Thank you for this Isobel, an interesting read, meat on the bones so to speak! Sharon Found this, thought it was fun - http://www.archive.org/stream/legendsbraesoma00grangoog/legendsbraesoma00gra ngoog_djvu.txt John of Inverey loved his Tullich tenants. He took a fancy to them for the spirited way in which they got up the world- wide-famed " Beel of Tullich." It may be interesting to you to hear its origin. In those days the parsons catered after creature-comforts even as much as now, and on winter days of more than usual inclemency had no service in the churches. Now, it came to pass on a stormy winter morning, that a, number of the parishioners thought fit to attend on chance at the Kirk of Tullich. The present ruins are of another building on the site of the one in question. The folio got weary waiting for his reverence, who then lived at Milton of Tullich ; and while he doubtless coddleshimself by his oozy ingle, think you that his Christian brethren are to perish of cold P By no means of nations. They blew in their fists, and thumped them against their breasts and sides, to set the blood a-circulating ; then they kicked against the pews and stamped, till it was a wonder their feet did not fly asunder in bits of ice. And now, as they went wandering through the church, the lads began to poke fun at the lasses ; nay, as time passed, some of the bolder rogues would give them a half- twirl round ; and you may well judge, the lasses wonld'nt stand any such impudence, and swung the lads round and off, as much as to say, Keep your distance, sir. And, bless you, sirs, the auld carls and the younger married folks wouldn't stand it ; and bless you, too, the auld " wivies " and matrons had mettle in their toes as well as the lasses. So, by and by, there was capering and vapouring of a rather lively kind throughout the *. auld " kirk. ** Well, what think you of a sensation - a suspicion, say - of the real dew to keep dear life in ? " whispered some one. "By St Nathalan, we were never in greater need,"chorused a whole company ; " let us have a * jine.' " Accordingly, a stockingful of placks and bodies was collected, with which one of the party hied away to the change-house at the Stile of Tullich. You know where the road winds round the mount, on which stands the monument to the late Monaltrie. Well, there, just as you come in sight of the village, is the Stile of Tullich. The first " jine " so rejoiced the hearts of the company, that, belyve, a second, third, and fourth came off in quick succession, and with all "eclat." "Jines" became the, order of the day. And aye the ale was getting better ; and, well I wot, the company was getting cantier, vauntier, ay, and friskier. Philosophers - I am none, thank heaven - will explain how ** gude ale keeps the heart abune" - how it lightens the heels as well as the head, and even how it reverses the common standing of mortals. The "gude ale" had its usual effects at the Kirk of Tullich, and a little shuffling led naturally to the heel-and-toe, and the back step and countless other steps, and those again to twirling, and wheeling, and side-cutting, till it was dizzying to look on. Hae ineroy on us ! men must live, ay, and even women. And why, it was only to keep the heat in - " peskily " cold it was that Sunday, depend upon it. Now, once set a-danoing, they thought it as well to dance in orderly manner as not, so they would have a head-set or reel. A musician was wanted; but Tullich, ever "fertile in fiddlers," soon supplied the want ; and then, having placed sentinels to give the alarm should the parson enter an appearance, at it they went with a will, and kept it up with high, higher, and highest glee. Iso ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to ABERDEEN-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message