The deevil a thing you'll do at a'." A country clergyman, who was not on the most friendly terms with one of his heritors who resided in Stirling, and who had annoyed the minister by delay in paying him his teinds (or tithe), found it necessary to make the laird understand that his proportion of stipend must be paid so soon as it became due.

The payment came next term punctual to the time.

When the messenger was introduced to the minister, he asked who he was, remarking that he thought he had seen him before.

"I am the hangman of Stirling, sir." "Oh, just so, take a seat till I write you a receipt." It was evident that the laird had chosen this medium of communication with the minister as an affront, and to show his spite.

The minister, however, turned the tables upon him, sending back an acknowledgment for the payment in these terms:--"Received from Mr .-- --, by the hands of the hangman of Stirling, _his doer_[188], the sum of," etc.