7 February 1920 diary of Dr John Stewart Muir (1845-1938) of Selkirk

My 75th Birthday which finds me in good health: sound in wind + limb + fit for my work. My only disability is some impairment of my hearing which however does not however + fortunately interfere with auscultation¹. Well may I say with a thankful heart “Surely goodness + mercy have followed me all the days of my life”. I had presents from Mrs Mackintosh², Jean, Helen³ + the Patons⁴, a card from Agnes Durnford⁵ + letter from Guy + Mary⁶. It was a lovely day + after motoring to Yair I went out to the Gala Rigg + with Nancy, Helen + Fairy⁷ [?] saw a lot of the hunting from Whitmuirhall. I was out from 11.15 till 4 + did a lot of running. The hunt went to Haining, Deepslade⁸, [?], Riddell, Shawburn, Curling, Prieston [?], Clarilaw Moor + Whitmuir.

¹ Auscultation (Latin auscultare) listening to the sounds of the body during a physical examination

² Agnes Mackintosh, née Watson, formerly Harper (1859-1946), of Elm Park, Selkirk

³ Jane Henderson Logan ‘Jean’ Pike née Muir (1877-1941) and Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963), two of Dr Muir’s daughters

⁴ Isabella Clementina ‘Isa’ Paton (about 1838-1929) and Marion Agnes Paton (about 1841-1940), sisters living on their own means [1901 Census] and at Galashiels from 1918

⁵ Agnes Watson Durnford née Harper (1888-1976), daughter of Ebenezer Erskine Harper, Sheriff Substitute of Selkirkshire, and Agnes Harper née Watson (Mrs Mackintosh), a Red Cross V.A.D. and holder of Red or White Stripe [‘Selkirkshire V.A.D.s.’, the Southern Reporter, 6 April 1922], she had married in 1918

⁶ Gavin Struthers ‘Guy’ Muir (1846-1927) and Mary Jane Wallace née Muir (1836-1933), Dr Muir’s brother and sister

⁷ Agnes Amelia ‘Nancy’ Roberts née Muir (1878-1948), Dr Muir’s daughter, Helen footnoted above and, if the reading is correct, Fairy is unidentified (Dr Muir’s acquaintance Euphemia Cranston ‘Fairy’ Roberts née Greenwood having died in 1916)

⁸ The locations are, by and large, ones south and east of Selkirk and familiar to Dr Muir followers, the possible exception being Deepslaids, approximate grid reference NGR NT485,268

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/23, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1920]