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© 2015 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publically
accessible website, in whole or in part.
Lesson Plan
Unit 9 – Soils and Hydroponic Management
Performance Objective
After the learner completes Unit 9 and participates in the suggested activities, the learner should
be able to determine the origin and classification of soils and to identify effective procedures for
soils and hydroponics management.
Competencies
 Define terms in soils, hydroponics, and other plant-growing media management.
 Identify types of plant-growing media.
 Describe the origin and composition of soils.
 Discuss the principles of soil classification.
 Determine appropriate amendments for soil and hydroponics media.
 Discuss fundamentals of fertilizing and liming materials.
 Identify requirements for hydroponics plant production.
 Describe types of hydroponics systems.
Terms to Know
The following terms are used in this unit and defined in the text glossary. Spanish translations of
the terms also appear in the glossary.
 medium — surrounding environment in which a living organism functions and thrives.
 hydroponics — the practice of growing plants without soil.
 compost — mixture of partially decayed organic matter.
 sphagnum — pale and ashy mosses used to condition soil.
 peat moss — a type of organic matter made from sphagnum moss.
 perlite — natural volcanic glass material having water-holding capabilities.
 vermiculite — mineral matter used for starting plant seeds and cuttings.
 horizon — layer.
 profile — a cross-sectional view of the soil.
 residual soils — parent materials formed in place.
 alluvial deposits — soils transported by streams.
 lacustrine deposits — soils deposited by lakes.
 loess deposits — soils deposited by wind.
 colluvial deposits — soils deposited by gravity.
 glacial deposits — soils deposited by ice.
 percolation — movement of water through the soil.
 capability classes — soil classifications indicating the most intensive but safe land use,
designated by a Roman numeral.
 O horizon — the soil layer that is on the surface that is composed of organic matter and a
small amount of mineral matter.
 A horizon — layer near the soil surface that is made up of desirable proportions of
mineral and organic matter.
 clay — smallest of soil particles; less than .002 mm.
 silt — intermediate soil particles; .05 to .002 mm.
 sand — largest soil particles; 1 to .05 mm.
© 2015 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publically
accessible website, in whole or in part.
 topsoil — desirable proportion of plant nutrients, chemicals, and living organisms
located near the surface which support good plant growth.
 B horizon — soil below the A horizon or topsoil and generally referred to as subsoil.
 subsoil — a soil layer that corresponds to the B horizon that is composed almost entirely
of mineral matter with generally large chunky soil structure.
 C horizon — soil below the B horizon; it is important for storing and releasing water to
the upper layers of soil.
 bedrock — the area below C horizon consisting of large soil particles.
 loam — a relatively even mixture of sand, silt, and clay.
 soil structure — the tendency of soil particles to cluster together and function as soil
units.
 decomposer — an organism that breaks down material that was once living.
 soil amendment — in addition to; change in.
 pH — measurement of acidity or alkalinity from 0 to 14.
 acidity — sourness.
 alkalinity — sweetness.
 neutral — neither acid or alkaline.
 fertilizer grade — percentages of primary nutrients in fertilizer.
 active ingredients — components that achieve one or more purposes of the mixture.
 starter solutions — diluted mixtures of single or complete fertilizers used when plants
are transplanted.
 nitrate — a form of nitrogen used by plants.
 nitrogen fixation — conversion of nitrogen gas to nitrate by bacteria.
 aeroponics — the plant roots hang in the air and are misted regularly with a nutrient
solution.
Curriculum Standards Correlations
 National AFNR Performance Indicators: ESS 01.01, ESS 03.02, NRS 01.01, NRS 01.02,
NRS 02.03, NRS 02.04, PS 02.02, PS 02.03
 CCTC Standards: AG-ENV 3, AG-ENV 4, AG-NR 1, AG-NR 2
 Green Sustainability Knowledge and Skills Statements: Agriculture, Food, & Natural
Resources Career ClusterTM 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, and 8; STEM Career ClusterTM 2, 4, and 5
Instructor Resources
 Computerized test bank in ExamView®
 Instructor slide presentations
 Correlation guides (National AFNR, CCTC, and Green Sustainability)
 Image Library
 CourseMate materials for Unit 9
Instructor Notes:
 Assign each student words from the Terms to Know list to research. They should be
prepared to present a brief report in class about the meaning of these terms and how they
are used in agriculture.
© 2015 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publically
accessible website, in whole or in part.
 Assist the students in constructing a working model of a hydroponics planter from
everyday materials such as plastic pipe and a water pump. Select a variety to plant, and
monitor its growth.
 Choose an available area to dig a hole approximately 3 feet deep and show students the
soil profile of topsoil and subsoil. Study the soil structure and determine its textural class.
 Study how to take a soil sample and allow groups of students to collect a sample from
various school lawns and ball fields. Send the sample to the state university or a soil-
testing laboratory. Be prepared to discuss the results upon their return. Share the results
with the school maintenance personnel.
 Discuss land capability maps and the land classes. Introduce students to topo maps and
point out some similarities between these maps.
 Allow time to review Unit 9 and complete the self-evaluation.
Class Activities and Projects
1. Assign class members to fill a 1-gallon container with soil and bring it to school. This
will provide a wide range of soil types that can be used as teaching materials. Each
student should measure his or her soil sample to determine the soil texture. Students
should work in pairs, and each student should also test his or her partner’s soil sample as
a check for accuracy.
2. Conduct drainage tests on the soil samples. Begin by placing a filter paper at the bottom
of a funnel. An acceptable funnel can be made by cutting off the top third of a plastic
beverage bottle and inverting it. Next, place a measured amount of soil inside the funnel
and on top of the filter paper. Make sure the soil is directly on the filter paper. Then
carefully add a measured amount of water to the soil surface while being careful not to
disturb the placement of the soil. Observe the length of time that is required for the water
to move through the soil to the container below the funnel. This is a good time to line up
the soil samples from most permeable to least permeable. Have students check the texture
of the soil with their fingers according to the chart that is provided in this unit.
3. Invite a local expert to come and introduce hydroponics to the class. Students have the
ability to do new solution culture experiments at little cost by using plants that have never
been grown in solution culture before, such as most houseplants and bedding plants.
Students could do experiments in the areas of nutrient deficiencies, toxicities, carbon
dioxide and oxygen deficiencies, pH, fertilizer testing, growth regulators, nitrogen
fixation, shoot-to-root ratio, bulb forcing, and others. The possibilities for hydroponics
projects are nearly endless.
4. Using the CourseMate resources, have students fill in the characteristics of soil horizons
in Worksheet 09-01 and the capability classes of soils in Worksheet 09-02.
5. Suggest an FFA SAE (supervised agricultural experiences) project idea:
 Take part in a mentorship program with the local soil and water conservation district.
(FFA SAE Ideas, Environmental Service Systems 47).
Essay Questions
1. Identify and describe three media other than soil that can be used to grow plants.
 Compost is a mixture of partially decayed organic matter such as leaves, manure, and
household plant wastes. Decaying plant matter should be mixed with lime and
fertilizer in correct proportions to support plant growth.
© 2015 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publically
accessible website, in whole or in part.
 There is a group of pale or ashy mosses called sphagnum. These are used extensively
in horticulture as a medium for encouraging root growth and growing plants under
certain conditions. Peat moss consists of partially decomposed mosses that have
accumulated in waterlogged areas called bogs that are saturated with water. Both
sphagnum and peat moss have excellent air- and water-holding qualities.
 Many other sources of plant and animal residues may be used as plant-growing
media. For instance, a fence post or a log may rot on its top and hold moisture from
rainfall. Horse manure mixed with straw is used extensively as a medium for growing
mushrooms. In this instance, both animal residue (manure) and plant residue
(straw) combine to make an effective medium.
 Some mineral matter can also become plant-growing media. For instance, volcanic
lava and ash eventually accumulate soil particles on their surface. Seeds settle into
cracks, and moisture causes the seeds to germinate. Roots then penetrate and break up
the volcanic residue. As time passes, the area that once was only lava and ash
becomes covered with plant life. Horticulturists use certain mineral materials in plant-
growing areas, too. Perlite is a natural volcanic glass material that has water-holding
capabilities. Perlite is used extensively for starting new plants. Vermiculite, a
mineral matter from a group of mica-type materials, is also used for starting plant
seeds and cuttings.
2. Outline the soil capability classes used in the United States.
 Class I—Soils have few limitations that restrict their use.
 Class II—Soils have moderate limitations that reduce the choice of plants or require
moderate conservation practices.
 Class III—Soils have severe limitations that reduce the choice of plants, require
special conservation practices, or both.
 Class IV—Soils have severe limitations that reduce the choice of plants, require
careful management, or both.
 Class V—Soils are not likely to erode but have other limitations that are impractical
to remove and limit their use.
 Class VI—Soils have severe limitations that make them generally unsuitable for
cultivation.
 Class VII—Soils have severe limitations that make them unsuitable for cultivation.
 Class VIII—Soils and geologic features have limitations that nearly always prevent
their use for agricultural production except light grazing.
3. Describe the characteristics of the O, A, B, and C horizons.
 The O horizon is on the surface and is composed of organic matter and a small
amount of mineral matter. Organic matter originates from living sources such as
plants, animals, insects, and microbes. Mineral matter is derived from non-living
sources such as rock materials.
© 2015 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publically
accessible website, in whole or in part.
 The A Horizon is located near the surface and consists of mineral matter and organic
matter. It contains desirable proportions of organic matter, fine mineral particles
called clay, medium-sized mineral particles called silt, and larger mineral particles
called sand. The appropriate proportion of these soil components creates soil that is
tillable, or workable with tools and equipment. With the presence of desirable plant
nutrients, chemicals, and living organisms, the A horizon generally supports good
plant growth. The A horizon is frequently called topsoil.
 The B horizon is below the A horizon and is generally referred to as subsoil. The
mineral content is similar to the A horizon, but the particle sizes and properties differ.
Because organic matter comes from decayed plant and animal materials, the amount
naturally decreases as distance from the surface increases.
 The C horizon is below the B horizon and is composed mostly of parent material. C
Horizon is important for storing and releasing water to the upper layers of soil, but it
does not contribute much to plant nutrition. It is likely to contain larger soil particles
and may have substantial amounts of gravel and large rocks. The area below the C
horizon is called bedrock.
4. Describe the process of taking a soil sample.
 Select an appropriate sampling tool (spade, auger, or soil tube)
 Make a sketch dividing the area into sampling areas—for example, front lawn,
garden, flower bed, slope, and back lawn. Appropriately label each area.
 When taking samples, avoid wet or bare spots. Soils that are substantially different in
plant growth or past treatment should be sampled separately, provided their size and
nature make it feasible to fertilize or lime each area separately.
 After removing surface litter, take a sample from the correct depth. This is 2
inches for established lawns and about 6 inches for gardens, flower beds, farm crop
land, and other areas to be tilled.
 Submit a separate composite sample for each significantly different area— for
example, front lawn, back lawn, and flower bed. Your composite sample for each
area should include a small amount of soil taken from each of 10 to 20 randomly
selected locations in the area represented by each sample.
