Scottish Anecdotes

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 7136, 19 November 1894, Page 4

Scottish Anecdotes

Ibe following appeared in Mr Watson's book on " Kirkintilloch " : — In the early part of this century a decent, simple-minded, elderly weaver in Kirkintilloch was walking out from Glasgow, carrying a jar of " barm " or yeast. At the farmhouse near Springburn, called the " Trock Stane," the jar suddenly burst with a loud report, and the contents were bespattered over the face and clothes of the bearer. It instantaneously occurred to him that someone had fired at and shot him, and such was the terror which the idea conveyed to him that he sank down on the road and lay as immovable as if he actually had been fatally wounded. A friend of his came up very soon, and in great surprise asked what was the matter with him. "Oh, man," said the weaver, " I'm shot." His friend felt him all over and said, " Hoots, nonsense ; there's naething wrang wi' ye." The weaver, drawing his hand across hi;brow and holding it up to his friend, with part of the y6ast on it, said solemnly and earnestly : " Man, it's as sure's death ; there's my brains." The following anecdote has attained n world-wide circulation :-An inhabitant of the old town who had been drinking heavily, one night staggered into the old church burying ground and fell into a partially-made grave, where he passed the remainder of the nighr sound asleep. A mail coach started in the early morning quite adjacent to the spot, and the guard blew a Joud blast on his horn. This awakened the aleeper, but, confused and drowsy, he could not comprehend at tirst where he was, far less how he got there ; but getting up and looking around he at last, gathered that he was lying in the churchyard, and, coupling this with the blasfc of the trumpet, conceived that it was the day of judgment. Expecting companions, but seeing none, he was heard to mutter to himself, " A puir turn-oot for Kirkintilloch ! Only niysei'." |