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and on a' occasions that he came aye hame atween ten and eleven.
The Thistle.
A few Scotch and English travellers being met together, an Englishman took it upon him to run down the Thistle, exclaimed against the empty boast of its motto, "Nemo me impune la cesset;" when a Scotchman present observed, "the Thistle, sir, is the pride of the Scottish nation, but it is nothing in the mouth of an ass."
Cold Gentleman.
In the west of Scotland, some time ago, there happened to be an auction of books. A Book-buyer who attended the sale was summoned by his son to supper, according to the directions of his mother. The boy flouried by the presence of the audience, and in his attempt to be as explicit as possible, thus cried out, "Fayther, yer parritch is ready."—"Very well, my dear, said his father, and at the door gave him a salute a posteriori, which was repeated with the following injunction.- Recollect rascal, when you come again, to say a gentleman wants me. Next evening up comes the boy according to direction.—"Is my Fayther here?"—"Yes," said the father. "A gentleman wants ye."—"Very well, my man," was repeated by the boy's parent; but little time elapsed when the boy returned; "What now my man," said the old book worm.—"Ou naething," said his son, "but gin ye dinna rin fast the gentleman will be quite cauld."
