SPRING
Spring! Each day found an eager, watchful boy, a happy, sweet-faced
sheep dog, and a large fleecy lamb standing on the Rob Roy Brig. They
were awaiting in glad anticipation a visitor, who was expected and
whose music would soon reach the happy ears of a future piper.
Ian Craig had never allowed his Betty to roam after that frightful
episode. She had been kept in a little corral, which Ian built for her.
When he came home from school, he took her with him to the brig. He
fastened her to a massive rock, while he awaited the return of Sandy.
[Illustration: BETTY AWAITS SANDY'S RETURN]
Betty was now almost as fat and big as the other sheep. She was a
credit to the boy's good care. So proud of her was Ian that he often
tied a lovely tartan ribbon about her neck. He combed her wool
tenderly each day before he started off for the brig.
Day after day, the two waited. Meanwhile, Roy looked on with kindly
eyes, although he did not understand it all. Of course, Betty was
equally ignorant of why she was made to pose with a floppy bow around
her neck, tied to an annoying rock. But she was content, for Ian stayed
beside her.
Sometimes as Ian watched and waited, he thought he heard the bagpipes
in the distance. And as he heard, his heart beat faster. The moment of
bliss when he could claim his reward, seemed to be upon him.
Then he often looked at Betty, and a qualm seized him. How could he
part with the lamb? He had been through trouble and sorrow for the
little animal. He had lived many happy hours by her side. It was as
though she had become his own. The thought of parting from her was like
a stab. Then, too, Betty loved him.
At these times, the poor little boy would knit his brow and ponder upon
the strangeness of life.
Then he thought of the pipers and the tale of Dunblane, where the
stalwart lads marched and played. He thought of the glorious piper
bands marching in the big towns. The thought made him brighten and
jump from the brig and scan the country for a sign of Sandy.
But the days of budding blossoms and showers in Scotland wore on.
Finally Betty's ribbon bow began to fade and Ian's patience to wear.
Little Elsie Campbell used at times to walk with the boy to the brig.
Often he stopped on the walk and talked to her, as he cocked his head
on one side.
"Do you not hear the din of pipes, Elsie?" he asked.
And the wee lassie shook her head and said, "Ach, no, lad. 'Tis daft
you are with your pipes!"
But it was said kindly, for Elsie hoped and prayed that Sandy would
return. You see, Ian had told her the story of Betty and how he waited
for the promised pipes. It was, in fact, Elsie who had first tied the
silken tartan ribbon about the lamb's neck.
It was a gray day which promised rain. Ian and Betty neared the brig
together. Ian had just tied the creature to her accustomed rock and was
lifting himself to the wall when he heard a sound. Pipes! Unmistakably
pipes!
Still, he had been mistaken so often before that he dared not look. And
Elsie was not there to-day. She would have told him. For in her ears
the sound was not always droning as it had been in Ian's for many
days.
He had not told his mother for fear of worrying her. But his head was
often heavy, and he could not sleep with the sound of the bagpipes.
Poor little Ian! If only Sandy would return!
On this dull, misty day as he swung his feet from the wall of the brig,
Ian could not stop the sound. Nearer and nearer it came!
Then, "Bonny laddie, Highland laddie," chanted the pipes. Ian looked up
and saw standing before him his Sandy!
Although he was as red and wrinkled and twinkling as before, there was
a change. Sandy was very shabby. His coat was stained with the mud and
rain of many hard days.
He stopped his playing and stood before the boy. A sad, longing look
came into his eyes.
"Ian, lad," he said slowly, "'tis Sandy come back."
And Ian suddenly realized that it was all true and not one of his
dreams. He jumped down from the wall and threw his arms about Sandy.
"Ach, Sandy," he cried. Then he stood back and pointed to the lamb.
Evidently Sandy had not noticed it.
"And do you not see our beastie, Sandy? 'Tis the same you left with me,
and well and fat she is."
Sandy turned and looked at Betty. But he did not talk as Ian had
expected him to, nor did he compliment Ian on the lamb's well-being.
He only stood fingering his pipes and slowly shaking his head.
[Illustration: "SANDY HIMSELF WILL TEACH YOU TO PLAY"]
As Ian stared in wonderment, the piper lifted his bagpipes from his
shoulder and handed them to the boy.
"Your pipes are here, lad, and Sandy keeps his promise!" he said.
Without thinking Ian put out his arms to receive the instrument. His
eyes, however, did not leave his friend's face.
"But, Sandy, these are your own pipes you're giving me!" he said, as if
he could hardly believe it, after looking down at what Sandy had placed
in his arms.
"Ay, lad," answered Sandy, "and now you can be a fine piper, and Sandy
himself will teach you to play."
Then Sandy told Ian the sad story of Jamie Robinson. He explained how
he had sold nearly all his worldly goods to help the little family and
put them on their feet again. He told of how he had left them
comfortably settled near a prosperous village. He had made Jamie
promise to work and save for his little brood.
Sandy also told how he had come all the way to keep his promise to the
boy. He said, too, that now, as in Aberfoyle there was no piper, he
expected to stay here and take Jamie Robinson's place if Ian would lend
him his pipes each day for awhile. And in return, he would teach the
lad to play!
"For I'm not so young as I was, laddie, and the wandering life is over
for me," he added.
When Ian heard these plans, he was beside himself with joy. He hugged
first Sandy, then Roy, and then Betty. At last the piper became his old
jolly self once more and laughed.
"Ay, lad, we'll share the pipes together, though they belong to you.
But old Sandy will have to make a living, and he'll teach you all the
tunes he knows!"
No happier boy than Ian Craig lived in Scotland that night. Standing
before the door of the cottage, he puffed and blew on his pipes. There
issued forth the sound of a thousand sheep all bleating at once but all
in pain! Sandy listened from his tent on the hill opposite and chuckled
to himself.
Roy was also in pain as he listened. His delicate ears were unused to
this shrieking and squealing. He joined in the din with loud howls.
The baby within the house was in sympathy, too, and added her wails.
So Sandy's first evening as a resident in Aberfoyle was not a quiet
one. He was forced to stop his ears.
Mrs. Craig was unable to stand the racket. So she pulled her puffing
son into the house and packed him off to bed, to the great relief of
all.
[Illustration: THE SOUND OF HIS PIPES ECHOED BACK THROUGH THE GLEN]
But Ian was a quick and hard-working pupil. It was not long before Roy
quite approved of the sounds his master made on his pipes. He did not
then feel it necessary to amend the melody.
Also the baby gurgled with glee. She puffed out her cheeks in imitation
of Ian and laughed happily. And Betty, the lamb, too, seemed to know
that all was well. The world was in tune with the wee Scotch piper who
had, at last, realized his dreams.
* * * * *
"'Tis the close of the day
At the foot of the ben,
And the sound of his pipes
Echoes back through the glen."