COMING AWAY IN BITS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 350, 5 February 1881, Page 2

COMING AWAY IN BITS.

Before the erection of the new pier at the Castle Rock, passengers from Dumbarton had to be conveyed down the Leven to the Clyde steamers by a ferryboat, rowed by two sturdy and generally elderly ferrymen. On one occasion nn English commercial traveller had seated himself o!i the gunwale, at the stern. One of the old f*rr men, aware of the danger to anyone so. placed, when the rope of the steamer should be attached to the bow of the boat, took occasion to warn the man of his danger ; “ Noo, ma mon, come donn off that, or ye’ll coup Qwer.” The bagman only replied by telling him to “ mind his own business and trust him to take care of himself. “ Weel,” said the ferryman,- “mind. I’ve telt ye ; as sure as ye’re sittin’ there ye’ll coup ower. ” No sooner had the rope been attached and the boat got the inevitable tug from the steamer, than the fellow went heels up over the stern. “ Gowk, I telt hi.n that !” However, being in the water, it behoved that every effort should be made to rescue him. So the ferryman made a grab at what seemed the hair of his bead when a big wig came away. Throwing this impatiently into the boat he made a second grip at the collar,, when a front came away. Casting this from him with still greater scorn, he shouted to his com-, panion, “ Tummas, come here and help to save as muckle o’this man as ye can, for he’s cornin’ a’ awa’ in bits . ”