not be deemed illogical. He was by no
means the only one of the younger sons of Scots families who thought
likewise. It seemed to him that it would be wise to leave the country--at
any rate for a while.

In those days there were no Canadas, Australias and other new and
beautiful countries appealing to these adventurous spirits, but there
were European countries where a field was open for their enterprise. My
great grand-uncle--youthful as he was--decided that the South of Spain,
Andalusia, La Tierra de Santa Maria, would suit him, and he removed
himself and his cash to that sunny land. It is there that the oranges
flourish on the banks of the Guadalquivir. It is there that the green
groves of olive trees yield their plentiful crops. It is there that the
vine brings forth that rich harvest of grapes whose succulent juice
becomes the nectar of the gods in the shape of sherry wine. He decided
that white sherry wine offered the best commercial result and resolved to
devote himself to its production. Business went well with him. It was
prosperous; the wine became excellent and the drinkers many.

By this time his brother had married and the union had been blessed with
two sons. When the elder was fifteen years old, it appeared to his uncle
James Arthur that it would be a good thing if his brother, the laird,
would send the boy to Spain, to be brought up there, with a view to his
finally joining him in the business. He decided, therefore, to visit his
brother in Scotland, with this object in view. He did so, but the laird
did not appear to be kindly inclined to this arrangement. He was willing,
however, to let his second son go to Spain, finish his education, and
then take on the wine business. This was not what the uncle wanted. He
wished for the elder son, the young laird, or for nobody at all. The
matter fell through and the uncle returned to the Sunny South.

A couple of years later on, the laird changed his mind, wrote to his
brother, and offered to send his eldest son, John David (1774-1850). A
short time afterwards the young laird arrived in Spain. His father, the
laird, lived for many years, during which time--after the death of his
uncle--his eldest son had become the head of one of the most successful
sherry wine firms that existed in those days in Spain. He had married in
Spain and had had a large family, who had all grown up, and had married
also in that country, and it was not till he was some sixty years of ag