It had been given in mistake instead of a coin of a different denomination, to "the natural" of the parish for holding his shelty while he transacted business at the bank.
A gleam in the boy's eye drew his attention to a gleam of white as the metal dropped into his pocket.

In vain the laird assured him it was not a good bawbee--if he would give it up he would get another--it was "guid eneuch" for the like of him.

And when the laird in his extremity swore a great oath that unless it was given up he would never give another halfpenny, the answer was--"Ech, laird, it wad be lang or ye gied me saxty." Another example of shrewd and ready humour in one of that class is the following:--In this case the idiot was musical, and earned a few stray pence by playing Scottish airs on a flute.

He resided at Stirling, and used to hang about the door of the inn to watch the arrival and departure of travellers.

A lady, who used to give him something occasionally, was just starting, and said to Jamie that she had only a fourpenny piece, and that he must be content with that, for she could not stay to get more.