The Portland daily press., 1863-09-17

How AWAG TRICKED THE PARsoN.-A late
Fraser's Magazine contains an artcesabout
Scottish parsons of the writer's Recollection,
in the course of which he tells the following an
eedote ola trick Judge Robertson played upon
the Synod Chelishmaclaver on their way to
the General Assembly of the Scotch Kirk:
The brethren had started by coach at an
early hour, and had travelled some twenty
miles before reaching the inn where breakfast
was prepared for them The keen air of our
Nothern hills sharpen the appetite; and when
the brethren drove up to the inn they were al
most famished with hunger. Now, gentle
men, just ten minutes for breakfast" said the
: coachnan, as he entered the landlady's snug
little parlor to have his own. Ten minutes
The time was short so they must make the
most oft They rushed into the room where
breakfast was spread, and there, basking his
ample person before the fire, stood portly
genteman, dressed somewhat like dignatary
of the Church of England The appetite was
keener than their curiosity, SO they scarcely
looked at the stranger, but concentrated all
their attention on the viands.
Half way in the air, before the morsel had
cached their lips. their hands were arrested by
the cry of "stopl' 1t was the supposed dean
or bishop. Good heavens, gentemen!" he
exclaimed, "have you so far forgotten your
sacred profession as to partake of food with
out invoking blessing ?" The brethern look
ed like school boys detected in some flagront
fault; but before they had time to remonstrate
or explain, the same voice exclaimed, in a tone
which enforced obedience, ''let us pray" They
instinctvely sprang to their feet, and assumed
the attitude of decorous devotion, while the
stranger offered up prayer, which they them
selves admitted, was superior in JUNCTION and
expression to those Of DIR Drawlitout himself
He had only one fault; he did not know when
to stop. The minutes rolled rapidly away,
but the stream of fervent supplication flowed
on without a break. They had terrible
struggle, the bretheern had as they closed
one eye in devotion, and ogled the savory
viands with the other; but when hand ap-
preached 1t drew back before the stern glance
of the stranger which seemed to comprehend
them all.
The suffering Of Tantalus were nothing to
the sufferings OF the deputations from the
Synod of Cleishmacaver; but all things must
have an end "time is up gentlemen said
the coachman. opening the door and wiping
his mouth with the air of one who had enjoyed
his breakfast. The appearance of the coach
man and the sound of his familiar voice broke
the spell but there was no time to be lost; the
horses were shaking their heads and paving
the ground in their impatience to start; so
they had to take their seats and turn break
fast and dinner into one. "Was that the bishop
of D"% said one of the iamished brethren
''That the Bishop of D-?"said the coach
man, contempsiously; "Why that was Lord
P, the madest wsg in all the kingdom"
The bretheren said nothing but chewed the
cud of sweet but bitter iancy," till tney got
something more substantial to chew. Some
how story oozed out. and the trick played on
the members of the Synod of Cleishmaclaver
called forth many hearty laugh at the Lord
High commissioners levees and seriously
affected the gravity of the Moderator himself.