Ian who had been over at Lucky’s Tavern and had had a skinful was much impressed as he came along the street and saw the soldier and it crossed his mind that he would like to have a kilt as handsome as the one the soldier wore. Come in to my parlour said the spider to the fly! The sergeant was also aware of Ian’s interest and a conversation was struck with Ian being told that if he would like a kilt like this all he had to do was to take the offer of a shilling and become a soldier of the Queen. They say that “when the drink is in, the man is oot” and without realising it Ian signed up on the spot. Michty, michty me! All his thoughts were towards wearing the kilt and impressing Nellie in his braw new outfit, and such was his befuddled frame of mind as he wandered home to Trian.
The following day when he told the miller and his wife what had transpired they were mortified. A pall of sadness hung about the place with the miller blaming himself for all that had happened. Meg had lost the place and had lambasted him for his carelessness at letting Ian out of his sight. Just as she had finished her flyting lecture the door opened and in stepped Mr. Dewar, the tailor. He was considered to have a lot of common sense and given to solid and sound advice. He had just called in to have his coggie of peasemeal replaced and he believed that peasemeal was an essential ingredient in building a strong constitution!
The miller now thoroughly cowed by the tongue-lashing he had received from his wife thought that his appearance had saved him and welcomed Dewar in to the ingle side. Sensing that something was quite wrong the tailor said, “there’s surely something wrang this morning, you are no’ in your usual happy mood Meg?” “Nae wonder,” she replied, “a’ things are gang wrang. Geordie cam hame wi’ mair than was good for him frae the Fair and forbye he squandered maist o’ the siller he got for the stirks, and the rent to pay at November, an’ if we canna pay the rent, the Laird’ll turn us oot o’ hoose an’ hame, and forbye, tailor, Ian’s gane and found the sojers, an’ whaur will we get anither callout like Ian Campbell. Never!" “Weel, weel,” said the tailor, “sae that’s aw’ yer troubles, there’s naething ava, a mere moudie hillock, the millers six month follification Meg is naething to flyte aboot, and forbye the price o’ the stirks will be a’ richt when Geordie finds his bearings, and as far as Ian Campbell is concerned there are as guid lads around in the Water o’ Ruchill as ever cam oot o’ it, an’ you’ll find as guid a lad in Glen Artney, tak my word for it. Bear your wee cross patiently Meg, and a’thing will cam richt. The morn's sun will shine as brichtly as ever o’er Milntuim and Geordie and you will be again as coshie (comfortable) as twa doos (doves).
“Sound advice,” said the miller, “sound advice” feeling somewhat relieved that there was some support at this turn of events.”Patience is a virtue tailor, and if Meg would just exercise a wee bit o’ that virtue, aye, if the maist o’ women would do the same, there would be less wrangling aboot naething at aw.” With his hand on the door sneck the tailor related some of his well-worn stories leaving both the miller and his wife laughing, and seeing they were almost reconciled, left the house no doubt breathing a sigh of relief!
When the tailor left Geordie and Meg made a review of the sale of the stirks and found that Geordie had carefully deposited the money in the inner lining of his sleeve just as a precaution in the event of some slight of hand by someone at the Fair. When she saw that the money was safe Meg danced with glee and gave her word of honour to her “ain Geordie” that never again would she lose her temper even “should she lose a’ the siller she possessed.”
Ian Campbell awoke the following morning nursing a sore head and reflecting upon his actions and immediately felt pangs of regret and foreboding about what he had done. He was now a recruit in the army of the Queen. In his hangover he realised that the life of a soldier would not be a life of ease and pleasure and the kilt and the feathered bonnet was only worn by the recruiting sergeant as a lure. Nelly was dreadfully upset when she heard the news and was quite downcast. She did not look forward to his departure and the attendant long years of loneliness. She also knew that she had lost the companionship which had been built up over a long period of years and felt that the future for her was not very bright.
