An American tourist goes to Scotland to see his ancestoral home. He arrives at a quaint village and walks through the narrow cobblestone streets. He is particularly impressed with a stone bridge over a small stream, amazed at its craftsmanship. He then finds that he has developed a bit of a thirst. He introduces himself to a man walking by, saying "I'm John Macpherson, I'm from America and I was looking for a pub. Is there one here"?
The man says, "Aye. And a good one too. I'm Ewan Macpherson, the plumber, and its good to meet a cousin. Macpherson the American, I like the sound o' that. Let me show you the way".
The American winds up in a pub in the middle of the afternoon.
There's just the barkeep and an old man at the end of the bar. The American, looking to learn some local history, sits down next to the old man who's just finished his pint.
He Says "Bar keep, I'm John Macpherson the American. I'd like a pint of your local and one for my friend here".
The bar tender replies "I'm George Macpherson, the barkeep, I'll be happy to pour one for both of you".
While he's doing that, the tourist remarks on the lovely wood work on the bar.
The old man says, "I'm Angus Macpherson, and I built that bar. Started with planks I did, and look at how she turned out".
The American is taken aback, but notes the bar tender nodding, and so assumes he's being told the truth.
"Lovely work" he says.
Aye, it is, if I do say so myself".
"Well that's really amazing, I've rarely seen woood work like that".
"Thank you, but its nothing compared tae ma' bridge'.
You built that"?
"Aye".
"Well, thats even more impressive. What do they call you then, since all of you Macphersons identify themselves by trade, because wood work and stone craft, and you seem to have mastered both"?
"Well that's the hell of it", says the old man. "I build a beatiful bar and a right braw bridge. Is it Macpherson the bridge builder? Is it Macpherson the carpenter? Nae, it is not! But ye f..k just one sheep........

FQ13