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Title: Gearr-sgeoil air Sir Seoras Uilleam Ross

Author: Alexander Fraser

Release Date: May 29, 2012 [EBook #39849]

Language: Scots Gaelic

Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1

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                              GEARR-SGEOIL

                                  AIR

                         SIR SEORAS UILLEAM ROS

                                AGUS AIR

                        MAR A THUINICH NA GAIDHEIL
                         ANN AN CANADA UACHDRACH

                                 LEIS AN
                         OLLAMH ALASDAIR FRISEAL


                              TORONTO, 1915




                           FACAL TOISEACHAIDH


Is toigh le sluagh la-an-diugh a bhith leughadh eachdraidh-beatha
dhaoine ainmeil: tha e iomchuidh gu'm bitheadh na Gaidheil cuimhneachail
air diųlanaich an cinnidh fein, agus tha e 'na aobhar brōin cho beag 's
a chaidh chur a'n clō mu Ghaidheil iomraiteach Chanada, am measg an robh
daoine cliųiteach a choisinn moladh an co-dhuthchaich.

Bho thoiseach āiteachaidh Chanada bha na Gaidheil am follais. Bha iad
ann an armailt Wolfe aig Louisburg agus aig Quebec far an do thionndaidh
iad an latha. An deidh na sėthe fhuair iad obair eile ri dheanamh. Thog
iad fearann, chaidh iad a stigh gu doimhneachd na coille a bhuinnig
dhachaidhean dhaibh fein. Shoirbhich leo is dh'fhās iad lionmhor: anns
gach gairm is gniomh bha iad deas; leōsan shocraicheadh seol-riaghlaidh
agus móran de laghanan bunabhasach na tėre. Bhitheadh e chum
toil-inntinn an gineil--dh'fhaoidte chum an leas--na 'm bitheadh iomradh
orra air a ghleidheadh leinne.

'S i 'n smuain so a mhāin ceann-fāth an sgeoil ghoirid so mu Ghaidheal
Chanadach nach d'rinn dearmad riamh air Tėr nam Beann.




                             SIR SEORAS ROS




                                   I.


San t-seann aimsir b'abhaist do na Gaidheil caoidh mór a dhčanamh mu
bhās ceann-cinnidh, no neach eile air an robh mór spéis. B' e dleasanas
a' phiobaire an coronach a thogail ri toirm na pioba; dleasanas a'
bhāird clių an laoich a chur air fonn nan dān. B' i so an duais a b'
āirde ris an robh dųil aig na flaithean Gaidhealach 's an t-saoghal so,
maraon duais nam marbh agus misneachadh nam beo; oir cha robh ārd no
iosal gun deidh air deagh bheachd a ghinealaich fein, agus air āite
urramach fhaotainn ann an eachdraidh bhuan a dhuthcha.

Tha bārdachd Oisein luchdaichte le trom thųrsa airson nam marbh gaisgeil
a chuir deagh chomhraig 's a thuit 's a bhlār:--

      'Charuill, tog do ghuth gu h-ārd
      Air gach linn a bh' ann nach beō;
      Caithear oidhche ann am mėn dhān;
      Faighear gāirdeachas 's a' bhrōn.
      'S iomadh saoi is ōigh 'bu chaoin
      'Ghluais o thųs a'n Innis-fāil.
      Is taitneach dāin air na laoich
      O thaobh Alba nam fuaim ārd.
      'N uair a dh' aomas farum na seilg
      Fo ghuth Oisein nan caomh-rann,
      'S a fhreagras aonach an deirg
      Sruth Chōna nan toirm mall.
                        --FIONN. D. I. 565

Agus, a rithis, mar tha e ag imeachd le ceum stāideil na h-aoise:--

    A ghutha Chōna, 's āirde fuaim,
    A bhārda tha luaidh mu aois,
    Do'n eirich air 'ur n-anam suas,
    Feachdan mór' nan gorm chruaidh laoch.
    'S taitneach leam aoibhneas a' bhrōin,
    Fo 'n lųb geug dharaig nan tōrr,
    'S an duileach ōg ag eirigh maoth,
    Togaibh-se, mo bhāird, am fonn.

Cha 'n fheil carrachan-cuimhne a's brčagha no a's maireannaiche na
iadsan a dheilbheadh leis na bāird mhóra,--Alasdair Mac-Mhaighstir
Alasdair, Dunncha Bān Mac-an-t-saoir, Iain Lom, Iain MacCodrum, agus
Iain Moireastan, Gobha na Hearradh, mar air Domhnullach na Tōiseachd:--

  Bha do phearsa 's do ghluasad,
  Co tlachdmhor, neō-thuairgneach, is tlāth,
  Chor 's gur tearc iad thug fuath dhuit,
  Ged bu lionmhor bha fuaidht' riut a'n grādh;
  Aig na h-ėslean 's na h-uaislean,
  Bha spéis dhuit, ged b' uaibhreach dhiubh pāirt,
  Ni dh' fhag t-iomradh g' a luaidh ac',
  Mar sgeul brōin o'n lā chual iad do bhās.




                                  II.


Cha 'n fheil e 'n am chomas clių Shir Seorais Rois a chur an céill air
an doigh so, ann an duan no ōran, ach, mar sheanachaidh feuchaidh mi ri
clach a chur 'n a chārn.

B' e athair, Seumas Ros, a mhuinntir Inbhir-feotharain, a'n Siorramachd
Rois. Mar a dh'fhās e suas chaidh e gu sgėre Eadardain, air taobh an
ear-thuath de'n t-siorramachd. Bha e 'n a bhall measail de chomhthional
Mhr. Chamshroin, agus tha ainm fathasd air chuimhne am measg nan seann
daoine. Agus b'i mhāthair Eilidh Nic-Fhionnghain, a bhuineadh do
theaghlach a chaidh o Inbhirnis gu taobh tuath fadhlach Chrombaigh, a 'n
Siorramachd Rois. Bha deagh chlių oirre 's a' choimhearsnachd, agus mar
a fear-posda fhuair i mór spéis bho cāirdean 's an t-seann dųthaich. Bha
chāraid so de fhuil ghlan Ghaidhealach fad iomadh ginealach; bha iad ni
b'eolaiche air an teangaidh Ghaidhlig na bha iad air a' bheurla
Shasunnach, agus b' abhaist do Shir Seoras, am mac, uaill a dheanamh
gu'n d'fhuair e cānain agus smior a shinnseara gun smal gun ghiamh orra.

Mar a rinn móran Ghaidheal eile 's an am, thriall Seumas Ros agus a
bhean gu Canada, "tir a' gheallaidh" an la ud mar an diugh. Ach tha
atharrachadh mór eadar suidheachadh Chanada an diugh, 's an dé. Tha e
furasda do'n eilthireach a shlighe a dheanamh an diugh gu Canada an
coimeas ris an turus cheudna a ghabh Seumas Ros mu thri fichead bliadhna
's a dha dheug roimhe so. An diugh foghnaidh da sheachdain air muir, is
aon seachdain air tėr ge b'e cho fada 's a tha aig neach ri dhol. An sin
ghabhadh e sč no seachd seachdain air cuan agus seachdain no'n cōrr air
loch is abhainn, a bharrachd air an ųine thar rōidean garbh-thollach
tulganach, neo-shocaireach tre'n fhāsach, air am bitheadh e fein, a
theaghlach, 's a chuid de'n t-saoghal air an tarruing air slaod-dhaimh
gun dad a chabhaig.

Thog an Rosach fearann ann am Middlesex aig Naruinn, āite a bha air
ainmeachadh air Inbhir-Naruinn anns a' Ghaidhealtachd. Thuinich comhlan
math de mhuinntir Rois 's an aite so, daoine sųghail, cōir, coguiseach,
nach d'fhāg as an deidh air taobh thall a chuain, crābhachd an
athraichean. Anns an tėr so chum iad "gu daingean samhladh firinneach
nam briathran fallain a chuala" iad 'n an oige, agus cho luath 's a
b'urrainn daibh thog iad, ann am frėthean domhail Ontario, Béteil dhaibh
fein, anns an robh teagasgan móra a' Bhiobuill air an cuir an céill gu
soilleir, soisgeullach, a réir bheachd "Athraichean Rois," mar ann an
leabhar an Doctair Cheannaidich, Urramaich, nach maireann. Bha
ministearan tearc, oir bha 'n sluagh sgapta 'n am badanan beaga thall
'sa bhos thar mór astar, ach bha na daoine, mar a b' fhearr a b' urrainn
daibh, "a' cumail am mach facail na beatha"; bha frasan o'n āirde ag
ųrachadh an fhuinn, agus a'n deagh ām thainig toradh trom am mach.

Ach cha d' fhāg na daoine so an cruaidh-fhortan 's am bochdainn 'n an
deidh 's a' Ghaidhealtachd. Bha eiginn agus uireasbhuidh a' feitheamh
orra a' n so, agus b' iomadh strith a bh' aca ri dheanamh a chumail an
cinn os cionn na h-an-shocair. Dh'fhāg iad fearann cumhang, sluaghmhor;
thainig iad gu fearann farsuing, beag-shluaghach. 'S an t-sean aite bha
'n daimhich 's an cāirdean fein aca. Ged bhitheadh an lōn air uairibh
gann, gaoth an ear-thuath air uairibh greannach, cruaidh, bha'm fārdach
blāth le bāidh do chach a cheile. 'S an tir ųr bha lōn ri chosnadh le
neart ghairdein agus spionnadh cridhe a thug cruaidh-dheuchainn air an
neach a b'fhearr dhiubh. Cha d' thainig iad o an-shocair gu socair, ach
gu duthaich, gealltanach mar bha i, a bha doirbh ri h-āiteachadh.

'S lionmhor rann a chaidh dheanamh mu chor nan Gaidheal a bha'm measg
ceud luchd-āiteachaidh Chanada. Tha na rannan a leanas o'n bhārd
Mac-Gillean, Mherigomish, 'dol direach gu cridhe na cųise, 'n a dhoigh
gheur-bhriathrach fein. Ged rinneadh iad air Nova Scotia tha iad fior mu
sheann Ontario, mar an ceudna:--

  'S i so an dųthaich 's a bheil an cruadal
  Gun fhios do'n t-sluagh a tha tigh'nn a nall,
  Gur h-olc a fhuaras oirnn luchd a' bhuairidh
  A rinn le'n tuairisgeul ar toirt ann.
  Ma ni iad buannachd cha mhair i buan dhaibh,
  Cha dean i suas iad 's cha'n ioghnadh leam,
  'S gach mallachd truaghain a bhios'g an ruagadh
  Bho'n chaidh am fuadach a chur fo'n ceann.

           *       *       *       *       *

  'N uair thig an geamhradh is ām na dųbhlachd
  Bidh sneachda 'dlųthadh ri cųl nan geug,
  'S gu domhain dųmhail dol thar na glųine,
  'S ge maith an triųbhsair cha dean i feum,
  Gun stocain dhųbailt' 's a' mhocais chlųdaich
  'Bhith's air a dųnadh gu dlųth le éill;
  B'e 'm fasan ųr dhuinn a cosg le fionntach
  Mar chaidh a rųsgadh de'n bhrųid an dé.

