62 The Naturalist of Cumbrae. 



This book-keeping was a new discovery to the 

 laird, and he wished to know for what purpose David 

 was keeping the accounts. When he explained that 

 he was endeavouring to learn the process, the laird 

 raised no objection to his carrying out his object, 

 but wished to see the books again when they were 

 filled up. He was also anxious to know whether the 

 correctness of the entries could be fully depended on. 

 This being guaranteed, he refused payment to the 

 miller for the load that was not entered in the book. 

 The miller was quite wrath at having his word 

 doubted, but the laird would not pay, nor yet would 

 the miller make the required deduction. At length 

 David's books were produced as proof, but the miller 

 held that they would not be accepted as such, since 

 they had only been used for practice in order to 

 learn,, and under no responsibility. He maintained 

 that no court would hearken to such evidence. But 

 another circumstance came out, fatal to the miller's 

 contention. Upon closer inspection of the entries it 

 was observed that David had been at Glasgow on 

 the very day for which the miller had made the entry 

 for the disputed load. As this fact could be easily 

 attested, the miller had to give in. In this instance, 

 therefore, David's attempt at self-education won him 

 some credit with his master, to whom it had proved of 

 definite pecuniary advantage. But, it will be seen, 

 he did not regard such attempts by any means with 

 unmixed favour. 



It was the recognized privilege of the farm-servants 

 in that side of the country to have nothing to do on 

 winter nights after dark, except that the lads had to 



