A SCOTCHMAN’S DIARY.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXIII, Issue XXVII, 30 December 1899, Page 1208

A SCOTCHMAN’S DIARY.

The following is stated to be an extract from the private diary of a Scotchman in the good old times when whiskey was dirt cheap, and when the day’s doings of the sons of Caledonia were largely made of preeing- the wee drappie:— s. d. MONDAY—A half gill to wash awa’ the effects o’ a dry sermon, Jd. Midday— A gill to wet ma lips for dog whistlin', eing oot after sheep. Id. Forgatherin’ with the neebors. twa gills. 2d. Mair dog whistlin’, a gill. Id 0 4J TUESDAY—A wet mornin’. A gill Id (there being some holes in ma plaid). Dog whistlin' through the day, twa gills. 2d. Consoling with Jock Macdonald over the loss o' his wife, fewer gills, 4d 0 7 WEDNESDAY—Market dav. For--gatherings, sax gills, «d. Dog whistlin’, twa gills. 2d. Gills wi’ folk 1 hae nae mind o' whatever, 4d. Gill wi’ the man that sang “Auld Lang Syne.” Id 1 1 THURSDAY—A gill to try to bring to mind whaur I reeled ma’ knuckles in a political argument. Id. Introducing Jock Macdonald to a likely lass ta mak’ his second wife, twa gills, 2d. Sundry dog whistlings, twa gills, 2d... 0 a FRIDAY—Amang the sheep, fortifyin’ mysel’ for Jock Macdonald’s wife’s funeral In the afternoon, twa gills, 2d. Anither on the road to keep mysel’ frae greeting for the puir body. Id. Dog whistlin’. Id. The funeral, sax gills, 6d 010 SATURDAY-—To keep the mist oot o’ ma plaid, the holes no being mendit. Id. Gieing in the banns for Jock Macdonald's marriage fower gills, 4d. Dog whistlin’ and orgatherlns three gills, 3d.... 0 8 SUNDAY—The Sawbath Dav. A wee drap to clear ma throat for crying on ma dog. Id. Anither at Luckie’s when the belts are ringing. Id. Some brandy, so as not to be tnkin’ the smell o’ whiskey into the Lord's House, 2d. A drap to digest the sermon, twa gills, 2d.... 0 « 4 5J The total, it will be observed, is not large, but is to be accounted for by the extreme cheapness of the liquor.