"SCOTCH JOCK" HORSE COUPING

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1385, 8 January 1873, Page 2

" SCOTCH JOCK" HORSE COUPING

There appeared in the Otago Daily Times some anecdotes of "Scotch Jock," as a purchaser of horse-flesh for the Colonies. The following is one of them : — Amongst others, the Laird of — Dumblatherskyte, awa' up in Clyde — represented to .Jock that he had some fine stock to 3eiect from — fine beasts, &c. A day was appointed, and Maister Nesbitt left Glasgow for the Laird's house, and in the common course of things arrived there, J to be met at the door or gate by the Laird himself. ."Come your ways in, Maister Nesbitt, and tak a drop of whisky, ye maim need something after yer ride." Scotch Jock is of a genial, aye a convivial turn of mind, and he saw the force of the argument used by the Laird — and they were soon hobnobbing gloriously. Jock had a nasty cough, and his host noticed it. "Yes, he took a bit o' cold in the channel." " Yes, he would tak anither drappie." About the 20th or 26th, the oddment is small matter to good, hardheaded Scotchmen, and then said the Laird, "stacherin up out of his chair," as Mr Nesbitt tells the story," " We'll gang out and see the beasts," and, sure enough, as Jock states, "out we gaed" to see the stock which Maister Nesbitt was to purchase. Jock did not wish, to offend the Laird, but saw at a glance that they were not the stock -TIC- ITlunOv-J.. ££ rjPU« Uonton" Xo.«U sometimes embellishes what he has to say with strong language — "were just scrubbers I wadna gien him seeven and saxpence a heed for them." So he just gave another stagger, and says he, " Laird, I'm just too fou for business the noo, I'll see you in Glasgie, laird ; aud so Mr Nesbitt left the Laird of Dumblatherskyte in a kind of amazement at not having made a " deal " with his supposed to be " tight" customer, but in this case the old adage was reversed — the Laird, as host, had reckoned without his visitor. Maister Nesbitt was as sober as when he arrived, in spite of the repeated libations poured to friendship — and business ! Before leaving Glasgie he had purchased half-a-dozen white handerchiefs, and each time he took off his dram ic. pledge to his host, he, by a dexterous simulance of a cough, con- ; veyed it from his mouth to his handkerchief, and thence to his pocket, till, as Jock describes it, " just when the Laird thocht I was fou, I just had a' his whisky in my pock ;" and by this harmless artifice Maister Nesbitt saved himself from a bad "deal," and the Colony was spared the importation of worthless stock.