she answered; “it was very wrong; how can you expect to get better if you do not help yourself with the remedies which heaven provides for you?” “Vright or Vrang,” said Donald, “it wadna gang wast in spite o’ me.”  In all the north country, it is always said, “I’m ganging east or west,” etc., and it happened that Donald on his sick bed was lying east and west, his feet pointing to the latter direction, hence his reply to indicate that he could not swallow the medicine!

We may fancy the amusement of the officers of a regiment in the West Indies, at the innocent remark of a young lad who had just joined from Scotland.  On meeting at dinner, his salutation to his Colonel was, “Anither het day, Cornal,” as if “het days” were in Barbadoes few and far between, as they were in his dear old stormy cloudy Scotland.  Or take the case of a Scottish saying, which indicated at once the dialect and the economical habits of a hardy and struggling race.  A young Scotchman, who had been some time in London, met his friend recently come up from the north to pursue his fortune in the great metropolis.  On discussing matters connected with their new life in London, the more experienced visitor remarked upon the greater expenses there than in the retired Scottish town which they had left.  “Ay,” said the other, sighing over the reflection, “when ye get cheenge for a saxpence here, it’s soon slippit awa’.”  I recollect a story of my father’s which illustrates the force of dialect, although confined to the inflections of a single monosyllable.  On riding home one evening, he passed a cottage or small farm-house, where there was a considerable assemblage of people, and an evident incipient merry-making for some festive occasion.  On asking one of the lasses standing about, what it was, she answered, “Ou, it’s just a wedding o’ Jock Thamson and Janet Frazer.”  To the question, “Is the bride rich?” there was a plain quiet “Na.”  “Is she young?” a more emphatic and decided “Naa!” but to the query, “Is she bonny?” a most elaborate and prolonged shout of “Naaa!”

It has been said that the Scottish dialect is peculiarly powerful in its use of vowels, and the following dialogue between a shopman and a customer has been given as a specimen.  The conversation relates to a plaid hanging at the shop door—­

Cus. (inquiring the material), Oo? (wool?)

Shop.  Ay, oo (yes, of wool).

Cus.  A’ oo? (all wool?)

Shop.  Ay, a’ oo (yes, all wool).

Cus.  A’ ae oo? (all same wool?)

Shop.  Ay a’ ae oo (yes, all same wool).