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Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2634, 16 October 1909, Page 2 (Supplement)

When a Scotsman answers a question he settles the matter in dispute once for all. On a certain occasion the question was asked: “WTiy was Mary Queen of Scots born at Linlithgow?” Sandy Keer promply answered. “Because her mither was staying there;” and there actually seemed to be nothing more to be said on the subject. READING THE LINES. In negro churches, when the native clergyman was the only person who could read, it was the custom for him to read out two lines of a hymn and then for the congregation to sing them, after which he read out the next two lines, and so on throughout the hymn. One evening, when it was growing dusk, the clergyman stood up as though about to commence the service, but, instead of reading out the accustomed two lines, he said: De light is burning dim, I cannot see to read de hymn. The simple-minded natives, thinking ifc was a hymn, proceeded to sing it. despite the* efforts of the preacher to stop them. When at last they came to a stop, he shouted: - Bredren, dat is not de hymn, I only said de light was dim. The congregation, to the clergyman’s amazement, went on to sing these words. At last they paused; and the preacher, now thoroughly moved to anger, exclaimed: De debil must be in you all, For dat is not de hymn at all. When, however, he heard them strike up with this, he fled from the church, to the utter astonishment of the unsuspecting congregation.