 When using a spade, first make a V-shaped cut. Then remove a 1-inch slice from one
side of the cut. Then take a 1-inch strip from the middle of this slice. This represents
the soil from one spot in the sample.
 Air-dry the soil; do not use heat. Mix the soil from a composite in a clean bucket.
Place about 1 pint of this mixture into the sample box. Use a separate box for each
composite. Fill in the blanks on the box or information sheet for each box.
 Send soil sample(s) and information sheet(s) to the soil test laboratory.
5. Define hydroponics and describe three commonly used hydroponics systems.
 The term hydroponics refers to a number of systems used for growing plants without
soil. Some major systems are:
o Aggregate culture—in which a material such as sand, gravel, or marbles supports
the plant roots
o Water culture, solution culture, or nutriculture—the plant roots are immersed in
water containing dissolved nutrients
© 2015 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publically
accessible website, in whole or in part.
o Aeroponic —in which the plant roots hang in the air and are misted regularly with
a nutrient solution
o Continuous-flow systems—in which the nutrient solution flows constantly over
the plant roots. This system is the one most commonly used for commercial
production.
Suggested Assessment/Homework Activities
You may choose to assign any or all of these items or provide some as additional review options
or for extra credit. Depending on the length of your course, you may break the unit reading into
segments or assign different items for homework each night. Note that the lab manual exercises
are designed to be conducted in a group lab setting and require additional materials and
preparation, and may be spread across units.
Textbook
 Complete Self-Evaluation for Unit 9
 Read Unit 10
CourseMate
 Review the Study Guide
 Complete the assignments for Unit 9 (09-01 and 09-02)
 Complete worksheets for Unit 9 (09-01 and 09-02)
 Study the Flashcards
 Explore the Web links
 Complete the pre-assessment quiz for Unit 10
 Complete the post-assessment quiz for Unit 9
 Review engagement tracker to track student progress and time spent on each activity.
Lab Manual
 Exercise 11: Talking Dirty—Soil Fertility
 Exercise 12: Hold the Soil Please—Growing Plants without Soil
Online Resources:
 Learn about the classification system for soils from the United States Department of
Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service. Search for “USDA, soils,
technical.”
 Learn about the Twelve Soil Orders (multimedia). Search for “University of Idaho, soil
orders.”
 Explore the mapping of soils through the Food and Agriculture Organization of the
United Nations. Search for “FAO land soils.”
© 2015 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publically
accessible website, in whole or in part.
Answers to Self-Evaluation
A. Multiple Choice
1. d 2. d 3. c 4. a 5. c
6. a 7. b 8. b 9. a 10. d
11. c 12. d 13. a 14. d 15. b
B. Matching (Group I)
1. d 2. i 3. a 4. b 5. j
6. h 7. g 8. c 9. e 10. f
Matching (Group II)
1. c 2. d 3. b 4. a 5. j
6. h 7. i 8. f 9. e 10. g
C. Completion
1. plants
2. roots; fungi; algae; actinomycetes
3. plant feeders; predators; microanimals
4. supply nutrients; improve water-holding capacity; provide food for organisms; decrease
leaching; improve structure; make soil more porous; store minerals (nutrients)
5. oxygen
6. nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, sulfur
7. iron, manganese, boron, zinc, copper, molybdenum, chlorine
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After they were all cleared away, she lay quietly back on the sofa,
and there was a far-away look in her eyes that made her father
unwilling to ask where her thoughts were. Presently she turned to
him, and said in a low, nervous tone, "Papa, I want to ask you
something. May I do exactly as I like with all my own things?"
"Certainly, darling. What treasure do you wish to send to the little
Morag? But I thought Ellis was doubtful if she could stow all the
things you have already sent,—eh, Blanchie?"
"Oh, I did not mean in the box, papa! But you know it cannot be
very long now before I have to leave you—and everything," and
Blanche's fluttering fingers, so wan and wasted now, played
nervously with her father's hand as she spoke.
"Of course you will keep everything you want—and Miss Prosser and
Ellis will, too. But I should like Morag to have some of my things
when I am gone. She has so few pretty things in the hut; and
besides, I really do think she would like to have them, just because
they are mine, and they will remind her of me when I'm far away;"
and Blanche glanced round the room at the pretty statuettes and
pictures, and the rows of nicely-bound books, of which she used to
tell Morag, as they rambled among the woods and braes of Glen
Eagle.
"Yes, my darling; Morag shall have whatever you like," replied Mr.
Clifford with an effort, as soon as he was able to speak; and
presently he continued: "My child, perhaps I should tell you that you
have a great deal more to give away than your books and pictures.
You are what people call an heiress, Blanchie. Your mother left you a
large fortune, and, besides, you will have all that belongs to me. Ah,
my child! will you not live?—I cannot let you go! There is such a
bright future in store for you—so many hopes bound up in this dear
life!"
"Yes, papa, dear; the future is bright," replied Blanche, smiling. "I
was reading about it only this morning—'an inheritance,
incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away.' I learnt the
words. It was strange I never remember hearing them till to-day.
But I suppose God just speaks His own words to us when we need
them and will listen to them. It's all right, papa, dear," she continued
as she put her arm round her father's neck, as he sat with his head
resting on his hand, absorbed in his own sad thoughts. "I know the
Lord Jesus Christ will comfort you when I am gone. And then, you
know, papa dear, you will not be so very long in coming, and I shall
be waiting for you, oh! so eagerly, and we shall be so happy
together in the home of God!"
"Is it not rather difficult for rich people to be good, papa?" asked
Blanche, after she had laid pondering a short time. "If I had lived,
perhaps I might have grown into a grand lady—like some of Ellis's
mistresses that she tells me about—and got selfish and bad when I
grew old. But now, papa, dear, I shall always be your own foolish
little Blanchie," and she nestled in her father's arm, as he stroked
the long fair curls—the last symbol of health that remained.
After she had again laid musing for some time, Blanche sat up, and
with some of her old eagerness she said—
"Papa, I've just been thinking that Morag is so gentle, and so clever,
and so fond of books, that I'm sure she would grow up very learned
if she were educated. I know she would like lessons a great deal
more than I used to do, and be much more diligent. Have I enough
money to educate Morag, papa?"
"Yes, darling, quite enough; and if you wish it, it shall be done,"
replied Mr. Clifford huskily, for this conversation was almost too
painful for him to continue.
"But after all, papa, very clever people, who know everything, are
not always very happy or good—are they? And, besides, I really do
not see how her father and Kirsty could get on without Morag. And
then she is so faithful and loving—perhaps she could never be
persuaded to leave them, to be made a lady of in the world beyond
her mountains," said Blanche, smiling, as the image of her shy little
mountain friend rose before her.
"No, papa, dear," she said presently, after thinking quietly for a little;
"I really think we must give up that idea after all. I do believe the
Lord Jesus Christ would like best that Morag should stay in the Glen
and make her father and Kirsty comfortable and happy as they get
older. But I'll tell you what we might do, papa, dear. Would there be
enough money to build a nice new house for Morag and her father?
That hut among the crags must tumble to pieces one day before
long, I should think, though certainly Morag does make it look as
nice as possible," added Blanche, pathetically, for she remembered
well the morning on which she saw it last.
Her father listened with a sad interest as Blanche told the story of
that day's troubles, and how sorry she had been to leave Glen Eagle
without taking farewell of her mountain friend. And as she told how
she had hurried up the hill to the little shieling among the crags,
only to find it empty, and glowingly described the pleasant interior
into which her friend had transformed the once wretched hut, the
scene seemed to come vividly to her memory, and to bring with it an
intense desire for life, as she lay on the borders of the far-off land!
Some hot tears stole down her cheeks, and with quivering lip and
clasped hands she gazed wistfully into her father's face as she said—
"O papa! if I could only walk one afternoon with Morag in the fir-
wood, I almost think I should feel well again!"
XVII.
MORAG'S JOURNEY INTO THE WORLD BEYOND THE MOUNTAINS.
T was a wild night at Stratheagle. An eddying wind had been
blowing the deep snow into wreaths, and fresh falling flakes
were whirling about in all directions through the darkness.
All trace of the road through the mountain pass had
disappeared; and it would have fared ill with the Honorable Mr.
Clifford's slim English footman, with his elegant calves, as he
made his way towards the keeper's shieling among the crags, if he
had not taken the precaution of securing a guide from the village
below.
The steep ascent to the hut was almost impassable, and more than
once the man seemed disposed to give it up and beat a retreat to
his quarters at the village without fulfilling his mission. But his more
stalwart companion cheered him on, assuring him at intervals that it
was only a "mile and a bittock," and pointed to the light in the
window of the hut long before it shed any encouraging ray on the
exhausted flunkey, who went stumbling and grumbling up the hill
through the blinding drift, feeling himself the most ill-used of
persons to have been sent to such regions in such weather.
The light from the window of the hut was at last really visible,
shimmering through the darkness, and soon the benighted travellers
stood under the snowy crags which towered above the little shieling.
Our old friend Morag was, meanwhile, comfortably seated in the
ingle-neuk, reading laboriously from one of her ancient yellow-
leaved volumes, little dreaming what was in store for her to-night.
Her father sat near her smoking his evening pipe, but he was not
staring into the fire in idleness and grim silence as of old. He
seemed at the present moment quite absorbed in a newspaper, the
date of which was uncertain, seeing it had been torn off when it was
used for lining a packing-case of game during autumn. But though it
was not a "day's paper," it seemed to satisfy the keeper's literary
cravings, and he had carefully perused it from beginning to end by
the light of the fire of peat and pine, which blazed brightly on the
hearth.
The snow made a warm covering round the wall, and a secure white
thatch on the porous roof, so it happened that to-night the hut was
really a more comfortable abode than it had often proved during
autumn-days.
Morag jumped to her feet when she heard the sound of voices and
the loud knocking; and now she stood gazing at her father with a
look of startled surprise.
Laying down his pipe, the keeper prepared to open the door, but
before he had time to do so, the injured footman stood in the middle
of the floor, stamping the snow from his feet, and inspecting his
precious person generally, as he muttered expressions of indignation
concerning this unpleasant piece of service which had fallen to his
lot.
Morag recognized the visitor at once, and forgetting her shyness,
she sprang forward, saying, in low, eager tones, "Will ye no be frae
the wee leddy o' the castle? I'm thinkin' there maun be something
wrang. Is she no weel?"
"Miss Clifford, I presume you mean, little girl. Well, you are right, so
far. I come from her father—my master, the Honorable Mr. Clifford. I
think I've got a letter for you; but 'pon my word it's been at the risk
of my life bringin' it here. S'pose I'd better read it myself?" said he,
looking round patronizingly at the keeper.
And without waiting for a reply, he tore open the closed envelope,
amid the smouldering indignation of the keeper, to whom it was
evidently addressed, and began to read as follows:—
"Will Morag come to London immediately to see her little friend
Blanche, who is very ill and wants to see her? The Keeper may safely
trust his daughter to the servant, who has got all directions how to
proceed.
Arthur Clifford."
"Quite safe with me, depend upon it; the master is quite right
there!" said the servant, smiling blandly at the confidence reposed in
him.
