Quotations from Brainy Smurf 234

EXTRACT OF LETTER TO ROBERT MOFFAT from David Livingstone
12 September 1855

"Our family is reported to have been rather famous for quick learning among Highland chieftains' sons, and like one of our ancestors on his death bed, who told the assembled circle of friends that he had made diligent search and never could hear of one of the Livingstons having been a thief, I never heard of one who was a donkey."

An alternative version of this story was published in an 1887 newspaper (haven't found the citation yet):

"Dr. Livingstone, the famous explorer, was descended from the Highlanders, and he said that one of his ancestors one day called his family around him. He was dying and had all of his children around his death-bed. He said: 'Now, lads, I have looked all through our history as far back as I can find it, and I have never found a dishonest man in all the line, and I want you to understand that you inherit good blood. You have no excuse for doing wrong. Be honest.'"

The Livingstones are the name used today for the great majority of those of MacLea heritage, like myself. --Kyle=