An example of a very plain and downright address of a laird has been recorded in the annals of "Forfarshire Lairdship." He had married one of the Misses Guthrie, who had a strong feeling towards the Presbyterian faith in which she had been brought up, although her husband was one of the zealous old school of Episcopalians.

The young wife had invited her old friend, the parish minister, to tea, and had given him a splendid "_four hours."_ Ere the table was cleared the laird came in unexpectedly, and thus expressed his indignation, not very delicately, at what he considered an unwarrantable exercise of hospitality at his cost:--"Helen Guthrie, ye'll no think to save yer ain saul at the expense of my meal-girnel!" The answer of an old woman under examination by the minister to the question from the Shorter Catechism--"What are the _decrees_ of God ?" could not have been surpassed by the General Assembly of the Kirk, or even the Synod of Dort--"Indeed, sir, He kens that best Himsell." We have an answer analogous to that, though not so pungent, in a catechumen of the late Dr.Johnston of Leith.

She answered his own question, patting him on the shoulder--"'Deed, just tell it yersell, _bonny_ doctor (he was a very handsome man); naebody can tell it better." To pass from the answers of "persons come to years of discretion"-- I have elsewhere given examples of peculiar traits of character set forth in the answers of mere _children_, and no doubt a most amusing collection might be made of very juvenile "Scottish Reminiscences." One of these is now a very old story, and has long been current amongst us:--A little boy who attended a day-school in the neighbourhood, when he came home in the evening was always asked how he stood in his own class.

The invariable answer made was, "I'm second dux," which means in Scottish academical language second from the top of the class.

As his habits of application at home did not quite bear out the claim to so distinguished a position at school, one of the family ventured to ask what was the number in the class to which he was attached.