"Well, little girl, what do you say to it? You will come, I suppose?
The master has set his 'art on it, sure enough—or he would not have
been sendin' me to the hends of the earth on such a night as this. I
have a trap hired at the village, all ready to start in the morning.
What do you say to it, keeper?—rather sudden, for such quiet folks
as you, ain't it?" continued the man, smilingly glancing at the silent,
offended keeper.
Morag sat thinking in dumb silence for a little, but presently she
sprang up, and taking hold of her father's arm, she said in her low,
eager tone, "O father! ye mustna hinner me; the bonnie wee leddy
is ill, and wantin' me—and I maun gang!"
Then turning to the messenger, Morag asked imploringly, "She's no
jist sae verra ill, is she?"
"Bad enough, I guess. 'Tis a pity—such a pretty little miss she was
getting to be. Master so bound up in her, too!"
"Well, keeper, how is it to be?—for I've got to go down that shockin'
precipice again—and it's getting late. I'll take good care of the young
'un, you may be sure. And, depend upon it, you won't be the loser,
noways, by fallin' in with master's views," added the servant, with a
nod of meaning which made the proud keeper resolve instantly that
his daughter should not obey the summons.
But never before had Morag been so wildly wilful on any matter. Her
father felt quite taken by storm as he listened to her pleadings,
though he could not yet be persuaded to give his consent.
The servant stood waiting with evident impatience, and at last a
compromise was arranged, to the effect that if Morag was to
accompany him, she would be brought to the village inn by her
father next morning, before the hour of starting.
It was almost midnight when Dingwall might be seen toiling across
the moorland, through the snow, in the direction of Kirsty's cottage.
The old woman and he were fast friends now, and he wanted to ask
her advice on the startling proposal concerning the little girl who was
so precious to them both.
He found Kirsty sitting quietly reading her Bible beside the dying
peat embers. Taking off her spectacles, she listened placidly to the
story, and presently she replied in low, emphatic tones, "Dinna
hinner the bairn, keeper. Lat her gang, by a' means. 'Deed, I'm near
awears o' gaen mysel'. The bonnie lambie—an' sae He's til tak' her
hame til Himsel? Weel, weel, I thocht as muckle, whiles, when she
was comin' aboot us wi' a' her winsome ways. May she hae been
early seekin' the face she will maybe see gin lang!"
So Morag gained her point. Her travelling preparations were not long
in being made; and, though she had not many hours of sleep that
night, she was all ready to go down the hill with her father in the
morning.
Just before she started, Kenneth came running up to the shieling in
breathless haste. He carried with him the old tartan plaid which had
done such sad duty in the fir-wood. Wrapping it carefully round
Morag, he stood watching her wistfully, as she started in the grey
dawn of a December morning on this first journey into the world
beyond the mountains!
It was Christmas Eve. A fresh fall of snow lay spotless and shining
on the ground. The moon was giving a clear, plentiful light, and as it
shimmered on the snow-covered streets and squares, it seemed
suddenly to transform them into groups of stately marble palaces.
A pleasant crimson glow came from the close-curtained windows of
Mr. Clifford's London mansion, shedding a warm, rosy light on the
white crisp pavement in front, where stood a group of German lads
singing a fine rolling Christmas carol.
Little did they guess how dreary and tenantless those rooms were
to-night, which seemed to them to enclose such a paradise of
delights as they kept gazing up to the windows, in the hope of an
appreciative audience from within the crimson glow.
They did not know that the sorrowful interest of the household was
centred in one darkened room, where the only child of the house lay,
with life ebbing slowly away; nor that the largess which seemed so
munificent came from a little hand that was soon to take farewell of
all earthly treasures.
They were still singing, by way of gracious acknowledgment of so
handsome a gift, when a cab drove up to the door of the house, and
out of it stepped our little friend, Morag. The tall footman, her
escort, ran up the broad steps, while the little mountaineer stood on
the pavement gazing round, bewildered in the midst of a scene so
new and strange.
And this was her bonnie wee leddy's home. Did people always stand
there and sing beautifully, she wondered, as she glanced at the
German band—and then at the many bright-curtained windows of
Blanche Clifford's London home.
At length the great hall door was opened, and a blaze of light fell on
the snowy steps. Within were vistas of gilded pillars and corridors,
and glimpses of bright soft hangings. To Morag's dazzled eyes, it
seemed like the entrance to an enchanted palace. She tremblingly
followed her guide, and the door was closed behind her, as the
singing boys were watching with interest the little girl who looked so
eagerly at everything; and somehow seemed to remind them of their
sisters and their homes in the Black Forest.
Another tall footman, the fac-simile of Morag's guide, had opened
the door, and now he stood gazing, more curiously than kindly, at
the stranger.
"Law, Thomas! what 'ave we got here? Well, I never. Where did you
catch that 'un," he said, with a rude laugh as he stood staring at the
little girl.
Poor Morag certainly presented a grotesque enough appearance as
she stood there in the brightly-lighted hall, wrapped in the great
tartan plaid, which was fastened behind, while the ends fell on the
ground. And on her head she wore a little scarlet hood, a relic of her
infancy, which she had taken from the depths of the old kist—feeling
certain that Ellis would look on her more favorably if she wore a
bonnet. But, unfortunately, the hood was of such small dimensions
that it had a constant tendency towards the back of her neck,
leaving her black elf-like locks streaming around.
"Come now, Sparks, none of your cheek. She's the nicest little
shaver possible—an uncommon decent little thing; wasn't no trouble
on the way, neither; always turned up all right when a fellow wanted
to go and smoke a pipe, or get a drop of somethink. My word, I'd go
back with her to-morrow, I would."
"Where's Ellis?—ring for her, will you? I must get this little girl off my
hands now. How is missie, by the way?"
"Better again, to-day, they say. Master is looking brisker, too.
Dreadful dull Christmas-time for a fellow, though. There's Ellis
wouldn't laugh for a sovereign."
Meanwhile, Morag stood looking eagerly round. She felt sure that
she would see her bonnie wee leddy emerge from some of those
vistas of brightness; but when she did not come, the little girl began
to feel very forlorn as she stood there in the hall. She could not
understand what the servants were saying, and she began to
wonder what was going to happen next, and longed for a sight of
her gracious little friend, who never had failed her before.
Morag had no idea how seriously ill Blanche was, and she had been
hoping during her journey that perhaps her bonnie wee leddy might
be quite well again by the time she arrived. She had got so quickly
well after the loch adventure; and Morag could not conceive of her
looking more fragile that she did on that evening when she saw her
last, in the old castle of Glen Eagle, lying on the sofa, wrapped in her
blue flannel dressing-gown.
At length Ellis came bustling along; and even she was a welcome
sight to poor Morag in her forlornness.
"Well, little girl; how d'ye do. Very glad to see you—never thought I
should feel so glad to see you. I thought you would come to see
missie. Miss Prosser told me the master had sent for you. Miss
Clifford does know not yet. She's so weak, you see; any hagitation is
bad, but I daresay you will see her in the morning. It's a good step
from the 'ighlands—ain't it? I expect you are tired—poor thing," said
Ellis, glancing rather pityingly at Morag's wistful face.
"I'm no that tired. But she's no jist verra ill, is she? I thocht maybe
she would hae been weel gin noo," said Morag, ruefully returning to
the subject that lay nearest her heart, as Ellis led her along what
seemed to her a maze of brightly-lighted passages.
"It wasna fallin' intil the loch that hurtit her, think ye?" she asked
presently.
"Well, now, I shouldn't wonder though that chill had something to do
with it," replied Ellis, as if she had received a new idea. "Poor dear
missie, she is so sweet—almost too good to live, as the sayin' is.
She's much better to-day. I daresay she'll be able to have a look at
you to-morrow."
Morag's heart sank. The thought of seeing her bonnie wee leddy at
the end of her journey had kept her brave through its fears and
discomforts; but now she heard that another night must elapse
before they could meet, and she would be left alone among all those
strangers. It seemed so cruel and hard; and Morag felt sure that if
her wee leddy knew she was here, she would not ask her to wait till
to-morrow.
Meanwhile, Ellis led the way to the housekeeper's room, leaving
Morag to be warmed and fed and generally comforted by Mrs.
Worthy. The old housekeeper welcomed the forlorn little maiden
kindly, and after divesting her of the tartan plaid, and providing a
comfortable supper, she made her sit down in a big arm-chair by the
fire,—and, taking a similar one for herself, she began to recall
reminiscences of Glen Eagle, and to make inquiries about the
dwellers in the Glen whose aquaintance she had made during these
autumn months.
Presently, Blanche's illness became the topic of conversation, and
Morag listened eagerly to all Mrs. Worthy had to say about it. Her
heart sank when she heard how very ill her bonnie wee leddy had
been. After looking meditatively into the fire for some time, she
looked up and said eagerly, "I'm thinkin', Mistress Worthy, gin they
wad jist bring her til the auld castle o' Glen Eagle to bide, and lat her
rin aboot wi' Shag and Chance and me, when the snaw gaes awa,
and the bit flooers begin to creep up, she wad get braw and strong
again."
"Well, there's no sayin', little girl. I likes to see young folks take a
cheerin' view of things. 'While there's life, there's 'ope,' I always say.
There's my Sarah Jane was once a-spittin' up—and there ain't a
stronger woman to be found nowhere, now; and there's"—
Here Mrs. Worthy's family chronicle of illnesses was interrupted by a
bell ringing violently within the room. It sounded so startling, that
Morag jumped to her feet, and even Mrs. Worthy looked somewhat
alarmed as she rose to answer it.
"Bless me, it ain't often that bell is a ringin'—so shockin' loud, too!
What's the hurry, I wonder?" and the old woman bustled away,
leaving her companion alone.
Morag thought she could guess why the bell had just rung; and
hoped that it might prove a summons for her to go to the bonnie
wee leddy. She sat listening eagerly for the sound of returning
footsteps, but no messenger appeared; so Morag's hope died away
at last, and she began to feel very forlorn indeed.
As she sat, looking dreamily into the flickering fire, she remembered
another evening when she found herself seated in Mrs. Worthy's
arm-chair, in the midst of unwonted comforts, and how very
frightened and uncomfortable she was till the wee leddy had
suddenly appeared and made her feel so safe and happy.
And as she gazed among the glowing coals, she realized, as she
never had before, what an eventful evening that had been, and how
much had happened during these never-to-be-forgotten autumn
days. All at once, her lonely child-life seemed to be filled with love
and brightness, and the very hills and glens of her mountain home
to be glorified, as she strayed among them with her bonnie wee
leddy. And then the friendship with Kirsty Macpherson had grown
out of these days too, and what happy changes it had brought to the
little shieling among the crags! Her father's brow was cleared of its
perpetual gloom; he never said bitter things about his neighbors in
the Glen now, and when Morag and he went together to the kirk, so
many people seemed glad to see him there.
