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or with whisky, buns, and shortbread, or cheese and bread; and the children, in the course of the day, visited their relations and friends, for the sake of partaking in these attractive eatables. Among the common people and pea santry, the following stanza was used, as the supplication for the accustomed

treat:

Rise up, gudewife, and shake your feathers,
Dinna think that we are beggars:
For we are bairns come out to play;
Get up and gie's our Hogmanay.

Among the more wealthy ranks, dinners and evening parties were also the order of the day; while the working part of the population, relieved from daily toil, looked forward to the social pleasures of the evening, and the uncontrolled festivities of the New-Year's morning, with the anxious wish and the keen appetite of those to whom superfluity in eating and drinking is not an ordinary occurrence. I dare say one half of the inhabitants of Edinburgh, I mean of the middling and lower ranks, did not, on that evening, go to bed; but prepared the het-pint, in readiness to sally out as the clock struck twelve, to be the first foot to cross the threshold of a friend. The streets were crowded with parties on this errand even long before that hour; the young men particularly, to shew their affection to the girls whose favours they were anxious to secure, often spending adreary half-hour at the bolted door, lest a more favoured, or more anxious lover, should an

ticipate them in the first welcome of beauty.

A het-pint, or caudle, was made of ale, spirits, sugar, and nutmeg, or cinnamon, mixed together in appropriate quantities, and boiled; and was carried about, on the first morning of the year, in the tea-kettle in which it was prepared, the visitors, besides, being plentifully supplied with buns, shortbread, bread, and cheese. It was held unlucky to enter any person's house, on the first day of the year, empty-handed, and every person on the streets at that time was greeted with a shake of the hand, the wish of

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a gude New-year," and a proffer of the het-pint, to drink to the mutual joy. Every female, at the same time, was saluted, and neither rank nor age was exempted from the congratu latory kiss. The noise in the streets, particularly the great thoroughfares, was tremendous; and the glare of lanterns, when the night was dark, and the moving crowd in every direction, presented a scene of bacchanalism, which, had not one been conscious that it all proceeded from good-humoured kindness and innocent frolic, might have caused some alarm. I have occasionally gone out, as many other young men have done, to see the fun; and certainly, when liquor had thrown off all respect for authority and distinctions of rank, it was no unpleasing thing for a Scotsman to see the inno cent peculiarities of his countrymen without the formality of disguise.

I have said I was engaged to dine

was formed Youl or Yule," ergo, Yule and Hogmanay are the same, though the illiterate place a week between them.

“ Trol-lol-lay is derived from the Icelandic, Trolldr, by which the Scandinavians denoted those evil genii who devoured unlucky mortals who went near their haunts. Thus Trol-lol-lay will signify, 'Away, ye evil genii !-be ye far from our solemn meetings!" " -Trans. Soc. Ant. vol. II. part I. p. 4.

All this is very instructive; and it would be curious to know in another dissertation, that tol-lol-de-rol, fa-la-la, derry-down, fiddle-diddle, &c. were Scandinavian and Icelandic terms, meant to drive away the Blue Devils from our social meetings, or Sanscrit and Arabic forms of exorcism. It would ill become a writer in small printed octavo to compete in point of knowledge or erudition with an author of large type quarto; but I am convinced that any child of three or four years of age, taken at random from the streets, could have traced a connexion with Trol-lol-lay, and Tol-lol-lay, toro-loro-lay, tol-lol-de-rol, and their infinite modifications, and have suggested that these odd terms were merely added to the end of rhymes by our ballad-makers and ballad-singers, to make out the measure. Grant the explanation here given by the writer in the Transactions to be correct, and I engage to prove that Tol-lol-de-rol may be translated into a loyal Icelandic address to his Majesty; and that Derry-down and Fiddle-diddle may, in Sanscrit, or Arabic, be explained into a Pastoral Admonition from the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. The writer of this learned article also denominates a four line stanza of French rhyme a couplet; and if he means that the compressed sense of four lines of French poetry may be easily confined into two of English, I heartily agree with him.

