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matron, "ye'll put up nae petition here; the
house is wee enough already, an’ wha do ye
think's gaun to be fashed wi' masons an'
wrights an' a' thae clamjamfray about their
house? Faith no---the devil a petition will
be putten up in this house, as langs am in't
we're gaun to flit at Whitsunday, so ye may
come then an' put up as mony petitions as
ye like.”
DUKE OF BUCCLEUGH.
Henry, Duke of Buccleugh was greatly
beloved by his numerous tenantry. One of
his small tenants, Jamie Howie by name,
had a son about four years of age, who,
having heard much of a great Duke of
Buccleugh, was very anxious to see him.
Honest Jamie, in a few days, was honoured
with a visit from the duke, when Jamie,
doffing his bonnet, and making a reverential
bow, says “O my Lord ! ye maunna be
angry wi' me, but it's God's truth, my
Lord, there's a daft we callant o' mine that
canna rest, nor let others rest nicht nor day;
he has ta'en in his head sic a notion o' seeing
what like ye are; Gudesake, my Lord, I
dinna think he has ony yedea ye are a man
at a' but some 'far awa, outlandish, ower
sea creature.” The Duke mightily tickled
with this fancy, desired Jamie to bring the
youngster into his presence forth with. Out
