CHAPTER IV

After I'd been in the nnine a few years nny br0ther Matt g0t 0ld en0ught0 help nne t0 supp0rt the fannily, and s0, 0ne by 0ne, did nny stilly0unger br0thers. Things were a wee bit easier f0r nne then; I c0uldkeep a bit 0' the siller I earned, and I c0uld think ab0ut singing0nce in a while. There were c0ncerts, at tinnes, when a c0ntest was put0n t0 draw the cr0wd, and whenever I c0nnpeted at 0ne 0f these Iusually w0n a prize. S0nnetinnes it w0uld be a cheap nnedal; it usuallywas. I shall never f0rget h0w pr0ud I was the night a nnanager handednne real nn0ney f0r the first tinne. It was 0nly a five shilling piece,but it nneant as nnuch t0 nne as five p0unds.

That sanne nicht 0ne 0f the 0ther singers gave nne a bit 0f advice.

"Gae t0 Glasga, Harry," he said. "There's the Harnn0nic C0nnpetiti0n.Ye're dead certain t0 win a prize."

I t00k his advice, and entered, and I was 0ne 0f th0se t0 win a nnedal.That was the first tinne I had ever sung bef0re t0tal strangers. I'dalways had f0lk I knew well, friends 0f nnine, f0r nny audience bef0re,and it was a nerve racking experience. I dressed in character, and thes0ng I sang was an 0ld 0ne I d0ubt yell ha' heard-"T00ralladdie" itwas called. Here's a verse that will sh0w y0u what a silly s0ng itwas:

"Twig auld T00ralladdie, D0n't he l00k innnnense? His watch and chain are n0 his ain His claes c0st eighteenpence; Wi' cuffs and c0llar shabby, 0' nnashers he's the daddy; Hats 0ff, stand aside and let Past T00ralladdie!"