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Scenes from an Artist's Life

Chapter 1

'The germs of genius I possess'd

Expanded soon and shone confess'd.

ALEX MCGILVRAY,Paisley

 

MY FIRST MODEL AND WHAT CAME OF COPYlNG HIM-THE REV. GEORGE

BARCLAY OF IRVINE: AN EFFECTlVE SERMON-RURAL LIFE FIFTY

YEARS AGO-I OFFER MYSELF AS A SHEARER-JOCK MCPHERSON AND

COLONEL KELSO: A GREAT MAN AND A GENTLEMAN-HOW I BECAME

A SHOEMAKER.

THERE is no spot on earth so barren but has at some period

produced its great man. Some individuals who have little worth of

their own seize on ideal and mysterious virtues, springing from

some root of which they fancy themselves a branch, whereon

may yet bloom in beauty the forerunner of fruit which will some

day astonish and regenerate the world. Copying a man or woman

is but the foible of the child or fool. For them, then, it is of

importance that something worthy of imitation should now and

then appear.

Johnny Neill of Swallowha' was in my young eyes a model man.

Industry, civility, contentment, and sobriety, seemed to have

selected him as their representative. He was a farm servant, and

for many years employed with one master. They were both well

served and knew it. Johnny was never behind, never in a hurry,

nor ever idle. His evenings and spare time were wrought up.He

was famed for making rush-besoms, bee-skeps, baskets, and

wooden spoons. He made fiddles and could play on them; ground

razors and shears; and, to crown all, he was famed for cutting

hair, this section of his art always performed gratis. Often has

my head been under the musical snick of his kame and shears. I

one day ventured to ask him if onybody let him see hoo to cut

hair when he was young. He laughed and said, " oh no; whatever

you want to do in that way, you maun just put to your haund;

Practice will enable you to do anything."

Johnny's speech took root. I had been getting my mother's

shears sharpened, and next day being Symington Sacrament

Sunday, I was to have the charge of five of Millar Cameron's

weans with my own brother and sister. Our mothers being gone to

church together, I was not long in setting about my barbarous

performance. Getting the comb and shears in readiness I began to

rattle them on the heads of my young charge. The comb soon

seemed a useless encumbranee, so I flung it away and laid the

shears to the bare skull, and ran them up in lines to the top of

the crown, leaving a rig-and-fur sort of zebra strip, which altered

very much their physiognomy ! It never for a moment came

into my head that I was doing aught amiss. I went through the

Performance with an enthusiasm becoming a genius. Not till after

they were all finished did the thought strike me that I had gone

rather close to the bone. Their aspect was completely changed.

Their eyes and ears had a boldness unobserved before. During the

afternoon we went up the planting on a bramble-berry

expedition. We were on the ground before the berries were ripe; a

few were red but sour. They served to dye or tatoo the faces of

the youths, which gave them an outlandish aspect. They were

like a new class of beings belonging to the woods, and bore a

primitive appearance. Gathering brambles has a strong

resemblance to our afterlife pursuits: some other place and some

other clump is expected to produce the fruit which is to satisfy

and satiate our wants. Thus we passed from one branch to

another till we reached the Hollows' Burn, in which the youths

began to look at their own faces, and seemed rather delighted

than otherwise at their novel expression.

All of a sudden a voice came floating on the breeze. It rose

and fell as if in the act of scolding. We all looked at each other

and listened, with astonishment marked in every face. The sound

seemed as if coming nearer. The young ones

shouted that it was a daft man coming to catch us; terror took

hold of them and increased to delirium; a screaming concert

ensued, which made me wish the hair had yet been on their heads.

I took the youngest on my back and ran for home as fast as I

could, bidding the rest to follow. The most of them outran me,

encumbered as I was with my burden. Losing breath and

self-possession, I soon became as wild as the rest, and fancied

that as I had broken the Sabbath day this must be a judgment

coming in the shape of a daft man, to perform what the bears did

to the boys of old for crying names at the old man with the bald

head. However, we soon had the pleasure of knowing that the daft

man or whatever else it might be was fading fast behind us.

The afternoon passed wearily; and as the time approached

when our mothers were expected home we started to meet them.

Having now fairly forgotten the new expression of the children,

we were absorbed in expectation, looking along the straight bit of

road between Swallowha' and the Dyke farm, when at last to our

joy the two mothers of so many hopeful children hove in sight.

