The Rhymer

by Allan McAulay

THE RHYMER

By Allan McAulay

CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS
NEW YORK :: :: :: :: :: 1900

COPYRIGHT, 1900, BY
CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS

All rights reserved

TROW DIRECTORY
PRINTING AND BOOKBINDING COMPANY
NEW YORK

TO
MARY AND JEANIE

THE RHYMER

CHAPTER I.

In the year of grace 1787, Mr. Graham of The Mains, a worthy gentleman and laird of the county of Perth, had a family of seven daughters. This, though hardly at that date amounting to a social crime, was an indiscretion in a man of few acres and modest income. Moreover, his partner in life was even now a blooming and a buxom dame, capable of adding further olive branches to the already over-umbrageous family tree. She had, indeed, but lately performed the somewhat procrastinated duty of adding an heir to the tale of the seven lasses of The Mains. This was as it should be—but it was quite enough.