"BOBBY” OF GREYFRIARS.

Putaruru Press, Volume VI, Issue 226, 1 March 1928, Page 3

"BOBBY” OF GREYFRIARS.

A FAITHFUL DOG. Writing in the Dearborn Independent, Paul Tyner recalls that, close to the entrance to Greyfriars churchyard in Edinburgh, as hallowed a resting place of Scotland’s worthies as Westminster Abbey is of England’s historic dead, is an obviously new and bright monument of Aberdeen granite, standing our m contra- with the time-stained grey stone memorials about it. And strange is its inscription: “To the Memory of John Gray, Died in 185 S. Master of ‘Greyfriars Bobby’ (‘and even in his ashes most beloved’). Erected by American Lovers of Bobby.” Bobby, be it known, was a winsome Skye terrier which in our fathers’ days was almost as much an Edinburgh character as was Dr.' Brown’s “Rab.” For 14 years he kept watch at his master’s grave. Bobby 1 himself is remembered by a beautiful marble drinking fountain for to. d dogs a stone’s throw from the entrance to the churchyard. It is surmounted by a life-size statue of the “wee beastie.” The inscription runs as follows: “ ‘Greyfriars Bobby.’ From the Life Just Before His Death. In 1858, this faithful dog followed the remains of His Master to Greyfriars Churchyard, and lingered near the spot until his death in 1872.” It was erected by the Baroness BurdettCoutts in 1872. This inscription practically tells the story. It remains only to be added that back in the ‘fifties John Gray was a farmer who came regularly to Edinburgh to attend the Wednesday market, always attended by his shaggy terrier, Bobby. Then, as now, the hour of 1 was boomed out by a gun on the Castle heights, a boom by which people all over the city set their clocks and watches. It was Gray’s custom then to repair for lunch to an eating house in the neighbourhood of Greyfriars kept by one Traill, who took quite an interest in both the dog and his master, always giving Bobby a bun or a bone. Gray died in 1858. On the third day following the funeral in which Gray was laid to rest close by the historic church the habitues of Traill’s place were surprised just as iihe echoes of the 1 o’clock gun were dying away to see a dog, the picture of woe and hunger, run in and approach the proprietor, into whose eyes he gazed beseechingly. Traill, immediately recognising Bobby, gave him a bun in answer to his silent

pleading. The dog, without waiting to eat it, ran out of the restaurant, car-

rying his lunch in his mouth. Next day Bobby appeared again at the same hour, and again received the bun, running away hastily with it. When he came a third time Traill from curiosity followed the dog, which made straight for Greyfriars churchyard and lay down near his master’s grave to eat his bun. It was soon learned that the chief and perhaps only mourner of the kind-hearted old farmer was his four-footed friend. After the interment of his master he refused to leave the humble mound which marked the grave until compelled by the pangs of hunger, and then it was only to return with all speed. Over and over Bobby was taken back to his former home in the country, but he always returned to his post. Here he continued day and night in all weathers, stoutly resisting the friendly advances made by compassionate strangers desirous of providing the dog with a home, and taking refuge only in rough weather under a tombstone near by. He continued his daily visits to the lunchroom punctually at the hour of 1, always receiving his bun from the kindly proprietor. This had been going on for nine years when Bobby and his friend got into trouble with the law, both Bobby and the restaurant proprietor being arraigned for failure in all this time to pay the 7s yearly for a dog license. Bobby was arraigned as a “vagrant” before three magistrates. His friend defended him, telling the story of his devoted death watch. Thereupon the magistrate decided to temper justice with mercy, remitting license fee and fine and dismissing the charge against Traill of harbouring an unlicensed dog. He died in 1872, and was buried in a grave near his master’s, now marked by a rosebush.