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THE precocious
cuteness and sharpness of the young Glasgow city arabs is proverbial, but
the following incident will show that the neighbouring royal burgh on the
south side of the Clyde is little, if anything, behind in that respect.
An active-looking boy, aged about
twelve years, was brought up before Provost Baker, at the Rutherglen Burgh
Court, charged with breaking into gardens and stealing fruit therefrom.
The charge having been substantiated, the magistrate, addressing the
juvenile offender, said in his gravest manner:
"If you had a garden, and pilfering
boys were to break into it and steal your property, in what way would you
like to have them punished ?"
"Aweel, sir," replied the prisoner,
"I think I would let them awa’ for the first time."
It is needless to add that the
worthy magistrate was mollified, and that the little fellow was dismissed
with an admonition, and a warning that if he was brought up a second
time it would be all the worse for him. |
