By the kindness of Mr.Lyon, I am enabled to give an authentic anecdote of a curious character, illustrative of this habit of mind, and I cannot do better than give it in his own words:--"An old tenant of my late father, George Lyon of Wester Ogil, many years ago, when on his deathbed, and his end near at hand, his wife thus addressed him: 'Willie, Willie, as lang as ye can speak, tell us are ye for your burial-baps round or _square_ ?' Willie having responded to this inquiry, was next asked if the _murners_ were to have _glooes_ (gloves) or mittens, the former being articles with fingers, the latter having only a thumb-piece; and Willie, having also answered this question, was allowed to depart in peace." There could not be a better example of this familiar handling, without meaning offence, than one which has just been sent to me by a kind correspondent.

I give her own words.

"Happening to call on a poor neighbour, I asked after the children of a person who lived close by." She replied, "They're no hame yet; gaed awa to the English kirk to get _a clap_ o' _the heid_.

It was the day of _confirmation_ for St.Paul's.
This definition of the 'outward and visible sign' would look rather odd in the catechism.

But the poor woman said it from no disrespect; it was merely her way of answering my question." But remarks on serious subjects often go to deeper views of religious matters than might be expected from the position of the parties and the terms made use of.
Of the wise and shrewd judgment of the Scottish character, as bearing upon religious pretensions, I have an apt example from my friend Dr.
Norman Macleod.