  Mar bi mi eōlach airson mo chómhdaich
  Gu'm faigh mi reōta mo shrōn 's mo bheul;
  Le gaoth a tuath a bhith's neamhail fuaraidh
  Gu'm bi mo chluasan an cunnart geur.
  Tha'n reothadh fuath'sach, cha seas an taugh ris,
  Gu'm mill e chruaidh ged a bha i geur;
  Mur toir mi blāths d'i, gu'm brist an stailinn,
  'S gun dol do'n cheardaich cha ghearr i beum.

  'N uair thig an samhradh 's a miosa céitean
  Bidh teas na gréine 'g am fhagail fann;
  Gu'n cuir i spéirid 's a h-uile creutair
  A bhith's fo éislean air feadh nan toll:
  Na mathain bhéisteil gu'n dean iad eirigh
  'Dhol feadh an treud 's gur-a mór an call;
  'S a chuileag inneach gu socach puinsionta
  'G am lot gu lionmhor le roinn a lainn.

  Gu'n dean i m' aodann gu h-olc a chaobadh
  Cha'n fhaic mi 'n saoghal 's ann 'bhith's mi dall,
  Gu'n at mo shuilean le neart a cungaidh
  Ro-ghuineach drųidhteach tha sųgh a teang.'
  Cha'n fhaigh mi aireamh dhuibh ann an dānachd,
  Gach beathach grāineil a thogas ceann,
  'S cho liugha plaigh ann a 's a bh'air righ Pharaoh
  Airson nan trāillean 'n uair bhāth e'n câmp.

       *       *       *       *       *

Ma bha 'choille fiadhaich, fuachd a gheamhraidh is teas an t-samhraidh,
dian-chruaidh, na cuileagan, nimheil, na fiadh-bheathaichean, lionmhor,
na rōidean, garbh, 's am fearann 'n a dhithreabh doirbh "As nach tugadh
an Fhéinn iad féin aran," bha cridheachan nan daoine teoma, laidir, 's
cha robh gealtair 'n am measg. Mar bu chruaidhe an gnothuch b'ann bu
chalma am misneach, 's cha b' fhada gus an d'thug iad buaidh.

Thainig Seumas Ros, agus na bha leis, 's a' bhliadhna 1832. Bhuineadh am
fearann a thog iad do'n Chuideachd Chanadach agus b' i phrės da dholair
an acair. Bha 'n talamh gu leir air a chomhdach le coille mhoir,
dhųmhail dhrislich. Bha craobhan de iomadh seorsa ann,--bha 'n giuthas
pailt, darach, beith, uinnseann, seudar, walnut, maple, agus móran eile
freagarrach airson thaighean agus oibre ghnathaichte na saorsainneachd.
Dh' fhosgail a' Chuideachd Chanadach aon rathad troimh 'n sgėre; b'e sin
uile na rinn iad. Bha muilean-sabhaidh aig fear-ionad na Cuideachd, d'am
b' ainm Domhnull Mac-an-Toisich, faisg air laimh, ach cha robh goireas
eile 's a choimhearsnachd. B' e cheud ni a bha ri dheanamh taighean a
thogail airson fasgaidh nan teaghlaichean,--mar theirte riutha
_Shantaidhean de logaichean_--bothain de fhiodh garbh air a mheadhadh
leis an tuaigh.

Ged bu taighean beaga, fiodha bh'annta cha bu taighean suarach iad; bha
iad air an deagh thogail, goireasach agus dionach ri gaillionn a'
gheamhraidh. Dh' fheumadh neach a bhith lāmh-ghleusta, eōlach air gnāths
na tuaighe, an uird, an tāil, 's an tora; agus, mar an ceudna ceann
seadhail a bhi air a mhuineal mu 'n rachadh aige air taigh _logaichean_
a thogail gu ceart.

      Gu'n do dh' aithnich mi o'n uair sin
      Gu'm bu chruadalach a chuis dhomh
      Teannadh ri reiteach na coille
      'S gun mi goireasach g'a ionnsaidh.

      'M fear nach dean obair le tuaigh
      Is nach urrainn an uaisle 'ghiųlan
      B' fheārr dha fuireach ann an Albainn;
      'S gun an fhairge gharbh a stiųireadh.
                                  --Mac-GILLEAN.




                                 III.


Cha robh aoidheachd bhlāth a' feitheamh air na Rosaich an uair a rainig
iad an dachaidhean ųr ann an Ontario, oir cha robh neach sam bith aig
ceann an uidhe a thoirt aoidheachd dhaibh. Bha 'n tėr falamh, fās, ann
an staid naduir, gun chraobh air a leagadh, gun taigh air a thogail:
bha'n talamh, gun teagamh, reamhar, trom, ach bha i air a tur-chomhdach
le coille gharbh a dh'fheumta chur deth bonn. B'e cleachdadh nan
Gaidheal ann an Canada, gach coibhneas a' nochdadh d'an luchd-duthcha a
bhitheadh a tighinn d'an ionnsuidh. Bha iad lamh-fhosgailte, fialaidh
d'an co-chreutairean, gu h-āraidh d'am muinntir fein. Mar bu tric
bhitheadh fios aca mios no dha roimh laimh gu'n robh seana
choimhearsnaich a' tighinn, agus dheantadh ullachadh air an son. Aig an
am cheart rachadh neach eōlach g'an coinneachadh air an t-slighe, chum
an treōrachadh gu baile, far am bitheadh cairtealan deas air an son am
measg nan cāirdean. Gheibheadh iad fāilteachadh cridheil, coibhneil,
agus an deidh la no dha 'dhol seachad a'leagail dhiubh sgios an turuis,
rachadh fearann freagarrach a thogail air an son. Air dha so bhi deanta
thōisicheadh an obair gun dāil; agus b'i sin an obair!

B'e cheud ni āite a thaghadh airson taigh-comhnuidh agus treabhair,
faisg air am bitheadh uisge math airson duine is ainmhidh. Bu tric so
air bruaich sruthain far an cluinnte torman caoin an uisge, no air
brāigh tomain seasgair, a ghlacadh araon deō ųrail an t-samhraidh agus
gaoth ghrianach an fhogharaidh. Ach air iomadh baile-fearainn cha robh
idir sruth no tom, loch no bealach; bha mhórchuid 'na mhachair
chomhnaird fad mhėltean air gach taobh. Air tėr de'n t-seōrsa so dh'
fheumta tobar a chladhach fada fodha 's an talamh, agus ri thaobh
rachadh na taighean a chur suas. Air do'n bhaile agus lārach nan
taighean a bhith air an taghadh, chruinnicheadh na coimhearsnaich gus an
togail. Bhitheadh obair ann daibh uile. Bhitheadh na craobhan ri
ghearradh sios chum lāraich a dheanamh do'n taigh, oir b' ann 's a'
choille a bha 'n gniomh ri dheanamh. Dh' fheumadh an lārach a bhith cho
farsuing 's nach tuiteadh craobh 's am bith a leagadh stoirm air an
taigh. Rachadh, a'n sin, lārach an taighe a thomhas, agus a reiteachadh,
agus ųrlar comhnard, reidh a dheanamh airson nan seōmar. Mur bu tric
bhitheadh na taighean de'n aon mheud is dealbh; far am bitheadh
teaghlach mór, bhitheadh seōmar no dha a bharrachd air an cuir ris an
taigh, ach am bitheantas 's i bhitheadh ann fardach de tri no ceithir a
sheōmraichean, mu dheich throidhean fichead air a fad, agus mu fhichead
troidh air a leud. Anns a' chuid bu mhotha dhiubh bhitheadh lobhta air
am bitheadh āite-laidhe ōganaich an teaghlaich, agus, ri cliathaich an
taighe bu dual do sheōmar cųil no dha a bhi ann airson nan nighean. Fo'n
ųrlar bhitheadh seilear air a cladhach, anns am bitheadh measan,
luibhean-gāraidh, biadh is annlann air an dion bho theas 's bho fhuachd
na h-aimsir. B'ann car mar sin bha cumadh nan taighean-comhnuidh a bha
nis gu bhith air an togail. Bha 'n sgil bu mhotha feumail airson
oisinnean an taighe agus bhitheadh ceathrar dhaoine tapaidh a'
frithealadh do'n ghnothuch sin. Bhitheadh na craobhan bu fhreagarraiche
air an gearradh sios 's air an slaodadh le daimh gus an lārach.
Bhitheadh iad a'n sin air an leagail sios 's an āite cheart, a' cheud
shreath air bunchar cloich, agus chuireadh na h-oisinnich a'n eagan a
cheile iad, g'am fiaclachadh gu gramail, eagnaidh, mar bu chōir. Ged
nach robh inneal saorsainneachd aig na daoine ach an tuagh, bhiodh
oisinnean agus ursainnean an doruis is nan uinneag air an gearradh cho
glan, 's air an suidheachadh cho coimhlionta 's ged bu chlachan snaighte
de'm bitheadh iad air an deanamh. Mar a rachadh na ballachan suas
bhitheadh sogan air na daoine, oir bu taitneach an ni a bhith faicinn na
h-aitreibh ag éiridh gu h-eireachdail fo'n laimh. Sreath air sreath,
craobh air a sėneadh air craoibh, rachadh na ballachan suas gu āirde
ochd no naoidh troidh, agus, a' n sin, thoisichte air am mullach a
thoirt a steach. Cha b' ionnan mullaich nan taighean so agus mullaich
nan seann taighean beaga Gaidhealach. A'n so cha robh maidean-ceangail
móra, maide-droma, sparran-tarsuing, sailthean taobhanach, cabair,
ceannabhaidhean, no maide-feannaig. Agus cha robh am mullach, biorach,
ārd, no cas, mar 's an t-seann dųthaich, ach, an cumantas, car plod,
iosal; gun ach beagan claonadh bho'n druim-ārd gu brāigh a' bhalla.
Bhitheadh am mullach air a thoirt a steach, le bhith cur craoibh air na
tulchainnean, 's air na taobhan, uair mu seach gus an tigeadh an da
thaobh, uidh air an uidh, ri chéile, 's a'n sin bhitheadh am mullach
deas airson an tughaidh. Cha b'ann de sgrath, no fraoch, no fodar a
bhitheadh an tughadh, ach mar bu tric de rųsg chraobhan móra, mar am
beith no'm _basswood_. Bu ghnāth leō an rųsg a ghearradh a'm bloidhean
gach aon mu cheithir troidhean air fad, agus bho throidh gu ochd oirlich
deug air leud. Rachadh an tairngneadh ris na taobh-shailthean, car
coltach ris mar a chuirear sgliatan suas, oir na h-aoin a' tighinn dha
na thri oirlich thairis air oir na h-aoin eile. Bha so a' toirt an deagh
thughadh dhaibh, dėonach agus blāth agus buan. Bhitheadh an teintean aig
ceann an taighe. Bho lic gu mullach bhitheadh an similear air a dheagh
chreadhadh, agus b' ainneamh an aon anns nach bitheadh tarruing mhath
air a' cheō. A réir a chomais chuireadh neach ųrlar fiodh, leachdan, no
creadh, 'n a thaigh, an toiseach, ach cia air bith mar thōisichte, cha
b'fhada gus am bitheadh an fhardach seasgair, goireaseach.