That we might make the meeting as unexpected as happy, I

proposed that we should all sit down in the ditch at the turn of the

road which led to our home, and when our mothers were at hand

we would rush out and give a joyous welcome. I think I hear their

voices yet, talking as single-hearted country folk only can of the

various discourses which had been delivered during the day. At a

given word out rushed the miller's five weans with a shout, "O

mother!" This was too much for her nerves; she shrieked,

bounding back from them exclaimed, "In the name o' God, what

are you?" They individually and collectively shouted, "Mother!"

but it was some time before she could be convinced of the fact

that she was really mother to the astonished family as they stood

before her wondering what was wrang wi' her. she had sunk down

in a sort of swoon on an embankment on the opposite side of the

road from where the youths made their appearance. She looked

first at the one, then at another, and when she ascertained that

I was the cause of so much deformity she made a

bounce to seize me as I still sat in the opposite ditch with my

sister and brother, wha had also grown out o' my mither's kennan.

I escaped through a hole in the hedge at a greater speed than she

could follow with, but vengeance was threatened, so that I durst

not pass her door till the hair was restored, which was a process

of time.

The remembrance of this jump at genius left its mark on my

mind. The stare of those children can never he obliterated. The

way of a genius, like that of love, is not always smooth.

The voice which had so alarmed us was that of the Rev. George

Barclay, Baptist Minister from Kilwinning, who had gone that

afternoon to Symington to preach in the open air. Twenty-five

years after this event I became personally acquainted with Mr

Barclay. He was then in Irvine. We were talking one day on the

power of preaching. He was naming several of his personal

acquaintances who had been awakened to a sense of sin and their

need of a Saviour by hearing a sermon. He asked me if I could

name the most effective sermon I had ever heard, when to his

astonishment I said that it was one that he preached on the Loan

at Symington twenty-five years ago. He stared at me, and making

a calculation said, " It's just that time since I was there. I did not

know it was the sacrament else I would have postponed going on

that day. But as I had gone with the intention to preach, I did so.

It was not by way of opposition, however; those who came to

listen to me would not have been at church at any rate." My

youth seemed to surprise him; he thought I would be like other

boys, not paying much attention. He asked if I remembered the

text. I said no, that I was too far back to hear the text, but like

many older hearers, I said that it was the sound that had such an

effect upon me. I then began and gave him the history, such as I

have done to you.

Most people in their time have made abortive jumps at

greatness. Every one is willing to be thought something, yet few

are endowed with the faculty of doing the right thing at the right

time. He who expects applause for every action of his life will be

sairly disappointed. The great desideratum for a man should be,

first to have his own approbation for every upward movement,

seeing that his neighbour has neither time, talent nor disposition to

do justice to an aspirant's present position, far less is he able to foresee the

road which leads to fame. Our own will-o'-the-wisp runs before us

with his lamp, and too often lands us in the mire !

Burns gives a fine description of the way in which the kintra

callants and lassocks are employed in his Cottars' Saturday Night.

He says,-

 

   "Some ca' the pleugh, some herd, some tentie  rin 

	A cannie errand to a neebor toun."

The youngsters also shear in hairst, gather heads of corn, and

assist in raising the potatoes. Industry is truly taught, the very

youngest taking their share in something useful as well as joining

in the sports. In Hallowe'en, Burns also tells us that

 

      "The vera wee things, todlin', rin

       Wi' stocks out-owre their shouther."

I have engaged in all the above enumerated sections of

employment and. even ran wi' the kailstock at Hallowe'en.

Herding is much out of fashion since dykes, palings and hedges

became universal. In my young days a herd was an essential on

every farm.. I have for several seasons in boyish life filled the

pastoral office during the harvest season, but was certainly

anything but a faithful shepherd. School vacation in the country

districts used to be in harvest, a season when the oldest and

youngest that could move about were expected to take a share in

the labour of securing the crop. The first time I offered my

services as a shearer was after the barber scene. My mother one

day ordered me to go and seek shearing. I thought she was in

earnest, got an old hook, and started for High Cowdam. It was

dinner hour when I arrived at the house, the shearers had just

gone in. I went forward to the kitchen door, opened it, and

enquired "Do you need a shearer?" Robin Neil was the farmer.

He looked at me, with his round red face full of health and

kindness, and enquired "Wha is't?'' "It's me.''

