Scotland/Scots > Reminiscences of a Highland parish

TACKSMEN AND TENANTS.
193
ventured one evening over their whisky-toddy to
remark, “I am of opinion, sir, that you are a greater
man than even the Duke of Wellington !” “ Hoot
toot!” replied the sheep-farmer, modestly hanging
his head with a pleasing smile, and taking a large
pinch of snuff. “ That’s too much—too much by
far—by far.” But his guest, after expatiating for
a while upon the great powers of his host in col¬
lecting and concentrating upon a Southern market
a flock of sheep, suggested the question, “ Could
the Duke of Wellington have done that?" The
sheep-farmer thought a little, snuffed, took a glass
of toddy, and slowly replied, “The Duke of Wel¬
lington was, nae doot, a clever man ; very, very
clever, I believe. They tell me he was a good
sojer; but then, d’ye see, he had reasonable men
to deal with—captains, and majors, and generals
that could understand him,—every one of them,
both officers and men; but I’m no so sure after all
if he could manage say twenty thousand sheep, be¬
sides black cattle, that couldna understand one word
he said, Gaelic or English, and bring every hoof o’
them to Fa’kirk Tryst! I doot it—I doot it! But
I have often done that.” The inference was evident.