160 Notes and Sketches. 



whisky, and when he got elevated with liquor was apt 

 to be talkative, and a little too demonstrative perhaps. 

 At all other times his bearing towards those among 

 whom he was known was respectful and unobtrusive. 

 When victuals were needed or quarters had to be asked 

 he would lie off about the " loan " foot till his wife 

 or other female of the party had done the necessary 

 pleadings, and then quietly lift and go elsewhere, if 

 need were ; or retire to the barn, where his straw 

 couch was to be for the night, not presuming to in- 

 trude himself into the farmer's dwelling unless asked. 

 Jock's partner was Tib Doo ; and as Jock loved 

 whisky so did Tib ; and through that very love, it is 

 to be feared, came to a caird's end. It was at a 

 favourite haunt in the Garioch. Jock had gone else- 

 where temporarily ; on business, no doubt ; and it 

 might be that there had been a tiff between him and 

 Tib. Anyhow, Tib, learning that there was to be a 

 wedding next day at Lochie's, was wondrously loth to 

 leave. But, while she might have the barn at will, 

 there was not a single wisp of straw for a bed. Tib 

 would borrow a " winlin " for herself she said ; and 

 so she did ; and next day, of course, saw her at the 

 wedding, partaking freely of the " brakins " at the 

 close of the wedding feast. Likely she had not been 

 able, by the end, to stir further than to creep into 

 Lochie's barn somehow and unnoticed ; and there, by 

 next morning, poor Tib Doo lay stark dead ! The 

 kindly neighbours did the last services for herascouthily 

 andChristianly as they might. She was decently buried 

 by the west gable of the auld " White Kirk," of which 

 hath it not been prophesied by " true Thomas " that 

 it shall yet fall on a Pasch Sunday ! And all this 

 was over some days ere her husband Jock came tramp- 

 ing round with his wallet and his horns, and wistfully 

 asking tidings of Tib, towards whom his yearnings 

 had begun to go forth again. On learning her fate, 

 his grief burst forth in a way that had not been ex- 



