The following anecdotes, collected from different contributors, are fair samples of the quaint and original character of Scottish ways and expressions, now becoming more and more matters of reminiscence:—­A poor man came to his minister for the purpose of intimating his intention of being married.  As he expressed, however, some doubts on the subject, and seemed to hesitate, the minister asked him if there were any doubts about his being accepted.  No, that was not the difficulty; but he expressed a fear that it might not be altogether suitable, and he asked whether, if he were once married, he could not (in case of unsuitability and unhappiness) get unmarried.  The clergyman assured him that it was impossible; if he married, it must be for better and worse; that he could not go back upon the step.  So thus instructed he went away.  After a time he returned, and said he had made up his mind to try the experiment, and he came and was married.  Ere long he came back very disconsolate, and declared it would not do at all; that he was quite miserable, and begged to be unmarried.  The minister assured him that was out of the question, and urged him to put away the notion of anything so absurd.  The man insisted that the marriage could not hold good, for the wife was “waur than the deevil.”  The minister demurred, saying that it was quite impossible. “’Deed, sir,” said the poor man, “the Bible tells ye that if ye resist the deil he flees frae ye, but if ye resist her she flees at ye.”

A faithful minister of the gospel, being one day engaged in visiting some members of his flock, came to the door of a house where his gentle tapping could not be heard for the noise of contention within.  After waiting a little he opened the door, and walked in, saying, with an authoritative voice, “I should like to know who is the head of this house.”  “Weel, sir,” said the husband and father, “if ye sit doun a wee, we’ll maybe be able to tell ye, for we’re just trying to settle that point.”

I have received from my kind correspondent, Rev. Mr. Hogg of Kirkmahoe, the following most amusing account of a passage-at-arms between a minister and “minister’s man,” both of them of the old school.  The minister of a parish in Dumfriesshire had a man who had long and faithfully served at the manse.  During the minister’s absence, a ploughing match came off in the district, and the man, feeling the old spirit return with the force of former days, wished to enter the lists, and go in for a prize, which he did, and gained the fifth prize.  The minister, on his return home, and glancing at the local newspaper, saw the report of the match, and the name of his own man in the prize-list.  Being of a crusty temper, he rang the bell in fury, and summoned John, when the following colloquy took place:—­“John, how is this? who gave you leave to go to the ploughing-match?” “You were not at hame, sir.”  “Well, you should have written to me.”  “I didn’t think it was worth while, sir, as we