EXACT TO A FARTHING.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue III, 30 June 1891, Page 4

EXACT TO A FARTHING.

Captain Robf.kt Lumsuaike, of Inncrgellie, was perhaps tbe most close-fisted ■ Fife laird of his day. Kim.vin-.; "his customer, honest Saunders Andersjn, of Anstruther, lhe leadin.; iltfshe. o ihe Hast . Neulf, in ni .kin,' nit .-i p.v.tiy 1)1! lor ■ butcher meat, put a a-iiMk: in the sun, ' just as certain wily .:.-i::-.,.:i.-ix add .1 h.d penny to a thnusai: i p ,i , i 0.-ii ...tU: o: iii . present day. Th-; uriiim ; uo su !i an exact and luisiiioss-ii.u: I.i ..-< t.> me \nstruther iiesher's bill ih <i i 11..-, su i wa« counted urnvn as s.»m .is it was p -wilted. "You give rue luck a .-"thin.n i.ii.nuo," said the laird, tublin.; d-nvu lite last halfpeuny. " 1 diuna hue uu_ oil ue, sue never mind," quoth Suuuders, a-lurniii;,' the "bawbee;" but the luird, with one sweep of his big hand, drew the money buck to his I cash-box and rose from his chair. "No," he cried, in the same tone us il lie hud been defending iho last acre of his estate, " I'll wrong no man, and no man '11 wrong me— owe you a penny, owe you a farthing, and if the one is just, so is the other, and the account will not be settled without it." Saunde-.s had .no alternative loft but to go in search of the little coin, and so scarce were Ihey in the east cf File ut that time, that it cost him nearly . day's trouble to find ono, but no sooner did he take it to the eccentric laird than his account was paid on the instant. " Saunders," added he, taking up the receipt, " Justice holds her scales so even that a farthing loses or makes the balance."