I had been about fifteen years in business, when I became bond, for a friend that I thought I could have trusted as my own brother, to the extent o' three thousand pounds. I was certain he was perfectly solvent, and from the acquaintance I had had o' him, I could nae mair hae doubted him than I could hae doubted that I was the son o' my mother. But a few weeks after I had signed the bond, a mutual acquaintance called upon me, and, says he-- "Grant, you have acted like a fool." "I dinna doubt," says I, for I was perfectly aware that I often had; "but what do ye mean to be at?" "Why," says he, "So-and-so has taken you in. He is preparing to be off, bag and baggage, for America, and you will be left to pay the piper." "Oh, ye are a suspicious wretch," says I; "man, I couldna believe the like o' that if ye were to swear it to me." "Believe it or not," says he, "if you don't see after it instantly, your three thousand pounds are gone." "Hoot! babbles!" said I, "the man's daft!--do ye think I dinna ken him better than that? The man is as sure as the bank. I would be the last man he would injure a farthing--I ken that weel aneugh. But, at ony rate, I am particularly busy, and I canna be fashed wi' ony nonsense o' the kind; so ye may keep yoursel easy, and I am only sorry that ye should hae such an opinion o' ony friend o' mine." "Canna be fashed!" cried my acquaintance, hurrying from the shop; "what a deuced fool! Grant, you'll repent it." I laughed at the man; for I had perfect confidence in my friend, and I knew that he had property worth three times the money that I was bond for him. On the very next day, the same acquaintance came into my house very hastily, and says he-- "Grant, if you don't look after your money, and that very sharply, you will find your friend's property is no go, and you are in for paying the three thousand." "Ye dinna mean to say the like o' that?" said I. "Say that, you blockhead!" returned my acquaintance--"wherefore wouldn't you believe me yesterday?" And placing his arm through mine, he dragged me out o' the house. We reached the habitation o' the worthy gentleman for whom I was surety in the sum o' three thousand precious pounds sterling. But he was off--off like a bird whose nest has been robbed o' its eggs. Twelve hours before, he had sailed for America, or some other quarter o' the globe; but where I never knew. "Come home, Grant," said my friend, "don't distress yourself now." "Oh, dinna speak to me," says I--"I canna be fashed; my three thousand pounds!--my poor three thousand pounds!" We went into a tavern, and I drank out o' pure desperation until I could hardly stand; and as we were going home I fell, and I dislocated my arm, or I broke it; at ony rate I did something to it, and it never was like to get better; and my friends advised me to send for a surgeon--but---- "What to do wi' a surgeon?" says I; "I canna be fashed wi' them. The arm will get better itsel."