HAWKIE seems to have been at all
times rather fond of our national beverage, whisky, and he was too honest
to deny his liking for it. Food and clothing were secondary
considerations, but whisky was a sine qua
non.
A Highland benefactress of the
street orator thus addressed him on one occasion:
"Oich man, Willie, but it’s a
perfect vext to see you going about with a coat all broken out at every
corner—deed is it. I’m sure there’s plenty shentlemans in oor big toun o’
Glasgow here that will get you a gooder coat nor that—waur they couldna
gi’e you—ay, just for a word to them."
To which Hawkie replied:
"Weel, lady, it wouldna be discreet
if I didna thank you for the hint; and I think there’s scores in Glasgow
would gi’e Hawkie a coat—and they ha’e done’t too—they’re no to blame; but
a coat that’s worth a gill canna be a day on my back, and I’m no sure if I
could succeed in my calling sae weel in a better coat—it behoves a man aye
to be like his profession."