And as Morag Dingwall's thoughts went slipping back to these
golden autumn days, that had been so full of blessing for her, she
lifted up her heart in thankfulness to God for the best thing among
all the many good things which they had brought to her—the
knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ, her Saviour. Had the wee leddy
learnt to love Him too, she wondered, as she remembered the last
talk in Glen Eagle; and then she thought, joyfully, how much there
would be to hear and tell to-morrow, when Ellis had promised she
should see her friend.
As she sat gazing into the fire, Morag fell asleep in the big arm-
chair; and in her dreams she thought she was again with Blanche,
struggling through the rippling water, like the Pilgrims in the picture.
But neither of them appeared to feel frightened, as they had when
they were almost drowned in the loch. At first the water seemed
smooth and shining, and Morag could hear the bonnie wee leddy's
silvery voice calling to her to come away, for she saw the Golden City
quite clearly now—and that the gates were really wide open still,
though it was so late at night. Then Morag, all at once, began to feel
afraid, for she could see no city lying in the sun; but only a great
leaden-looking wave, which came creeping towards her, throwing its
gray shadow on the shining water; then she lost sight of her bonnie
wee leddy, and could only hear her voice calling her to come. But
Morag thought she could not cross the dark wave, and the silvery
voice began to sound very far away; and at last she awoke,
trembling,—feeling so glad to think that after all it was only a dream.
The fire, which had been so bright and warm when she fell asleep,
was now cold and black. The candles, too, were almost burnt to
their sockets; and Morag saw that she must have slept for a long
time. She began to wonder where Mrs. Worthy was, and whether
they meant to leave her there, till they came to take her to see the
bonnie wee leddy in the morning.
She would not have treated her so, thought Morag, with quivering
lip, as she looked blankly round the solitary room, where everything
seemed so gray and cheerless, and she shivered as she remembered
the leaden wave of her dream, and began to feel very frightened
and homesick, besides being cold and wearied.
Presently she heard the sound of footsteps re-echoing along the
silent corridor, and Mrs. Worthy walked slowly into the room with her
nightcap on. In her hand she carried a candle, which she almost
dropped in her astonishment at seeing Morag seated there.
"Bless my soul, child! are you here still? I was just on my way to
bed. I declare I had quite forgotten all about you. Dear, dear, my
'ead's quite confused—and no wonder! Poor dear, you must be sadly
tired. Too bad of Ellis not to have taken you to bed. She promised to
see after you when she was sent along to you. I've just only now
come from missie's room—dear angel: she does look so sweet. You'll
see her to-morrow, my poor dear!"
And then, noticing Morag's wistful look as she murmured, "No the
nicht," the old woman pondered for a while, and taking the candle
again, she said, "Well, well, there can't be no 'arm: they are all
cleared away now! Come, I'll take you, poor dear. You haven't been
well treated noways among us all, and I heard the master tell Ellis
that she was to look to you, and he would see you himself to-
morrow."
Morag's heart leapt for joy. If she could only see her bonnie wee
leddy even for a minute, and feel her protecting touch again, she
would forget all her past troubles and be quite safe and happy in this
strange land.
She followed Mrs. Worthy with joyful steps as she led her along the
passages, which were cold and dark now. She smiled as she thought
how astonished the wee leddy would be to see her mountain friend,
for she remembered Ellis had said that she was not to be told of her
arrival till next morning; but it was so good and kind of Mrs. Worthy
to take her now. And then she tried to picture to herself how
Blanche would be looking. Would she find her lying on a sofa,
dressed in her pretty blue dressing-gown, which she wore on the
evening she saw her last at the old castle of Glen Eagle? And would
she seem much paler than she did then? Morag feared she might,
when she remembered what a long time she had laid in bed; but
summer days would soon come again, and the sunshine, which the
bonnie leddy loved so well, would be sure to make her strong again.
Indeed, in her secret heart, Morag cherished the hope that her own
presence might act as a talisman, and she smiled to think of the
pleasant voice that would soon bid her welcome; for, since the dark
hour in the fir-wood, when she thought Blanche had left the Glen
without remembering to say farewell, Morag had never doubted the
love and friendship of her gracious little friend.
At last Mrs. Worthy stopped at a closed door, and as she lowered the
candle which she held in her hand, Morag caught sight of a familiar
friend lying on the mat.
Chance was waiting there in a listening posture, with his nose
against the door. Morag stooped down and patted him, but, instead
of jumping up at her in outrageous welcome, as he used to do, he
merely gave a faint wag of his tail, and looking wistfully into her
face, raised a low, whining cry, and put his nose close to the door
again.
"I'm thinkin' Chance will be wantin' in—to get a sicht o' her too,"
said Morag, smiling.
"Yes, poor brute; hanimals has a deal of feelin'. He's been in a
dreadful way; indeed I thought they locked him up for the night, but
he seems to have got loose again," replied Mrs. Worthy, as she
opened the door and stepped softly in, followed by Morag and
Chance.
The little girl looked eagerly round among the mirrors and pictures
and pretty statuettes for the face which had never failed before to
smile a sunny welcome upon her, but her bonnie wee leddy was
nowhere to be seen, and a terrible stillness seemed to pervade the
room.
Drawing aside the rose-colored curtains of a little bed, which Morag
had not noticed in her eager glance round the room, Mrs. Worthy
beckoned for the little girl to come near, and Morag looked at last on
the face of her bonnie wee leddy. She seemed sleeping peacefully;
the golden curls lay in rich masses on the pillow, and the fluttering
fingers were at rest on the white coverlet. The room was dimly
lighted, and a shadow fell from the curtain on her face; so Morag
drew closer that she might see her more clearly—feeling a pang of
disappointment that she was asleep. But had not Ellis said that to-
morrow morning she would speak to her? and she could wait.
"She's sleepin' richt soun' the noo, I'm thinkin'," she whispered softly
to Mrs. Worthy, who was holding back the curtain.
"Sleeping! yes, my little dear, you are right. Children does put things
nice at times. Dear angel—not dead, but sleeping: a long, long
sleep, till the resurrection morn!"
With a long, low cry of anguish, Morag knelt beside the dead body of
her bonnie wee leddy, and kissed her cold, dead hand!
She understood it all now. Blanche Clifford had passed away on this
Christmas Eve from our lower world—with all its lights and shadows,
all its wealth and all its woe—to that other, where the pure in heart
are perfectly blessed, for they see God!
Perhaps here we should take farewell of our mountain maiden; for,
with the passing away from earth of her bonnie wee leddy, ended
the childhood of Morag Dingwall, never again to visit her, save in
dreams of the night and memories of the past!
We shall but cast a glance across the vista of years, when these
autumn days lay far away in the calm, clear distance, and seem like
a tale that is told;—when Kirsty has laid down her frail body to sleep
in the little graveyard on the hillside, to await the coming of the Lord
she loved so well;—when the keen eyes of the keeper Dingwall no
longer scan the hills and moors of Glen Eagle, nor his steady hand
takes unerring aim; for his stalwart form lies mouldering in the
shadow of the hills he has so often trod!
The keeper's earthly life had closed in the midst of less vivid hopes,
perhaps, and shadowed by more bitter memories, than Kirsty's
blameless years had wrought. But he, too, had learnt to live in the
faith and hope of the words which welcomed him to the table of the
Lord below, and to know it to be a "faithful saying, that 'Jesus Christ
came into the world to save sinners.'"
The shieling among the crags, which had been his home so long,
was a roofless ruin now. And long dank grass and nettles grew on
the earthen floor, which had proved, of old, such a sea of trouble to
the little Morag.
Kenneth Macpherson, Kirsty's grandson, reigned over the realms of
deer and moor-fowl in the Glen now; and the keeper's daughter had
become the keeper's wife.
Their home was the loveliest spot in all the strath—a pleasant, light,
airy, well-built cottage, placed at a sunny angle of the pine forest,
which protected it from the cold north winds when they swept along
the Glen.
Firwood Neuk, for so it had been called by its owners, possessed
every pretty and useful accessory, within and without, which peasant
life could require. It was quite a model homestead, with its wealthy
barn-yard and farmstead, and its pretty productive garden—the last
earthly gift of a little vanished hand, which had dropped its earthly
treasures as she used to do her wild flowers in these woods long
ago, when anything more precious came in sight.
Mr. Clifford never came to shoot in Glen Eagle again; but,
nevertheless, he was more than faithful to the wishes of his child,
and Blanche's friends lacked for nothing which money could supply—
humbly and gratefully accepted by these proud Highland spirits as
the benefaction of the gracious child who had loved them all so well.
Often, indeed, Mr. Clifford had been tempted, during the earlier
years, to go beyond his daughter's wishes when he noticed Morag's
insatiable thirst for knowledge: to take her from her quiet haunts,
and bring art and culture to aid in her training. But he called to mind
Blanche's wise decision, and left the child of the mountains to her
"lowlier, more unlettered fate."
Still, Morag's intellectual cravings were not unprovided for. In one of
the rooms of her pleasant home there stood a pretty book-case filled
with rows of shining books—another memorial of Blanche's love.
And, among the handsome bindings, there were interspersed certain
old, worn books, which were very dear to Morag's heart, for had
they not been taken from the depths of the old kist?—and stood
there, among the newer volumes, like ancient historical monuments
surrounded by pretty modern villas.
It was the twelfth of August, and the keeper's wife stood waiting in
the gloaming for her husband, who had not yet returned from the
moors.
The work of the day was done, and the children safely folded for the
night,—for there were young voices again re-echoing through the
forest, and little feet toddling among the brown fir-needles.
Her husband was not yet in sight, so presently Morag wandered into
the fir-wood, where the great aisles of pine reared themselves calm
and stately as of old.
Leaning against one of the old red firs, which seemed written over
with many memories to her, she called to mind one August day long
ago. And as she stood gazing dreamily there, she seemed to see
again the lovely, singing child, coming like a happy fate towards the
desolate little maiden who leant there on that bright morning, to
hear again the "glad tidings of great joy" borne unconsciously by the
silvery voice to a listening ear and waiting soul, and to feel the soft,
sisterly touch of the little fluttering hand that sent glow and warmth
to a heart which, but for that touch of human sympathy, might have
turned to stone.
Morag had seen many gentle ladies, old and young, since these
autumn days long ago. The solitary Glen had got into guide-books
now, and every year brought many strangers to roam among its
woods and hills; but never could any other dwell in her memory as
Blanche Clifford did—never, she thought, could she see "her like
again!"
Many a year had come and gone since that memorable twelfth of
August, when the southern guests came to seek their pleasure
among the moors of Glen Eagle. Silver lines were visible on Morag's
once raven black locks, and her step was slower than it used to be,
as she sauntered through the old red fir-trees, which were all aglow
in the sunset.
With a sigh of weariness she at last seated herself on a gray, lichen-
spotted dyke which skirted the forest.
"Ay! and she'll aye be young, though I'm growin' auld," she
murmured, for she still retained her ancient habit of speaking her
thoughts aloud, acquired in her solitary childhood.
Leaning her head upon her hand, she sat watching the sun as it
sank behind the old castle of Glen Eagle.
The amber clouds were hovering round the dying sun, like
ponderous gates ready to close on the inner vistas of gold and
crimson. Morag sat gazing with glistening eyes at the cloud-land
scene; she well knew that "richest tenderest glow" which lingers
round the autumnal sun, and always loved to watch it.
