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Welcome back to our fortnightly journey through the Hebrides, where we adapt tales from Bill Lawson’s ‘In History and Legend Series’ to bring you stories of adventure, romance and the enduring spirit of island life. Each post uncovers the legends that shaped communities and the choices that defined destinies.
Second Choice
Iain Macualy was from Point, a fine-looking young man with a share in a boat and good prospects of getting a croft. He was thinking of getting himself a wife, though he had no-one particular in mind. His neighbour Calum came in one night, full of praises for Christina, a young lass he had seen in Tong, on the other side of the Broad Bay. She was bonny and of the age for marrying, so Iain decided to get Calum to accompany him to Tong to ask her father for her.
They received a welcome there, but not the one they had hoped for! Christina had an older sister, Isabella, and their father was very keen that Isabella should be married first. So, Iain could have Isabella, or else come back in a year or two – and only if Isabella was married by then could he have Christina.
The men were not very happy leaving Tong – they had come a long way to no purpose, and, as Calum pointed out, it would be a poor lookout for Iain coming home from the fishing to an empty house, and who would help with the cattle and the spring work? Even if Christina were the bonnier, did that mean she would be the better wife? Would he not be better to take the offer of Isabella, rather than go home empty-handed? Eventually, Iain agreed, and they went back to Tong and arranged the marriage to Isabella.
Why was Calum so keen to see Iain married to Isabella? Could it have had anything to do with the fact that, within the year, he had married Christina himself?! In any case, Iain and Isabella settled in Point, and had nine children together, with many descendants in Lewis, the UK and Canada.
This story, like so many from the Hebrides, is far more than a simple tale of romance – it is a vivid reflection of the strength of community, the wisdom of practical choices and the unpredictable turns that shape our lives. It reminds us that sometimes, embracing the second choice can open the door to unexpected new beginnings – and that behind every legend lies a tapestry of relationships, ambitions and the quiet resilience that defines island life.
If you’re eager to explore further, the book ‘Lewis: in History and Legend – East Coast’ is available from our website, or in store at the Hebrides People Visitor Centre.
We’ll continue sharing legends and memories from Bill Lawson’s ‘In History and Legend’ series over the coming weeks. Whether you’re a native of the Outer Hebrides or simply captivated by its spirit, there’s always another story waiting to be discovered.
