Mr. Boston repeated it, and tried thereby to show Jock his error, but—
“Ay, that’s it, sir,” said Jock, and kept whittling away.
“Why, what is the reason you never come to church, John?” inquired the minister.
“Oh, because you never preach on the text I want you to preach on.”
“What text would you have me to preach on, John?”
“On the nine-and-twenty knives that cam’ back frae Babylon.”
“I never heard of them before.”
“Ha! ha! the mair fool ye! Gang hame an’ read yer Bible, Mr. Boston! Sic fool; sic minister.”
Subsequently Mr. Boston found the text sure enough in Ezra i. 9th, and wondered greatly at the ’cuteness of the fool, considering the subject on which he had been reproving him. And now, “The mair fool ye, as Jock Amos said to the minister,” is a well-worn proverb.