"But there sight fails; no heart may know
The bliss when life is done."
"It's growin' cauld and mirk, and I maun be goin' home," murmured
Morag, as she rose to go down the hill, when all had faded into grey
twilight. Then she added, softly: "She liket weel to see the sun gae
doun amang oor hills; an' it aye min's me upo' her. Bonnie wee
leddy! 'Thy sun shall no more go down, neither shall thy moon
withdraw its shining, for the Lord is thine everlasting light, and thy
God thy glory.'"
Stereotyped by McCrea & Co.,
Newburgh, N. Y.
Transcriber's note
Variable or unusal spelling and hyphenation have been retained apart from minor
punctuation inconsistencies, which have been silently corrected. The changes made are
shown below. The first line indicates the original, the second the correction.
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  • 5. © 2015 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publically accessible website, in whole or in part. Lesson Plan Unit 9 – Soils and Hydroponic Management Performance Objective After the learner completes Unit 9 and participates in the suggested activities, the learner should be able to determine the origin and classification of soils and to identify effective procedures for soils and hydroponics management. Competencies  Define terms in soils, hydroponics, and other plant-growing media management.  Identify types of plant-growing media.  Describe the origin and composition of soils.  Discuss the principles of soil classification.  Determine appropriate amendments for soil and hydroponics media.  Discuss fundamentals of fertilizing and liming materials.  Identify requirements for hydroponics plant production.  Describe types of hydroponics systems. Terms to Know The following terms are used in this unit and defined in the text glossary. Spanish translations of the terms also appear in the glossary.  medium — surrounding environment in which a living organism functions and thrives.  hydroponics — the practice of growing plants without soil.  compost — mixture of partially decayed organic matter.  sphagnum — pale and ashy mosses used to condition soil.  peat moss — a type of organic matter made from sphagnum moss.  perlite — natural volcanic glass material having water-holding capabilities.  vermiculite — mineral matter used for starting plant seeds and cuttings.  horizon — layer.  profile — a cross-sectional view of the soil.  residual soils — parent materials formed in place.  alluvial deposits — soils transported by streams.  lacustrine deposits — soils deposited by lakes.  loess deposits — soils deposited by wind.  colluvial deposits — soils deposited by gravity.  glacial deposits — soils deposited by ice.  percolation — movement of water through the soil.  capability classes — soil classifications indicating the most intensive but safe land use, designated by a Roman numeral.  O horizon — the soil layer that is on the surface that is composed of organic matter and a small amount of mineral matter.  A horizon — layer near the soil surface that is made up of desirable proportions of mineral and organic matter.  clay — smallest of soil particles; less than .002 mm.  silt — intermediate soil particles; .05 to .002 mm.  sand — largest soil particles; 1 to .05 mm.
  • 6. © 2015 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publically accessible website, in whole or in part.  topsoil — desirable proportion of plant nutrients, chemicals, and living organisms located near the surface which support good plant growth.  B horizon — soil below the A horizon or topsoil and generally referred to as subsoil.  subsoil — a soil layer that corresponds to the B horizon that is composed almost entirely of mineral matter with generally large chunky soil structure.  C horizon — soil below the B horizon; it is important for storing and releasing water to the upper layers of soil.  bedrock — the area below C horizon consisting of large soil particles.  loam — a relatively even mixture of sand, silt, and clay.  soil structure — the tendency of soil particles to cluster together and function as soil units.  decomposer — an organism that breaks down material that was once living.  soil amendment — in addition to; change in.  pH — measurement of acidity or alkalinity from 0 to 14.  acidity — sourness.  alkalinity — sweetness.  neutral — neither acid or alkaline.  fertilizer grade — percentages of primary nutrients in fertilizer.  active ingredients — components that achieve one or more purposes of the mixture.  starter solutions — diluted mixtures of single or complete fertilizers used when plants are transplanted.  nitrate — a form of nitrogen used by plants.  nitrogen fixation — conversion of nitrogen gas to nitrate by bacteria.  aeroponics — the plant roots hang in the air and are misted regularly with a nutrient solution. Curriculum Standards Correlations  National AFNR Performance Indicators: ESS 01.01, ESS 03.02, NRS 01.01, NRS 01.02, NRS 02.03, NRS 02.04, PS 02.02, PS 02.03  CCTC Standards: AG-ENV 3, AG-ENV 4, AG-NR 1, AG-NR 2  Green Sustainability Knowledge and Skills Statements: Agriculture, Food, & Natural Resources Career ClusterTM 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, and 8; STEM Career ClusterTM 2, 4, and 5 Instructor Resources  Computerized test bank in ExamView®  Instructor slide presentations  Correlation guides (National AFNR, CCTC, and Green Sustainability)  Image Library  CourseMate materials for Unit 9 Instructor Notes:  Assign each student words from the Terms to Know list to research. They should be prepared to present a brief report in class about the meaning of these terms and how they are used in agriculture.
  • 7. © 2015 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publically accessible website, in whole or in part.  Assist the students in constructing a working model of a hydroponics planter from everyday materials such as plastic pipe and a water pump. Select a variety to plant, and monitor its growth.  Choose an available area to dig a hole approximately 3 feet deep and show students the soil profile of topsoil and subsoil. Study the soil structure and determine its textural class.  Study how to take a soil sample and allow groups of students to collect a sample from various school lawns and ball fields. Send the sample to the state university or a soil- testing laboratory. Be prepared to discuss the results upon their return. Share the results with the school maintenance personnel.  Discuss land capability maps and the land classes. Introduce students to topo maps and point out some similarities between these maps.  Allow time to review Unit 9 and complete the self-evaluation. Class Activities and Projects 1. Assign class members to fill a 1-gallon container with soil and bring it to school. This will provide a wide range of soil types that can be used as teaching materials. Each student should measure his or her soil sample to determine the soil texture. Students should work in pairs, and each student should also test his or her partner’s soil sample as a check for accuracy. 2. Conduct drainage tests on the soil samples. Begin by placing a filter paper at the bottom of a funnel. An acceptable funnel can be made by cutting off the top third of a plastic beverage bottle and inverting it. Next, place a measured amount of soil inside the funnel and on top of the filter paper. Make sure the soil is directly on the filter paper. Then carefully add a measured amount of water to the soil surface while being careful not to disturb the placement of the soil. Observe the length of time that is required for the water to move through the soil to the container below the funnel. This is a good time to line up the soil samples from most permeable to least permeable. Have students check the texture of the soil with their fingers according to the chart that is provided in this unit. 3. Invite a local expert to come and introduce hydroponics to the class. Students have the ability to do new solution culture experiments at little cost by using plants that have never been grown in solution culture before, such as most houseplants and bedding plants. Students could do experiments in the areas of nutrient deficiencies, toxicities, carbon dioxide and oxygen deficiencies, pH, fertilizer testing, growth regulators, nitrogen fixation, shoot-to-root ratio, bulb forcing, and others. The possibilities for hydroponics projects are nearly endless. 4. Using the CourseMate resources, have students fill in the characteristics of soil horizons in Worksheet 09-01 and the capability classes of soils in Worksheet 09-02. 5. Suggest an FFA SAE (supervised agricultural experiences) project idea:  Take part in a mentorship program with the local soil and water conservation district. (FFA SAE Ideas, Environmental Service Systems 47). Essay Questions 1. Identify and describe three media other than soil that can be used to grow plants.  Compost is a mixture of partially decayed organic matter such as leaves, manure, and household plant wastes. Decaying plant matter should be mixed with lime and fertilizer in correct proportions to support plant growth.
  • 8. © 2015 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publically accessible website, in whole or in part.  There is a group of pale or ashy mosses called sphagnum. These are used extensively in horticulture as a medium for encouraging root growth and growing plants under certain conditions. Peat moss consists of partially decomposed mosses that have accumulated in waterlogged areas called bogs that are saturated with water. Both sphagnum and peat moss have excellent air- and water-holding qualities.  Many other sources of plant and animal residues may be used as plant-growing media. For instance, a fence post or a log may rot on its top and hold moisture from rainfall. Horse manure mixed with straw is used extensively as a medium for growing mushrooms. In this instance, both animal residue (manure) and plant residue (straw) combine to make an effective medium.  Some mineral matter can also become plant-growing media. For instance, volcanic lava and ash eventually accumulate soil particles on their surface. Seeds settle into cracks, and moisture causes the seeds to germinate. Roots then penetrate and break up the volcanic residue. As time passes, the area that once was only lava and ash becomes covered with plant life. Horticulturists use certain mineral materials in plant- growing areas, too. Perlite is a natural volcanic glass material that has water-holding capabilities. Perlite is used extensively for starting new plants. Vermiculite, a mineral matter from a group of mica-type materials, is also used for starting plant seeds and cuttings. 2. Outline the soil capability classes used in the United States.  Class I—Soils have few limitations that restrict their use.  Class II—Soils have moderate limitations that reduce the choice of plants or require moderate conservation practices.  Class III—Soils have severe limitations that reduce the choice of plants, require special conservation practices, or both.  Class IV—Soils have severe limitations that reduce the choice of plants, require careful management, or both.  Class V—Soils are not likely to erode but have other limitations that are impractical to remove and limit their use.  Class VI—Soils have severe limitations that make them generally unsuitable for cultivation.  Class VII—Soils have severe limitations that make them unsuitable for cultivation.  Class VIII—Soils and geologic features have limitations that nearly always prevent their use for agricultural production except light grazing. 3. Describe the characteristics of the O, A, B, and C horizons.  The O horizon is on the surface and is composed of organic matter and a small amount of mineral matter. Organic matter originates from living sources such as plants, animals, insects, and microbes. Mineral matter is derived from non-living sources such as rock materials.
