The bellman of Craigie parish, by name Matthew Dinning, and at this time about eighty years of age, was a very little "crined[175]" old man, and always wore a broad Scottish blue bonnet, with a red "bob" on the top.

The parish is a small rural one, so that Matthew knew every inhabitant in it, and had seen most of them grow up.
On this particular day, after the congregation had waited for some time, Matthew was seen to walk very slowly up the middle of the church, with the large Bible and psalm-book under his arm, to mount the pulpit stair; and after taking his bonnet off, and smoothing down his forehead with his "loof," thus addressed the audience:-- "My freens, there was ane Wuds tae hae preached here the day, but he has nayther comed himsell, nor had the ceevility tae sen' us the scart o' a pen.

Ye'll bide here for ten meenonts, and gin naebody comes forrit in that time, ye can gang awa' hame.

Some say his feyther's dead; as for that I kenna." The following is another illustration of the character of the old Scottish betheral.

One of those worthies, who was parochial grave-digger, had been missing for two days or so, and the minister had in vain sent to discover him at most likely places.