at Mr Callimanky's.on Hogmanay, and it was arranged that we should keep up the evening as well as we could, till it was time to march with a het-pint to the Misses M'Guffies. Sandy, a boy of about ten years of age, was to be my companion, and Mr Callimanky himself was to be of the party. My friends, Miss Jean and Miss Margaret, were also anxious to go; but their mother put a direct negative on this proposal. "Deed no-ye're no to gang a fit. Do ye think that ane o' my dochters is to be kissed in the street by every drunken fallow she meets ?nae sic thing. Ye dinna ken wha meets you in a crowd; and if I had my will, the fallows should get leave to kiss ane anither."-" Hoot, but mother; it's no far awa to Mrs M'Guffie's," said Miss Margaret, in a persuasive tone; "and I'll put on Aunty Betty's hood and her brown cloak, and Jean will take your Katy Fisher bonnet, and muckle coat, and then they'll no ken but we're auld wives, and no fash wi' us." "Eh yes, mother, that'll do nice," said Miss Callimanky;" and we'll gang between my father and Mr Columbus." "Ne'er a fit ye'll stir ower the door this blessed night; sae nae mair's to be about it; and the gudeman himsel' might hae been as weel at hame in his ain warm bed, as galravaging through the streets at this time o' night, if he thought it."- "Hoots, my dear," said Mr Callimanky, "ye ken I canna let Mr Christopher gang his lane wi' Sandy; and it wad be a pity no to let them to the M'Guffies, after promising."-" Weel, weel!— them that will to Cupar, will to Cupar, ," said the displeased matron, as she reluctantly prepared the caudle on the parlour fire, for the materials were too attractive to be entrusted to the discretion of kitchen self-denial.

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The kettle was on a stand before the fire; buns and shortbread on the table, with two decanters of currant-wine, and a bottle labelled, "Cherry-brandy;" and we were all seated round, waiting with anxious expectation for the clock striking twelve. At last the wished-for hour began to strike."Ane, twa, three, four," said Mr Callimanky, counting the number by beating upon his knee till twelve was completed; then starting up, seized the hand of his wife, and gave her a salute, with, "I wish you a gude new year! and mony them, my

dear;-the same to you, Betty, and mony may ye see;" and he thus went over the whole, while I commenced in the same manner with Mrs Callimanky, and performed the same ceremonies. When the hubbub was over, and the first congratulations past, we sat down till the mistress of the house did the honours of the caudle, or hetpint, of which a tumblerfull was served out to each person, with renewed congratulations. "Eh, mamma, this is gude, gude," said little Johnny, as he sucked over the potation with the wary caution of one who wished to prolong the pleasure; "this is far better than parritch and sour milk," said he, as he exhibited his allotment of the bun, stuck full of raisins. Misy was now called ben from her domicile in the kitchen, and she approached with a large piece of cake in her hand. "Come awa, lass," said Mr Callimanky, as he strode across the room to meet her-" Come awa,—I wish ye a good new year, my woman," and he saluted the maiden; and I did the same; and Mrs Callimanky did not fail; and all the family passed Mrs Misy through the gauntlet of kindness. An humble condition fortunately does not deprive one of the taste of pleasure, and Misy was soon as happy in the enjoyment of the het-pint as her master.

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Now," said Mr Callimanky to the younger part of the family, "ye'll a' gang to your beds like gude bairns, but Jean, and Bess, and Margaret, wha may sit up till I come back again." He put on his cocked-hat, and a handkerchief was rolled with care round his neck, "for fear," as his wife said," he should get cauld." The boiling kettle was entrusted to my care; the buns and shortbread, with the exception of a few little bits in our hands, were consigned to his greatcoat pocket, and Sandy was the bearer of a horn tumbler tipt with silver. We descended the scale-stair, (for Mr Callimanky occupied the fifth floor,) rejoicing in the noise of " A gude new year!" sounded from a thousand throats, and with the intention of adding our voices to the uproarious festivity. We had gone down two pair of stairs, when the sound of steps approaching us was heard, and the clanking of glasses shewed they were on the same errand. "Wha's that coming?" said Mr Callimanky-"I wish you a gude new year!" The wish was re

peated from three or four mouths, and à kind of scramble for hands to shake, took place in the dark. "It's desperate mirk," said my friend; "rin back, Sandy, and tell Misy to bring us a light."-"That's my master," whispered a voice; "that's Mr Callimanky.". "Gude guide us!" said another voice, "I've burnt my hand on the kettle." A light appeared. "Ou, Charlie Tait, is this you! I wish ye a gude new year, man; ye maun tak a toot o' my horn," said the old gentleman, "before ye gang up ;" and I performed the office of Ganymede to Mr Callimanky's shopboys and their companions.