A chionn nach robh na craobhan de'n robh am balla air a thogail,
snaighte, bhitheadh iomadh fosgladh eadar na sreathan tre 'n tigeadh
gaoth is fuachd, agus chum so a bhacadh thionailte coinneach agus
spealgan de fhiodh 's rachadh an dinneadh a stigh anns na tuill gus nach
fāgta a h-aon diubh neō-dhionach.

Mu'n tigeadh an geamhradh rachadh taobh muigh agus taobh stigh an taighe
a chreadhadh, oir cha robh aol deiseil an toiseach. N' am bitheadh móran
sluaigh an lāthair bhitheadh an taigh air a thogail ann an aon latha;
cōrr uair ghabhte dha na thri lāithean g'a dheanamh. An uair bha'n obair
so dol air a h-adhart, faodar bhith cinnteach nach robh dearmad air
biadh is deoch do 'n chuideachd. Fad seachdain roimh laimh bhitheadh
āirde air a chuir air a' ghnothuch, 's 'n uair a chruinnicheadh na
daoine air an lārach bhitheadh na mnathan ullamh le teachd-an-tėr. B'e
teachd-an-tėr, da rėreadh, an lōn a bhitheadh aca; cha bhitheadh dad
dheth o bhųth no bho mharsanta, ach gach spiolag bho'n tėr a bha iad
fein ag āiteachadh. Bhitheadh aran coirce, is aran cruithneachd gu leōir
ann, 'n a bhuilionnan móra, car coltach ri bonnaich Mhicheil; sithionn,
bho'n fhrėth-choille phreasanaich, 's an robh gach seōrsa, mór no
meanbh, ri 'm faotainn, 's mar an ceudna eoin-choille a'm pailteas.
Rachadh an fheōil a' bhruich ann an coireachan móra, agus bhitheadh brot
air a dheanamh de'n t-sųgh le measgadh de luibhean a' ghāraidh. Bu dual,
mar an ceudna, do dh' uisge-beatha na dųthcha bhith ann, 's cha
bhitheadh maille air an ōl. Bha na briuthais lionmhor 's bha'n deoch
furasda faotainn, mar tha i'n diugh, 's bu bheag a prės. Airson seachd
sgillinn shasunnach gheibhte da bhodach dheth, no searrag a chumadh an
ceathramh cuid de ghalan. Cōrr uair bhitheadh tuille 's a chōrr deth air
a ghabhail, ach mar bu tric tha e ri chreidsinn gu robh measarrachd air
a cleachdadh. Gun teagamh bhitheadh feisd mhór aig crich na togalach,
agus bha deagh nābachas air ārach 's air a neartachadh am measg nan
coimhearsnach.

Ach cha do sguir an coibhneas ann an so. Bha tuille ri thighinn.
Bheireadh cuid de na mnathan bu chomasaiche leotha aodach-leapa, is
goireasan beaga airson taigheadais an teaghlaich,--ach air son sin
dheth, bha na nābaidhean gu léir deas gu cach-a-cheile a chuideachadh a
réir uireasbhuidh agus comais gach neach fa leth.

B'e sin an doigh anns an robh a' cheud chuid de na Gaidheil a thainig gu
Ontario a' tōiseachadh, 's a' deanamh am beō-shlāinte. Bha cuid de na
taighean beaga so a mhair ceud bliadhna; bha iad comhfhurtail agus sheas
iad gu math an latha fein. Thubbairt Iain Rusgain, an sgriobhaiche
ainmeil, gu'm b' ann as na taighean beaga, dubha 's a' Ghaidhealtachd a
thainig na saighdearan bu treuna, 's na daoine bu mheasara a chunnaic an
saoghal riamh. Air a mhodh cheudna dh'fhaoidte a radh gu'm b'am bho
_Shantaidhean_ fiodha nan coilltean a thainig luchd-stiųraidh
Chanada,--na ministeirean, maighstirean-sgoile, lighichean, luchd-lagha,
buill-phārlamaid agus uachdarain na tėre. Dh'eirich iad bho staid
iriosail, onorach, gu inbhe ārd le'n dichill 's le'm misneach féin.

An deigh do theaghlach tuineachadh air an fhearann, thoisicheadh iad air
a reiteachadh 's air a ghlanadh. Mar thug sinn fainear cheana cha b' i
obair shocrach so, gu h-āraidh far nach robh eōlas na tuaighe aig na
daoine. Mar tha' n sean-fhacal ag radh:

"Is i namhaid duine a' cheaird nach cleachd e."

B'iomadh neach 'n am measg nach do leag craobh riamh, agus a bha ni b'
eōlaiche air coin 's air caoraich, air lion-éisg, 's air treabhachas, na
bha e air innleachd na coille 's air inneal fir-ceairde. Airson an
lethid sin bha' n obair gle dhoirbh gus an do mhaighstirich iad i. Cha
robh faochadh ri fhaotainn ach tre'n chleas cheart ionnsachadh le
dian-chleachdadh. Bha so ni b' fhurasda do na daoine ōga na do na seana
dhaoine a bha suidhichte 'nan gnāths,--"An car a bhith's an t-seana
mhaide 's duilich a thoirt as."

Bha aon de na daoine so a bha bho Airde Mhic Shimidh, a thug dhomh
iomadh sgeul air na lāithean cruaidh troimh'n deach e féin agus a
chompanaich. Aon uair chaidh e féin agus coimhnearsnach astar air
chuairt a shireadh oibre. Cha robh facal Gaidhlig aig an duine leis an
d' fhasdadh iad, agus cha robh acasan ach corra fhacal beurla. Bha na
daoine sgairteil, dichiollach, gu leōir, ach aineolach air an
obair--gearradh sios chraobhan--a ghabh iad a'n laimh, is bha iad, mar
sin, a' cur am mach an neart gun mór sgoinn. Aon la mar bha na fir ann
an teas oibre, fear air gach taobh de'n chraoibh, a dian leagail gu
tubaisdeach oirre le'n tuaghan, thainig fear-a' bhaile far an robh iad,
's ag amharc car tacan air an doigh sheochlanaich a bh'aca, thuirt e 'na
chainnt féin: "Man, John, work like that is perfectly ridiculous." Cha
b'fhios do Iain ciod bu chiall do'n fhacal mu dheireadh de'n achmhasan
so, ach shaoil leis gu'm b'e mionn grathail a bh' ann, is dh'eirich a
chorruich, oir bha e air a chruaidh chur, 's air a shārachadh gu goirt
leis an obair. Sheall e gu feargach air an tuathanach, is thilg e am
mionn mór, mar shaoil esan, air ais 'na aodann, ag radh: "Yes, a dhuine
bhochd, it is 'perfectly ridiculous,' is gabh do leōir dheth." An uair a
dh' fhalbh an tuathanach thuirt Domhnull: "Iain, Iain, 'de thug ort sid
a radh ris an duine? Ge b'e air bith an tāmailt a chuir e ort, cha bu
choir mionn tigh'nn as do bheul. Cha b'e sin an eisimpleir a fhuair
thus' is mise bho na daoine cōir a dh'āraich sinn, 's cha'n fhaod sinn
sin a dhi-chuimhneachadh." Ars' an duine cōir, le priobadh 'na shųil:
"Bha sinn le chéile aineolach, cha b'ann a mhāin air an tuaigh, ach air
a' bheurla, cuideachd, agus chaidh iomadh la seachad mus do thuig a
h-aon dhinn brigh an fhacail 'ridiculous'; ach air a shon sin deth, thog
a' chuid bu mhotha dhinn, le sior-chleachdadh, beurla gu leōir, airson
gnothaichean an latha a chur air an adhart, agus, mar an ceudna, chum na
searmoin a leantuinn air an t-sābaid."

A lion beag is beag bha iad a' fās eōlach air an doigh-oibre, agus bha
na craobhan a' tuiteam romhpa. An uair a bhitheadh dha na tri acair air
an gearradh sios, chuireadh na coimhearsnaich an guaillean ri chéile,
aon uair eile. Ach ciamar a dh'fhaodar sgeul an euchd a bha nis ri
dheanamh, a chur ann an altan a chéile? Cha'n fhacar riamh co-fharpuis
ni bu ghéire na bhitheadh ann, a' slaodadh an fhiodha do'n
chruaich-theine, far an loisgteadh e eadar bhun is bhārr; agus cha'n
fhacar féill no faidhir riamh a thogadh sunnd nan daoine mar a dheanadh
an _Logging Bee_ mar theirte 's a bheurla Shasunnach ris an dian-iomairt
so. B'e'n cleachdadh aig am mar so, tiodhlacan bėdh a chur do'n
teaghlach aig am bitheadh an cródhadh fiodha, agus cuide riu rachadh
cuid de na nighneagan a fhrithealadh aig am dinnearach agus suipearach.
Chruinnicheadh móran sluaigh agus bhitheadh othail nach bu bheag orra a'
cur furain air cach a chéile, agus a' beachdachadh air rian na h-oibre.
Rachadh na daoine a'n ordugh oibre air an raon 'n an tri bhuidheannan.
Bhitheadh aon bhuidheann de dhaoine seōlta aig a' chruaich, a' gabhail
an fhiodha mar a thigeadh e staigh, g'a chārnadh suas sreath air muin
sreath a' cumail an teine beō, leis a' bharrach. Bhitheadh tuaghadairean
tapaidh a' gearradh gheugan de na craobhan, a' sgioblachadh a' bharraich
agus a' reiteachadh fri-rathadan airson nan slaod. Bhitheadh an
tritheamh buidheann sgaoilte thairis air an achadh, gach sgioba 'na
h-āite féin, le aon chuing dhamh agus dithis no triųir dhaoine do gach
sgioba, le acfhuinn thaghta, goireasach aig laimh. Bha 'ghniomh féin fa
chomhair gach neach 's 'n uair thigeadh an t-am bhiodh na daoine teth gu
tōiseachadh. B'ann a'n sin a bhitheadh an strith. B' i 'n obair
shonraichte na craobhan a shlaodadh bho'n āite 'san robh iad a laidhe
gus a chruaich-theine agus b'i 'n strith co an sgioba a chriochnaicheadh
a cuibhrionn féin an toiseach. Bhitheadh am fear bu treasa, 's bu treuna
de'n sgioba air ceann na sgioba sin, 's cha bhiodh fairtleachadh na
h-oibre air, ge b'e cho doirbh 's a dh'fhaodadh i bhith. Bhitheadh cuid
de na craobhan ro throm; cha b'urrainnear ach a h-aon a chur 's an
t-slabhruidh aig aon am. Air uairean bhitheadh an rathad cam, cuagach,
air feadh nan stochd, doirbh ri dheanamh le cuing throm de dhaimh
mall-chasach 's a bheairt. Dh' fheumta cųram agus seōltachd a
chleachdadh gus an lād a shlaodadh am mach, agus mar a bhitheadh na
daoine a' leigeil an inntinn air an obair, 's a' teasachadh rithe,
chluinnteadh gleadhraich nan teanga gu h-ārd a' brosnachadh nan damh, 's
a' misneachadh cach a cheile. An deidh na dinnearach na'm biodh piobaire
's a chuideachd, bheireadh e laimh air a' phioba, is sheideadh e suas
puirt beothail sųgrach, a thogail spionnadh nam fear 's an cumail gu
dian ris an obair. Bhitheadh na h-uile innleachd air a cleachdadh chum
an raoin a reiteachadh mu'n tuiteadh dorchadas na h-oidhche, agus bu
mhór moit na sgioba a choisneadh a cheud āite. Bu tric duais-buadhaich a
bhuileachadh orra aig an t-suipeir, 's bhitheadh an clių mar dheagh
luchd-oibre air a dhaingneachadh. An deidh do'n talamh, a bhith, mar so,
air a reiteachadh rachadh uachdar na talmhainn a sgriobadh le caibe,
agus an luaithre a sgaoileadh thairis air. Anns an fhonn so rachadh an
siol a chuir, agus as thigeadh deagh thoradh 's an fhogharadh.

