Perthshire in bygone days

172 PERTHSHIRE IN BYGONE DAYS.
I was introduced to Dr. Scott in 1828, by Dr. Wylie, of
Errol. I had dropped a curling stone on the instep of one
of my feet, which caused a slight swelling, and from care-
less treatment resulted in a bad sore. I had to undergo
painful cutting and slashing, but it led to an incident that
drew Dr. Scott and me together for life. Mr. James Mon-
crieff carried on business as a tinsmith in the corner shop of
the Kirkgate and High Street, lower side. During the
operation he stood between his door-cheeks, rosy and
rubicund, with his apron white as snow, and his hands
immersed in pockets behind the apron, altogether in,
apparently, a most happy frame of mind, while I looked
over to him in my agony. When the business was finished,
I said to the operators, with little show of reason certainly,
" That infernal fellow over there would not have sym-
pathised with me although you had taken my leg off."
This original proposal tickled Dr. Scott very much. A week
or two afterwards, I accidentally met him in the High
Street. "Oh, how d'ye do? How is the foot? Come
away in, and let me see it." " It is improving, Doctor,
and I do not wish to give you trouble." " Come away in ;
you know I have a prescriptive right to you now."
Seven years afterwards, we were standing together on
the pavement, when a little girl, passing w r ith a flagon in
her hand, lost her footing, and in trying to save herself
drove the flagon through a pane of glass in Eichard Wylie's
window. She was immediately grappled and three shillings
and sixpence demanded. The flagon and a penny were all
her personal property, except tears, which came in abun-
dance. The police were spoken of, but it occurred to Dr.
Scott that if the girl belonged to respectable parents the
money might be got without the aid of the police. "Where
do you live ?" enquired he. The girl sobbed out, " I live in
the Shuttle-field." This wretched locality negatived all
chance of recovery, and the Doctor, turning round to Mr.
Wylie, with his generous heart and facetious mind in full
play, said, "It is a^aweful case; I will pay the money."
Then, turning to the girl, " Eun away to the Shuttle-field,
and keep the shuttle going."
He always carried a supply of threepenny and fourpenny
pieces about him, I presume for charitable purposes. His-
sight was not very good, and with the nail of a crooked
finger he went round the periphery of each with amazing
dexterity. However, in paying Mr. Wylie, he inadvertently