In the year ----, as Wull, or William Hall, then overseer of the farm
of Sunderland, in Selkirkshire, Scotland, the labours of the day being
over, was leaning against the dyke of the farm-yard, a young gentleman
of genteel appearance came up to him, wished him good evening, and
observed that the country here looked beautiful. The two getting into
conversation, Hall, who was a talkative lad, after a few observations,
asked him "where he was ga'in?" He said he intended going to Jedburgh;
"and what business hae ye at Jeddart?" says Wull. "Oh," says the
gentleman, "I am going to attend the circuit court; but my feet have
failed me on the road." And observing a pony in the farm-yard, he said,
"That's a bit nice pony of yours;--is it to sell?--would you like to
part with it?" "A wad' na' care," Wull says; "but ma brother Geordy,
he's the farmer; and he's at Selkirk the day. But if we could get a guid
price for't, a daresay we might part wi't." "What do you ask for it?"
says the stranger. "Ma brother," quoth Wull. "says it's a thing we hae
nae use for, and if we could get ought of a wiselike price for't, it
would be as well to let it gang." There were only two words to the
bargain; the gentleman and Wull agreed. Says the gentleman, "By the way,
I cannot pay you to-night; but if you have any hesitation about me, my
name is Henry Brougham, and I refer you to the Earl of Buchan, or Mr.
George Currie, of Greenhead, who will satisfy you." It will be observed
that the places of residence of this nobleman, and Henry's brother
advocate, Mr. Currie, were in the neighbourhood. On this reference,
without making any inquiry, honest, Wull immediately gave the gentleman
the pony, with the necessary trappings. Wull being a man of orderly
habits, went early to bed; and next morning, when the business of the
farm called him and Geordy together, says Wull to Geordy, "Ye was unco
late in coming hame last night; aw salt the powny." "And wha did you
sell it to?" "Oh, to a young gentleman." "And what did you get for't?"
Wull having mentioned the price--"My faith," says Geordy, "ye hae selt
it weel." "But," says Wull, "a did na' get the siller." "You d--d idiot,
ye did na' gie away the powny without getting the siller for't; wha was
he?" "Oh, he ca'd himsel' Henry Brougham, and he said if a had ony
jealousin' about him, that the Earl of Buchan, or George Currie,
advocate, Greenhead, would say he was guid enough for the money. On, he
was an honest-looking lad; a could hae trusted ony thing in his hand."
Geordy's temper became quite ungovernable at Wull's simplicity. After
the whole southern circuit was finished, there was no word of payment,
and Wull's life became quite miserable at Geordy's incessant grumbling
and taunting; the latter ever and anon repeating, "What a d--d idiot
Wull was to gie the beest without the money till a man he kend naething
about;" and the other as pertinaciously insisting, "that he (the
gentleman) was an honest-looking man, there was nae fear o' him." In the
course of six weeks an order came for the payment of the steed. "L--d,"
says Wull, "did na I tell ye he was an honest man, a kend by the look o'
him." From that moment Wull stood eminently high in Geordy's eyes; and
while the one chuckled at his penetration of character, the other was no
less humbled at having called his superior judgment in question. William
Hall is still alive, and there is not a prouder man in Britain's Isle
than he is when he relates the little incident in his life, of which the
present Lord Chancellor of Great Britain forms the
hero.--_Schoolmaster._
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