Bha nis duais an saothrach air a mealtuinn leō; chuir iad an siol ann an
dōchas deagh fhogharaidh, oir bu mhór an curam a bha'n crochadh ri sin;
chaidh seal goirid seachad, thainig am bārr a staigh gu sealbhach, agus
bhuain iad le mór shubhachas, 's cha b'ionghnadh e. Gun dāil an deidh na
buana bhitheadh am bualadh ann, agus bu taitneach da rireadh a bhith cur
a cheud lād de'n ghrāinne do'n mhuileann. Mar bu tric cha bhitheadh
rathad-móra ann, ach, a mhāin, frith-rathad troimh'n choille. Rachadh an
damh soitheamh, earbsach, uil'-fheumail, uidheamachadh agus bho bhuiseal
gu leth, gu dā bhuiseal choirce a cheangail air cųl a ghualainn, 's le
so dh' fhalbhadh fear-an-taighe, no aon de na gillean do'n mhuileann.
'Nam bitheadh an t-slighe fada, bhitheadh an oidhche ann mu'n tigteadh
dhachaidh leis a' mhin, ach ge b'e cho anmoch, chumadh an t-annas gach
neach de'n teaghlach, bho'n leanabh gus an t-seanamhair, air am bonn, a
dh' fhāilteachadh ceud toradh an fhearainn. Ach corra uair cha bhitheadh
muileann ann d'am b'urrainn daibh a dhol, agus cha robh ni b' fhearr aca
na'm brāth anns am bitheadh an grāinne air a bhruthadh le pronnadair.
Tha iomradh air aon bhrāth shonraichte a rinn athair an t-Siorraim Mhic
Ealair nach maireann, a rinn an gnothuch 's an āite 's an robh e, fad
iomadh bliadhna, gus an deach muileann a thogail. Tha'm brāth ainmeil
so, a nis, ann an taigh-coimhid ann an Toronto, far am bheil móran
sluaigh o chaoch-la āitean de'n t-saoghal 'ga faicinn na h-uile
bliadhna.

An uair a thigeadh an geamhradh cha bhitheadh éis air an obair.
Bhitheadh na daoine, ōg is sean, a' gearradh na coille; bhitheadh
tigheadas air laimh nam boirionnach, 's cha bhitheadh eadhon na pāisdean
diomhain. Ann am fallus an gnuis bha iad uile ag itheadh arain; ach a'n
cois a' bhonnaich bhig bha 'm beannachd. 'S an trāth fheasgair bhitheadh
sųrd air an teaghlach aig bun an teine thiorail. Bhitheadh na
boirionnaich a' cārdadh, a' sniomh, a' fighe, 's a' cāramh aodaich; na
fir a' grčusachd bhrōg, a' toinneadh ascairt, a' geurachadh shābh, a'
cur laimh ųr ann an tuaigh, no nithean feumail de'n t-seōrsa sin.
Bhitheadh cōmhradh ann a reir suidheachadh an teaghlaich. Bhitheadh
iomadh ni ųr aca ri innse a dh'ionnsaich iad mu'n tėr gus an d' thainig
iad, ach bhitheadh a' chuid bu mhotha de'n t-seanachas mu'n duthaich 's
mu na cāirdean a dh' fhāg iad 'n an deidh. Corra uair bhitheadh céilidh
de na coimhearsnaich ann le 'cuid ōrain agus sgeulachdan gun ghō:

    "Air gach gaisgeach fearail greann'or
     Bha 's a' ghleann 'n uair bha iad ōg."

Bhitheadh an cleasan fein aig a' chlann, agus is iongantach mar a lean
cuid diu anns na teaghlaichean ud gus an la'n-diugh. Bliadhna no dhā
roimhe so bha'm fear-sgriobhaidh ann an āite de Ontario far am bheil
cōmhlan Ghaidheal. Bha clann beaga a' cluiche agus b'e 'n cleas a bh'
aca, bioran maide loisgte gu éibhille aig aon cheann, a chur mu'n cuairt
cho luath 's a b'urrainn daibh, 'n uair bhitheadh iad ag radh na facail
so, a dh' ionnsaich iad o'n seanamhair, 's a fhoghlum ise aig Ionarnais
'n uair bha i 'n a caileig a'n sin:

    "Dilean, dealan, déigh,
     Tha na féidh air an loch;
     Tha Mac-Shimidh as an déidh,
     'S cha teid na féidh dhachaidh nochd."




                                  IV.


Chaidh naoi bliadhna seachad bho'n am 's an do shuidhich Seumas Ros aig
Narunn, Ontario. Bha na neoil a' bristeadh, bha na h-achaidhean a' dol
am farsuingeachd, agus bha goireasan an taighe a' meudachadh. Anns an
āite so, air an ochdamh la deug de mhios mheadhonach an Fhoghair, 's a'
bhliadhna ochd ceud deug da fhichead 's a h-aon, rugadh Seoras Ros. Cha
robh mór ailghios no mór uireasbhuidh a' feitheamh air. Bha'n teaghlach
a' fās rāthail, agus bha 'n sgoile faisg air laimh, air srāid Ghlaschu,
mar theirte ris an rathad-mór a bha 'dol troimh'n sgėre, agus b'e ainm a
mhaighstir, Tearlach MacCoinnich. Bha Seoras 'na dheagh sgoileir,
dichiollach agus curamach. Bha e lān de feala-dha agus deidheil air
cleasan neirt mar a bha camanachd, a' ruith reisean, a' gearradh
shųrdag, a' gleachd agus a' cur na cloiche. Bha e luath-chasach, aotrom,
agus cho aighearach 's a b' urrainn do ghiullan smearail slāinteil a
bhith. Aig na ceilidhean ann an taigh athar, no ann an taighean nan
coimhearsnach mar bha Mac-an-tōisich, Mac-Lachluinn, agus Mac-Griogair,
bha e deas mar aithrisear bhārdachd. B'iad oibre Thomais Chaimbeil a
b'fhearr leis,--"Nighean Thighearna Ulainn," "Bairnigeadh Lochiall,"
agus "Catha Hohenlindein,"--le orain de'n t-seorsa sin, b'iomadh uair a
thug e togail inntinn do na bhitheadh an lathair.

Thog e dreuchd maighstir-sgoile agus chaidh e, 'se fathast 'n a
bhallachan ōg, do'n deicheamh _Concession_ air taobh-an-ear do shrāid
Ghlaschu, a theagasg. Bha so ann an sgėre _Williams_. Bha tri rathadan
móra anns an sgėre air an ainmeachadh air na h-āitean bho'n d'thainig an
sluagh 's an t-seann duthaich,--Srāid Ghlaschu, Srāid Phettit, agus
Srāid Earraghaidheil. Bha da theaghlach de na Rosaich 's an āite,--na
Rosaich Móra, 's na Rosaich Beaga,--a reir am fiamh 's an coltais. B'ann
do na Rosaich Beaga a bhuineadh Sir Seoras, ach mar robh a bhodhaig
neo-chumanta mór bha aige inntinn chumhachdach, ghreimeil,
iomadh-fhillte, lughor. Bha meamhair chuimhneachail, ealamh aige, air
chor 's gu'n robh e furasda dha araon seanachas agus aireamhachd a
chumail 'na cheann. Cha b' fhad an ųine gus an do choisinn e clių mar
fhear-labhairt dealasach, gu sonraichte air taobh na Stuamachd anns an
do shaothraich e fad a bheatha; cleachdadh a dh' ųigheamaich e airson an
dreuchd ārd a bha 'feitheamh air.

Bho _Williams_ chaidh e gu _Melrose_, dluth ri Lunnainn, Ont., a
theagasg sgoile. Ann an so thainig e fo bhuaidh cuid de na daoine
comasach air an do chuir e eōlas anns a' bhaile. 'Nam measg bha
buidheann de luchd-lagha ōga a bha am bitheantas ag cnuasachadh cor na
duthcha, 's a' sgrudadh bheachdan cāch-a-cheile air ceisdean an latha.
Thāladh so 'inntinn gu bhi rannsachadh cuisean air a shon fhein, is
thoisich e air leughadh nam paipeirean-naigheachd agus
leabhraichean-eachdraidh gu geur, mionaideach; cleachdadh a lean ris ri
bheō. Bha 'n am fābharach airson a leithid de dh'fhein-fhiosrachadh. Bha
Roinnean móra Chanada air dol a'n comh-bhann, agus bha uachdranachd ųr
air teachd a staigh le nithean cudthromach r'a dheanamh agus bunaitean
na duthcha r'a shocrachadh. Cha b' urrainn do dhuine ōg am ni b' fhearr
a mhiannachadh, no cothrom ni bu fhreagarraiche iarraidh airson seirbhis
a dhuthcha. 'Sa bhliadhna so--1867--an uair a bha e sč bliadhn' ar
fhichead, a dh' aois, chuir e ainm fa chomhair coinneimh thaghaidh na
Liberals airson parlamaid, an aghaidh Tomas Scatcherd. Cha deachaidh
leis an trāth sin; bha ōige 'na aghaidh, agus a bharrachd air sin, b' e
Mr. Scatcherd am ball-parlamaid aig an am, mar bha athair roimhe, 's bha
'n teaghlach d'am buineadh e cliuiteach am measg thuathanach Nissouri,
an sgėre 's an robh a' chuid mhór de'n luchd-taghaidh a' comhnuidh. Ged
nach do shoirbhich leis 's a' chuis so, chaidh chomharrachadh am mach
mar dhuine gealltanach, a bhuadhaicheadh a'n deagh am. Mu'n am so chaidh
Mr. Ros do'n sgoil Normal far an d' ullaich se e fein gu bhi 'na
fhear-ceasnaichidh sgoilean, agus air dha so a dheanamh, dh' fheuch e
ris an dreuchd so a thoirt am mach ann an siorramachd Mhiddlesex. Bha a
chuid bu mhotha de Chomhairle na siorramachd de na Tories agus chaill e
an t-āite mar a shaoil e fhein, an los na rinn e ann an 1867 air taobh
na Liberals. Ghabh e an ni gu cridhe. Air an t-slighe dhachaidh thuirt e
ri Iain Waters, dluth charaid dha, a bha aig an am 'n a Reeve air
Williams-an-ear:--

"Tha mi a so suas cuidhte gnothaichean riaghlaidh na tėre. 'S mithich
dhomh cumail ri m' dhreuchd, 's ri sin amhāin."

