The Highland monthly - National Library of Scotland

Willie Gillies. 71
to his landlady. Lucky M'Kay, aboot him. The doited auld
body said he was weel eneuch, but complained sairly that
he sat up at nicht reading and burning her gas, for which
she had nae amends. I dinna ken if I did richt, only a
man maun dae his best to his fellow-creatures, and when I
got the guid wife's report, I went to Lucky mysel' and gae
her such a hearing for her hard-heartedness that
she that verr.i nicht tauld Willie he would hae to quit at
the end of the week for the imperance she had got on his
account. I ken she was on the scent of a wealthier lodger,
and, therefore, wished for an excuse. What could I think
o' after this, but to offer him the spare room in my ain
house. Fac' I wished to have him under the guid wife's
e'e, 'cause I thocht he would quicker mend. She and
Maggie did a' they could, but he became waur and waur,
and the doctor (it was difficult to make Willie let me send
for a doctor, puir bo}', because he had nae money) said he
maun be sent awa to his friends in the country or else die.
Sairly Willie prayed me to let him drag himsel' to the
office when he could hardly stan' on his legs— aye, and
could ye believe it ? he would not take the wine I freely
offered him, until I was obliged to tell him the downricht
truth that he would else die, and never be able to help his
mother or repay his friends. I was put to it, sir, or I
v.ouldna hae used sic words to the wilfu' bairn, who, when
I put it in this licht, became quiet and obedient as a lamb.
But a" wouldna dae. At last his mother came for him, and
they went awa this day four weeks. He spoke of you, sir,
and said to me that if ever he was better he would v/rite
you, and if he died—weel, sir, I canna think o' Willie dee-
ing, for he has been aff and on dining here for three years
bypast, and we a' sae muckle liked him."
The honest fellow drew his sleeve across his face, and
never told me the end of Willie's message.