Rev. E. Anderson
The story is taken from a book compiled by the late Rev. Gerald Chamberlain, a great children’s story teller and a person who inspired and influenced many young people. With kind permission from his son, Paul.
GREYFRIARS BOBBY
Text: “It is required of a man that he be found faithful.” 1. Corinthians. 4.2.
How many of you have ever visited Edinburgh? I wonder which of the sights of the famous city you enjoyed the most? Perhaps it was Arthur’s Seat, or Holyrood Palace; or maybe it was Edinburgh Castle, or Princes Street. A place in the city not so well known as the others but which has a wonderful story attached to it is Greyfriar’s’ Church. Next time you are in Edinburgh, take a walk along the George 1V Bridge, and look out for a little bronze statue Of a dog sitting on top of a drinking fountain.
Just over out the hour of noon, Auld Jock went to a place called Traills Dining Room for lunch. With him went BOBBY, his little Scotch terrier, whose dinner was a bun and a bone. They became a familiar sight, the old man and the little dog wandering in the churchyard. But Auld Jock was getting really old and one day he died and was buried in Greyfriar’s Churchyard. Bobby came to the funeral but no one took any notice of him.
Three days after the funeral, as the big gun went off, Bobby turned up at the Restaurant looking thin and hungry. The kindly owner recognising Bobby gave him his usual bone and bun. Bobby gripped them tightly in his mouth and went out. Next day he returned at the same time and again he was given his lunch. Then he came the third day, precisely at noon, the restaurant owner a hundred years ago, an old man named Grey, or as he was better known, Auld Jock, carried on his business in the market near the churchyard. Every day as the big gun in the castle boomed became curious and followed him.
Where do you think Bobby went???????????
Yes, back to the Churchyard, right to his master’s grave; where he ate his bun and then lay down to keep Watch.
Hearing about the little dog, some people took him home, but three times he escaped and returned to the grave. Although no dogs were allowed in the Churchyard, the old keeper was too kind-hearted to turn Bobby out, so he stayed there day and night, keeping watch and sheltering under a stone during storms. No one could get him away, so finally, a little house was built for him and every day, as the gun went off, Bobby trotted along to the restaurant for his daily bun.
About that time a new law was passed which stated that all dogs must be licensed and wear a collar. But Bobby had no license and no collar so he was picked up and taken to court, What do you think happened? Was Bobby sent to gaol? No, the mayor of Edinburgh, or as the Scots call him, the Lord. Provost, paid for the license that year and every year and also bought Bobby a brand new collar. You can see this collar in the museum and on its little brass plate are the words,
“GREYFRIARS BOBBY from the LORD PROVOST. LICENSED.”
Bobby went back to his watch by the grave, and except for his daily walk to the restaurant, never left it until he died. He was buried in the same churchyard as his old master and some American lovers of Bobby erected a stone to his memory and to the memory of Auld Jock.
On this little fountain, the bronze statue of Bobby still keeps watch and by it you can read these words,
“A tribute to the affectionate fidelity of Greyfriar’s Bobby. In 1858, this faithful dog followed the remains of his master to Greyfriar’s Churchyard and lingered near the spot until his death in l872.”
From 1858 to 1872 - fourteen years Bobby kept watch, day and night, summer and winter.
Think of that.
That’s what a faithful dog can do for love’s sake.
Surely when God made a dog like that, He made the most wonderful thing next to a little child.
Many children have not the respect for their parents that Bobby had for his master. His love and devotion puts to shame all men and women and young people who break their vows to one another, to Christ and to their Church.
Bobby’s faithfu1nes reminds us of the words Of our text for this Sunday, “It is required of a man that he be found faithful.”
