The Date Jar

Dear Reader,
 

 Do you know this lovely story?  Here it is if you don't.

Grayfriars Bobby (4th May 1855 - l4th January 1872) was a Skye terrier who became known in 19th Century Edinburgh for spending 14 years guarding the grave of his owner until he died.

Bobby belonged to John Gray who worked for the Edinburgh City Police as a nightwatchman.  When John Gray died he was buried in Grayfriars Kirkyard in the Old Town of Edinburgh.  Bobby then became known locally as he spent the rest of his life sitting on his master's grave.

Bobby is said to have sat by the grave for 14 years.  He was buried just outside the gate of Grayfriars Kirkyard, not far from John Gray's grave.

A year later the English philanthropist Lady Burdett-Couts was charmed by the story and had a drinking fountain topped with Bobby's statue erected at the junction of George V1 Bridge and Candlemaker Row, opposite the entrance to the churchyard to commemorate him.

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From Francis Kilvert  1871  October 9th in Radnorshire

'There was a frost in the night and this morning the tops of the poplar spires are touched, are turned to finest gold.'

From Gilbert White 1787 October 13th in Hampshire

'We saw several redwings among the bushes on the north side of the common.  There were swallows about the village at the same time: so that summer and winter birds of passage were seen on the same day.'

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The Date Jar   (after cancer operation)

On the breakfast table I noticed
the date jar,
hiding a little behind the cereals,
the milk, the marmalade, the sugar bowl,
and a small jug full of early daffodils.

The date jar?

My throat constricted.
It was the thought he had had,
laying things out,
that I might like a date,
that touched the chord.

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With very best wishes, Patricia