ected in the district, had charge of a mission in
Aberdeenshire, and for a long time made his journeys on a piebald pony,
the priest and his "Pyet Shelty" sharing an affectionate recognition
wherever they came. On one occasion, however, he made his appearance on
a steed of a different description, and passing near a Seceding
meeting-house, he forgathered with the minister, who, after the usual
kindly greetings, missing the familiar pony, said, "Ou, priest! fat's
come o' the auld Pyet?"--"He's deid, minister."--"Weel, he was an auld
faithfu' servant, and ye wad nae doot gie him the offices o' the
Church?"--"Na, minister," said his friend, not quite liking this
allusion to his priestly offices, "I didna dee that, for ye see he
_turned Seceder afore he deed, an' I buried him like a beast_." He then
rode quietly away.

MCCXXXIX.--CREDIT.

AMONG the witty aphorisms upon this unsafe topic, are Lord Alvanley's
description of a man who "muddled away his fortune in paying his
tradesmen's bills"; Lord Orford's definition of timber, "an excrescence
on the face of the earth, placed there by Providence for the payment of
debts"; and Pelham's argument, that it is _respectable to be arrested_,
because it shows that the party once had credit.

MCCXL.--SEEING NOT BELIEVING.

A LADY'S-MAID told her mistress that she once swallowed several pins
together. "Dear me!" said the lady, "didn't they _kill you_?"

MCCXLI.--SPIRIT OF A GAMBLER.

A BON-VIVANT, brought to his death-bed by an immoderate use of wine,
after having been told that he could not in all human probability
survive many hours, and would die by eight o clock next morning, exerted
the small remains of his strength to call the doctor back, and said,
with the true spirit of a gambler, "doctor, I'll bet you a bottle I
_live till nine_!"

MCCXLII.--BURKE'S TEDIOUSNESS.

THOUGH upon great occasions Burke was one of the most eloquent of men
that ever sat in the British senate, he had in ordinary matters as much
as any man the faculty of tiring his auditors. During the latter years
of his life the failing gained so much upon him, that he more than once
dispersed the house, a circumstance which procured him the nickname of
the Dinner-bell. A gentleman was one day going into the House, when he
was surprised to meet a great number of people coming out in a body. "Is
the House up?" said he: "No," answered one of the fugitives, "but Mr.
Burk