Mac.—­Indeed no.  I’m are o’ the Scots wha hae na, or I wadna be here the nicht.

He would not have stayed at home if he had been one of the “Scots wha hae.”

I am assured that the genuineness of the following anecdote is unquestionable, as my informant received it from the person to whom it occurred.  A popular Anglican Nonconformist minister was residing with a family in Glasgow while on a visit to that city, whither he had gone on a deputation from the Wesleyan Missionary Society.  After dinner, in reply to an invitation to partake of some fine fruit, he mentioned to the family a curious circumstance concerning himself—­viz. that he had never in his life tasted an apple, pear, grape, or indeed any kind of green fruit.  This fact seemed to evoke considerable surprise from the company, but a cautious Scotsman, of a practical, matter-of-fact turn of mind, who had listened with much unconcern, drily remarked, “It’s a peety but ye had been in Paradise, and there micht na hae been ony faa.”  I have spoken elsewhere of the cool matter-of-fact manner in which the awful questions connected with the funerals of friends are often approached by Scottish people, without the least intention or purpose of being irreverent or unfeeling.  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.