The Continuation

This is a continuation of what really began yesterday, or truthfully a few days ago up in Tain when listening to James Roberston reading stories from his book. Consequently I thought it a cool idea to write a short story each day (you guys are the victims). I will not be quite as rigid as JR, each of his 365 stories are precisely 365 words. My plan is to aim somewhere between 300 and 500 words - enjoy...


The Witness
The countryside of Sutherland is darkened by smoke, as it has been for many a year now. I remember when the mansions, and abodes, of proprietors, factors, magistrates and ministers were seats of honour, truth, and of good example – no longer are they. I live to see the most cruel and unfeeling calamity inflicted upon my fellow Sutherlanders time after time. This in the form of the burning of the houses of the descendants of those who drew their swords at Bannockburn and Killiecrankie. A people ruined, trampled upon, dispersed, forced to seek asylum far beyond these shores. At the same time those who remain, unable to emigrate, are deprived of all of the comforts of life, turned into paupers, beggars. This is a disgrace to a nation whose freedom and honour these same people had sustained through their valour, cemented by the spillage of their blood.

The perpetrators of such a disgrace ascribe this misery to the indolence and improvidence of these Highlanders. The truth is that they are wrong, and it is the inevitable result of the avarice and tyranny of the landlords and factors. There have been past attempts to relieve these sufferings in the form of government aid and public subscriptions. But the fact is that the unhappy country of Sutherland has been excluded from the benefits to be derived from such sources. Excluded due to the false statements and public speeches made by hired agents, or by those in whose interest it is to conceal the misery and destitution which is the direct result of their actions. Thus the victims of these actions are denied any of the assistance offered by government or private individuals due to the thraldom and subjugation in which this once brave and happy people are to the factors, magistrates and ministers. They dare not even whisper a complaint, much less say plainly and openly ‘thus and thus have you done to us’.

Having spoken out on what I have witnessed has brought accusations upon me, accusations that I am of singular ignorance, that I misrepresent the facts. Those with most to gain deny my assertions and demand that I prove them by bringing forward facts. They know full well that I am right, and that I cannot bring forward those facts due to the avarice and tyranny with which they prevent those who could tell the truth from speaking out in the fear of an even worse retribution.