Genealogical memoirs of the Duffs

Genealogical Memoirs of the Duffs. 55
I have heard likewise that to all his Rela-
tions and Allys, Alexr. Dufìf of Braco was a
faithful firm friend, and would have gone any
length to serve them. In a word, he was a very
signifìcant man in his time, and bore great weight
in the public and private Transactions of the
shire of Banff while he lived.
One trifling anecdote which I heard from his
nephew, old Hatton, shews his acuteness, and the
quickness of his refiection to that point which he
seems to have had alwise in view.
A sturdy Beggar, having heard that he had
pickt up a half-peny from the street of Banff,
came up to him craving an alms, and saying,
" God bless ye, Braco. Gi's a babee, and if ye
winna' gie's a babee of your awen, gie's the
babee at ye fand." " Find a babee to yourself,"
says Braco.
He made many great additions to the Family
Estate in his father's time, whom he only sur-
vived five or six years, they both joined in bring-
ing about the Purchase of the noble Estate of
Balveny, which they had in view from about the