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"Rharbajean."
JJEAR "Vírgula," - Rharbajean - for
seven of the first eight years of my
life that was my name.
As a girl, mother had many nieces and
nephews to look after, which gave her
fixed ideas of how to bring up a baby,
while, with dad, I was a novelty, being
the first tiny baby he ever had anything
to do with. Unfortunately, he did not see
me too often, as I'd be still asleep when
he left for work in the morning, and in
bed again when he arrived home. He
used to tiptoe in to take a peep at me,
and it did not take me long to take ad-
vantage of this visit, and soon I'd set
up a yell when he left me. Of course,
that meant only one thing-pick me up
and sing to me. You can imagine X was
thoroughly spoilt, and would not go to
I sleep without being sung to.
I Among dad's many songs was "Jean
Frae Aber-Aberdean," with much rolling
of the letter "r." Somehow, this song
appealed to me most of any, and very
soon both mum and dad knew I would
not go to sleep without learning it. As
II grew older, and able to talk, I used to
beg my dad to sing my "Rharbajean"
song. When my sister arrived, and dad
started to sing "Jean Frae Aberdeen" to
her, I strenuously objected, as, by that
time, I was quite convinced that that
was my proper name, and, when asked
"What is your name, dear?" I'd reply
"Rharbajean,!' so "Rharbajean" I became
to everyone. Marion Jean, Jean Frae
Aberdean, Rharbajean. Perhaps, Vir
I gilia, you can find how I arrived at that
mame-I can't.
RHARBAJEAN.
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