EASY-CHAIR MEMORIES 1 07 



slate on which the shepherd put down the first 

 drafts of his verses, afterwards, of course, 

 transferring them to paper. 



What ultimately became of this slate was 

 known probably only to the writer of this 

 account, the late Mr. A. H. Boyd, from which 

 I quote : 



" Its end was a sad one, and, for the fun of 

 the thing, I proceed now to give a little ac- 

 count of it as told me by my father long ago. 

 He and my grandfather had driven over one 

 day from Innerleithen to Altrive to spend the 

 day with Mr. Hogg, and a merry and delightful 

 day they had with him. The shepherd was in 

 fine fettle in great spirits, and delighted them 

 exceedingly by his singing of * Come all ye 

 jolly shepherds,' and a host more of his fine 

 songs. But ' a* gude things maun hae an end,' 

 and, the shades of evening beginning to de- 

 scend, my father and grandfather began to 

 think of home and the long drive before them 

 of some sixteen miles or so. Ere they took 

 their departure, however, Mr. Hogg insisted 

 that, as a little souvenir of the happy day they 

 had all had together, my father would accept 

 of this slate which, as you may be sure, he 



