The laird was very shabby, as usual, and, meeting Jock, began to banter him on the subject of his dress:--"Ye're very grand, Jock.

Thae's fine claes ye hae gotten; whaur did ye get that coat ?" Jock told him who had given him his coat, and then, looking slily at the laird, he inquired, as with great simplicity, "And whaur did ye get _yours_, laird ?" For another admirable story of a rencontre between a penurious laird and the parish natural I am indebted to the _Scotsman_, June 16, 1871.

Once on a time there was a Highland laird renowned for his caution in money matters, and his precise keeping of books.

His charities were there; but that department of his bookkeeping was not believed to be heavy.

On examination, a sum of half-a-crown was unexpectedly discovered in it; but this was accounted for in a manner creditable to his intentions, if not to his success in executing them.