Oor ain folk times

NO CONVAIRTET 205
of erecting a booth and of dispensing refreshments,
quite unaware at the time that the fast-day in his own
parish would fall on the same date. Having paid a
tidy sum for the right to sell liquor at the gathering, he
did not like to forgo the prospect of a lucrative day's
trade : but at the same time he felt that it would never
do for him, an elder of the kirk, to be found absent
from his ecclesiastical duties on the important occasion
of a fast-day. He compromised matters with his con-
science by sending his eldest daughter, a big, gawkie,
sonsie lass, to look after the till and attend to the
takings in the booth. Subsequently this became known
and was the subject of much adverse comment by those
who were not kindly disposed towards him. Under
pressure from the unco-guid among the congregation, the
pawky innkeeper was summoned before the session to
explain his alleged inconsistent conduct. When the
charge had been duly stated to him, that he, an elder
of the kirk, had been guilty of keeping open a booth
and dispensing liquor on a solemn fast-day (although in
a neighbouring parish), he was asked what he had to
say in defence. He at once owned the truth of the
impeachment so far as the sale of liquor was concerned,
but pleaded that the engagement had been made long
prior to the fixture of the date for a fast-day ; and also
that he himself did not personally take any part in
the ungodly traffic. One of his opponents at once
retorted, ' Yes, but ye sent yer dauchter Meg to
represent ye.'
' Ah but,' said the innkeeper with a humorous twinkle
in his eye, ' Meg's no a kirk member, ye ken ; she's no
even convairtet yet.'