The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1883-07-19

a-roving sac late into the night"
The opportunity for playing trick
was irresistible; and resolving to give
Sandy a fright, the minister's man
wrapped the hide about him, taking
care that the horns should stand up
on his head. Thus equipped, he
crouched along the dike-side till the
fool made his appearance round the
bend Of the road, then uttering an
unearthly yell, sprank from his hid
ingplace right in his path. But he
reckoned without his host, when he
thought to terrify Sandy. That in
dividual only recognized in the appar-
ition before him but another form as
sumed by the enemy; and with
shout of defence, rushed on the foe,
and struck him a resounding blow
with his staff. Whack! Whack! the
blows rained hard and fast on the
shoulders Of the unlucky joker, who,
unable to bear the pain any longer,
and too terrified to discover himself to
the enraged fool, managed to wriggle
unperceived out of his hirsute cover
ing and scramble over the dixie, where
he lay hidden, scarcely daring to
breathe.
Sandy was very much astonished
when he observed the total collapse of
the foe. He probably anticipated a
severe struggle, and was surprised at
his easy victory.
Be that as it may, without stop
ping to pronounce an Grafton on the
fallen, the fool slung the hide over
his shoulder and started at trot to
the manse. Arrived there, he knock
ed loudly at the door, and on the ap-
pearance of the servant, demanded to
see the minister. That was quite out
Of the question, he was informed: the
reverend gentleman had retired for
the night, and could not be disturbed.
But Sandy was not to be baked
With an impatient "Haud oot' O my
way, lass" he pushed past the girl,
made his way to the minister's bed
room, knocked at the door, and with
out waiting for an invitation to enter,
marched in. The minister had been
reading in bed; but on the abrupt
entrance Of his visitor, threw aside his
book, exclaiming: why, Sandy, man,
what brings you here at this time of
night?"
"Great news, minister-great newsr'
cried Sandy.
"What news?" asked the pastor,
catching something of his visitors ex-
element. Have the French land
ed?''
"French indeed!" quoth the fool
contemptuously. Il ken naething
about thae frog-eaters,"
"Well, what is your great news?'
reiterated the minister impatiently.
Its just this-I've killed the dell;
and there's his hide" and finging
the skin on the bed, our friend stalk
ed with injured dignity from the
room.
Sandy remained unconvinced to the
end Of his life that he had not in very
truth slain the arch enemy, and de-
clared in confidence to the laird, that
the minister wasn't SO grateful as he
might have been for the good turn he
had done him. After the supposed
cease Of the enemy, sandy became
more settled in his habits, but contin-
ued to plume himself not aFlittle on
his gallantry, complacently adding
that ''it wasn't everybody had taken
the diel by the horns, as Sandy Mac
intosh had done"
Somewhat akin to Sandy was an
Orkney contemporary of his, one
Mansie of Queenamuckle. Mansie' S
particular craze was implicit belief in
the presence of supernatural beings
with whom, he declared, he had long
and interesting conversations. 1t is
possible had Mansie lived in these en-
lightened days Of table-turning and
piri!-rapping, that the spiritualist>
might have discovered in him a pow
erful medium. But fortunately, OF
unfortunately, for him, spiritualism
was as yet unborn in the beginning OF
the century, and he was consequently
exposed to the ridicule Of his neigh
bors, who did not scruple to call him
"the fool of the parish.
The following anecdote illustrate.
the peculiar twist in Mansie's mental
organism. A farmer had intrust 9
him with a commission to buy cou-
pie Of pigs and some fowls in the is,
land of Rousay, and bring them tC
his house the neighboring parish OF
Evie. The farmers boat was placed
at his disposal; and one fine morning
Mansie started for Rousay, arriving
at his destination without any mis-
hap. In a short time the pig anC
poultry were an board, and Mansit
set off on his homeward voyage; Bqt
alack and alas in the hurry of depart
ure, he had neglected to make fas
the mouths of the sacks in which the
grunters were slowed away Being
descendants Of the 'wise pig" these
animals quickly discovered that egres'
from their prison was possible, anC
with simultaneous grunt of delight
rushed from the sacks, and capsizeC
the boat.
Had Mansie been minding his busi
ness, such a catastrophe might hav'
been averted; but as usual, his thought
were far away, and he only realized
his dangerous position when he fount
himself struggling in the water will
the pigs, and poultry floating around
Fortunately, the upset occurred within
couple of hundred yards of tn
shore. But our friend could no
swim, and there were no straws t.
clutch. Necessity, however, is tn
mother of invention" and Mansi
clutched the tails of his pigs! Their
is reason to believe the animals REBEL
ed at such a liberty; but nevertheless
they eventually landed both themseI
YES and their burden.
r Mansie was soon surrounded by
/ small crowd of sympathizers, VIII
condoled with him on the loss of tn