EXACT TO A FARTHING.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2221, 30 June 1891, Page 3

EXACT TO A FARTHING.

Captain Robert Lurasdaiae, Innergellie, was perhaps the most closefisted Fife laird of his day. Knowing his customer, honest Saunders Andersen, of Anstrother, the leading flesher of the East Neuk, in making out a pretty bill fer butcher’s meat, put a farthing in the sum, just as certain wily contractors add a half-penny to a thousand pound estimate of the present day. The farthing gave such an exact and business-like look to the Anstruther flesher’s bill that the sum was counted down as soon as it was presented. “Ton give me haek a farthing of change,” said the laird, tabling down the last half-penny,” “I diuna bae ane on me, aae never mind,” quoth Saunders, returning the “ bawbee ”; but the laird, with one sweep ef his big hand, drew the money hack to bis cashhoz and rose from his chair. “ No,” he cried, in the same tone as if ha had been defending the last acre of his estate, “ I’ll wrong no man and no man’ll wring me—ewe you a farthing, owe yon a penny, and if the one is just, so is the other, and the account will net be settled without it.” Saunders bad no alternative left but to go in search of the little coin, and so scarce were they in the east of Fife at that time, that it cast him ■early a day’s trouble to find one, 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;”