HELEN BEATON (1847-1928)
Helen Beaton (1847-1928) wis ain o the maist byordinar scrievers in o Doric. Syne she wisna a makar, rether she scrievit fit is aiblins the heidmaist buik o memoirs stappit we claikin an gweed wirds. Her glossary o wirds the gither we her graan leet o Doric proverbs are o affa muckle import. Aboot the damie hersel, we dinna ken muckle.
Mrs Beaton wis born Helen Moritmer, it Rayne on the echth Aagust 1847, the dother o James Mortimer, a fairmer an his dame Margaret Ledingham. The Ledinghams and Mortimers were aul and weel-kent femilies roonaboot Rayne, Oyne an Insch. The fowk o Pittendrigh Macgillivray, anither Doric scriever, hailt fae Aul Rayne an wis connekit tae the Ledingham femily tee.
Helen merriet James Beaton on 19 November 1872 and they hid three bairnies, twa loons and a quine. They bed ootbye Turra it Aspenbank; bit her hairt bed it Rayne. James deid in 1909.
It wis efter James hid deid thit Helen scrievit her maisterpiece At the back of Benachie aa aboot life in the west o the Garioch aboot Rayne in the nineteenth hunnereers. It is stappit fu we Doric claik, memories an tales. Alane it stans heidmaist is a buik o memoirs in the mither tongue.
Helen Beaton hid a richt gweed lug fir the turnie o a phrase, fir proverbs an sayins, fir the natural lilt o the toung. She wis byous it recordin dialogue an claik.
Mrs Beaton wis born Helen Moritmer, it Rayne on the echth Aagust 1847, the dother o James Mortimer, a fairmer an his dame Margaret Ledingham. The Ledinghams and Mortimers were aul and weel-kent femilies roonaboot Rayne, Oyne an Insch. The fowk o Pittendrigh Macgillivray, anither Doric scriever, hailt fae Aul Rayne an wis connekit tae the Ledingham femily tee.
Helen merriet James Beaton on 19 November 1872 and they hid three bairnies, twa loons and a quine. They bed ootbye Turra it Aspenbank; bit her hairt bed it Rayne. James deid in 1909.
It wis efter James hid deid thit Helen scrievit her maisterpiece At the back of Benachie aa aboot life in the west o the Garioch aboot Rayne in the nineteenth hunnereers. It is stappit fu we Doric claik, memories an tales. Alane it stans heidmaist is a buik o memoirs in the mither tongue.
Helen Beaton hid a richt gweed lug fir the turnie o a phrase, fir proverbs an sayins, fir the natural lilt o the toung. She wis byous it recordin dialogue an claik.
"Haith, sirs, there wisna muckle gran'ness aboot it. I wis fair forfochen sittin on the top o Sauners Ingrams's cairt. Sometimes I wis Daudet aboot tull I thocht ilka rib o ma body wis broken. Fin I wan there ma min wis a doon I ma shins; I couldna tell a bee frae a beetle, tho it wis tae save ma life. Lauch awa! It wis nae lauchin metter tae me, I can tell ye. An that wisna a. Yon ondeemous din, day an nicht tuik a the fusion oot o me; ma bridder misca'ed me for bein sae stupid like; I wisna able at first tae haud aff o masel saw I jist hid tae jowk an lat the jaw gang by. In the vera deid seeline o th' nicht ma bridder an mony een like him yammer't oot as heich's they cud roar, the oor o th' nicht an th' half oor tee. |
Helen deid in Huntly in January 1929 and wis beeriet in Turra.
Entry compiled from 'Helen Beaton' on www.thedoric.scot
Entry compiled from 'Helen Beaton' on www.thedoric.scot