The day arrived and it was cold and dreich with black clouds over the Aberuchills. At Milntuim, that lonesome spot , the whole community turned out to see him off on his new career and his great adventure. Meg and Geordie showered him with blessings wishing him Godspeed. Nelly walked him over to the Blairnroar crossroads. There the Langside road led to to Braco following the course of the Knaik burn, and thence onwards to the mighty castle at Stirling where he was to undertake basic training. She was much distraught and slowly kissed him and gave him a loving embrace wishing him a fond farewell. The earth stood still as it does at moments like this. And then ever so slowly he took up his pack, and walked away the road, the loneliest road in the world! As he was passing the “healing well” he stopped for a moment, and drank the water, and as he bent his head he vowed that he would return and make Nelly Fergus his bride. Raising himself he surveyed the surrounding countryside and, like this author, may have said that this would be the last time he would see this view!
Arriving at the castle he was greeted as a new recruit and sent to see the officer in charge. From there he was sent to see a sergeant-major who took him to the barracks which were to be his new home for the foreseeable future.
Ian initially did not take well to barrack life with its strict discipline, poor food and the uncouthness of some of his fellow soldiers. There was constant shouting and constant drilling and training. Ian was an apt pupil, however, in the study of arms, and the duties of a soldier and, in time, settled into army life. He decided early on that if he was to make good he would have to gain promotion and through his diligence and hard work was soon promoted.
At Trian the normal work continued on and at sheep shearing time the crofters would join forces to gather in the sheep for clipping. There, around the Hirsel stone on the hillside, they would use their shears to clip the wool which was then gathered together in bundles for shipment to the Lednock mill where it was woven into tweed. It was the custom of Johnnie Dewar, the tailor, to visit all the crofters so as to measure them for their clothing and his visits were looked forward to with great interest. He always had a story to tell and pass on the news of the day. The romance of Ian and Nelly was discussed as was the possible prospect of Johnnie Simpson entering the chase. It was however largely accepted that Ian would continue to woo and eventually win the maiden’s hand when he returned from the army. After all he deserved her - he had shown all that he had a brave heart by becoming a soldier of the Queen.
Several months later Ian completed his training and was given a spot of leave prior to joining his regiment and without hesitation he set out for Trian some thirty miles distant from Stirling. Everyone in the clachan knew he was on his way and were happy. They felt proud that one of their own would soon be with them resplendent in the uniform of a Highland soldier in the British army. As Ian passed the “healing well” he stooped and took a drink from the sparkling water just as he had done when he left to join the colours. He passed the rowan tree and reflected on the happy hours he had spent there with his beloved Nell and then on up the brae to Milntuim.
The first person he met was Meg, the miller’s wife, who gasped in admiration. “Ae, but your a braw lad, Ian, are there mony mair sojers like you?” He next met Nell whose embrace was poetry to see, great affection and joy. Ian was offered and accepted a room at the mill and during the course of the day everyone with the exception of Johnnie Simpson, the soutar, came to see him. Johnnie had been depressed ever since he had heard that Ian was coming home and had made himself scarce.
Nelly and Ian spent all his furlough in each other’s company. They revisited all the places where they had worked and courted. There shared the intimacies that only come when one is in love. Little did they know what was to follow. There was trouble brewing with the Russians far away over the mountains and over the sea at an unknown place called the Crimea.
On their last day together they went to the Hirsel stone at the top of the hill. On the face of the Hirsel stone were carved the names of hundreds of shepherds and they added their own names. Clasping each other’s hands around the stone they swore allegiance to each other to be “faithful unto death.” There, on a glorious summer’s evening, with the sun setting over the Aberuchill hills they parted with a loving and sad farewell promising to share their lives together when Ian left the army.
On his return to his regiment the 93rd were given orders to proceed south and then embark aboard naval vessels for the Crimea. Immediately upon landing Ian was engaged in the advance towards Sebastopol. From there his regiment crossed the river Alma all the time under hard fighting. As with all Scots Ian acquitted himself well. At Balaclava he was a part of the “thin red line” where the 93rd (true as steel) held off the Russian advance. Ian was given a medal for his bravery in this action. Another soldier in the line that day was an ancestor of the author!