Fhreagair Mr. Waters: "Na can thusa ni sam bith mar sin, airson, ma dh'
fhaoite, am bi thu duilich an deidh so."

Thachair gu'n robh Comhairle shiorramachd Lambton a' suidhe aig an am
cheudna. Bha chuid bu mhotha dhiubhsan 'n an Liberals. Chuala iad mar a
thachair ann am Middlesex. Air an ath mhaduinn chuir iad fios-dealan
do'n Rosach gu'n robh dreuchd cheasnaichidh Lambton air a thairgse dha
na'n gabhadh se e. Dh' fheuch Mr. Ros an sanas so do Mhr. Waters, a
thilg gu h-ealamh air:--

"Gu de mu dheidhinn _politics_, a nis, mo charaid? Tha thu a' faicinn
gu'm bheil da fhaobhar air a' chlaidheamh!"

Ghabh Mr. Ros ris an tairgse agus lean e ris an dreuchd sin an deidh dha
bhi na bhall-parliamaid airson Middlesex-an-iar. Cuid de'n ųine so bha e
'n a fhear-ceasnaichidh sgoile ann am baile Straruaidh. An duais a
fhuair e airson na h-oibre so, thug e seachad, ged nach bu duine
saoibhir e, airson dhuaisean do sgoilearan a' bhaile, a chum am
misneachadh 'n am foghlum. Bha dčidh aige a bhi sgriobhadh do na
paipeirean-naigheachd agus bha sgriobhaidhean bho pheann ri 'm faotainn
gu tric anns an _Advertiser_ a'n Lunnainn, an _Expositor_ a'n Seaforth,
agus an _Age_ ann an Straruaidh, a bha geur agus comasach. Aig a' cheart
am thainig, an drasd 's a rėsd, bhuaithe, duan agus oran a bha teisteil
agus an eatorras math. Bha iad air taobh na stuamachd agus saorsa na
duthcha bho dhroch riaghladh. 'Na ōige rinn e dān air "An ni tha dhėth
air Canada" anns an d'thug e fainear na caochladh seōrsa dhaoine a
thogadh suas cinneach chliųiteach anns an duthaich so,--daoine onarach,
tapaidh, saor-thoileach, subhailceach, treuna, measarra, uasal,
duthchasach, agus thug e an dān gu crich leis na briathran shunndach
so:--

"Sin na daoine, a Chanada, a dh'eireadh suas o d' fhonn mhaoth! Sin na
daoine gu bhi 'g iomchair slat-rioghail do neart, gu bhi riaghladh
thairis air do shleibhtean móra, gu bhi sgriobhadh ann an eachdraidh,
gloir t' ainme."

Fad a bheatha cha do dhichuimhnich e na smuaintean ārda so; bha e air a
lionadh o ōige suas le eud airson Chanada, tėr a bhreith is ārach. Ach
cha deachaidh na bliadhnachan so seachad ann an diomhanas a thaobh
foghluim 'na dhreuchd, agus a thaobh oileanachd eile. Bha e sior strith
air adhart, a' dioghlum ann an iomadh achadh thorach, a' carnadh suas
stōrais 'na inntinn a bhiodh luachmhor agus feumail dha 's na lāithean
ri teachd.

'S mithich, nis, facal no dha a radh mu theaghlach Mhr. Rois. An uair
bha e teagasg sgoil' aig Lobo, 's e bliadhna ar fhichead a dh' aois, b'
i aon de chuid sgoilearan Cairistėona Chaimbeul, nighean Dhunnchaidh
Chaimbeil, Lobo, fear a mhuinntir Earraghaidheil. Dh'fhās an cāirdeas a
thōisich a'n sin gu lān abuchadh agus phōs iad 's a' bhliadhna 1862. Bha
iad posda deich bliadhna, 'n uair chaochail ise, agus b' e la a
h-adhlacaidh an la air an deachaidh esan a thaghadh, an toiseach, do'n
Pharlamaid. Bha coignear theaghlach aca, dithis mhac agus triųir
nighean. Chaochail an gille bu shine, Seumas Cowper Ros, 'n a naoidhean
agus dh'fhās cāch gu ėre duineadais. Phōs Mr. Ros an dara uair, 's a
bhliadhna 1875, Ceit Boston, nighean Robeirt Boston, ann an siorramachd
Mhiddlesex. Chaochail ise 's a bhliadhna 1902 ann an Toronto. Bha acasan
aonar mhac agus triųir nighean. Coig bliadhna an deidh bās an darna bean
phōs e Mildred Peel, nighean Iain Robeirt Peel, a' n Lunnainn, Ont., a
tha fathast beō. Bha na mnai sin ro eireachdail, banail, suairce. Bha
iad 'n an taic mór dhā-san tre bheatha shārachail, euslanaich. Tha'n
dithis mhac 'n an daoine tapaidh, rāthail. Tha 'm fear as sinne, Dunncha
Caimbeul Ros, 'na fhear-lagha ann an Straruaidh, 's na bhall-parlamaid
aig Ottawa, far am feil e 'foillseachadh a chomais-labairt 's a
sheōltachd gu soilleire. Tha 'n darna mac, Seōras Uilleam Ros, 'na
lighiche ann an Toronto. Choisinn e, mar tha, ārd-ainm 'na dhreuchd. Tha
iad, le cheile, 'nan daoine duthchasach, coibhneil, anns am bheil gné a'
Ghaidheil a' cinntinn gu nadarra, reidh. Tha na nigheanan pōsda gu
cothromach, comhfhurtail, 's a' togail theaghlach chliųiteach, ghasda,
'tha na'n samhladh chiatach air ōigridh Ghaidhlich Chanada.




                                   V.


Mar a chunnaic sinn cheana, bha inntinn an Rosaich a' tionndadh do'n
Pharlamaid agus thainig an cothrom thuige gun mór dhāil. Chaidh
ainmeachadh airson Middlesex-an-iar, an aghaidh A. P. MacDhomhnuill, an
seann bhall-parliamaid, duine beartach aig an robh greim air an
t-sluagh, 's a bhiodh doirbh a chlaoidh 's an t-strėth. Ged bha 'm blār
cruaidh, ged bha'n Rosach ōg agus gun airgead, ged bha 'n Domhnullach
cleachdta 's a chath, le maoin is pailteas air a thaobh; an uair a
chaidh an t-aonta mu dheireadh a chunntadh bha 'n duine og, lamh-fhalamh
air uachdar, agus an duine eile fodha--chaidh'n Rosach a thaghadh airson
na Parlamaid.

Chaidh e gu Ottawa far an robh 'n Ard-Chomhairle a' suidhe, 's a
bhliadhna 1872, agus bho'n am sin gu la a bhāis, shaothraich e airson a
dhuthcha araon ann an uachdranachd Chanada agus Ontario. Fa chomhair an
Rosaich 's an t-seōmar bha Sir Iain Domhnullach, Priomh-Mhinisteir
Chanada, agus ri thaobh bha aireamh dhaoine ainmeil, comasach, mar bha
Hincks, Tupper, Howe, agus Galt. Mu'n coinneamh bha comhlan de dhaoine
fhior chomasach,--Alasdair MacCoinnich, Blake, Cartwright, agus an
lethid sin,--daoine dealasach, geur, a bha ullamh agus toileach gu
cōnsachadh an aghaidh 'n luchd-riaghlaidh air na ceisdean móra a bha ag
eadar-dhealachadh an da thaobh de'n Chomhairle. Bha Mr. Ros am measg
dhaoine comasach agus rinn e na b' urrainn e gu bhi foghlum gnāthan na
Parlamaid agus brėgh na h-oibre bhuapasan. Cha robh e doirbh dha
ionnsachadh, agus ann an uine ghoirid dh'fhās e eōlach air dleasannas
fear-ionaid.

Rč a cheud bhliadhna 's a Pharlamaid dh' erich droch upraid mu 'n
airgead a ghabh Sir Iain Domhnullach bho Huistean Allan, ceannas an
rathaid-iarruinn sin,--an "Canadian Pacific." Ged a dhearbh an
luchd-riaghlaidh gu'n robh an t-airgead air a ghnathachadh ann an
cųisean an taghaidh, 's nach robh buanachd aig Sir Iain e fein dheth
idir, gidheadh, b'e beachd na Parlamaid nach robh e ceart no iomchaidh
do dh'fhear-riaghlaidh airgead a ghabhail o neach, mar a bha Mr. Allan
aig an robh gnothaichean ri dheanamh ri luchd-riaghlaidh na duthcha,
agus thug Sir Iain suas a dhreuchd. Chuireadh Alasdair MacCoinnich 'na
āite; agus thug esan a' Pharlamaid gu crich air a' bhliadna sin fein.
Sheas Mr. Ros a rithis airson Middlesex-an-iar agus chaidh a thaghadh
gun neach air bith seasamh 'na aghaidh. Fhuair luchd-cuideachaidh
Mhic-Coinnich buaidh mhór 's an taghadh 's bha e air a dhaingneachadh
mar Phriomhfhear Chanada. Fhuair, a nis, Mr. Ros an cothrom a bha dhėth
air, agus cha do sheachainn. Bha a chomas breithneachaidh agus labhairt
a' meudachadh, agus bha e fās feumail 's an t-seómar-riaghlaidh, agus,
mar an ceudna mar chomhairliche earbsach do'n luchd-riaghlaidh. Bha e
deas-bhriathrach ann an cųisean malairt, na stuamachd, agus aiteachaidh
an fhearainn, agus bha gach bliadhna ag cur ri neart, 's ri chliu.
Chaidh coig bliadhna seachad air an doigh so, agus bha Mr. Ros gu
socrach agus gu cinnteach ag eirigh ann an spéis a cho-chomhairleach.
Anns an taghadh a rinneadh 's a bhliadhna 1878 thuit MacCoinnich agus
thainig Sir Iain Domhnullach a staigh a rithis. Bha cogadh cruaidh aig
Mr. Ros ri chur ann am Middlesex, oir bha sluagh Chanada air fad air an
dusgadh gu mór 's bha na seann lāraichean, na seann chriochan eadar na
Tories agus na Liberals air an atharrachadh. B' e'n cuspair mór a bha
eadar an da chuideachd sin, aig an am: Co dhiubh a bu chōir cės ārd a
chur air toradh dhuthchanna céin, bha tighinn a staigh do Chanada, araon
chum airgid-riaghlaidh a thogail, agus dion a chur air maoin Chanada.
Bha amanna cruaidh ann; bha bochdainn air feadh na tėre, agus bha moran
de na buill-parlamaid a sheas air taobh Mhic-Coinnich airson saorsa
malairt, nach robh air an taghadh leis an t-sluagh. Ach chaidh le Mr.
Ros oir bha meas mór air 's an t-siorramachd, agus fhuair e troimh'n
deuchainn gu sābhailte. Anns a' Pharlamaid a lean an taghadh so, bha e
ro-dhichiollach agus bha e air āireamh am measg nan daoine comasach,
gibhteach a bha 's a' chomhairle.

