heels, when two shepherds started, and looking at her, one said, "That's
her; that's the wonderfu' wee bitch that naebody kens." I asked him what
he meant, and he told me that for months past she had made her
appearance by the first daylight at the "buchts" or sheep-pens in the
cattle market, and worked incessantly, and to excellent purpose, in
helping the shepherds to get their sheep and lambs in. The man said with
a sort of transport, "She's a perfect meeracle; flees about like a
speerit, and never gangs wrang; wears but never grups, and beats a' oor
dowgs. She's a perfect meeracle, and as soople as a maukin." Then he
related how they all knew her, and said, "There's that wee fell yin;
we'll get them in noo." They tried to coax her to stop and be caught,
but no, she was gentle, but off; and for many a day that "wee fell yin"
was spoken of by these rough fellows. She continued this amateur work
till she died, which she did in peace.

It is very touching the regard the south-country shepherds have to their
dogs. Professor Syme one day, many years ago, when living in Forres
Street, was looking out of his window, and he saw a young shepherd
striding down North Charlotte Street, as if making for his house; it was
midsummer. The man had his dog with him, and Mr. Syme noticed that he
followed the dog, and not it him, though he contrived to steer for the
house. He came, and was ushered into his room; he wished advice about
some ailment, and Mr. Syme saw that he had a bit of twine round the
dog's neck, which he let drop out of his hand when he entered the room.
He asked him the meaning of this, and he explained that the magistrates
had issued a mad-dog proclamation, commanding all dogs to be muzzled or
led on pain of death. "And why do you go about as I saw you did before
you came in to me?" "Oh," said he, looking awkward, "I didna want Birkie
to ken he was tied." Where will you find truer courtesy and finer
feeling? He didn't want to hurt Birkie's feelings.

Mr. Carruthers of Inverness told me a new story of these wise sheep
dogs. A butcher from Inverness had purchased some sheep at Dingwall, and
giving them in charge to his dog, left the road. The dog drove them on,
till coming to a toll, the toll-wife stood before the drove, demanding
her dues. The dog looked at her, and, jumping on her back, crossed his
forelegs over her arms. The sheep passed through, and the dog took his
place behind them, and went on his way.

RAB.