Mr. I vie Campbell. 9 



Dalgig* was not far from the springs of Nith, and 

 every Edie Ochiltree and Madge Wildfire who wan- 

 dered among those moors was sure of a night's shelter 

 and plenty of porridge and milk. Mr. Campbell was 

 a great student of human nature, and he loved a bit of 

 character wherever he could find it, especially if it 

 indulged in unshackelled Scotch. He made a point 

 of asking every tramp their name, and they invariably 

 said " Campbell." The outlying members of the clan 

 seemed to increase in a most marvellous manner, 

 but still he was content to ask no more questions. 

 "Campbell" was not the only key to his heart. On 

 one occasion he had some words with a vagrant, and 

 denied him bed and board, but when the cunning 

 fellow told him that his name was " Bruce," everything 

 was forgiven and forgotten. They repaid his kindness 

 by very seldom stealing from him. One of the worst of 

 the lot was once heard to say to his child behind a 

 hedge — "Nab what y on can, laddie, but no at Dalgig 

 for yer life!' His charity was once rather chilled 

 by learning that two married couples had enjoyed 

 his hospitality from Saturday till Monday, and occu 

 pied their barn leisure in negotiating an exchange of 

 wives. The arrangement was carried into effect, and 

 " Old Dalgig" was so scandalized when he heard of 

 it, that for a long time he housed no beggars but aged 

 ones. 



He seldom changed his servants, and looked upon 

 the seniors as quite family standards. " Sandy Dun" 

 was with him and his father for fifty-seven years, and 

 died at eighty-four, without redeeming the matrimo- 

 nial promise which he made annually to his master, 

 under the influence of ale, at Auchinleck Lamb Fair. 

 Another of them, Willy Wilson, delighted to tell how 

 a rough drover tried to prevent him and his master 



* For a visit to Dalgig see "Field and Fern" (South), pp. 249-66. 