Rč an ama so uile bha e 'saothrachadh mar fhear-ceasnaichidh sgoilean,
's mar fhear-deasaichidh phaipeir-naigheachd. Bha e mar an ceudna
daonnan ag cuideachadh aobhair na stuamachd, agus ag cur air an adhairt
gnothaichean eile. Cha robh e riamh 'na thamh no 'na thosd, agus b'
ionnan sgriobhadh no labhairt dha. Mu'n am so bha āite Ministeir
Foghluim Ontario, falamh, 's bha cor nan sgoil air feadh a' Mhor-roinn
car diblidh. Bha feum air duine foghainteach, glic, eolach, air an
ceann, agus roghnaich Mr. Mowat, a bha 'na Phriomh-fhear thar Ontario,
Mr. Ros airson an dreuchd. Cha b' urrainnear neach ni bu fhreagarraiche
fhaotainn. Cha 'n e mhāin gu robh mion-eolas aige air dreuchd a'
mhaighstir-sgoile, 's air uireasbhuidhean nan sgoil, ach bha a chridh 's
an obair. Thilg se e fein le uile neart air an raon ųr so, agus is ann
mar Mhinistear Foghluim Ontario a choimhlion e gealltanais ōige. Air dha
Parlamaid Chanada fhagail airson Parlamaid Ontario b'fheudar dha a bhi
air a thaghadh airson Ard Chomhairle' na Mór-roinne. Cha do dhiobair
daoine Mhiddlesex-an-iar e riamh agus thagh iad e a rithis mar bu nōs.
Chuir e laghan nuadh air chois, a leasaich gu mór staid nan sgoil agus
tharruing e ri cheile air aon doigh riaghailteach na caochladh seorsa
sgoilean bho thaigh beag na sgėre gu oil-thaigh a' bhaile-mhóir, gach
ceum a' leantainn a cheile gu h-ordail, ceart a réir cleachdaidh
chumanta na h-Alba. Shoirbhich leis gu h-anabarrach agus bha sgoilean
agus oil-thaighean Ontario, ann an uine ghoirid, 'nan eiseimplearean do
dhuthchanna eile.

Ach bha aon ārd-dhreuchd eile a'feitheamh air, agus b'e sin
priomh-mhinisteirleachd Ontario; agus an deidh dha sin a thoirt thairis
chaidh e gu Ottawa, a rithis, gu bhi 'na cheannard 's 'na
fhear-treorachaidh 's an ard sheanadh. 'S an dreuchd so shaothraich e gu
la a bhāis a thainig air 's a bhliadhna 1913--lān de lāithean 's de
dh'urram.

Ciod e an seōrsa duine a bha a' n so, a dh'eirich cho ārd ann am beachd
a ghinealaich féin, 's ann an inbhe?

Tha e ro dhoirbh beachd fior-cheart a dhealbh air a' chuid mhór d'ar
co-chreutairean; gu sonraichte air daoine tha ārd os ar cionn. An uair a
fhuair Gladstone bās bha móran de'n bheachd gu'm bu dhroch duine e, a
chuir a bhuadhan cumhachdach gu fior dhroch bhuil; air an laimh eile,
bha móran a creidsinn nach robh a leithid eile ann chum leas agus maith
an t-sluaigh a sheasamh, agus gu robh e 'n a fhior bheannachd o'n
Chruithfhear do Bhreatunn's do'n t-saoghal. Tha an ni ceudna air a radh
mu Lloyd George. Bha eadar-dhealachadh beachd aig na Gaidheil 's aig na
Goill mu luach agus cliu oibre-bheatha Phrincipal Rainy--cuid a'
creidsinn gu robh e 'deanamh oibre Shatain, agus cuid eile gu robh e 'na
sheirbhiseach dileas, foghainteach do'n Ard Mhaighstir. Tha fios aig
Gaidheil Chanada mar a thilgeadh salchair nan sraid air Sir Iain
Domhnullach, agus mar a reubadh cliu Alasdair MhicCoinnich; agus, a
nis, mar tha bliadhnachan dol seachad tha deagh chliu an ainmean le
cheile a'dol a'm meud. Thig an neach a smuainicheas air nithean mar so
do'n cho-dhųnadh gu bheil breith dhaoine air an co-chreutairean 'n a ni
amharrasach air a chuid is fearr, agus gur cōir do neach a bhi toigheach
mu'n bharail tha e cnuasachadh mu neach eile.

Tha so air m' inntinn fein gu mór an drasd, oir tha mi, mar gu'm b'eadh
a' toirt breith air cuspair an sgriobhaidh so. Ach tha so agam ri radh.
Bha cothrom neo-chumanta agam air Sir Seoras Ros aithneachadh. Bha mi
gle eolach air fad ochd-bliadhna fichead, a'n cois gnothaichean na
duthcha, agus mar cho-Ghaidheal. Bha cothrom saor-labhairt agam ris;
b'aithne dhomh gu math cion-fāth cuid de ghniomharan, agus, mar an
ceudna, b'aithne dhomh gu math daoine flathail, fiughanta, a bha dlųth
ri inntinn, aig an robh fior eolas air, agus a bha comasach air a
chothromachadh ann am meidh chinntich an fhein-fhiosrachaidh. B'e cuid
diu sin an t-Urramach Alasdair MacCoinnich, Tearlāch MacCoinnich, a
bhrathair, An Siorram MacEalair, Lachlann MacCorcadail, Uilleam C.
Caldwell, an t-Urramach Dr. Caven, an t-Urramach Ard-Easbuig Walsh, an
t-Urramach Dr. Milligan, is iomadh neach eile a bha inbheach no iriosal
'n an dreuchd fein. Bu tric a labhair mi riutha sin, 's ri muinntir eile
mu chliu 's mu bheatha Shir Seorais, agus bha gach ni a tha mi ag cur
sios ann an so air a dhaingneachadh leo. "Tha lagh nam modhannan air a
chur sios gu h-aithghearr anns na deich āitheantan," agus is ann a reir
an lagha sin a tha breith cheart gu bhith air a toirt air caithe-beatha
ar co-chreutairean. Ma shėnear slat-thomhais an lagha sin thairis air
beatha Shir Seorais Rois tha mi lān chreidsinn nach bi a chliu aon
ōirleach ni 's giorra na cliu an neach a b' urramaiche a shuidh riamh
ann an caithir priomhfhear Ontario, ged is mór an radh sin.

Bha'n Rosach 'n a dhuine moralta, 'n a dhuine glan 'n a ghnč, uasal 'n a
ghiųlan, neo-shanntach 'n a inntinn, coibhneil do 'n bhochd,
foidhidneach fo thrioblaid, fad-fhulangach fo bhuaireadh, comasach 'n a
bhuadhan, fileanta briathrachail 'n a chainnt, drųidhteach 'n a
ōraidean, araon soilleir agus farsuing 'n a bheachdan, gleusd ann an
deas-boireachd, dileas d'a choguis, firinneach d'a dhuthaich, agus
durachdach, dileas, 'n a dleasanas.

Tha mi creidsinn gu robh Mr. Ros ag iarraidh le uile chridhe an ni a bha
ceart a dheanamh a thaobh a dhuthcha mar bhall parlamaid, mar
mhinisteir, 's mar Phriomh riaghladair. Tha mi creidsinn gu robh e
feuchainn mar a b' fhearr a dh' fhaodadh e a lān dhleasanais a
choimhlionadh gu h-onarach d'a cho-chreutair, bho'n neach a b' airde gus
an neach a b' ėsle, mar neach a bha cunntasach do shluagh na tėre airson
gach gniomh d'a dheanadais choitchinn. Ni 's fhaide cha ruig mi leas a
dhol 's a' chuis so an drasda, ach na'n robh an t-am iomchuidh, tha mi
creidsinn gu'm faotainn a radh le firinn gu robh a dhochas steidhichte
ann an ārd-uachdranachd an Fhreasdail sin a tha lųbadh gach gniomh 's
gach oidheirp dhaonnail chum a chriochan maith fein. Gidheadh, tha 'us
bithidh caochladh bheachdan am measg an t-sluaigh air an Rosach, mar
dhuine 's mar mhinisteir stāid. 'S dual dha sin tachairt; tha gach neach
againn fein buailteach do'n ghnāths cheudna. N' am b' urrainn duinn fior
smuaintean ar cairdean 's ar coimhearsnach oirnn fhein, air uairibh,
fhaotainn am mach, chuireadh iad mór iongantais oirnn, oir is tana an
eigh tha fo m' chasan-sa, agus fo d' chasan-sa, a charaid, co air bith
thu.

Bho thoiseach gu deireadh a chųrsa bha Mr. Ros trang ag obair. Cha
deachaidh stad air a shaothair. B'e sin cion-fāth a shoirbheachaidh.
Thoisich e mar bhallachan bochd; cha robh airgead no ōr air a chųlthaobh
g' a chuideachadh air adhart. Tha'n cothrom cheudna a bh' aigesan aig
gach ōganach a tha 's an tėr an diugh. 'S i obair chruaidh agus inntinn
ghlan a bheir neach gu mullach na beinne. Ma 's e marsantachd, dreuchd
an lighiche no 'n fhir-lagha, na ministeirleachd, no oibre-laimh a
th'ann, feumaidh neach a bhith 'n a fhior mhaighstir air a ghniomh, agus
feumaidh e a bhuadhan a gheurachadh leis an fhoghlum sin a tha feumail
airson a dhreuchd. Tha a' mhór chuid dhinn comasach air so a dheanamh ma
tha slāinte cuirp agus beachd suidhichte againn ar lān dhichioll a
dheanamh.

Tha'n sean-fhacal ag radh: "Ni lamh na leisge bochd; ach ni lamh nan
dichiollach beartach." Cha d'rinn lamh dhichiollach Shir Seorais beartas
dha. Bha e 'n a dhuine bochd o thōs gu éis a bheatha, mar bu tric fo
fhiachan trom, ach a ghnath g' am paigheadh mar bha 'n comas aige, 's
aig a' cheann mu dheireadh mar robh moran ri fhāgail 'na dheidh cha robh
dad ri dhioladh. Ach thug e neart a bheatha agus toradh a chinn 's a
chridhe do'n stāid, chum, mar bha dųil chinnteach aige, maith an
t-sluaigh.

Cha robh doimhneachd bhuadhan aige mar bha aig cuid de cho-aoisean ann
an Canada; agus cha d'fhuair e cothrom 'n a ōige air inntinn a
liobhrachadh air cloich-bhleith a chruaidh oileanachaidh, a
dh'āraicheadh araon fėnealachd chainnt agus eagnuidheachd smuain. Bha'n
uireasbhuidh so r' a faicinn 'n a mhodh-labhairt, 'n a mhodh-sgriobhaidh,
agus 'n a mhodh saothrachaidh. Ach, "Is airde tuathanach air a chasan na
duin'-uasal air a ghluinean."

