Lord Braco, an ancestor of the earl of Fife, was remarkable for
practising that celebrated rule, “Get all you can, and keep all you
get.” One day, walking down the avenue from his house, he saw a farthing
lying at his feet, which he took up and carefully cleaned. A beggar
passing at the same time, entreated his lordship would give him the
farthing, saying, it was not worth a nobleman’s attention. “_Fin’_ a
farthing to _yoursel’_, puir body,” replied his lordship, and carefully
put the coin into his breeches pocket.
In addition to being his own farthing _fin’er_, his lordship was his own
factor and rent-collector. A tenant who called upon him to pay his rent
happened to be deficient a single _farthing_. This amount could not be
excused; and the farmer had to seek the farthing. When the business was
adjusted, the countryman said to his lordship, “Now Braco, I wou’d gie
ye a shillin’ for a sight o’ a’ the goud an’ siller ye hae.”--“Weel,
mon,” replied Braco, “it’s no cost ye ony mair;” and accordingly, for
and in consideration of the aforesaid sum, in hand first well and truly
paid, his lordship exhibited several iron boxes filled with gold and
silver coin. “Now,” says the farmer, “I’m as rich as yoursel’,
Braco.”--“Aye, mon!” said his lordship, “how can that be?”--“Because
I’ve _seen_ it--an’ _you_ can do nae mair.”
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