We now cleared the head of the close, and hastened down the street towards Mrs M'Guffie's, whose house was situated in Bailie Fyfe's Close. But so many bands of people were met by us, that our progress was none of the most expeditious. I now discovered that my old friend, to leave himself at perfect liberty, had cunningly devolved the duty of carrying the teakettle on me; for, on a party of about half a dozen, three or four of them women, approaching, Mr Callimanky, who seemed to have acquired new agility at the sight of the busy crowd, instantly leaped forward, and taking one of the females by the hand, saluted her warmly with, "I wish ye a gude new year, my dear!-And you, too, my sweet thing," said he, as he took the same liberty with a second. The ladies were habited in cloaks, or mantles, with the hoods drawn over their heads, so that it was impossible to exercise much choice in the singling out of a proper subject for the accustomed mode of salutation. "Hoot, man," said the second voice, "dinna fash me, I'm ower auld for kissing." Mr Callimanky was a little disappointed at this answer, for he had expected the ruddy cheek of a younger damsel; but, with a gallantry warmed, if not inspired, by the het-pint, and so forth, he replied, repeating the salutation, "Auld wives are aye the best kissers ; practice makes perfiteness, ye ken, gude woman.".

Deed, sir, I think you and I had better been at hame the night," answered the gentlewoman.

I must not forget to mention, that I, Christopher, was obliged, out of courtesy to the maidens, more than from inclination, to go through the same operation; so, taking the tea

kettle in my left hand, I shaked hands cordially, and saluted the ladies, who very kindly pitied my situation, by yielding a little of their coyness to one who had only a single free hand for an accolade. One of the girls, however, happened to be rather tall for me; and unfortunately, in my attempt on tiptoe to discharge the duty of the evening, I had accidentally raised the kettle to one side, and the het-pint began to run out without bidding, into the young lady's shoe. The pain or alarm excited by this, soon banished all loving ideas from the young woman's mind; and as I, with one hand upon her shoulder, was going to reap the reward of my unusual elevation, and looking kindness itself, my cheek was met by a slap, given with a force of which I did not believe a fair hand capable. The exclamation of, “ Oh my foot!-this man's plottit me!" accompanied the blow. As soon as I understood the reason of my unexpected repulse, I set down the tea-kettle on the street, and made the requisite apologies for my blundering. To my comfort there was not much harm done; and the lady who was the matron of the party, seeing it was a mere accident, proposed an exchange of kindness, in the mutual tasting of our respective het-pints. "Ye might hae lootit down a wee to the young man, Isabella, woman; there's nae need for being sae skeigh on a night like this," said the old gentlewoman.-" They should stay at hame that winna conform to auld use and wont," remarked Mr Callimanky, as he was swallowing a glass of the hot cordial to the health additional of the party. "Mak it up wi' Christopher yet, lassie; let me tell you, it's no every ane that he wad tak sae muckle trouble wi'. Kiss her, Kit, and that'll pit awa the sooing." I did as I was desired; we parted on the most friendly terms imaginable, and forthwith proceeded on our route.

