HE RETURNS TO THE GAD IE. 239 



eating this dish used to astonish the youngsters, for he 

 often took it without milk, when none was to be had, 

 and, what seemed worse, used sour, unsavoury " sowens " 

 as a substitute, which even their keen, healthy stomachs 

 could not stand. But, as Mr. Smith says, "John could 

 always suit himself to circumstances " one of the most 

 invaluable capacities any man can possess ; a training for 

 which should form a specific aim in the upbringing of 

 all young people, but which, alas, is less common, with our 

 growing luxury in all classes, than in the Spartan days 

 of which we now speak. 



Duncan's methodical, careful habits in all things sur- 

 prised the children, and gave them lessons for life. Every 

 Monday morning, for instance, it was a sight to see him 

 brush and fold up his Sunday clothes with the greatest 

 neatness, and deposit them tenderly in his chest, the open- 

 ing of which filled the room with the odour of protecting 

 camphor. His conscientiousness in all he did, and his 

 deep religiousness even then impressed young Sandy. 



The occasional flashings of John's quiet humour are 

 still remembered. John used to tell his father, amongst 

 other curious observations, that he could decide whether 

 a man was " weel-aff or no," by the way he wore his night- 

 cap ! for at that time, every elderly man in Auchleven 

 wore during the day a red-striped " Kilmarnock." He said 

 that the caps of " those who had siller stood stracht up 

 on their heeds ; " whereas " the caps of those that didna 

 hae't, hung doon at the tap," in appropriate dejection at 

 the impecuniosity of their owners, no doubt a generaliza- 

 tion which his young friend thought was borne out by the 

 facts of the case as exhibited in the village. 



