1 1 4 T/ie Naturalist of Cumbrac. 



demolished the contents of the plate, and gone out 

 of the house, that he discovered his mistake, from 

 the roars of laughter and merciless chaffing of the 

 other hawkers. Mr. Robertson did what he could to 

 relieve the poor man's feelings by sending him out 

 an assurance that he had been perfectly welcome. 



Subsequently the flavour of the New Year's cake 

 was further improved by having fourpenny-pieces 

 mixed in with the other ingredients. This had, how- 

 ever, the disadvantage of attracting mock customers, 

 who purchased something quite trivial to acquire the 

 right of accepting hospitality that was not intended 

 for them. One year, for the sake of variety, presents 

 were distributed instead of the whisky, cake, and 

 fourpennies ; but such is human nature, that though 

 the presents were of considerably higher value than 

 what had been previously given, the distribution only 

 led to envyings, jealousies, and discontent. 



Some of the hawkers were none too honest. One 

 of these, whose character was well known, applied 

 one day to be served with a gilt Albert chain. The 

 number of chains in the tray was carefully counted 

 before it was submitted to him. When he had 

 selected one and paid for it, Mr. Robertson taxed 

 him with having taken a second for which he had not 

 paid. "Oh no," said the man, "that was quite a 

 mistake. He had but one." Mr. Robertson, on the 

 other hand, said he was perfectly sure that two had 

 been taken. The man protested his honesty and 

 innocence, and finally offered to be searched. As 

 Mr. Robertson had good reason to know for certain 

 that the man must have committed the theft, he did 



