A Guid Gangin’ Pleadetails

An old Mr. Erskine of Dun had one of these old retainers, under whose language and unreasonable assumption he had long groaned. He had almost determined to bear it no longer, when, walking out with his man, on crossing a field, the master exclaimed, “There’s a hare.” Andrew looked at the place, and coolly replied, “What a big lee, it’s a cauff.” [I think, “What a big lie, it’s a calf!” – Liam]

The master, quite angry now, plainly told the old domestic that they must part. But the tried servant of forty years, not dreaming of the possibility of his dismissal, innocently asked, “Ay, sir; whare ye gaun? I’m sure ye’re aye best at hame,” supposing that, if there were to be any disruption, it must be the master who would change the place.

An example of a similar fixedness of tenure in an old servant was afforded in an anecdote related of an old coachman long in the service of a noble lady, and who gave all the trouble and annoyance which he conceived were the privileges of his position in the family. At last the lady fairly gave him notice to quit, and told him he must go. T he only satisfaction she got was the quiet answer, “Na, na, my lady; I druve ye to your marriage, and I shall stay to drive ye to your burial.” Indeed, we have heard of a still stronger assertion of his official position by one who met an order to quit his master’s service by the cool reply, “Na, na; I’m no gangin’. If ye dinna ken whan ye’ve a good servant, I ken whan I’ve a gude place.” (p. 98)