We may add to the rebuke of the shepherd of Bonaly, of Lord Rutherfurd's remark about the east wind, his answer to Lord Cockburn, the proprietor of Bonaly.

He was sitting on the hill-side with the shepherd, and observing the sheep reposing in the coldest situation, he observed to him, "John, if I were a sheep, I would lie on the other side of the hill." The shepherd answered, "Ay, my lord, but if ye had been a sheep ye would hae had mair sense." Of such men as this shepherd were formed the elders--a class of men who were marked by strong features of character, and who, in former times, bore a distinguished part in all church matters.
The old Scottish elder was in fact quite as different a character from the modern elder, as the old Scottish minister was from the modern pastor.

These good men were not disposed to hide their lights, and perhaps sometimes encroached a little upon the office of the minister.

A clergyman had been remarking to one of his elders that he was unfortunately invited to two funerals on one day, and that they were fixed for the same hour.

"Weel, sir," answered the elder, "if ye'll tak the tane I'll tak the tither." Some of the elders were great humorists and originals in their way.