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Our progress, however, was interrupted by shaking hands, kissing and drinking at every step. My old friend seemed quite overjoyed at the scene; and he passed no ladies particularly without levying the usual toll. the corner of the North Bridge, we were arrested by something like a dispute or fight. Two gentlemen escort'ing two ladies home from a supper party, were shewing their valour in protecting their charge from the

rude salutations of the passing crowd, and were demonstrating the incivility and indecency of the practice. The chief assailants were said to be students, of whom numbers were to be seen on the streets at this time, backed by a number of inferior note. Mr Callimanky approached; and his cocked hat, and altogether magisterial air, led the gentlemen in charge of the ladies to appeal to him. "'Deed, sirs, ye're far wrang to gang against an auld custom; if thae's your sisters, or your sweethearts, and if ye did not want them to be kissed, ye shouldna brought them here--they should hae been at hame. If my ain wife were here, man, they might kiss her that liket. Haud up your head, ma dow," said he to one of the ladies, " I wish ye a gude new year!-There nae; what the waur are ye o' that, or what the waur am I either? it's just auld use and wont.""Well done, old cock," cried out one of the young gentlemen, as he followed the example. The friends of the ladies saw it was folly to resist ; and we left them, with the exhortation from my friend, to behave peaceably, "for that naebody in their senses wad willingly hurt a lady."

We arrived, without farther obstruc tion, at Mrs M'Guffie's, in Bailie Fyfe's Close. "Now, Sandy, my man, ye ken ye're to be Mrs M'Guffie's first fit. Haud your hand," said my old friend, as he handed his son a large piece of bun from his pocket; "and ye ken, whaever opens the door, ye'll pit it in their hand, and loup up and gie them a kiss. If it is Mrs M'Guffie hersel', and I am sure she expects ye, she'll no hain the buns and shortbread, lad." With these directions and encouragement, we made the knocker resound. The pattering of feet was heard along the passage, or trance, as Mr Callimanky termed it, and a voice succeeded, calling out from within, "Wha's there?"- "It's me, Mrs M'Guffie, and our Sandy, come to be your first fit. I hope naebody's been before us?" The chain was removed -the bolt was withdrawn-the sneck lifted; and in we rushed, like an irruption of unwived Romans on the defenceless Sabine ladies. Sandy leapt upon the neck of the old fat lady, who opened the door, in defiance of the burning candle which she held in her hand; his father, who was second, had the elder Miss M'Guffie in his arms, in

an instant after, and before I could de posit my tea-kettle in a corner, and affect the same raptures with the younger Miss M'Guffie. An exchange of buns and shortbread, of salutes and wishes for a good new year now took place, all at once, in the passage, after which we were ushered into the parlour.

"Weel, ma wee man," said Mrs M'Guffie, clapping Sandy on the head; "I'm unco glad to see ye here as my first fit; and I'm muckle obliged to your mother for letting you outlats this time o' night; and to you too sir," continued she, addressing my friend; "it was very kind o' you to come, and your young friend there. We're gay an dowie here oursells, Mr Callimanky, since the auld gudeman died; and we hae but little ongoings sic as we used to hae, in the time o' the elections, and in the daft days, when he was living ;" and she sighed at the recollections of departed pleasures. "But come awa and taste our het-pint, and let us mak ourselves happy while we dow," concluded she, in a resigned tone. We drew in our chairs, "Ye're to taste mine first," said Mr Callimanky; "a' thing maun be done in order, ye ken;" and the het-pints went round in double progression.

"Let me see your pouches, ma wee man," said Mrs M'Guffie to Sandy, "tak_thae pieces o' shortbread and buns hame to your brothers and sisters; and tell them a' to come down the morn-the day I mean—and I'll gie them a glass of my currant wine, and as muckle as they can eat. And I'll be very glad if Mrs Callimanky will come down along wi' them." "The bairns will come, nae doubt," answered my friend, "wi' great gude will; but, as for the gudewife, she canna weel leave the house; for we're to have a bit party at dinner time, and she insists upon you and the twa lasses coming up at three. I'll tak nae denial," said Mr Callimanky, laying his hand persuasively on her shoulder; "I'll tak nae denial; for Mr Christopher here's to be there, and a sister's son o' my wife's; and we're to hae a dance to the piano, and ye're to be my partner, Mrs M'Guffie." "Ye're very good, sir, naething am sure could gie us mair pleasure-but""There's to be nae buts about the matter-ye're to be up at three preceesely," urged the old gentleman.

