Ardtaraig

those who went before, but I wonder does the old house still stand? As we were in dreamland then, so am I at this moment, but it is not given to many of us long to linger there, and I must hasten on with my story.
The next daughter of the Ardtarig family to be married was Georgina, who became the wife of the Rev. Duncan Maclean, and had ten of a family – three sons and seven daughters. She and her husband went for a time to Canada, but before very long returned, and Mr. Maclean held several charges in this country. At the Disruption of the Church of Scotland, as already mentioned, Mr. Maclean was minister of Kilmodan and Glendaruel, and gave up his church and manse for conscience’ sake, along with upwards of four hundred other devoted ministers. His wife, equally with himself consecrated to the cause, bravely helped, comforted, and strengthened him, throughout. He became, in due time, minister of the Free Church, Callander, in Perthshire. On his death, while yet in his prime, the family removed to Edinburgh, where they settled, and where a number of them are still residing. The family were early cast upon God’s mercy, and it has not failed them. Aunt Maclean was, I think, the tallest of the sister-hood, and carried along with her, in figure, the full development of the Dergachy Campbells. In face, she resembled her mother, with small, rather delicate features, which in youth were very pretty, and like my mother, her roll of conquests was large, but on this point I have no right to say more. Excepting Aunt Maggie, she was my mother’s favourite sister. Her abilities were excellent, but she was reserved and retiring, and made no display. This reserve, of which they all partook, more or less, was distinctly a characteristic of grandmamma. Aunt Maclean was an exemplary wife and mother, and though in society somewhat reticent, was a charming correspondent. Her natural reserve seemed to deepen as she grew old, but surrounded by her large and attached family, the years stole on her imperceptibly and peacefully. She lived to be the last survivor of the Ardtarig family, her death occurring in 1888, exactly one hundred years after the marriage of her parents, George Ardtarig and his young wife. It would have sounded strangely in their ears, if, on that eventful day, some spirit-voice had whispered that a century thereafter, the last of their unborn children was to pass away!
But to my story. Next in order now comes Aunt Susan’s second marriage. The old proverb has it that “She is weary of her life who will be a man’s third wife.” I don’t know if Aunt Susan was really in this plight, but certainly she, a widow herself, be came the third wife of Mr. Neil M’Intosh, a Free Kirk elder, a worthy Bailie of Rothesay town, and a solid, respectable member of society. Some one ventured to rally the old man on his marrying propensities, and added, what might be supposed to settle the question, that St Paul did not approve of matrimony. To the amazement of his hearer, the orthodox elder promptly responded, “St Paul was wrong there!” Later on, the worthy magistrate was still more astonishingly candid, declaring that his third marriage venture was “the best of them all!” Honest old man! He lived to be ninety-four, most faithfully cared for to the last by his energetic and capable spouse. I remember him so well, sitting with the big Ha’ Bible at his elbow. One day a visitor came in, saying, “How are you to-day, Mr. M’Intosh?” Laying his hand on “the Book,” with the tremulous voice of age, he answered, “Oh! just waiting the summons!” It was long of coming, but the end was peace. Aunt Susan differed from her sisters in many ways. She was the least intellectual, but by far the most accessible, as well as the most untiringly active in public matters; in fact, so far from seeking the shade, she rather enjoyed a little popularity. She loved laughter, fun, and jokes; was kind-hearted, generous, and I may say, unworldly, so far as money and such-like were concerned, and as to the religious side of her character, who could be more devout than she. In her second widowhood she became a leader in all charitable undertakings, and I believe did much good work among the poor. She was a highly respected personage in Rothesay and its vicinity. The number of people, rich and poor, who came asking to be allowed to see her in her coffin, was wonderful. Dear Cousin Duncan Brown said, as he took a last look at the almost life-like features, “Ah well! many a kind thing she did!” Some one standing near said, “What a splendid epitaph!” And so it was!
Aunt Ivie, so named for grandmamma’s uncle, the old Dr Ivie Campbell, was the youngest of the Ardtarig daughters, but as her marriage now followed, I shall place her next; leaving the spinsters to the last. She was but a young thing when she was married; eager to spread her wings and mingle with