Gallawa Gossip. A PATTERN PROVOST.

Otago Witness, Issue 2509, 16 April 1902, Page 71

Gallawa Gossip. A PATTERN PROVOST.

Kirkcudbright, like ither sma' touns, while, had queer provosts. The toun at yas? t:mc had a verxa auncient an curious Punch - Bowl, an maybe haes yet. It was made o' oak stabs, wi bress girds on't, an had a curiously ornamentrt buddum in't, an maun 'a' been a gran' affair at yae time Enoever, some great antiquary aboot Embro had read aboot it in a book tomegate ; an naethmg wud ser' him but gang doon tae Kirkcoobrie an see't. He spen-'t oot the Provost, and t-a't on him tae ses the bowl, an lo '. an behold ! tho Provost wus thraug cain caukers on his clogs, an the wife wus busy weshin dirty luppen- in the gran Punch-Bowl. They maybe hae anither use fort noo, but there's nae tarm DIGXTTT AN" lIIPIDEXrE. Hr> wn-, a queer paidlm buddy that, ony wey : but All better no say whut they cat him. There wus yae ni'-ht there had been a great storm. «' wun an rain, an in the mornin wha should gae oot tae harl hame branches but tne Provost There wu<twa muckle esh-trce- on the roadside up thp Tonglan' Brig wey, an' they win- greatly brokken doon, an the Provost had taen possession o* the brenehes. an wu= traihn them hame ahint him on the road, whim the Earlstou caenage cam up, wi a gentleman m an awsome hurry tae wun tae the toon on some law business. The coaohman try't hard tae wun bye, but he eouldna for the Provost an his brenches ; for cry as he likit the Provost wudna mudge an inch tar gie him room. He try't tae drive the horses ower the obstructions, but the beass bogle't at the quiverin leafs an wudna face them, till at last the gentleman gat red-wud-mad at the delay, an jumpit oot, an gruppm the Provost by the cuff o' the nock, shook him an said — "You demd fcoundrel ! if you don't move that obstruction oft the road thi= instant, I'll ha-ve you punished ; < leai the road at one?, or I'll carry you in to KirL cudbnght ard deliver you ovci to the Provost." Ye sec there wu= nee policemen thru.

Provost, addin " D'yo bite too?" The gentleman hoise't him "vi et araiis." as the Dominie say=, into the c.xcriagv an dravc him int.v the toun, the brenth«3 trr.ilin a' the wey ahint them : for the Provost wudna lot gae the raip. Tho coachman, a* ord^r't, drave up tae the Provost's door, dcoiltjss en joyin the fun ; an the gentleman jumpit do un an wus gaun 'a' push the Provost in, whun the latter made a gran br>o, sa3*in, poleetly — " Am awfully obleeg't tae ye for the ride. Wnll ye step in an hae a dram? Ye maybe didni ken A wus the Pro\ost mysel." A crood same gether't up. an the astonish't stranger wus gled tao drive aff amang the lu'rray« o' the nntives, an leave the Provost maister o' the fiel'. They'r an awfu dignify' t lot the Prcrv o=t= there noo.