A STORY OF DALKEITH.
* THE DUKE GIVES “ A HAND WT
THE BEAST." *
The visit of the King and Queen to Dalkeith Palace imparts interest to the following - story concerning the present Duke of Buccleuch’s father. A herd boy who was one day driving a refactory cow to the home farm through the palace grounds, not*recognizing the duke in his homely grey suit called upon him to " come and gie’s a hand wi’ the beast.’
His grace went and helped and then asked the boy, " How much are you expecting for this job ? ” " I dinna ken,” replied the herd laddie ; ” but I'm sure o’ something for the folks at the hoose are guid to a body.”
When they got near the palace the duke slipped in by a side -door, put a sovereign in the butler’s hand and told him to give it to the urchin outside.
The duke passed out another way and in a few minutes rejoined the boy.
” Now,” said the duke, ” how much did you get ? ”
“ A shilling,” waa the reply ; “an* dae ye no’ think it plenty ? ”
The duke led the boy to the palace and asked him to point out the person who had given him the shilling and the butler’s deception was discovered. The duke peremptorily ordered him to give the boy his sovereign and to quit the palace.
“ You have lost by your, sharp practice,” he added, ” your shilling, your situation and your character. Learn, therefore, that honesty is the best policy.” In after years the herd boy, it is pleasant to know, owed education advancement and honours to the dukb’s kindly interest thus strangely begun.
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/PGAMA19040412.2.35
Bibliographic details
Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 15, Issue 29, 12 April 1904, Page 7
Word Count
273A STORY OF DALKEITH. Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 15, Issue 29, 12 April 1904, Page 7
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