[Reminiscences of Scottish Life and Character by Edward Bannerman Ramsay]@TWC D-Link bookReminiscences of Scottish Life and Character CHAPTER THE SIXTH 42/105
I often think of the remark of the outspoken ancient lady, who, when told by her pastor, of whose disinterestedness in his charge she was not quite sure, that he "had a call from his Lord and Master to go," replied--"'Deed, sir, the Lord micht hae ca'ed and ca'ed to ye lang eneuch to Ouchtertoul (a very small stipend), and ye'd ne'er hae letten on that ye heard him." At the beginning of this century, when the fear of invasion was rife, it was proposed to mount a small battery at the water-mouth by subscription, and Miss Carnegy was waited on by a deputation from the town-council.
One of them having addressed her on the subject, she heard him with some impatience, and when he had finished, she said, "Are ye ane o' the toon-cooncil." He replied, "I have that honour, ma'am." To which she rejoined, "Ye may hae that _profit_, but honour ye hae nane;" and then to the point, she added, "But I've been tell't that ae day's wark o' twa or three men wad mount the cannon, and that it may be a' dune for twenty shillings; now there's twa punds to ye." The councillor pocketed the money and withdrew.
On one occasion, as she sat in an easy chair, having assumed the habits and privileges of age, Mr.Mollison, the minister of the Established Kirk, called on her to solicit for some charity.
She did not like being asked for money, and, from her Jacobite principles, she certainly did not respect the Presbyterian Kirk.
When he came in she made an inclination of the head, and he said, "Don't get up, madam." She replied, "Get up! I wadna rise out o' my chair for King George himsell, let abee a whig minister." This was plain speaking enough, but there is something quite inimitable in the matter-of-factness of the following story of an advertisement, which may tend to illustrate the Antiquary's remark to Mrs.Macleuchar, anent the starting of a coach or fly to Queensferry.
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