Ye 'll get a sermon the day, or ma name is no Peter Pitillo." Mains also declared his conviction that the invasion of mice would be dealt with after a Scriptural and satisfying fashion.

The people went in full of expectation, and to this day old people recall Jeremiah Saunderson's trial sermon with lively admiration.

Experienced critics were suspicious of candidates who read lengthy chapters from both Testaments and prayed at length for the Houses of Parliament, for it was justly held that no man would take refuge in such obvious devices for filling up the time unless he was short of sermon material.

One unfortunate, indeed, ruined his chances at once by a long petition for those in danger on the sea--availing himself with some eloquence of the sympathetic imagery of the 107th Psalm--for this effort was regarded as not only the most barefaced padding, but also as evidence of an almost incredible blindness to circumstances.

"Did he think Kilbogie wes a fishing village ?" Mains inquired of the elders afterwards, with pointed sarcasm.