So now people begged Macpherson to travel through the Highlands and gather together as much of the old poetry of the people as he could.
For four months Macpherson wandered about the Highlands and Islands of Scotland, listening to the tales of the people and writing them down.
This is no furniture for the scholar's library, but a book for the winter evening school-room when the tasks are over and the hour for bed draws near; and honest Alan, who was a grim old fire-eater in his day has in this new avatar no more desperate purpose than to steal some young gentleman's attention from his Ovid, carry him awhile into the Highlands and the last century, and pack him to bed with some engaging images to mingle with his dreams.
There are many incidents given in the trial that point to Alan's fiery spirit and Highland quickness to take offence.
Every partner who had charge of an interior post, and a score of retainers at his Command, felt like the chieftain of a Highland clan, and was almost as important in the eyes of his dependents as of himself.
They ascended the rivers in great state, like sovereigns making a progress: or rather like Highland chieftains navigating their subject lakes.
"I have never been in the
Highlands," the lieutenant replied.
With this resolution I traversed the northern
highlands and fixed on one of the remotest of the Orkneys as the scene of my labours.
THERE is something repellent to me, even at this distance of time, in looking back at the dreary days, of seclusion which followed each other monotonously in my
Highland home.
She had a knitted shawl over her head; her blue
Highland eyes took the light from the neighbouring street-lamp and sparkled; and when the door opened and closed upon her, John felt cruelly alone.
You know that
Highland Scotch family of MacNabs back of the Glen?
He had a monkey on his shoulder, dressed in a
Highland plaid; and, to complete the sum of splendid attractions wherewith he presented himself to the public, there was a company of little figures, whose sphere and habitation was in the mahogany case of his organ, and whose principle of life was the music which the Italian made it his business to grind out.