A dog named Greyfriars Bobby.

“ Your steadfast love, O Lord, is as great as all the heavens. Your faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds. ”
Psalm 36:5 (TLB)

From the lochs to the lakes, our tour of Scotland was magnificent. We feasted at dinners complete with haggis, and kilts swirled as dancers did the Gille Callum over crossed swords. We were stirred by the pageantry of the Military Tattoo at Edinburgh Castle, the highlight of which was one lone piper standing on the ramparts playing "Amazing Grace."

But from all the glorious memories we carried home with us, the one I cherish the most was that of a small dog named Greyfriars Bobby. A statue of him stands outside the pub that he and his master frequented. Bobby was a Skye terrier, named after the Isle of Skye, which is the northernmost of the Inner Hebrides off the west coast of Scotland. He was the devoted companion of John Gray, nicknamed Auld Jock, a night watchman with the Edinburgh police.

In 1858, Auld Jock died of tuberculosis and was buried in the Greyfriars churchyard. For fourteen years Bobby kept vigil, sleeping on his master's grave, leaving only for the midday meal doled out to him from the familiar restaurant. Whenever he was led away and offered a home, at his first chance he returned to stay close to the one he loved. He so touched the heart of the keeper of the churchyard that he built a shelter to protect Bobby from pouring rain and cold weather. News of the little dog's faithfulness spread and people flocked to see him.

When Bobby died in 1872, he was buried in Greyfriars near his master's grave. His granite headstone has this inscription: "Let his loyalty and devotion be a lesson to us all."

Lord and Master of my life, create in me a faithful heart to stay forever close to You, and through the storms of life to take shelter under the promise of Your presence.
By Fay Angus

Barked by: Flicka ~ CGC (Dogster Member)

April 25th 2012 at 4:48 pm

Barked by: ☀ Whitley ☀ (Dogster Member)

April 26th 2012 at 2:06 am