Rab and His Friends | Page 9

to take it. The grave was
not difficult to reopen. A fresh fall of snow had again made all things
white and smooth; Rab once more looked on, and slunk home to the
stable.
And what of Rab? I asked for him next week at the new carrier who got
the good-will of James's business and was now master of Jess and her
cart. "How's Rab?" He put me off, and said, rather rudely, "What's
YOUR business wi' the dowg?" I was not to be so put off. "Where's
Rab?" He, getting confused and red, and intermeddling with his hair,
said, '"Deed, sir, Rab's deid." "Dead! what did he die of?" "Weel, sir,"
said he, getting redder, "he didna exactly dee; he was killed. I had to
brain him wi' a rackpin; there was nae doin' wi' him. He lay in the
treviss wi' the mear, and wadna come oot. I tempit him wi' kail and
meat, but he wad tak' naething, and keepit me fra feedin' the beast, and
he was aye gur gurrin', and grup gruppin' me by the legs. I was laith to
mak' awa wi' the auld dowg, his like wasna atween this and
Thornhill,--but, 'deed, sir, I could do naething else." I believed him. Fit
end for Rab, quick and complete. His teeth and his friends gone, why
should he keep the peace and be civil?
He was buried in the braeface, near the burn, the children of the village,
his companions, who used to make very free with him and sit on his
ample stomach as he lay half asleep at the door in the sun, watching the
solemnity.

[Illustration of a grave]

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