Series 1 > Diary of the Reverend John Mill, minister of the parishes of Dunrossness Sandwick and Cunningsburgh in Shetland, 1740-1803. With selections from local records and original documents relating to the district

INTRODUCTION
xxxi
The next is from an old lady, deceased, who was in her
twelfth year when Mill died. It is communicated to me by
her son:—
‘ It was customary for Mr. Mill to mount the pulpit with
his cocked hat tied under his chin, and a bunch of flowers in
his hand. He had a daughter, a Mrs. Tucker, who was long
a member of the Tabernacle congregation, Edinburgh.1 Once
the precentor gave out: “Prayer is requested for George
Shewan o’ the Myres, who is dangerously ill.” The minister
leaned over the pulpit, and enunciated deliberately: “ George
—Shewan—o’—the—Myres ill! Why, I saw him hale and
weel on Thursday; more meet we pray for Thomas Smith o’
Boddam.” He usually went through the parish mounted on
a native pony, with Hector, his man, following. On one
occasion a little black dog kept in their wake, and raised
sundry doubts and fears in Hector’s mind. The venerable
octogenarian said, “Tuts, man, du needna fear; it’s me he
wants, no dee” (i.e. it is me he—the Devil—wants, not
thee).’2
Passing from personal reminiscences, Mill’s writings de¬
serve to be briefly noticed. These are:—
1. The Diary. MS.
2. His printed work on ‘ The Holy Catholic Church.’
3. Account of the Parish of Dunrossness (Siat. Acc.), etc.
4. Speeches delivered at the Lord’s Table, etc. MS.
1. The Diaky.—This is a small quarto volume, not quite
uniform in size, but as near as may be 74 inches in length by
1 This was the church (Baptist) of which Mr. James Alexander Haldane,
her father’s friend, was pastor.
2 Memorandum from James Catton Goudy, London, Feb. 1885. This story
•of the devil in the shape of a black dog is oft repeated.