  • 9. © 2015 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publically accessible website, in whole or in part.  The A Horizon is located near the surface and consists of mineral matter and organic matter. It contains desirable proportions of organic matter, fine mineral particles called clay, medium-sized mineral particles called silt, and larger mineral particles called sand. The appropriate proportion of these soil components creates soil that is tillable, or workable with tools and equipment. With the presence of desirable plant nutrients, chemicals, and living organisms, the A horizon generally supports good plant growth. The A horizon is frequently called topsoil.  The B horizon is below the A horizon and is generally referred to as subsoil. The mineral content is similar to the A horizon, but the particle sizes and properties differ. Because organic matter comes from decayed plant and animal materials, the amount naturally decreases as distance from the surface increases.  The C horizon is below the B horizon and is composed mostly of parent material. C Horizon is important for storing and releasing water to the upper layers of soil, but it does not contribute much to plant nutrition. It is likely to contain larger soil particles and may have substantial amounts of gravel and large rocks. The area below the C horizon is called bedrock. 4. Describe the process of taking a soil sample.  Select an appropriate sampling tool (spade, auger, or soil tube)  Make a sketch dividing the area into sampling areas—for example, front lawn, garden, flower bed, slope, and back lawn. Appropriately label each area.  When taking samples, avoid wet or bare spots. Soils that are substantially different in plant growth or past treatment should be sampled separately, provided their size and nature make it feasible to fertilize or lime each area separately.  After removing surface litter, take a sample from the correct depth. This is 2 inches for established lawns and about 6 inches for gardens, flower beds, farm crop land, and other areas to be tilled.  Submit a separate composite sample for each significantly different area— for example, front lawn, back lawn, and flower bed. Your composite sample for each area should include a small amount of soil taken from each of 10 to 20 randomly selected locations in the area represented by each sample.  When using a spade, first make a V-shaped cut. Then remove a 1-inch slice from one side of the cut. Then take a 1-inch strip from the middle of this slice. This represents the soil from one spot in the sample.  Air-dry the soil; do not use heat. Mix the soil from a composite in a clean bucket. Place about 1 pint of this mixture into the sample box. Use a separate box for each composite. Fill in the blanks on the box or information sheet for each box.  Send soil sample(s) and information sheet(s) to the soil test laboratory. 5. Define hydroponics and describe three commonly used hydroponics systems.  The term hydroponics refers to a number of systems used for growing plants without soil. Some major systems are: o Aggregate culture—in which a material such as sand, gravel, or marbles supports the plant roots o Water culture, solution culture, or nutriculture—the plant roots are immersed in water containing dissolved nutrients
  • 10. © 2015 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publically accessible website, in whole or in part. o Aeroponic —in which the plant roots hang in the air and are misted regularly with a nutrient solution o Continuous-flow systems—in which the nutrient solution flows constantly over the plant roots. This system is the one most commonly used for commercial production. Suggested Assessment/Homework Activities You may choose to assign any or all of these items or provide some as additional review options or for extra credit. Depending on the length of your course, you may break the unit reading into segments or assign different items for homework each night. Note that the lab manual exercises are designed to be conducted in a group lab setting and require additional materials and preparation, and may be spread across units. Textbook  Complete Self-Evaluation for Unit 9  Read Unit 10 CourseMate  Review the Study Guide  Complete the assignments for Unit 9 (09-01 and 09-02)  Complete worksheets for Unit 9 (09-01 and 09-02)  Study the Flashcards  Explore the Web links  Complete the pre-assessment quiz for Unit 10  Complete the post-assessment quiz for Unit 9  Review engagement tracker to track student progress and time spent on each activity. Lab Manual  Exercise 11: Talking Dirty—Soil Fertility  Exercise 12: Hold the Soil Please—Growing Plants without Soil Online Resources:  Learn about the classification system for soils from the United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service. Search for “USDA, soils, technical.”  Learn about the Twelve Soil Orders (multimedia). Search for “University of Idaho, soil orders.”  Explore the mapping of soils through the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Search for “FAO land soils.”
  • 11. © 2015 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publically accessible website, in whole or in part. Answers to Self-Evaluation A. Multiple Choice 1. d 2. d 3. c 4. a 5. c 6. a 7. b 8. b 9. a 10. d 11. c 12. d 13. a 14. d 15. b B. Matching (Group I) 1. d 2. i 3. a 4. b 5. j 6. h 7. g 8. c 9. e 10. f Matching (Group II) 1. c 2. d 3. b 4. a 5. j 6. h 7. i 8. f 9. e 10. g C. Completion 1. plants 2. roots; fungi; algae; actinomycetes 3. plant feeders; predators; microanimals 4. supply nutrients; improve water-holding capacity; provide food for organisms; decrease leaching; improve structure; make soil more porous; store minerals (nutrients) 5. oxygen 6. nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, sulfur 7. iron, manganese, boron, zinc, copper, molybdenum, chlorine
  • 12. Another Random Scribd Document with Unrelated Content
  • 13. After they were all cleared away, she lay quietly back on the sofa, and there was a far-away look in her eyes that made her father unwilling to ask where her thoughts were. Presently she turned to him, and said in a low, nervous tone, "Papa, I want to ask you something. May I do exactly as I like with all my own things?" "Certainly, darling. What treasure do you wish to send to the little Morag? But I thought Ellis was doubtful if she could stow all the things you have already sent,—eh, Blanchie?" "Oh, I did not mean in the box, papa! But you know it cannot be very long now before I have to leave you—and everything," and Blanche's fluttering fingers, so wan and wasted now, played nervously with her father's hand as she spoke. "Of course you will keep everything you want—and Miss Prosser and Ellis will, too. But I should like Morag to have some of my things when I am gone. She has so few pretty things in the hut; and besides, I really do think she would like to have them, just because they are mine, and they will remind her of me when I'm far away;" and Blanche glanced round the room at the pretty statuettes and pictures, and the rows of nicely-bound books, of which she used to tell Morag, as they rambled among the woods and braes of Glen Eagle. "Yes, my darling; Morag shall have whatever you like," replied Mr. Clifford with an effort, as soon as he was able to speak; and presently he continued: "My child, perhaps I should tell you that you have a great deal more to give away than your books and pictures. You are what people call an heiress, Blanchie. Your mother left you a large fortune, and, besides, you will have all that belongs to me. Ah, my child! will you not live?—I cannot let you go! There is such a bright future in store for you—so many hopes bound up in this dear life!" "Yes, papa, dear; the future is bright," replied Blanche, smiling. "I was reading about it only this morning—'an inheritance, incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away.' I learnt the
  • 14. words. It was strange I never remember hearing them till to-day. But I suppose God just speaks His own words to us when we need them and will listen to them. It's all right, papa, dear," she continued as she put her arm round her father's neck, as he sat with his head resting on his hand, absorbed in his own sad thoughts. "I know the Lord Jesus Christ will comfort you when I am gone. And then, you know, papa dear, you will not be so very long in coming, and I shall be waiting for you, oh! so eagerly, and we shall be so happy together in the home of God!" "Is it not rather difficult for rich people to be good, papa?" asked Blanche, after she had laid pondering a short time. "If I had lived, perhaps I might have grown into a grand lady—like some of Ellis's mistresses that she tells me about—and got selfish and bad when I grew old. But now, papa, dear, I shall always be your own foolish little Blanchie," and she nestled in her father's arm, as he stroked the long fair curls—the last symbol of health that remained. After she had again laid musing for some time, Blanche sat up, and with some of her old eagerness she said— "Papa, I've just been thinking that Morag is so gentle, and so clever, and so fond of books, that I'm sure she would grow up very learned if she were educated. I know she would like lessons a great deal more than I used to do, and be much more diligent. Have I enough money to educate Morag, papa?" "Yes, darling, quite enough; and if you wish it, it shall be done," replied Mr. Clifford huskily, for this conversation was almost too painful for him to continue. "But after all, papa, very clever people, who know everything, are not always very happy or good—are they? And, besides, I really do not see how her father and Kirsty could get on without Morag. And then she is so faithful and loving—perhaps she could never be persuaded to leave them, to be made a lady of in the world beyond her mountains," said Blanche, smiling, as the image of her shy little mountain friend rose before her.
  • 15. "No, papa, dear," she said presently, after thinking quietly for a little; "I really think we must give up that idea after all. I do believe the Lord Jesus Christ would like best that Morag should stay in the Glen and make her father and Kirsty comfortable and happy as they get older. But I'll tell you what we might do, papa, dear. Would there be enough money to build a nice new house for Morag and her father? That hut among the crags must tumble to pieces one day before long, I should think, though certainly Morag does make it look as nice as possible," added Blanche, pathetically, for she remembered well the morning on which she saw it last. Her father listened with a sad interest as Blanche told the story of that day's troubles, and how sorry she had been to leave Glen Eagle without taking farewell of her mountain friend. And as she told how she had hurried up the hill to the little shieling among the crags, only to find it empty, and glowingly described the pleasant interior into which her friend had transformed the once wretched hut, the scene seemed to come vividly to her memory, and to bring with it an intense desire for life, as she lay on the borders of the far-off land! Some hot tears stole down her cheeks, and with quivering lip and clasped hands she gazed wistfully into her father's face as she said— "O papa! if I could only walk one afternoon with Morag in the fir- wood, I almost think I should feel well again!"
