Note 10 — THE GAELIC BANNER. BRATACH NA GAELIC.
Reading edition
The Atholites used to provoke the Ardleites with a tune which they played on the bagpipes when leaving them—Bodaich dhubh Sratharduil, gu’n d’fhag sinn nan cadal iad—The black churls of Strathardle we have left them asleep. In the Free Church of Kirkmichael, Strathardle, there has been no Gaelic preached for several years, and it is going and almost gone in the Established Church. I wish with all my heart that a company of the Atholites would cross over with a piper at their head, and play the following on the street of Kirkmichael:—
Bodaich dhubh Srathàrduil, Cha Ghàel iad ach Sasannuich, Thréig iad mar na tràillean Cainnte bhlath an athraichean.
And that they on their part would play the following:—
Tosdaibh, bithibh sàmhach Cha n’ àill leinn sibh bhi magadh oirnn, Bheir ar crìdh do n’ Ghàelic, ’Sa chaoidh gu bràth cha dealaich ri. ’S ’n uair thig rìs do ar tìr Le ceòl pìob ’us cridhcalas, Aran grinn, ’s còmhdach’ ìm’ Agus cīr-mheala leis Gheibh sibh uainn gu càirdeal A shàsachadh ’ur stamagan, ’Us seinnibh do na Ghaelic Na h’-Ardlich ’s na h’-Athalich. Nuair bhios Goill mar na doill ’Us an oidhch a’ luidhe orr, Gu ro thruagh, crith gu luath, ’Us le fuachd ’g am meileachadh, Bidh sinne air ar blàth’chadh, ’Sa Ghàelic ’gar teasachadh, ’Us caoimhneas, gean ’us càirdeas Siòr fhàs ann ar n-anamaibh.
Although my native country, I am quite ashamed of them. Is the schoolmaster a Highlander? Was it he who wrote the inscription “Mile failte” (a thousand welcomes) on the top of the arch on the occasion of a certain gentleman up the country taking home his English bride? I passed under it, and expressed my astonishment to see it, as the children spoke nothing but English on the street. Is the spark still alive in his soul? Is that spark capable of being enkindled into a flame? A thraill! Na’m bithinn ann ad ait, bheirinn oidhearp air mo chainnt-mhathaireil a theasairginn, ged a bhiodh i mar an t-uan ann am fiaclan casgraidh an leomhainn. Ye slave! Were I in your place, I would endeavour to rescue my mother-tongue, should it be like the lamb in the devouring teeth of the lion.