“DAFT JAMIE” AND BOBBY AWL.

Western Star, Issue 944, 2 May 1885, Page 2 (Supplement)

“DAFT JAMIE” AND BOBBY AWL.

Jamie and Bobby were fast friends, and no one could get them to fight, though frequent attempts were made to do so. They seemed to have a fellowfeeling for each other, and each of them firmly believed that his companion and not himself was “daft,” In the Grassmarket on one occasion they joined together to purchase a dram. On their meeting, Jamie accosted his friend with “It’s a cauld day, Bobby.” “Ay it’s, Jamie,” was the reply 5 “wadna we be the better of a dram ? Hae ye ony siller, man ?—I hae tippence.” “An’ I hae fourpence,” said Jamie. “That’ll get a hale mutchkin, answered Bobby j and the pair adjourned to a publichouse, where their liquor was served over the counter. Bobby, on the pretence that Jamie should go to the door to witness a dog-fight that be said Was going on when they came in, got his companion out of the way, and drank up the whole of the whisky himself. When Jamie came back he said he saw no dog-fight, but when he noticed the empty measure he said to Bobby, “ what’s cum o’ the whisky ?—ha’e ye drunk it a’, ye daft beast, and left me nane?” “ Ou ay, said the delinquent; “ ye see I was dry, and couldna wait.” W hen Jamie was afterwards asked why he did not revenge himself of Bobby for this piece of treachery, he answered, “ Ou, what could ye say to puir Bobby P He’s daft, ye ken.” Once, and only once, did these two lads come to blows, and it was then through the mischievous workings of an Edinburgh cadie, or errand-boy. They were together in the slaughter-house, when Wag Fell, the cadie, gave Bobby a putrified sheep’s head. He then induced him to turn his attention to something else,, slipping the head to Jamie, with the remark that he was to run away home and boil it. Jamie started on his mission, but he was not far gone when Bobby, who had been told by . Fell that Jamie had stolen his sheep’s head, made up to him crying, “ Daft Jamie, gie’s my heid.” They both claimed it, and in the struggle Bobby struck Jamie so violently on the nose that it bled profusely. Jamie, however, did not retaliate, though he retained possession of his “ heid.”— Hr om MacGregor’s History of Hare and Burke. .. . ' :