“Heh, mun, come here, an’ gie’s a han’ wi’ this beast.”
The Duke, perceiving the boy’s mistake, pursued his walk, without appearing to understand it. In the mean time, the cow became still more unmanageable, upon which the lad, with a tone of apparent distress, cried out, “Come here, mun, and as sure’s anything, I’ll gie ye the hauf o’ what I get.”
Pleased with the boy’s manner, and especially with his generosity, the Duke now stepped forward as requested, and lent a helping hand.
“And now,” said the Duke, as they drove the cow forward, “how much do you think you will get for this job?”
“Oh, I dinna ken,” said the boy, “but I’m sure o’ something, for the folk up bye at the house are guid to a’ bodies.”
As they approached the house, the Duke darted by the boy, and, entering by a private way, called a servant, and putting a sovereign into his hand, bid him give it to the boy that drove the cow.
The Duke now returned to the avenue, and was soon rejoined by the boy.
“Well, and how much did you get, my lad?” inquired the Duke.
“A shilling,” said the boy, “and there’s half o’t t’ ye.”
“A shilling!” rejoined the Duke, “only a shilling! you got more.”