DAVIE’S DEVICE.

Golden Bay Argus, Volume IX, Issue 26, 26 November 1903, Page 3

DAVIE’S DEVICE.

Resorrcmul persons are to be found in all ranks. They have filled thrones, and made themselves names as diplomatists, but perhaps their greatest triumphs are in humbler walks of life. Poverty is a special incentive to the arts of the born contriver Caleb Balderstone is a specimen of a past master of the craft; and every poor house mother, as Burns knew well, has occasion t« study the same art in her weekly efforts to “ gar auld claes look amaisb as well as new.” ■ There is a story of a very poor Scotch minister who was "surprised by a party ol aristocratic visitors while working in his manse garden in raiment of extremely shabby, not to say tattered, condition. Lifting up his eyes he beheld the “ Yirl’s *' (Earl’s) carriage approaching- escape was impassible, and yet the minister was extremely reluctant to make his first appearance befoie the chief of his flock in such a disreputable array. “Oh, Davie, mon, what will I do?” he exclaimed to his faithful factotum, who was working by his side. “Do, sir?” said Davie, with a resource worthy of Caleb Balderstone himself, “ Why, just bide where ye are, and let them take ye for the potato bogle ” (t.e., scarcecrow). The minister promptly extended his arms, Davie crushed a dilapidated hat over his face, his other raiment, exactly suited tho character, and standing motionless, the minister posed* as the potato bogle, while Davie dismissed the visitors with the reply that “the minister was no in the hoose.”

“ Does your papa object to my presence ?" he asked, timidly creeping near his hat, as he fancied he heard a footstep.

“ No, I don’t reckon he will,” came the confident answer; “anyhow you can send them along and sorter try him.”

He (trying to get out of it so pleasantly): I’m awfully sorry that I must go to-nighfc, Miss Bessie. What an agreeable two weeks we’ve had of it! I will go and ask your father—he was going to say *to harness.’ ’* She: Oh, William, I knew it would come, and I asked pa yesterday so as to save you the trouble; he’s more than willing.