The humour of the Scot 'neath northern lights and ... - Electric Scotland

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30 BIBLICAL AND THEOLOGICAL
This reminds me of another capital catechising story
from my neighbouring granite county, Aberdeen. The
class had been reading the story of Joseph and his
brethren, and it came to the turn of the visiting minister
to examine the boys, with a view to test their recollection
of the main points of the narrative.
With much unction and unnecessary prolixity, he
had expatiated on the cruelty and treachery of the
wicked brothers, the grief of the bereaved old patriarch,
and so on. The replies had been quick, intelligent,
and correct to all his questions. Such as
'
What great crime did these sons of Jacob commit ?
'They sold their brother Joseph.'
'
Quite correct. And for how much 1
'
Twenty pieces of silver.'
'
Quite right
'
; and then wishing to impress on them
the added heinousness of their conduct in the lie they
told to their aged father, he asked
'
And what added to the cruelty and wickedness of
these bad brothers "?
A pause.
'
'
What made their treachery even more detestable
'
and heinous 1
Then a bright, little fellow stretched out an eager hand.
'
Well !
'
my
man ? '
—
Please, sir, they sell't him ower cheap.'
The following is not new. It has been attributed to
Norman Macleod and at least a dozen other prominent
Scottish divines. I think, however, it is good enough to
bear repetition, as, although well known to Scottish
readers, it may be new to some of those who hail from
'
the ither side o', Tweed.'
'
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