GREYFRIARS BOBBY
On a cold February morning in 1858, a Scottish man, John Gray was discovered dead in his bed. His faithful Skye Terrier was laying by his side.
John had got the dog two years before his death, which he named, Bobby and the two had become inseparable ever since. But John's years as a shepherd and his later years working long nights (with Bobby by his side) as watchman for the Edinburgh city police force had finally taken its toll on John's health. His death was caused by tuberculosis/pneumonia.
On the day of Johns burial, Bobby followed close by, as his master's body was taken to the Kirkyard (churchyard). Apparently, he watched every move as John was lowered into the ground and when the last stack of earth finally covered the grave, Bobby walked over and lay on the mound. The keeper of the churchyard tried on many occasions to evict Bobby, but the little terrier was firm in his loyalty and returned every night to sleep on John's grave. It wasn't long before the keeper gave up and placed sacking at the graveside for Bobby.
The little dog began to attract many visitors to the Kirkyard and became known as, 'Greyfriars' Bobby'. They would stand and watch as Bobby waited for gunfire - signalling lunchtime. Bobby would then rush off to the restaurant next door where his old master often dined. There, he would be fed a hearty meal before returning to his master's grave.
Of course the inevitable happened and Bobby faced a real threat in 1867 when a new law was passed, where dogs had to be licensed and any dog who was without an owner would be destroyed. Sir William Chambers, the Lord Provost of Edinburgh, paid for a renewal of Bobby's licence, which made him the responsibility of the council and therefore exempt from the threat of death. He even had a collar made for him which stated the ownership.
The villagers were so fond of Bobby, for the next 14 years they would always welcome him into their homes for warmth in the cold months, until one winters day on January 14th 1872, the little dog passed away.
Bobby could not be buried in the consecrated grounds of the Kirkyard with his beloved master, so they buried him just inside the gate, which was 75 yards from John's grave.
A year after Bobby's death, Lady Burdett-Coutts, who was so moved by the terrier's story, had a statue of Bobby and a fountain erected on the corner of Candlemakers Row, where it can still be seen to this day.
Many people claim to have seen little Bobby's ghost still laying on Johns grave, but most prefer to believe, the devoted dog and John Grey are at last together – forever.
On Bobby's gravestone reads:
Greyfriars Bobby - died 14th January 1872 - aged 16-years-old - Let his loyalty and devotion be a lesson to us all.
By Eyepriestess copyright 2012