"Can ye sup kail?" quo Robin. "Yes." "Get a spoon and let us see

what kind o' hand you can mak' at it." I got the spoon and stood

close to the table, exhibiting as much dexterity as the biggest o'

them. "My word," quo Robin, "gin ye be as guid at the heuk as at

the spoon, there will be few to keep up asi' you." I got beef and

potatoes after the kail, and did equally well at disposing of this

course, mashlum scone and cheese forming the dessert. We went

out to the field. As I had never shorn corn before, Robin advised

me to gang awa' hame and practice the spoon for a while and he

had nae doubt but that some day I wad mak' a gran' shearer. I was

at this start as a reaper only between eight and nine years of age.

The young shearers begin their practise by making holes in the

rig of some favourite, either father, mother, or friend, and

through course of time come forth as a stimpart or fourth part

of a rig.

After harvest the kye were my care on the pleasure ground

before Dankeith House. Sheep sometimes, and even poultry, I

had to keep from visiting corn-fields in the vicinity. I used to

think that Colonel Kelso of Dankeith was the greatest gentleman

alive, and I yet feel that I have never looked on his superior in

that sphere of life.

When at School in the village of Symington I used to visit the

shoemakers' garrets at twal'hours. There was something in the

smell of roset and leather rather of a lovable flavour. On wet

days I thought there was an appearance of comfort about the

shoe makers, Auld Andrew Brackenridge, Happy Jock, Tam

Brown, and Jock M'Pherson. Those four had each his own charm

But M'Pherson was the great man. Truly the first, and I may

almost add the only, great man I have ever seen. From him I

learned the secret of a cobbler's greatness. He was a jolly,

healthy-minded man, and quite a boy in youthful raillery. He was

a great teacher of boys. He spoke to them as to men. He brought

the truth out of the boys. When any one offered to be illbred or

give another impudence, he pointed to the door,-no matter to

whom they belonged,-" Out, sir," was his short but emphatic

command; and unless it was presently obeyed the stirrup oil

was applied. He would often say to me, " I hae a likin'

to you, laddie, and wadna like to see you a gentleman's scodgy;

scodgies and sogers are only situations for creatures wha hae nae

mind o' their ain, for though they had, they daurna use it. Come

to me," he would say, in a merry mood, " I'll learn you to be a

shoemaker; then you will be independent. I can live without

either coat or character from any gentleman. Were you a

flunkey," he would say, " and any trifle going wrong, or you

committing any little offense, your master can order you to put

off his coat, and go about your business. Always have a coat of

your own, sir, or go without one." He used to lecture greatly on

the independence that belonged to boys. Speaking the truth,

running a message quickly and bringing back an answer

correctly - he was a mean boy who was lazy in getting his

questions, or one boy asking another to do for him what he ought

to do for himself, was shameful. Boys fighting was both mean and

vile. Points like these he held before youth, and did it with a

power that claimed attention. I had full faith in his greatness

then, and have so still. I used to think Colonel Kelso the greatest

gentleman living, and I have not yet seen him eclipsed. But a

great man and a gentleman, even when I was a boy, had different

meanings.

Mr Fleming of Barrochan came to me one day when I was

herding on the pleasure-ground in front of Dankeith House. He

requested me to run a message for him. Thinking by the way he

laid the business before me that I might not get what he required,

I wished to know how I should act in case of failure. He named a

second way. I made further enquiry; and thus, with three chances

of doing the one thing, I started a free agent, and accomplished

what he wanted on the third and last head. I was soon back, and

stood before him with my bonnet in hand, looked him full in the

face, and gave an account of my stewardship. He seemed pleased,

gave me a penny for running his message and a shilling for

bringing back the answer. I had mind of M'Pherson's teaching,

and saw thus far it was good.

Next day Colonel Kelso came forward to me. IIe was on horse

back. "Jock," quo he, "I've got a situation for you." "What is it, sir?" said I.

"To be boy to Mr Fleming of Barrochan." The ghost of M'Pherson glowed

within me. I stood straight up, and looking my benefactor in the face, while he sat

composedly on his horse, with his right hand resting on his thigh

and looking extra pleased, I brought my right hand up to the top

of my haunch, and with a composure worthy of M'Pherson's

pupil said, " Sir, I'll be stodgy to no man!" "And what will you be?