"What a terrible noise we hear!"

remarked Miss M'Guffie; "I wadna like to be out; "they say the men folk are sae uncivil."-" Uncivil, las sie!" answered my friend-"ye maunna say that-it's ony thing but incivility-auld use and wont-I like to see it kept up; and though I havena been on the streets these five years, I find I havena forgotten the forms o' a New-year's-day morning." We now rose to depart. "Tak care and no get cauld as ye gang hame," said Mrs M'Guffie to the old gentleman; "cauld's the root o' a' troubles. Pit this cravat o' the gudeman's ower your hat and aneath your chin."

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May I leave the unlucky kettle here," said I, (for I had told the company my misadventure;) "its contents are pretty nearly exhausted."-" Yes, by a' means, leave the toom kettle," was the answer, " and we'll send it up wi' the lass in the morning.""Weel, ye will awa, then," said the old lady, as she lighted us to the door; "Phemie, let Mr Callimanky see down the stair;-and my kind compliments to your lady and the misses; and I hope we'll a' meet the morn."

"

We left the M'Guffies, I think, about two o'clock. The streets were still crowded with parties hastening on their nocturnal visits; and though the kissing and congratulations seemed to be on the decline, the roaring noise had rather increased. My old friend, when I proposed to take the middle of the street, to avoid the people on the foot pavement, objected to this measure, as totally unnecessary, and even improper. "Na, na !" said he, "let's be in good fellowship wi' a' body we meet-it's auld use and wont. Man, if we're good, we a' gang to the same place;" and with practical philanthropy, he shook hands with every gentleman, and saluted every female whom we met. Nay, so keenly did he enter into the spirit of the evening, that, on one or two occasions, he ran across the street, when he saw the appearance of a woman, shouting out, "A gude new year to ye, my dear;' so as to occasion the remark more than once, that he was a canty carl;" or that he "surely had gotten a drappie

ower muckle."

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When we reached the Cross, a knot of people occupied the middle of the street. "Let's see what this is," said my vivacious friend, and immediately joined the party. It was a young man, VOL. XI.

who had been concerned in disturbing the peace, by fighting, and was now in the custody of the Town-guard, who were endeavouring to force him up streets to the guard-house. "What's the quarrel, Serjeant Paterson?" said Mr Callimanky to the commander of the military force, which consisted of four old soldiers, armed with Lochaber axes. "I'll tell ye what's the matter," answered the young man. "Twa fallows gied me a drink o' het water out o' a kettle, in place o' a het-pint; and I brak the kettle, and gied them a licking for't. Let me gae, ye auld —”

"Is that the true state o' the case, serjeant?" said Mr Callimanky, whose office of merchant-councillor gave him some right, he conceived, to investigate a breach of the peace. "Come awa, you tam scoundrel," said one of the soldiers, dragging the youth forward. "Hooly, hooly a bit, Donald,” interrupted the merchant-councillor. The young man by this time had recognized my old friend as his relative, and appealing to him for protection, he cried out, Yes, uncle, it's true I tell you-only look at my scadded mouth."-"Is that you, Johnny Gimmerpet? Preserve us a', Serjeant Paterson, how do ye allow blackguards to burn my nephew's mouth, in the High Street? I never kent the like o't. Where's the mislear'd fallows? Grip them, serjeant. I'll complain to Captain Gordon, and speak to Mr Laing anent this."

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The young men who had been guilty of this trick, which was sometimes too successfully practised, seeing how matters were going, had made their escape; they were not to be found. The serjeant made many apologies for be ing so rude; "but if I had kent he had been ony relation o' yours, Mr Callimanky, I needna say he wadna been harm'd by me.' "Tam rascals to burn the pretty lad's mouth," echoed another of the soldiers.-"Never mind; -come awa, Johnny," said Mr Callimanky, taking his nephew by the arm;"ye'll gang-up the stair and see your aunty, if ye havena been there afore. Come awa, Mr Columbus. It was lucky I gaed to see what the crowd was about. I like aye to see what's going on, and it's the duty of every citizen to redd quarrels."—" I must go home, now, Mr Callimanky," said I, as we got to the bottom of the stair where was his domicile; " I'll

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