Value Of Life?

Robert Burns was standing one day upon the quay at Greenock, when a wealthy merchant belonging to the town had the misfortune to fall into the harbour. He was no swimmer; and his death would have been inevitable had not a sailor plunged in, at the risk of his own life, and rescued him from his dangerous situation.

The merchant, upon recovering a little from his fright, put his hand into his pocket, and presented the sailor with a shilling. The crowd, who were by this time collected, loudly protested against the insignificance of the sum but Bums, with a smile of ineffable scorn, entreated them to restrain their clamour, “For,” said he, “the gentleman is of course the best judge of the value of his own life.”

Return To More Scottish Anecdotes