Page:Monthly scrap book, for January.pdf/21

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SCRAP BOOK.
21

familiar terms to the Almighty,—spoke to individuals of his congregation during public worship,—and invariably preached in good broad Scotch, using all the homely technical terms appropriate to the subjects he happened to have in hand. His parishioners being mostly fishermen, he was praying one day that the Lord would fill the men's boats wi' herrin', up to the very tow-holes,—that is, we suppose, up to the spaces in which the oars work.—when one of the persons concerned, roared out, 'Na, no that far, sir, or we wad a' be sunk!'

Native Wit.—A farmer's wife called to her cowherd—'Jock, come in to your parritch, or the flees 'ill a' drown in the milk," to which the urchin roguishly replied,—'There's nae fear, they may wade through't.' His mistress indignant at this aspersion on her liberality, exclaimed, "What, ye loon, that's saying ye dinna get eneugh." 'Ou aye,' said Jock, 'there's aye eneugh for the parritch."

Hidden Talents.—A gentleman once introduced his son to Rowland Hill, by letter, as a youth of great promise, and as likely to do honour to the university of which he was a member. 'But he is shy,' added the father, 'and idle, and I fear buries his talents in a napkin.' A short time afterwards the parent, anxious for the reverend gentleman's opinion, enquired what he thought of his son? 'I have shaken the napkin,' said Rowland Hill, 'at all corners, and there is nothing in it.'