Ann an aon de dh'ōraidean an Rosaich air beulaibh Comuinn Naoimh
Aindreis, Thoronto (1909) thubhairt e gu robh sluagh Chanada
comharraichte math gu bhith tionail 's a' togail gliocais agus ceill o
gach cearnaidh de'n t-saoghal, 's g'an ųisneachachadh airson am buanachd
féin. Tha iad a' tionail fiosrachaidh agus nuadh smuaintean mu chuisean
malairt is airgid as gach āite 's am faighear iad. Tha iad a' toirt bho
ghnāths-riaghlaidh dhuthchanna eile na tha iad am beachd a fhreagarras,
's a leasaicheas an gnāths-riaghlaidh fein.

Bha am beachd so gun teagamh ceart, agus tha mi'n duil gu bheil e ceart
mu'n Rosach e fein. Bha alt fir-tionail aige ann an ėre mhór; ghabhadh e
stigh eolas mar a shlugadh suil-chruthach clach. Agus rinn e 'na bha 'n
a chomas chum a bhuadhan a neartachadh le cleachdadh daonnan a thoirt
dhaibh a' tional eolais anns gach raon a bha fosgailte dha. Cha robh
moran 'san tėr so a dh'obraich cho cruaidh 's cho bitheanta ris air
thōir eolais gu bhi leudachadh 's a meudachadh a thuigse, agus ann an
roinn mhor shoirbhich leės. Dh' ārdaich e tuigse, agus "chur i suas e;
thug i gu urram e; thug i d'a cheann coron maise, crųn gloire thug i
seachad dha." Cha'n fheil mi ag radh gu'n deachaidh gliocas ceum air
cheum, lamh a'n laimh ri a thuigse, ach gun teagamh b' i 'n tuigse air
nithean a dhreuchd 's a dhuthcha, a bhuinig e le mór dhichioll, a thug
comas dha eiridh gus an inbhe air an d' rainig e.

Mar bhall-parlamaid ann an Ottawa bha e dian, dlųth, mar thuirt mi
cheana, ann an ceum a dhleasanais. Bha e bitheanta 'na āite, a' toirt
speis agus suim do'n obair bha'n laimh; a'rannsachadh chųisean na
duthcha, 's g'a ullachadh fein airson oibre lāitheil an Taighe. Air an
doigh so, le sior-shaothair, daonnan ag obair, fhuair e lethid a
mhaighstireachd air gnothaichean na parlamaid, 's gu robh e comasach,
gun rabhadh fhaotainn roimh laimh, labhairt aig am 's am bith, air
cuspair 's am bith a dh'fhaodadh tighinn air lom, agus lān-cheartais a
thoirt do'n chųis. Cha robh ach aon duine eile 's an Taigh, aig an am
sin, a b' urrainn an ni ceudna a dheanamh--Mr. Anglin, nach mairean,
athair a' bhreitheimh ann an Ottawa. Cha'n i slighe shoirbh a tha
treōrachadh gu soirbheas; ach "theid an t-anmhunn dichiollach thar an
laidir leisg," agus a rithis, "Is treun fear an eōlais."

An deidh do'n Rosach bhith aon-bliadhn' deug ann am Parlamaid Chanada,
roghnaich Mr. Mowat e gu bhith 'na Mhinisteir Fhoghluim airson Ontario.
Dh' fhan e 's an dreuchd sin fad sč-bliadhna deug--gus a' bhliadhna 1899
'n uair a ghairmeadh e gu bhith 'n a Phriomh uachdaran air a mhor-roinn
so. Mar Mhinisteir Fhoghluim bha e tri bliadhna deug fo ughdarras Mhr.
Mowat, duine a choisinn spéis agus earbsa an t-sluaigh, mar dhuine cōir,
ceart, curamach. Ri linn-san rinn an Rosach a' chuid bu mhotha 's bu
doirbhe de obair mar Mhinisteir Fhoghluim. 'S e beachd a' chuid mhór an
diugh gu'n do chuir e comharradh ionmholta a mhaireas iomadh la air
sgoilean agus oil-thaighean na tėre. Tha mi creidsinn g'um b' e an ni bu
mhotha a rinn e fad a dhreuchd na h-oilthaighean a tharruing ri cheile
ann an Toronto a' ceadachadh do dh'aon oil-thaigh laidir fās suas a'n
āite āireamh de dh' fheadhainn lag a bhith strėth airson am beatha.
Nochd e mór thapachd air uairibh an cois a dhleasanais do na sgoilean.
Tha Foghlum na duthcha so lān de dhoirbheachd; cha'n e gnothuch furasda
a th'ann do neach air bith. S' dual d'a comhstrith ārach,--Tha
maighstirean sgoile, ministeirean, ārd-ollaimh, oileanaich, 's an sluagh
air fad, ioma-bheachdach, agus is dual do gach neach a bhith sparradh a
bheachd fein air a' mhinisteir. Tha e nadurra gu'm biodh tuasaid,
aimhreit, agus droch-fharachdainn ag eirigh 's a bualadh a' mhinisteir
mar a ghaoith chreanndaidh earraich. B'e sin a' chųis; agus tha e chum
creideas an Rosaich gu' n d'fhuair e troimh shč bliadhna deug de'n
stoirm le aodach slān air crann an eathair. Dh' fhaodadh neach innseadh
a'n so, 'n am b'fheudar, mu chuid de na nithean dalma, curanta a rinn e,
mu nithean a thug e gu buil mhaith an aghaidh luchd-strėth, agus mu
nithean a chum e air an ais, 's a bhac e gu tur, an aghaidh neirt
luchd-tagraidh 's luchd-bagraidh chumhachdach a bhiodh ag iarraidh
nithean nach bu chōir daibh. Ach cha ruigear a leas sin a dheanamh.
Sheasadh e roimh Mowat 's a cho luchd-riaghlaidh gun lųbadh glųn, 's cho
daingean ri carraig, air taobh na cōrach, mar a chunnaic esan i. Tha so
agam bho dhithis de cho-luchd-riaghlaidh a thug an teisteas dhomh gu
robh e ghnāth ag iarraidh an ni a bha ceart a dheanamh. Chaidh innseadh
dhomh leis an rųnair a bha comhladh ris rč na sč-bliadhna deug sin, nach
d' fhalaich e riamh bho shųil neach eile aon litir a fhuair e mar
mhinisteir, air gnothaichean nan sgoil. Bha iad fosgailte do neach air
bith aig an robh gnothuch r'an leughadh; air an doigh cheudna, cha robh
ni 's am bith de obair a dh' iarr e a chleith bho chleireach no
oifigeach a bha g'a chuideachadh. Cha b'urrainnear dearbhadh ni b'
fhearr na so fhaotainn nach robh aobhar eagail aige gnothuichean
coitchionn a dhreuchd fheuchainn do'n t-saoghal.

An los a shaothair fhuair e urram na doctaireachd o oil-thaighean Naomh
Aindreis, a'n Alba, na Ban-righinn, agus Toronto, ann an Canada.

Ri linn mar Phriomh-fhear bha suidheachadh na mor-roinne so car
trioblaideach. Bha na Liberals gle fhada air ceann na duthcha, 's bha na
neoil a'cur sgaile throm air an iarmailt. An uair a ghabh an Rosach an
stiųir, cha 'n e mhāin gu robh stoirm chunnartach a' cruinneachadh air
gach taobh, ach bha'n soitheach fein sean, tulgach, eu-dionach. Cha robh
riaghladh Mhowat aghartach gu bhi fosgladh suas na duthcha, no gu bhi
cur air chois oibre mhóra. Bha Mowat ro chrionta mu bhi cur am mach
airgead air leasachadh na tėre. Bha e 'n a shār fhear-lagha, cųramach,
faicilleach, ach cha robh sgonn ghnothuich air. Mar sin, bha moran
nithean air am fāgail gun deanamh, 's bha'n duthaich a' fulang o' n
ghoirt. Bha Mr. Hardy, a lean Mowat, briste 'n a shlāinte, ach beag fad
a riaghlaidh, gun chomas moran a dheanamh. Bha'n duthaich ag eigheach am
mach airson oibre, airson leasachadh crannchur, agus chuir an Rosach
aodann an t-soithich, breōite mar bha i, ri aghaidh gaoithe. Air a'
chųrsa b' iomadh tonn a bhuail oirre, b' iomadh oidhche, dhubh, neulach,
dhorcha a sheas an ceannard air clār, b'iomadh uair bha'n combaist fa
chomhair agus luaidhe ghrunn-aichidh teagamhach 'n a laimh; an drasda 's
a rithis b' fheudar bhi teann ri ceann am fhuairidh, ach sheas e āite,
ghleidh e 'n stiųir, is shābhail e 'n luchd bh'air bōrd. Bha cuid de'n
luchd so ro-luachmhor, mar a bha fosgladh suas Ontario-mu-thuath, agus
an fhurtachd a thug e do dh'oibribh mora Chlergue aig Sault Ste. Marie,
a shābhail iad o bhristeadh; agus am misneachadh a thug e do na
cuideachdan a tha toirt cumhachd-dhealan a uisgean Niagara. Cho luath 's
a ghabh e 'n laimh riaghladh Ontario chuir e am mach deich sgioba do'n
taobh tuath a rannsachadh na duthcha o chrioch Chuibec gu Nepigon 's an
iar. Fhuair iad sin a mach naduir agus gnč na duthcha moire sin--gu'n
robh moran fiodh luachmhor ann agus talamh beartach, torach a thogadh
gach seorsa grān agus fhreumh airson bidh dhuine agus ainmhidh. Air dha
so a bhith air a dheanamh soilleir dha, leag e rathad-iarruinn troimh 'n
duthaich chum fhosgladh. A'n cųrsa na h-oibre fhuaireadh airgead agus
cobalt a'm pailteas mhór, agus leis a so chaidh moran sluaigh gu tuath.
A nis, tha ōr is airgead agus meinn eile a' toirt a staigh suim a tha
dol gus na muileinean gach bliadhna; agus tha'n comhnard mór creadha a'
gabhail a steach ceudan de theaghlaichean a tha faotainn dachaidhean a'n
sin mar a fhuair na priomh luchd-aiteachaidh roimhe so ann an Ontario mu
dheas. Buinidh cliu an euchd mhoir so do Sheoras Ros, ach cha 'n 'eil
aon āite do'n duthaich ųr so ris am bheil ainm co-cheangailte mar
chuimhneachan. Tha ainmean Latchford, Engelhardt, Matheson agus Cochrane
gu h-ārd urramach 's an taobh tuath, ach cha'n 'eil baile beag no mór,
beann, sliabh, no sruth, air ainmeachadh air an duine a rųnaich, a
thōisich, 's a thug gu buil, an obair o'n do shruth so uile.

Ach am measg nan gnothaichean neo-dheanta a bha glaodhaich airson
fuasglaidh, cha robh aon aig an am so cho buaireanta ri gnothaich na
stuamachd, 's tha mi'n dųil nach fheil aon chupan a dh'ōl an Rosach rč a
mhinisteirleachd a bha cho seirbh rithe so. Bha e air taobh na stuamachd
fad a bheatha. Bha moran chairdean aige air an taobh cheudna, agus bha
dochas aca gu'n seasadh e gu dileas leo. Air an aobhair sin feumar
leudachadh car mionaid air a so.

