Scottish Honesty
At one time in the highlands of
Scotland, to ask for a receipt or promissory note, was considered an
insult, and such a thing as a breach of contract was rarely heard of
so strictly did the people regard their honor. There is a story of a
farmer who had been to the lowlands, and had there acquired worldly
wisdom.
[“]After
returning to his native place he needed some money, and requested a
loan from a gentleman in the neighborhood. The latter, Mr. Stewart,
complied and counted out the gold, when the farmer immediately wrote
a receipt. “And what is this man?” cried Mr. Stewart, on
receiving the slip of paper. “That is a receipt, sir, binding me to
give ye back your gold at the right time,[”] replied Donald.
“Binding ye, indeed! Well, an, if ye canna trust yoursel', I'm sure
I'll na trust ye! Such as ye canna hae my gold;” and, gathering it
up, he returned it to his desk and locked it up.
“But, sir, I might die,” replied
the needy Scot unwilling to surrender his hope of the loan, [“]and
perhaps my sons might refuse it to ye, but the bit of paper would
compel them.[”] [“]Compel them to sustain their dead father's
honor![”] cried the enraged Celt, “They'll need compelling to do
right if this is the road ye're leading them. Ye can gang elsewhere
for money, I tell ye; but ye'll find nane about here that'll put more
faith in a bit of paper than a neighbor's word of honor and his love
of the right.[”]--Selected.
Illustrative Anecdotes for
Preachers, Sunday School Teachers, and the Family Circle. Henry
M. Tyndall. 1925. #17 (Page 8).
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