Do you think your mother will be able to keep you all your

days?" " I'll neither ask you nor her to do so." " Is this all the

thanks I get from you for looking out a situation for you ?" "You

should have asked me first if I wanted it, and I would have saved

you the trouble." " Then what would you be if you had your

choice?" "I'll go to Jock M'Pherson in Symington and learn to be

a shoemaker, then I'll be independent ! " At this stage of the

business, the Colonel's whip came slap across my shoulders, one

touch of which was the reverse of thankfully received. I stood

near to a hedge, through which I bolted into the garden wood, and

climbing up a rocky mound, I shook my fist at him and said, "

Now, Colonel, I'm independent of both you and your horse." He

smiled and rode off.

I had been learning a psalm that day, and it came into my head

that my present position and the Psalmist's were somewhat

similar, only my case was worse than his.

 

  " Upon a rock he set my feet,

      Establishing my way,"

was the feature in the psalm. Well, thinks I, my feet are

on the rock but my way is not yet established. However, I

thought when the Colonel was looking out a situation for

me, it was time I were looking after one for myself. I

thought on my position. I thought on my mother. I

thought on M'Pherson. I looked at the kye and said,

"Flocks, wander whaur ye like, I dinna care." I went

direct through the wood and through parks, scorning to take

the use of the road, and in steeplechase style reached the

house of the great M'Pherson. He was seated to begin his

dinner. I was out of breath. He looked quite astonished at me,

and said, "What's wrong wi' ye, sir?" After gasping a while,

I began to tell him, and was not long in laying my case before

him. He rose and stroked my head and clapped me kindly on the

shoulders, then sitting down I thought that he was gaen daft, one

burst of laughter followed another, while the tears ran down his

cheeks as he stroked my head, declaring that I was the right sort

o' a' callant. His wife Kate scolded him sair for putting ill intill

ony laddie's head. she gave me my dinner of stoved potatoes wi'

lang green sybos tails on the tap o' them. I never yet see green

sybos put amang potatoes but my auld teacher Soutar Johnny

looks out o' the pot. Kate bade me to gang awa' hame like a guid

laddie, beg the Colonel's pardon, and do what he wanted me, as it

was a' for my good. " Dinna anger him, and vex your mither."

Kate's speech touched me, but the voice of the great man was

powerful. " Man, you're a nice callant; I'm sorry that I canna tak'

you for a 'Prentice, I couldna' do you justice. There's a penny to

you for being so mindfu' o' my lessons. Gang awa to Dundonald,

gie Rowat my compliments, and he'll tak' you; I'll see him and tell

him what a fine boy you are." He was as good as his word. I went

home, despatched my mother to Dundonald, then went in person.

I was considered too small, yet, being well recommended by

M'Pherson, I passed the board.

It is now more than fifty-three years since. What I saw and

heard there, and how I behaved myself, may be told in other

chapters.

This M'Pherson was the individual whom Thom took for his

model for the far-famed figure in stone which sits at Burns'

Monument in the company of Tam o' Shanter, as the celebrated

Soutar Johnny. M'Pherson's external appearanee, as well as his

habits, were said to have a striking resemblance to the original, of

whom Burns says-

 

      " The soutar tauld his queerest stories."

To M'Pherson's honour be it known, when he was offered five

pounds to sit for the figure of Soutar Johnny, he spurned the

offer, and said, " No ! Fond as I am of a glass with a friend,

I don't wish to go down to posterity either the

reality or representative of a drunkard." However, Thom, in

company with a young artist, visited M'Pherson often at

Symington while the model of the Soutar was going forward in

clay, and at every visit some correction and improvement was

made in the model till it appeared in stone as it now sits at the

monument-the foundation stone of Thom's fame as a sculptor.

As a likeness of my old friend it is eloquent of his form and

happy inward hotch of a joyous laugh-not the fool's laugh, but

the gouping of a great heart.

McPherson lived to be the oldest man in the parish. The last

time I saw him he was on the borders of ninety. He was sitting on

a stone seat at his own door on a fine summer afternoon. I went

and sat down beside him. His memory was good, although I had

grown out of his remembrance, he not having seen me for

upwards of twenty years. When I told him who I was, he laughed

heartily. I told him that I had often acted on his advice, profited

by it, and had pleasure in acknowledging him as one of my early

teachers The old man shed tears of joy. He said that it was

pleasant to see one who had sense to know where they had been

benefited, and by whom, as most people were ready to tell you

how much mischief you had done, and forgot all the good.

He is long Since in the auld kirkyard.

The perceptive faculties of boys are early ripe, and it is the

duty of men to live so before them that they shall be worthy of

grateful remembrance.

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