hing you think will
be disagreeable to other persons."

He expressed great admiration for this, as it sounded so original, and
was particularly adapted to the clergy.

"Oh," said he, "that's in the real spirit of Christianity."

"Is that so?" I asked, as he wrote it down in his book; and he seemed
to admire it exceedingly after he had written it, even more than the
other.

Then he said he really did not like to trouble me, but it was the
first time he had had the honour of occupying the position of
Sheriff's chaplain, etc.; but might he trouble me for another motto,
or something that might go as a kind of companion to the others in his
pocket-book?

This a little puzzled me, but I felt that he took me now for a sage,
and that my reputation as such was at stake. I had nothing in stock,
but wondered if it would be possible to make one for him while he
waited.

"Yes," said I, "with the greatest displeasure: Never do anything which
you feel will be disagreeable to yourself."

"My lord!" he cried in the greatest glee, "that is by far the best of
all; that must go down in my book, it is so practical, and of everyday
use."

I was, of course, equally delighted to afford so young a man so much
instruction, and thought what a thing it is to be young. However, here
was an opportunity not to be lost of showing him how to put to the
practical test of experience two at least, if not all three, of the
little aphorisms, and I said so.

"I should be delighted, my lord, to put your advice into practice at
the earliest opportunity," he answered.

"That will be on Sunday," said I, "at twelve o'clock. Don't preach a
long sermon!"

In due time we arrived at the Sheriff's house, and there found all the
guests assembled and waiting to meet me. I was quite quick enough to
perceive at a glance that they had been planning some scheme to entrap
me--at all events, to cause me embarrassment. The ladies were in it,
for they all smiled, and said as plainly by their looks as possible,
"We shall have you nicely, Judge, depend upon it, by-and-by."

The Sheriff was the chief spokesman. No sooner had we sat down to
table than he addressed me in a most unaffected manner, as if the
question were quite in the ordinary course, and had not been planned.
I answered it in the same spirit.

"My lord, could you kindly tell us which horse has won the Cup?"
evidently thinking that I had been to the course.

There was a dead silence at this crucial