Ri linn Mhowat, gheall an duine sin do na Stuaimich gu'n deanadh e lagh
an aghaidh a bhith deanamh deoch laidir ann an Ontario, no gu bhith g'a
reic no g'a cheannach,--a'n goirid,--nach biodh malairt na dibhe air a
cheadachadh 's a Mhor-roinn; 'n am biodh e air a dheanamh soilleir le
ārd-chuirt Lunnainn gu robh cumhachd aig Parlamaid Ontario
lagh-bachdaidh de'n t-seorsa sin a dheanamh. Rinn ard-chuirt Lunnainn
soilleir gu robh an cumhachd so aig Parlamaidean Mor-roinnean Chanada,
ann an cuis Mhanitoba, agus bha duil aig Stuaimich Ontario an
lagh-bachdaidh fhaotainn. Ach mu'n d' thainig breith Lunnainn a mach,
chaidh Mowat gu Ottawa, agus lėon Hardy āite ann an Toronto.
Dh'ath-ųraich Hardy gealladh Mhowat, ach cha d'fhuair e cothrom a
choimhlionadh. Lean Ros Hardy agus bha na Stuaimich a' cumail a mach gu
robh esan cuideachd ceangailte le gealladh Mhowat agus Hardy. C'arson,
ma ta, nach do choimhlion e an gealladh? 'Nam b' urrainnear a cheisd so
fhuasgladh bheirte air falbh an smal a's duirche th'air clių Shir
Seorais an diųgh. Tha mi 's an t-suidheachadh so,--gur urrainn domh
mineachadh Shir Seorais fein a thoirt seachad. Chuir mi a cheisd ris la
ann an Ottawa beagan is bliadhna roimhe so. 'S ann mar so a fhreagair e
mi:--"Bha mise gu tur neo-chomasach air gealladh Mhowat agus Hardy a
thoirt gu crich aig an am. Cha robh ni a bha ni b' fhaisge do m'
chridhe, ach bha e do-dheanta. 'S a' cheud āite cha robh an gealladh air
a thoirt leamsa ach le Mowat, agus an deigh sin le Hardy. Tha fhios agam
gu'n do cheangail an gealladh sin co-riaghlairean Mhowat agus na
Liberals, ach cha do cheangail e mise mar aon dhuine idir, do bhrigh
nach b'e mise gu pearsanta a thug an gealladh. Nis, bha is tha mi de'n
bheachd gu'm bu chōir do na Liberals an gealladh a choimhlionadh, 's tha
mi creidsinn gu'n dean iad sin fhathasd ma gheibh iad an cothrom,[1] ach
an uair a dh' fheuch mise ri mo cho-riaghladairean 's mo luchd-taic de
na Liberals a cho-eigneachadh gu lagh-bacaidh a thoirt a staigh, dhuilt
iad calg-dhireach sin a dheanamh. Thairg mi mo dhreuchd a leagail sios,
ach cha d' rinn sin feum. Cha robh mi riamh de'n bheachd gu robh e ceart
do dh--uachdran sam bith a bharail fein a spadadh air muinntir eile an
aghaidh an toil. Rinn mise na b' urrainn mi, ach cha robh cumhachd agam
daoine a bha neo-thoileach a dheanamh toileach a dhol leam. Cha 'n e
mise bu chōir an uallach so a ghiulain, ach na daoine a dhiult 's a chum
air ais mi 's a' chųis. Tha mi deonach mo chuibhrionn dligheach de'n
choire a ghabhail orm fein, ach faodas tu so a chreidsinn, cha'n e mise
bu choireach. Tha iad ag radh nach d'rinn mi mar a rinn Alasdair
MacCoinnich mu chise-marsantachd na duthcha. Tha diurras mhor eadar an
da chuis. Sheas a chuid mhor do chuideachd Mhic-Coinnich leis-san; cha
d'rinneadh sin leam-sa. A bharrachd air sin, cha b' e cųis choguis, ach
cųis beo-shlainte ris an robh aig MacCoinnich ri dheanamh. Bha e ro
dhiorrasach, ro rag 'na bheachd; cha robh cōir no ceart aige feuchainn
ri thoil fhein fhaotainn 'dheoin no dh' aindheoin, 'n uair bha 'n
duthaich dol fās cion dėon. Cha 'n 'eil an cōir so aig duine 's am bith
's an t-saoghal. Chaidh an la seachad anns am faigh riaghladair a thoil
fhein neo-air-thaing do chāch. Faodaidh duine tha saor o dhreuchd a
bheachdan fein a bhi aige, ach ann an duthaich a tha fo shaor
riaghlaidh, 's e toil an t-sluaigh, cha'n e toil an uachdarain is cōir a
dheanamh."

[Footnote 1: Dh' fheuch iad ri sin a dheanamh 's an Taghadh a'n 1914.]

Dh' fhiosraich mi fein a' chųis gu ro-mhionaideach, 's tha mi
smuaineachadh nach urrainn a' mhor-chuid de na Liberals clach a thilgeil
air a chlių, 's an ni so. Tha mi creidsinn mar theid uine seachad gu'n
tig an fhior chor gu solus, 's nach bi cāin throm ri phaidheadh le
'dheagh-chlių.

Bha e air a radh gu'n d'fhan e ro fhada air ceann an riaghlaidh. Tha mi
creidsinn gu'n d'fhan. Tha mi creidsinn gu'm fac' e caochladh a' tighinn
air earbsa an t-sluaigh, 's 'nan robh e saor, nach fhanadh e a'n
cumhachd cho fada 's a dh' fhan e. Ach mar thuirt e fein: "Cha b' ann
leamsa na Liberals b'ann leosan mise. Bha mi 'n am Phriomhfhear, ach b'
ann mar ārd-sheirbhiseach, cha b' ann mar Impire na-Gearmailt." Chaidh e
's a' chųis so, reir comhairle, cha b' ann a reir a bheachd fhein.

An uair a chaidh e do'n duthaich air an trāth mu dheireadh cha robh
traoghadh air a mhisneachd no air a threuntachd. Dh' fhoillsich e cridhe
an leoghain 's a' chath. Bha a bhuadhan air an lasadh le teine
'mhac-mheamna, agus shoillsich a bhriathrachas dubhachas deistinneach na
comhstrith mar dhealraicheas dearrsadh gealaich an fhogharaidh dubhar na
h-oidhche. Bu shluagh mór na Ceiltich 's an am a thriall, 's cha do
chaill iad buaidh fola an sinnsearan fhathasd. Cha b' e gnč an fhior
Ghaidheil teicheadh roimh namhaid; "Oir geill cha tug Camashronach
riamh"; geill riamh cha d'thug clanna Chuinn Cheud-chathach, no siol
Olghair nan Lann, no sliochd Chabarfeigh, no clann Diarmaid O'Duinn,
d'an suaicheantas ceann an tuirc; mar sinn nam fineachan eile, na
Rosaich nam measg, 's cha bu dual gu'n leagadh Sir Seoras sios a shleagh
's e beō. 'S an taghadh so sheas e a chųis, ach beag, 'na aonar, air
beulaibh an t-sluaigh. Cha robh moran de mhaithibh a thaobh fein maille
ris air chuairt. Bha coinneamh an deidh coinneimh aige air feadh na tėre
air fad, 's ged bha'n sluagh a' tuiteam air falbh bhuaith cha do chaisg
e aon oidheirp, nior robh coltas sgėths air an t-seann each cogaidh no
air a mharcaiche. Thuit e mar thuit na ceudan, ach thuit e 's a' bhlār,
le aghaidh ris an namhaid.

Ann an seomair na Parlamaid bha a thlachd ann an gleadhraich nan teanga.
Bha e geur sgaiteach 'n a bhriathran,--"ealamh, ullamh, aigeannach," mar
tha'n duan. An uair bhiodh deasbud mór air lom, bha e dāna, colganta,
ārd-bhriathrach. Bha e'n sin 'na lān eileamaid; mar shaighdear 's a'
chogadh, le claidheamh liobharach chinn Ilich 'na dhōrn, a teumadh, a
beumadh, 's a bearnadh am bac baidealach ri aghaidh air taobh eile na
cųis. Bha gniomh an fhir-chlis aige agus cleas an gatha-builg. Cha robh
aon innleachd an fhir-labhairt air nach robh e 'na mhaighstir, 's b'
ainneamh an t-am nach do choisinn e ārd dhuais an fhir-thagair.

Thubhairt mi gu robh e coibhneil do'n bhochd agus foidhidneach fo
thrioblaid. Mar dhuine bochd e fein bha bāigh aige do na bochdan agus
bha a lamh 'n a sporran gu minic. Airson moran bhliadhnaichean fhuiling
e péin is doruinn leis a ghreim-lōnaidh a bha nimheil is cruaidh ri
ghiulan. Ach bha fhoidhidinn fo'n eucail so ro-iongantach. Bha e
tiorail, blath-chridheach 'n a theaghlach agus ri aghaidh dhaoine. Agus
an uair a bha neach 's am bith comhradh ris bha e cuirteil, eireachdail,
mar gu'm bu phrionns' a bhiodh ann.

Mar Ghaidheal bha e lān-inntinneach, dileas agus fialaidh. Bha e
deidheil air a' Ghaidhlig agus air eachdraidh na Gaidhealtachd air an
robh e mion-eolach. Bha e prōiseal mu na rinn na Gaidheil do Chanada;
agus beagan mhiosan mu'n do chaochail e dh' iarr e orm a chuideachadh gu
comunn de chlann Rois a chur air chois ann am America. Chaidh so
dheanamh agus chaidh e fein a thaghadh air an ceann. Bu toil leis a bhi
cluinntinn 's a bhi comhradh mu na Gaidheil, agus bha tlachd aige a
bhith 'n am measg. "A chuid de Phāras dha." 'S fhada mu'n tig an latha
air nach bi ainm air a mholadh am measg a cho-luchd-duthcha ann an
Canada.




                        Transcriber's Notes

Hyphenation, spelling and grammar have been preserved as in the original
with the following exceptions.

Page  3, An deidh na sîthe fhuair ==> An deidh na sėthe fhuair
Page  3, Shoirbhich leo is dh' fhās ==> Shoirbhich leo is dh'fhās
Page  7, Mar a dh-fhās e suas chaidh ==> Mar a dh'fhās e suas chaidh
Page  7, air a' bheurla Shasunnach ==> air a' Bheurla Shasunnach
Page 11, bhāth e'n câmp. ==> bhāth e'n camp.
Page 18, tighinn dha na thrí ==> tighinn dha na thri
Page 23, a bheurla Shasunnach ==> a Bheurla Shasunnach
Page 29, Tearlach MacCoinnich. ==> Teārlach MacCoinnich.
Page 31, 'Sa bhliadhua so--1867 ==> 'Sa bhliadhna so--1867
Page 34, gu bhi riagladh thairis ==> gu bhi riaghladh thairis
Page 34, Dh' fhās an cāirdeas ==> Dh'fhās an cāirdeas
Page 46, so a dh-obraich cho ==> so a dh'obraich cho
Page 54, dh--uachdran sam bith ==> dh'uachdran sam bith





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