The assembly thought over this aspect.
"All the same," said the smith, "Dr. Hall is an elder, and naebody ever thinks o' accusin' him o' mixin' religion wi' his business."
We all considered this statement.
"Tammas," said Dauvit, "if ye want to be an elder tak it, and never mind the undertakkin'. But if ever ye have to gie a prayer just get Jake here to tak on the job."
He began to laugh here.
"I mind o' Jeemie Ritchie when he got his eldership. The minister gaed awa to the Assembly in Edinbro, and as it happened auld Jess Tosh was deein', so Jeemie was asked to come up and gie her a prayer. Jeemie was in my shop when the lassie Tosh cam for him, and I never saw a man in sic a state.
"'Dauvit,' he cries, 'I canna dae it! I never offered up a prayer in my life!'
"'Hoots, Jeemie,' says I, 'it's easy; just bring in a few bitties frae the Bible.'
"Auld Jeemie he scarted his heid.
"'Man, Dauvit,' says he, 'I cudna say twa words o' the Bible.'