Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Mass.) 1828-1830, 1829-06-09
ACCOUNT OF ANDREW GEMMELS,
A Scottish Beggar, supposed to be the original Q
Edie OchiItree

Andrew Gemmels was well known over
all the border districts as wandering
beggar, or gaberlnzie, for-the greater part
of half century. lie had been soldier,
in his youth; and his entertaining stories
Of his campaigns and the adventures he
had encountered in foreign countries, uni
ted with his shrewdness, drollery, and
other agreeable qualities, rendered him
general favourite, and secured him cor
dial welcome and free quarters at every
shepherds cot, or farm-steadng that lay in
the range Of his extensive wanderings.
Among his other places of resort in Tivi-
otdale, Andrew regularly visited at my
grandfather's. 1t was one of his Satur-
day-night houses" as he called them,
where he always staid over the Sunday,
and sometimes longer. He usually put
up his horse on his arrival, without the
formality of asking quarters, and had a
straw bed made up for him in the byre,
claiming it rather as his acknowledged
due and privilege, than as boon of char
ity. He preferred sleeping ip an out
house, and, if possible, in one where cat
tie or horses were kept. My grandfather,
who was an old-fashioned farmer in
remote situation, was exceedingly fond of
his company. and though very devout
and strict Cameronian, and occasionally
somewhat scandalized at Andrews rough
and irreverent style of language, was new
ertheless so much attracted by his con-
versation, that he never failed to spend
the evenings of his sojourn in listening to
his entertaining narration and " auld warld
stories with the old shepherds, kinds, and
children, seated around them beside sthe
blazing turf ingle in the i" farmers ha'"
These conversations sometimes took POI
lemical turn, and in that case, not unfre-
quently ended in a violent dispute; my
ancestors hot and impatient temper blaz-
ing forth on collision with the dry and
sarcastick humour of his ragged guest.
Andrew was never known to yield his
point on these occasions but he usually
had the address, when matters grew too
serious, to give the conversation more
pleasant turn. by some droll remark or
unexpected stroke of humour, which con-
vulsed the rustick group, and the grave
goodman himself, with unfailing and irre-
sistible merriment.
Though free, however, and unceremo-
Nous, Andrew was never burdensome or
indiscreet in his visits returning only
once or twice year, and, generally after
pretty regular intervals. He evidently
appeared to prosper in his calling; for,
though hung round with rags of every
shape and hue, he commonly possessed a
good horse, and used to attend the coun-
try fairs and race-courses, where he would
bet and dispute with the country lairds
and gentry with the most independent
and resolute pertinacity. He allowed that
begging had been good trade in his time,
but used to complain sadly, in his latter
days, that times were daily growing worse.
My father remembers seeing ,Gemmels |
travelling about on blood mare, with a |
foal after her, and gold watch in his pock-
ct. On one occasion, at Rutherford, in
Tiviotdale, he had dropt clue of yarn,
and Mr.. Mather, his host, finding him
rummaging for it, assisted in the search,
and, having got hold of it, persisted, not
withstanding Andrews opposition, in un-
rolling the yarn till he came to the kernel,
which, much to his surprise and amuse-
ment, he found to consist of about twenty
guineas in gold.
Many curious anecdotes of Andrews
sarcastick wit and eccentrick manners are