The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1863-12-22
HILI.sDAIE, MICH, TUESDAY, DECEMBER %, 1868.
How A Wag Tricked the Far.
~ tfJ in b SONS. 10 y sDF r1- n

A late FrasePs Magazine IN article about
Scottish psHous cf The ,writers recotlections,
in the course Of which he tells the following
anecdote of trick Judge Robertson played
upon the Synod Of CIsishmaclsver ON their
way 10 the General Assembly of the Scotch
Kirk: Ici .syaaa f6,i
The brethren had started by coach a. an
early hour, and had travelled some twenty
miles before they reached the inn where
breakfast was prepared for them. The keen
air Of our Northern hills sbarpens the appetite; |;
and when the brethren drove up to tho inn
they were almost famishcd with hunger.
"Now, gentlemen, just ten minutes for break
fast" said the coachmap, as he entered the
lsndlady's snug li,tle parlor, 10 have his own {.
Ten minutes! Tho time was short, so they
must make the most OF it. They rushed into
the room where the breakfast was spread. and
there. basking bis ample person before the fire,
stood q portly gentleman, dressed somewhat
like digutary of the Church of Epglapd.
Their appetite was ksenes than theircuriosity,
so they scarcely looked at the stranger, but
concentrated all their attention on the viapds.
Half way in the air, b,sore the rnorsel had
reached their lips, their hands were arrested
by sudden cry of "slopp It was the sup
posed dean or bishop. "Good heavens, gen.
tlemenr' he exclaimed, shave you so far for.
gotten your sacred profession az 10 partake Of
food without invoking blessingl" The
brethren looked | ke school-boys detected in
some fragrant fault; but before they had
time to remonstrate or explain, the Same
voice exclaimed, in tone which enforced obe-
dience, ''Lct US pray" They iustiuctively
spraug 10 their feet, and assumed the attitude
of deoorous devoti u, while the stranger Of
fered up a prayer, which they themselves ad
mitted, was superior 10 JUNCTION aud expression
10 those Of DR.. Drawitout himself. He bad
only one fault ne did not know when TO stop.
The minutes rolled rapidly away, but tho
stream Of fervont supplication flowed on
without break. They had a Ter ible strug-
gle, the brethren had, as they closed one eye
in devotion, and ogled the savory viands with
the other; but when hand approached il
drew back before the stern glance OF the
stranger, which seemed to comprehend them
all. rli et
The suff.rings of Tsntalus were nothing to
the sutferngs OF the depu'a,ions from the
Synod of Cleishmaclaver; tut all things must
have an end. "Time is up, gentlemen
said the ooachman, opening the door and
wipisg his mouth with tho air OF one who
had enjoyed bis breakfast. The appearance
of the coachman and the sound Of bis famil.
lar voice broke the spell, bat there was no
time 10 be lost; the horses were shaking their
heads aud paving tho ground in their impa'
tence to start, so they had TO take their seai
and turn breakfast and dinner into one
{" Was that the Bishop Of D-T said one
Of the famished brethren. "That the Bishop
Of D-?" said The coachmau contemp,u.
ously; "Why, that was Lord P, the
majdest wag in all the kingdom" The
brethren said nothing, but 'chewed tn" cud
Of sweet but bitter ianoy," till they reached
the next haltiag place, where they got some
story Sossa oat and r nssA nsAax psysS SS%sh9s
the members Of the Synod Of Cieishmaclavel
called forth many hearty laugh at the Lore
High Commissioners levees. and seriously af
fecIed tho gravity of the Moderator himself.