The Queen’s Gillie.

Cromwell Argus, Volume VI, Issue 315, 24 November 1875, Page 1 (Supplement)

The Queen’s Gillie.

A correspondent of the San Francisco News Letter, now in England, writes: —Many anecdotes are told concerning the sort of relationship which exists between our honored lady the Queen and her faithful servant, John Brown. Some of these must, of course, be taken with a grain of salt, but the following, I believe, can be relied upon. John’s affection for Her Majesty is very great. It was Brince Albert who first took the man, simply because he was straightforward and extremely independent. John never alters his broad Scotch tongue to please anyone, not ieven royalty itself. The Queen was once getting cosily settled upon her Highland pony ; the aninal being small and the roads dusty, it became accessary to tuck up her riding habit with a pin. fphn Brown was performing this office, when nddenly, “Oh dear,” exclaimed her Majesty, ‘you have hurt me, Brown.” “ Your Majesty siould wear mair claes, then,” was John’s rely. Brown was presently after sent in to fech a certain mantle, which the Queen descibed. Instead of bringing the one described, Jon brought a much thicker one. “Brown,” sail the Queen, “that isn’t the one at all.” “ I’s just this, and nae ither, your Majesty,” said John, buckling it behind the saddle; “I kennair aboot the weather than you,” and the Quen submitted like a child.