of refusal. With better
intention than judgment, the friends, who considered this as an act of duty on
the part of the living, and of decency towards the deceased, would have
proceeded to enforce their request, had not Oldbuck interfered between the
distressed father and his well-meaning tormentors, and informed them, that he
himself, as landlord and master to the deceased, »would carry his head to the
grave.« In spite of the sorrowful occasion, the hearts of the relatives swelled
within them at so marked a distinction on the part of the laird; and old Alison
Breck, who was present among other fish-women, swore almost aloud, »His honour
Monkbarns should never want sax warp of oysters in the season« (of which fish he
was understood to be fond), »if she should gang to sea and dredge for them
hersell, in the foulest wind that ever blew.« And such is the temper of the
Scottish common people, that, by this instance of compliance with their customs,
and respect for their persons, Mr. Oldbuck gained more popularity than by all
the sums which he had yearly distributed in the parish for purposes of private
or general charity.
    The sad procession now moved slowly forward, preceded by the beadles, or
saulies, with their batons, - miserable-looking old men, tottering as if on the
edge of that grave to which they were marshalling another, and clad, according
to Scottish guise, with threadbare black coats, and hunting-caps decorated with
rusty crape. Monkbarns would probably have remonstrated against this superfluous
expense, had he been consulted; but, in doing so, he would have given more
offence than he gained popularity by condescending to perform the office of
chiefmourner. Of this he was quite aware, and wisely withheld rebuke, where
rebuke and advice would have been equally unavailing. In truth, the Scottish
peasantry are still infected with that rage for funeral ceremonial, which once
distinguished the grandees of the kingdom so much, that a sumptuary law was made
by the Parliament of Scotland for the purpose of restraining it; and I have
known many in the lowest stations, who have denied themselves not merely the
comforts, but almost the necessaries of life, in order to save such a sum of
money as might enable their surviving friends to bury them like Christians, as
they termed it; nor could their faithful executors be prevailed upon, though
equally necessitous, to turn to the use and maintenance of the living the money
vainly wasted upon the interment of the dead.
    The procession to the churchyard, at about half-