Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1893-01-28
poet Burns guide friend. DR.. R,ack,oc,. /"

poet Burns guide friend, DIR. Blackjack" +"
II dinna ken. fear na," returned.
81 am just tho son o. my fayther, James
Blackjack, an he is Dunblane born"
GLOW wad you like to gae to Edin-
burgh!" he speirt next.
My heert gicd n great boun. "It's the
anc wish o. my lifer cried.
II The old laird smiled. zane o. nv
friens there is banker. He needs an
honest lad o. your ain age, an you shall
hae tho place rs sune MS you wish"
fell on my knees i gratitude, but he
bid me rise at ance. "Hae you mither,
Jock?" he speirt again.
AYE, my laird"
"Then TAX me to her an we'll arrange
aboot the Edinburgh matter"
l led the way to oor cottage wi falter-
ing footstep. had lied to fayther aboot
the pebble" an how could confess it
a to nither? She met us Mt the door
stane wi wond'rin cen, courtesyin low,
as was her humble fashion.
II am Laird Kinross," the auld noble
man began. Your son Jock foun an re-
stored to me the diamond l had lost,
am
But juist here my ain fayther stepped
oot. "Was it the pebble you lied to me
aboot, Jock?'
An l had to admit that it was. Oh,
the shame an sorrow O. wat wad other
wise hae bin the proodest minute O my
life.
'It was sair temptation" said guide
Laird Kinross. "Dinna be hard Oh the
lad. He is as honest as you an his mither
would wish him, an hae come to tax
him ava to Edinburgh, WI your con-
sent"
Fayther leukt at mither, mither leukt
at fayther, an then they bath leukt at
Laird kinross. But couldna leuk ane
O. them j. the cen, because O. yestreen's
falsehood.
Eye want Jock?" he stammered. "Oor
puir, weak Jock. Ye wad trust him
after az"
Eyes" said Laird Kinross, 81 guide
place i an Edinburgh bank awaits him
if he will but talk it, wi your permis-
sion."
"Oh, Jocllie!' sighed mither, II wad
hae stalsed my ain life on your trowth,
but noo"-
HE shall max fresh start!" pit i the
guide auld laird IAN you maun trust
him again for his youths sake!'
THAT we will, mither!' cried fayther.
Jocks steady goin lad, but the findln
O the diamond turned his held. 1t was
his first lie, am
at shall be my las'r' I cried. wi a
burst o tears.
Mither kissed me then. IN Laird Kin
ross TUX frue his pockit heavy purse,
also pittin 4 han fu' o gowd on the ha'
table. ITS for Jocks oottit an his find
in o. my diamond" he said. "Dinna re-
fuse it! the laddie deserves it a; an on
the morrow he shall gao wi me to Edin-
burgh."
Sac fayther an mither thanked him
heartily, but l couldna say word.
Laird Kinross pit his ungloved han on
my worthless held at parting-"Puir
laddie." he said. 1T will be guide les
son to you, an ono you will nivcr forget
God keep you ~ till the morrow" An
wi that he ganged ava, his Draw plaid
lyin back on the stiff mornin breeze.
Then turned me quick to dear fay
ther an mither. ''Forgie!" cried. "I
hae deceived you bath! But it shall ma
occur again! promise to be true an
honest to the day O. my deathtan ne'er
disgrace the namo you hae given mel"
You hae our blessing to TAX wi you
to Edinburgh" said fayther. "Mither
an mo will forgie an try to forget If we
can but it was II lie you told me, Jock;
always remember that. When you are
tempted again say to yourself, i told
fayther my first and las lie. Gamma
tell anitherr"
Nor will l." cried sadly, as mither
kisst mo ance mair.
Iwent to Edinburgh the next day wi
Laird Kinross, as agreed upon. Mr..
Brayham, the banker, proved guide
maister. My position at the first was n
lowly ane, but step by step rose, as
any ither laddie can an will. Laird
Kinross' generous handful O. gowd kept
fayther and mithcr free frae want till
was able to help them my ainser. I
cam to America at las, and they didna
hesitate to come wi me. l prospered
here also an am moo called mon O.
means. But the foundation O. my sue
cess was laid the autumn mornin 1 re-
stored to Laird Kinross his Draw dia-
mond against my own selfish desire.
Faythcr and mither died five years
apart. an they bath died blessing me.
"You have been guide son." they said
i turn. honest an true, as you promist
God keep you, Joclie, to the end!''
An their loving blessing follows me
still like constant benediction. Surely
they are watchin and waitin aboon. An
maun meet them there.-Mrs. Finley
Braden in New York Observer.
prnpor V,ntiI,tion ~ noo,,.