculation, the guest agreed; his great anxiety being to have the bet booked forthwith, and the company present named the judges.
On a fine clear morning, Colonel Maxwell led the party to the top of Barhullion, and proceeded to business; "Here," he said, pointing below, "is the kingdom of Scotland."
"Good" said his friends.
"To the west is Ireland."
"Good again."
"Eastward you see St. Bees Head, there's England."
" Right."
"And south there's the Isle of Man."
"Agreed." A long pause ensued, the wagerer mentally discounting his cheque. At last, chuckling, he said, "Well, my friend, and how about the fifth?"
The colonel looked him steadily in the face, then slowly and solemnly raising his hand, said, "Look aboon ye, man; there's the kingdom of Heaven, and maybe ye'll never be nearer it."
Fisherman, are you also a Scot?
