"I'LL NA TRUSTYE."

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 5, Issue 1383, 19 May 1883, Page 4

"I'LL NA TRUSTYE."

Two centuries ago, in jthe Highlands of Scotland, to ask for a receipt or a promissory note, was thought an insult. It would have been resented as quicky as if one had said" I doubt your honor.". If parties had busines matters to transact, they stepped into the air, fixed ■their eyes upon the heavens,' arid ,each repeated his obligation,,with rio mortal witness,' A mark was then carved on some rock or tree near by as a rememberance of the compact, j ' Such a thing as breach of contract was rarely met with, so highly did the people regard their honor. When the inarch of i improvement brought tho new mode of doingbusiness, thoy were often pained by these innovations. An anecdote is ■handed 1 , down of a former who had been to the Lowlands aud learned worldy wisdom. On returning to his native parish he had need of a sum of money, and made bold to ask a Joan from a gentleman of means named Stewart. Tins was kindly granted, and Mr S. counted out the gold, This done the farmer wroto a receipt and offered it to Mr S. "Whatis this, man" cried Mr S., eying tho slip of paper. It is the receipt, sir, bidding me to give ye back yer gold at the right time, replied Sandy. . Bidding ye? Well, my man, if ye canna trust yourself I'm sure I'll na' trust ye! Ye canna liea my gold, And gathering it up he put it back in his desk and turned his key upon it. But, sir, I might die, replied the canny Scotchman, bringing up an argument in favor of new wisdom, and perhaps my sons might refuse it ye; but the bit o' paper would compel them. Compel them to sustain a dead father's honor, cried the Celt. They'll need compelling to do right if this is the road ye're leading them, Ye can gang elsewhere for money; but you'll find nane in the parish that'll put more faith in a bit o' paper than in a neighbour's word o' honor and his fear of God.—Burlington Hawkeye. .