  • 16. XVII. MORAG'S JOURNEY INTO THE WORLD BEYOND THE MOUNTAINS. T was a wild night at Stratheagle. An eddying wind had been blowing the deep snow into wreaths, and fresh falling flakes were whirling about in all directions through the darkness. All trace of the road through the mountain pass had disappeared; and it would have fared ill with the Honorable Mr. Clifford's slim English footman, with his elegant calves, as he made his way towards the keeper's shieling among the crags, if he had not taken the precaution of securing a guide from the village below. The steep ascent to the hut was almost impassable, and more than once the man seemed disposed to give it up and beat a retreat to his quarters at the village without fulfilling his mission. But his more stalwart companion cheered him on, assuring him at intervals that it was only a "mile and a bittock," and pointed to the light in the window of the hut long before it shed any encouraging ray on the exhausted flunkey, who went stumbling and grumbling up the hill through the blinding drift, feeling himself the most ill-used of persons to have been sent to such regions in such weather. The light from the window of the hut was at last really visible, shimmering through the darkness, and soon the benighted travellers stood under the snowy crags which towered above the little shieling. Our old friend Morag was, meanwhile, comfortably seated in the ingle-neuk, reading laboriously from one of her ancient yellow- leaved volumes, little dreaming what was in store for her to-night. Her father sat near her smoking his evening pipe, but he was not staring into the fire in idleness and grim silence as of old. He seemed at the present moment quite absorbed in a newspaper, the
  • 17. date of which was uncertain, seeing it had been torn off when it was used for lining a packing-case of game during autumn. But though it was not a "day's paper," it seemed to satisfy the keeper's literary cravings, and he had carefully perused it from beginning to end by the light of the fire of peat and pine, which blazed brightly on the hearth. The snow made a warm covering round the wall, and a secure white thatch on the porous roof, so it happened that to-night the hut was really a more comfortable abode than it had often proved during autumn-days. Morag jumped to her feet when she heard the sound of voices and the loud knocking; and now she stood gazing at her father with a look of startled surprise. Laying down his pipe, the keeper prepared to open the door, but before he had time to do so, the injured footman stood in the middle of the floor, stamping the snow from his feet, and inspecting his precious person generally, as he muttered expressions of indignation concerning this unpleasant piece of service which had fallen to his lot. Morag recognized the visitor at once, and forgetting her shyness, she sprang forward, saying, in low, eager tones, "Will ye no be frae the wee leddy o' the castle? I'm thinkin' there maun be something wrang. Is she no weel?" "Miss Clifford, I presume you mean, little girl. Well, you are right, so far. I come from her father—my master, the Honorable Mr. Clifford. I think I've got a letter for you; but 'pon my word it's been at the risk of my life bringin' it here. S'pose I'd better read it myself?" said he, looking round patronizingly at the keeper. And without waiting for a reply, he tore open the closed envelope, amid the smouldering indignation of the keeper, to whom it was evidently addressed, and began to read as follows:— "Will Morag come to London immediately to see her little friend Blanche, who is very ill and wants to see her? The Keeper may safely
  • 18. trust his daughter to the servant, who has got all directions how to proceed. Arthur Clifford." "Quite safe with me, depend upon it; the master is quite right there!" said the servant, smiling blandly at the confidence reposed in him. "Well, little girl, what do you say to it? You will come, I suppose? The master has set his 'art on it, sure enough—or he would not have been sendin' me to the hends of the earth on such a night as this. I have a trap hired at the village, all ready to start in the morning. What do you say to it, keeper?—rather sudden, for such quiet folks as you, ain't it?" continued the man, smilingly glancing at the silent, offended keeper. Morag sat thinking in dumb silence for a little, but presently she sprang up, and taking hold of her father's arm, she said in her low, eager tone, "O father! ye mustna hinner me; the bonnie wee leddy is ill, and wantin' me—and I maun gang!" Then turning to the messenger, Morag asked imploringly, "She's no jist sae verra ill, is she?" "Bad enough, I guess. 'Tis a pity—such a pretty little miss she was getting to be. Master so bound up in her, too!" "Well, keeper, how is it to be?—for I've got to go down that shockin' precipice again—and it's getting late. I'll take good care of the young 'un, you may be sure. And, depend upon it, you won't be the loser, noways, by fallin' in with master's views," added the servant, with a nod of meaning which made the proud keeper resolve instantly that his daughter should not obey the summons. But never before had Morag been so wildly wilful on any matter. Her father felt quite taken by storm as he listened to her pleadings, though he could not yet be persuaded to give his consent. The servant stood waiting with evident impatience, and at last a compromise was arranged, to the effect that if Morag was to
  • 19. accompany him, she would be brought to the village inn by her father next morning, before the hour of starting. It was almost midnight when Dingwall might be seen toiling across the moorland, through the snow, in the direction of Kirsty's cottage. The old woman and he were fast friends now, and he wanted to ask her advice on the startling proposal concerning the little girl who was so precious to them both. He found Kirsty sitting quietly reading her Bible beside the dying peat embers. Taking off her spectacles, she listened placidly to the story, and presently she replied in low, emphatic tones, "Dinna hinner the bairn, keeper. Lat her gang, by a' means. 'Deed, I'm near awears o' gaen mysel'. The bonnie lambie—an' sae He's til tak' her hame til Himsel? Weel, weel, I thocht as muckle, whiles, when she was comin' aboot us wi' a' her winsome ways. May she hae been early seekin' the face she will maybe see gin lang!" So Morag gained her point. Her travelling preparations were not long in being made; and, though she had not many hours of sleep that night, she was all ready to go down the hill with her father in the morning. Just before she started, Kenneth came running up to the shieling in breathless haste. He carried with him the old tartan plaid which had done such sad duty in the fir-wood. Wrapping it carefully round Morag, he stood watching her wistfully, as she started in the grey dawn of a December morning on this first journey into the world beyond the mountains! It was Christmas Eve. A fresh fall of snow lay spotless and shining on the ground. The moon was giving a clear, plentiful light, and as it shimmered on the snow-covered streets and squares, it seemed suddenly to transform them into groups of stately marble palaces. A pleasant crimson glow came from the close-curtained windows of Mr. Clifford's London mansion, shedding a warm, rosy light on the
  • 20. white crisp pavement in front, where stood a group of German lads singing a fine rolling Christmas carol. Little did they guess how dreary and tenantless those rooms were to-night, which seemed to them to enclose such a paradise of delights as they kept gazing up to the windows, in the hope of an appreciative audience from within the crimson glow. They did not know that the sorrowful interest of the household was centred in one darkened room, where the only child of the house lay, with life ebbing slowly away; nor that the largess which seemed so munificent came from a little hand that was soon to take farewell of all earthly treasures. They were still singing, by way of gracious acknowledgment of so handsome a gift, when a cab drove up to the door of the house, and out of it stepped our little friend, Morag. The tall footman, her escort, ran up the broad steps, while the little mountaineer stood on the pavement gazing round, bewildered in the midst of a scene so new and strange. And this was her bonnie wee leddy's home. Did people always stand there and sing beautifully, she wondered, as she glanced at the German band—and then at the many bright-curtained windows of Blanche Clifford's London home. At length the great hall door was opened, and a blaze of light fell on the snowy steps. Within were vistas of gilded pillars and corridors, and glimpses of bright soft hangings. To Morag's dazzled eyes, it seemed like the entrance to an enchanted palace. She tremblingly followed her guide, and the door was closed behind her, as the singing boys were watching with interest the little girl who looked so eagerly at everything; and somehow seemed to remind them of their sisters and their homes in the Black Forest. Another tall footman, the fac-simile of Morag's guide, had opened the door, and now he stood gazing, more curiously than kindly, at the stranger.
  • 21. "Law, Thomas! what 'ave we got here? Well, I never. Where did you catch that 'un," he said, with a rude laugh as he stood staring at the little girl. Poor Morag certainly presented a grotesque enough appearance as she stood there in the brightly-lighted hall, wrapped in the great tartan plaid, which was fastened behind, while the ends fell on the ground. And on her head she wore a little scarlet hood, a relic of her infancy, which she had taken from the depths of the old kist—feeling certain that Ellis would look on her more favorably if she wore a bonnet. But, unfortunately, the hood was of such small dimensions that it had a constant tendency towards the back of her neck, leaving her black elf-like locks streaming around. "Come now, Sparks, none of your cheek. She's the nicest little shaver possible—an uncommon decent little thing; wasn't no trouble on the way, neither; always turned up all right when a fellow wanted to go and smoke a pipe, or get a drop of somethink. My word, I'd go back with her to-morrow, I would." "Where's Ellis?—ring for her, will you? I must get this little girl off my hands now. How is missie, by the way?" "Better again, to-day, they say. Master is looking brisker, too. Dreadful dull Christmas-time for a fellow, though. There's Ellis wouldn't laugh for a sovereign." Meanwhile, Morag stood looking eagerly round. She felt sure that she would see her bonnie wee leddy emerge from some of those vistas of brightness; but when she did not come, the little girl began to feel very forlorn as she stood there in the hall. She could not understand what the servants were saying, and she began to wonder what was going to happen next, and longed for a sight of her gracious little friend, who never had failed her before. Morag had no idea how seriously ill Blanche was, and she had been hoping during her journey that perhaps her bonnie wee leddy might be quite well again by the time she arrived. She had got so quickly well after the loch adventure; and Morag could not conceive of her
  • 22. looking more fragile that she did on that evening when she saw her last, in the old castle of Glen Eagle, lying on the sofa, wrapped in her blue flannel dressing-gown. At length Ellis came bustling along; and even she was a welcome sight to poor Morag in her forlornness. "Well, little girl; how d'ye do. Very glad to see you—never thought I should feel so glad to see you. I thought you would come to see missie. Miss Prosser told me the master had sent for you. Miss Clifford does know not yet. She's so weak, you see; any hagitation is bad, but I daresay you will see her in the morning. It's a good step from the 'ighlands—ain't it? I expect you are tired—poor thing," said Ellis, glancing rather pityingly at Morag's wistful face. "I'm no that tired. But she's no jist verra ill, is she? I thocht maybe she would hae been weel gin noo," said Morag, ruefully returning to the subject that lay nearest her heart, as Ellis led her along what seemed to her a maze of brightly-lighted passages. "It wasna fallin' intil the loch that hurtit her, think ye?" she asked presently. "Well, now, I shouldn't wonder though that chill had something to do with it," replied Ellis, as if she had received a new idea. "Poor dear missie, she is so sweet—almost too good to live, as the sayin' is. She's much better to-day. I daresay she'll be able to have a look at you to-morrow." Morag's heart sank. The thought of seeing her bonnie wee leddy at the end of her journey had kept her brave through its fears and discomforts; but now she heard that another night must elapse before they could meet, and she would be left alone among all those strangers. It seemed so cruel and hard; and Morag felt sure that if her wee leddy knew she was here, she would not ask her to wait till to-morrow. Meanwhile, Ellis led the way to the housekeeper's room, leaving Morag to be warmed and fed and generally comforted by Mrs. Worthy. The old housekeeper welcomed the forlorn little maiden
  • 23. kindly, and after divesting her of the tartan plaid, and providing a comfortable supper, she made her sit down in a big arm-chair by the fire,—and, taking a similar one for herself, she began to recall reminiscences of Glen Eagle, and to make inquiries about the dwellers in the Glen whose aquaintance she had made during these autumn months. Presently, Blanche's illness became the topic of conversation, and Morag listened eagerly to all Mrs. Worthy had to say about it. Her heart sank when she heard how very ill her bonnie wee leddy had been. After looking meditatively into the fire for some time, she looked up and said eagerly, "I'm thinkin', Mistress Worthy, gin they wad jist bring her til the auld castle o' Glen Eagle to bide, and lat her rin aboot wi' Shag and Chance and me, when the snaw gaes awa, and the bit flooers begin to creep up, she wad get braw and strong again." "Well, there's no sayin', little girl. I likes to see young folks take a cheerin' view of things. 'While there's life, there's 'ope,' I always say. There's my Sarah Jane was once a-spittin' up—and there ain't a stronger woman to be found nowhere, now; and there's"— Here Mrs. Worthy's family chronicle of illnesses was interrupted by a bell ringing violently within the room. It sounded so startling, that Morag jumped to her feet, and even Mrs. Worthy looked somewhat alarmed as she rose to answer it. "Bless me, it ain't often that bell is a ringin'—so shockin' loud, too! What's the hurry, I wonder?" and the old woman bustled away, leaving her companion alone. Morag thought she could guess why the bell had just rung; and hoped that it might prove a summons for her to go to the bonnie wee leddy. She sat listening eagerly for the sound of returning footsteps, but no messenger appeared; so Morag's hope died away at last, and she began to feel very forlorn indeed. As she sat, looking dreamily into the flickering fire, she remembered another evening when she found herself seated in Mrs. Worthy's
