Page:Comical notes and sayings of the late Reverend Mr. Pettegrew.pdf/2

 THE COMICAL NOTES AND SAYINGS OF THE LATE REVEREND MR.PETTEGREW.

MR. PETTEGREW, late minifter at Long Govan, two miles weft from Glafgow, was a man of an excellent ready wit, and of great patience, and knowledge conform thereunto, fo that the reft if his brethren, minifters of that Prefbytery, held him as their father and inftructor; unto him they appealed to refolve all doubful queftions and controverfies ; for, at any affemblies or fynods, among his brethren, he had a moft learned fpeech, imitating that of an Englifh advocate; but in his common difcourfe, among his panfhioners, he had as homely a ftile of fpeech as any old woman in the parifh ; he he was a great lover of piety and quietnefs and fharply reproved vice, in whatfoever perfon ,or rank he beheld it's; and that in words fo mild and fitting the efenders’s cafe and crimes, partly in the way of mocking then for their meannefs of fuch a naughty ofenne as below their-ftation fo to do. He being one night in company with fome young gentlemen, and one young man, amongft the reft, Whofe name was James fwote very often by his Marker’s name; Mr Pettegrew' obferving him, and as he did fo, the next time. By Jamie, faid Mr. Pettegrew, is it fo, man ? What, faid the young man, do you fwcar by my name ? Yes, faid Mr. Pettegrew, while you fwear fo often by fuch a great name. The young man flew into a rage, wifhing to damn his foul if any man do fo again, but he would fhow him the odds of it O poor man, faid Mr Pettegrew, what would you do, if thy arfe were but damned for ae ten days ? The young man being fo afhamed at, this rebuke before,the reft of the company, he be-