  • 24. arm-chair, in the midst of unwonted comforts, and how very frightened and uncomfortable she was till the wee leddy had suddenly appeared and made her feel so safe and happy. And as she gazed among the glowing coals, she realized, as she never had before, what an eventful evening that had been, and how much had happened during these never-to-be-forgotten autumn days. All at once, her lonely child-life seemed to be filled with love and brightness, and the very hills and glens of her mountain home to be glorified, as she strayed among them with her bonnie wee leddy. And then the friendship with Kirsty Macpherson had grown out of these days too, and what happy changes it had brought to the little shieling among the crags! Her father's brow was cleared of its perpetual gloom; he never said bitter things about his neighbors in the Glen now, and when Morag and he went together to the kirk, so many people seemed glad to see him there. And as Morag Dingwall's thoughts went slipping back to these golden autumn days, that had been so full of blessing for her, she lifted up her heart in thankfulness to God for the best thing among all the many good things which they had brought to her—the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ, her Saviour. Had the wee leddy learnt to love Him too, she wondered, as she remembered the last talk in Glen Eagle; and then she thought, joyfully, how much there would be to hear and tell to-morrow, when Ellis had promised she should see her friend. As she sat gazing into the fire, Morag fell asleep in the big arm- chair; and in her dreams she thought she was again with Blanche, struggling through the rippling water, like the Pilgrims in the picture. But neither of them appeared to feel frightened, as they had when they were almost drowned in the loch. At first the water seemed smooth and shining, and Morag could hear the bonnie wee leddy's silvery voice calling to her to come away, for she saw the Golden City quite clearly now—and that the gates were really wide open still, though it was so late at night. Then Morag, all at once, began to feel afraid, for she could see no city lying in the sun; but only a great
  • 25. leaden-looking wave, which came creeping towards her, throwing its gray shadow on the shining water; then she lost sight of her bonnie wee leddy, and could only hear her voice calling her to come. But Morag thought she could not cross the dark wave, and the silvery voice began to sound very far away; and at last she awoke, trembling,—feeling so glad to think that after all it was only a dream. The fire, which had been so bright and warm when she fell asleep, was now cold and black. The candles, too, were almost burnt to their sockets; and Morag saw that she must have slept for a long time. She began to wonder where Mrs. Worthy was, and whether they meant to leave her there, till they came to take her to see the bonnie wee leddy in the morning. She would not have treated her so, thought Morag, with quivering lip, as she looked blankly round the solitary room, where everything seemed so gray and cheerless, and she shivered as she remembered the leaden wave of her dream, and began to feel very frightened and homesick, besides being cold and wearied. Presently she heard the sound of footsteps re-echoing along the silent corridor, and Mrs. Worthy walked slowly into the room with her nightcap on. In her hand she carried a candle, which she almost dropped in her astonishment at seeing Morag seated there. "Bless my soul, child! are you here still? I was just on my way to bed. I declare I had quite forgotten all about you. Dear, dear, my 'ead's quite confused—and no wonder! Poor dear, you must be sadly tired. Too bad of Ellis not to have taken you to bed. She promised to see after you when she was sent along to you. I've just only now come from missie's room—dear angel: she does look so sweet. You'll see her to-morrow, my poor dear!" And then, noticing Morag's wistful look as she murmured, "No the nicht," the old woman pondered for a while, and taking the candle again, she said, "Well, well, there can't be no 'arm: they are all cleared away now! Come, I'll take you, poor dear. You haven't been well treated noways among us all, and I heard the master tell Ellis
  • 26. that she was to look to you, and he would see you himself to- morrow." Morag's heart leapt for joy. If she could only see her bonnie wee leddy even for a minute, and feel her protecting touch again, she would forget all her past troubles and be quite safe and happy in this strange land. She followed Mrs. Worthy with joyful steps as she led her along the passages, which were cold and dark now. She smiled as she thought how astonished the wee leddy would be to see her mountain friend, for she remembered Ellis had said that she was not to be told of her arrival till next morning; but it was so good and kind of Mrs. Worthy to take her now. And then she tried to picture to herself how Blanche would be looking. Would she find her lying on a sofa, dressed in her pretty blue dressing-gown, which she wore on the evening she saw her last at the old castle of Glen Eagle? And would she seem much paler than she did then? Morag feared she might, when she remembered what a long time she had laid in bed; but summer days would soon come again, and the sunshine, which the bonnie leddy loved so well, would be sure to make her strong again. Indeed, in her secret heart, Morag cherished the hope that her own presence might act as a talisman, and she smiled to think of the pleasant voice that would soon bid her welcome; for, since the dark hour in the fir-wood, when she thought Blanche had left the Glen without remembering to say farewell, Morag had never doubted the love and friendship of her gracious little friend. At last Mrs. Worthy stopped at a closed door, and as she lowered the candle which she held in her hand, Morag caught sight of a familiar friend lying on the mat. Chance was waiting there in a listening posture, with his nose against the door. Morag stooped down and patted him, but, instead of jumping up at her in outrageous welcome, as he used to do, he merely gave a faint wag of his tail, and looking wistfully into her
  • 27. face, raised a low, whining cry, and put his nose close to the door again. "I'm thinkin' Chance will be wantin' in—to get a sicht o' her too," said Morag, smiling. "Yes, poor brute; hanimals has a deal of feelin'. He's been in a dreadful way; indeed I thought they locked him up for the night, but he seems to have got loose again," replied Mrs. Worthy, as she opened the door and stepped softly in, followed by Morag and Chance. The little girl looked eagerly round among the mirrors and pictures and pretty statuettes for the face which had never failed before to smile a sunny welcome upon her, but her bonnie wee leddy was nowhere to be seen, and a terrible stillness seemed to pervade the room. Drawing aside the rose-colored curtains of a little bed, which Morag had not noticed in her eager glance round the room, Mrs. Worthy beckoned for the little girl to come near, and Morag looked at last on the face of her bonnie wee leddy. She seemed sleeping peacefully; the golden curls lay in rich masses on the pillow, and the fluttering fingers were at rest on the white coverlet. The room was dimly lighted, and a shadow fell from the curtain on her face; so Morag drew closer that she might see her more clearly—feeling a pang of disappointment that she was asleep. But had not Ellis said that to- morrow morning she would speak to her? and she could wait. "She's sleepin' richt soun' the noo, I'm thinkin'," she whispered softly to Mrs. Worthy, who was holding back the curtain. "Sleeping! yes, my little dear, you are right. Children does put things nice at times. Dear angel—not dead, but sleeping: a long, long sleep, till the resurrection morn!" With a long, low cry of anguish, Morag knelt beside the dead body of her bonnie wee leddy, and kissed her cold, dead hand!
  • 28. She understood it all now. Blanche Clifford had passed away on this Christmas Eve from our lower world—with all its lights and shadows, all its wealth and all its woe—to that other, where the pure in heart are perfectly blessed, for they see God! Perhaps here we should take farewell of our mountain maiden; for, with the passing away from earth of her bonnie wee leddy, ended the childhood of Morag Dingwall, never again to visit her, save in dreams of the night and memories of the past! We shall but cast a glance across the vista of years, when these autumn days lay far away in the calm, clear distance, and seem like a tale that is told;—when Kirsty has laid down her frail body to sleep in the little graveyard on the hillside, to await the coming of the Lord she loved so well;—when the keen eyes of the keeper Dingwall no longer scan the hills and moors of Glen Eagle, nor his steady hand takes unerring aim; for his stalwart form lies mouldering in the shadow of the hills he has so often trod! The keeper's earthly life had closed in the midst of less vivid hopes, perhaps, and shadowed by more bitter memories, than Kirsty's blameless years had wrought. But he, too, had learnt to live in the faith and hope of the words which welcomed him to the table of the Lord below, and to know it to be a "faithful saying, that 'Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners.'" The shieling among the crags, which had been his home so long, was a roofless ruin now. And long dank grass and nettles grew on the earthen floor, which had proved, of old, such a sea of trouble to the little Morag. Kenneth Macpherson, Kirsty's grandson, reigned over the realms of deer and moor-fowl in the Glen now; and the keeper's daughter had become the keeper's wife. Their home was the loveliest spot in all the strath—a pleasant, light, airy, well-built cottage, placed at a sunny angle of the pine forest,
  • 29. which protected it from the cold north winds when they swept along the Glen. Firwood Neuk, for so it had been called by its owners, possessed every pretty and useful accessory, within and without, which peasant life could require. It was quite a model homestead, with its wealthy barn-yard and farmstead, and its pretty productive garden—the last earthly gift of a little vanished hand, which had dropped its earthly treasures as she used to do her wild flowers in these woods long ago, when anything more precious came in sight. Mr. Clifford never came to shoot in Glen Eagle again; but, nevertheless, he was more than faithful to the wishes of his child, and Blanche's friends lacked for nothing which money could supply— humbly and gratefully accepted by these proud Highland spirits as the benefaction of the gracious child who had loved them all so well. Often, indeed, Mr. Clifford had been tempted, during the earlier years, to go beyond his daughter's wishes when he noticed Morag's insatiable thirst for knowledge: to take her from her quiet haunts, and bring art and culture to aid in her training. But he called to mind Blanche's wise decision, and left the child of the mountains to her "lowlier, more unlettered fate." Still, Morag's intellectual cravings were not unprovided for. In one of the rooms of her pleasant home there stood a pretty book-case filled with rows of shining books—another memorial of Blanche's love. And, among the handsome bindings, there were interspersed certain old, worn books, which were very dear to Morag's heart, for had they not been taken from the depths of the old kist?—and stood there, among the newer volumes, like ancient historical monuments surrounded by pretty modern villas. It was the twelfth of August, and the keeper's wife stood waiting in the gloaming for her husband, who had not yet returned from the moors.
  • 30. The work of the day was done, and the children safely folded for the night,—for there were young voices again re-echoing through the forest, and little feet toddling among the brown fir-needles. Her husband was not yet in sight, so presently Morag wandered into the fir-wood, where the great aisles of pine reared themselves calm and stately as of old. Leaning against one of the old red firs, which seemed written over with many memories to her, she called to mind one August day long ago. And as she stood gazing dreamily there, she seemed to see again the lovely, singing child, coming like a happy fate towards the desolate little maiden who leant there on that bright morning, to hear again the "glad tidings of great joy" borne unconsciously by the silvery voice to a listening ear and waiting soul, and to feel the soft, sisterly touch of the little fluttering hand that sent glow and warmth to a heart which, but for that touch of human sympathy, might have turned to stone. Morag had seen many gentle ladies, old and young, since these autumn days long ago. The solitary Glen had got into guide-books now, and every year brought many strangers to roam among its woods and hills; but never could any other dwell in her memory as Blanche Clifford did—never, she thought, could she see "her like again!" Many a year had come and gone since that memorable twelfth of August, when the southern guests came to seek their pleasure among the moors of Glen Eagle. Silver lines were visible on Morag's once raven black locks, and her step was slower than it used to be, as she sauntered through the old red fir-trees, which were all aglow in the sunset. With a sigh of weariness she at last seated herself on a gray, lichen- spotted dyke which skirted the forest. "Ay! and she'll aye be young, though I'm growin' auld," she murmured, for she still retained her ancient habit of speaking her thoughts aloud, acquired in her solitary childhood.
  • 31. Leaning her head upon her hand, she sat watching the sun as it sank behind the old castle of Glen Eagle. The amber clouds were hovering round the dying sun, like ponderous gates ready to close on the inner vistas of gold and crimson. Morag sat gazing with glistening eyes at the cloud-land scene; she well knew that "richest tenderest glow" which lingers round the autumnal sun, and always loved to watch it.
  • 32. "But there sight fails; no heart may know The bliss when life is done." "It's growin' cauld and mirk, and I maun be goin' home," murmured Morag, as she rose to go down the hill, when all had faded into grey twilight. Then she added, softly: "She liket weel to see the sun gae doun amang oor hills; an' it aye min's me upo' her. Bonnie wee leddy! 'Thy sun shall no more go down, neither shall thy moon withdraw its shining, for the Lord is thine everlasting light, and thy God thy glory.'" Stereotyped by McCrea & Co., Newburgh, N. Y. Transcriber's note Variable or unusal spelling and hyphenation have been retained apart from minor punctuation inconsistencies, which have been silently corrected. The changes made are shown below. The first line indicates the original, the second the correction.
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