A PAGE FROM MY POCKET-BOOK.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 113, 27 March 1862, Page 6

A PAGE FROM MY POCKET-BOOK.

Meggie Millar was a douce dainty-body, and a great help to her neighbors on such occasions as deaths, births, kc. After having been up all night with a neighbor in the hour of nature's sorrow, she had indulged in a short nap, but was suddenly aroused by some one saying, " Oh, Maggie, make haste, tho bairn's dead." Maggie, though old, was not lazy, and v,-as soon on the spot. If. so happened that the infant had been qvprlain by uoeldent, find ns livery body had a different reason why, the police got notice oi! the circumstance, nnd an inqiifst was" the upshot. Auiongst other witnesses Meggie was summoned to attend. "Summons me!" quoth Maggie, "I never got a summons a,' my life, and am o'er a:i!u to get ane 1100. But fat line Ito fcay about the bairn 1- I left it wise and wanla like an hour ogo." " Never mind, Meg. come away," said the constable, " tiro coroner wishes to ask a question or two at you." Moggie could not understand all this, and to add to her fears tome one had told her that she was to lie brought up for attending patients without a diploma. Meggie, • holding up her hands, exclaimed, "My certes. I am sure that I never got plack or farthing for a' the bairns that I've brought name, and is this the -way that I'm to be treated in my auld age 1 N;L, ua,' laddie, I never did an ill deed to onybody a' my life. I didna kill the bairn, so I ken neither manor less about it. Ye can just tell the coroner fine ma that 1 ken nafcthing about it.'' Meggie at length w,is persuaded to ;omc, and looking round the room v.ith no little nlarm, said—" Well, Sir, fat d'ye want wi 1 me ? The coroner tried in -rain to calm tho gocd woman's fears by assuring her {here was no onu blaming her In tills matter, but only the Queen re- - quired to be satisfied that all was right. " The Queen," quoth Meggie, " I think she lias lucky'litt je to do to plague herself about dead bairns, -sending her coroner, as "he en's himself, and a lot o'idle Taseals o' con-tables, and sic like clamjamfery, to pit decent fouks cut o' their wits for naeshing." Don't to alarmed,. Mrs. Millar, we want nothing" but the truth. Please take the Bible in your handi" Thin she did, with no Jittle consternation, turning tho leaves over with the greatest care, saying,—- ---" Well, and fat am I to do with this guile book." " It's to swear you on,"' eaid -tjie learned coroner. "Swear me! ' lny troth, I never swore in a' my life, and I'll no begin no'o j na na, 111 tell ye fat I ken about the bairn and a' thai, kind o' thing, but to think to gar me to tak an oath to tell God's truth. Xa, na, my billy, coroner tho' ye be. I'll no swear for you nor the Queen neither."' Mefgie's son waa one of the jury, and this w,as mentioned to her, and that he had taken the oath. " Well," .said Maggie, " he's a greater fool than his millier ior doing sic a thing; but I'Jl no swear, that's dear." 'It was intimated to the witness that her conduct was* a " contempt of coui-t,' and if she still continued "to refuse, she must be committed for contempt. "An fat does that mean V said Majrgie. This being explaiued, andinoreover if she still continued in the same mind, that a constable must.take her in charge and that she might then-be kept in the lock-up until she coiue to her senses. " Well, well, ye maun just do. as ye hae a mind, but I'll no swear for a that." Maggie was removed (to another rooM, and auolher witness exainined. He son, who was on the jury, went out by direction of the coroner, but he returned saying as thrawn's a widdie and that he might'as soon try to draive seuse into a whin stone as to make her alter her mind. The witness was, recalled,"' iind I the question asked if she would prefer to have tho oath administered after the Scottish ■ fashion. " I'll hae nae fash about it," .said the auld wife ; " but I H tell ye a the truth, so ye need na bid me swear to ;do the thing, I'm willing to dv." "Well then." w».d the coroner to Meggie holding the bible, " Willyc promise to this jury to tell the whole truth, and nething but the truth, do you not!" "To be sure I do." " AVell then, kiss the book.'' " Kiss the1 booR! Dye think that I'm a papist ? Ha na-my man/ I'll no kis3 you nor the book either. None o yere Romish, tricks wi' me. I'm our auld for ye." When the old lady saw that nobody was finding fault with her for exercising the functions of "houdie wife" she relaxed a little, and on oath, after it s kind, satisfied tlTe jury that all went on well, and Me.ggie relieved from her fright was duly discharged from custody. ' ____________„ ■

Tub American Missionaries is Ciiina.—Me'srs. Parker and Holmes, hearing tliat the lebcls -ncio likely to visit Yenlae, buckled on their revolvers, mounted their horses, and rode out thirty five-jnile3 to meet them. They passed the outposts and pot tq the chief: they asked him his intention, questioned him as to his leligions belief, ejplaWd a little Christianity, and wheie then'cut in pieces by his people. In a crowded neighbourhood an enteipiisiiig b.srbef has placed a notice in his shop to the following ejiect: —" In consequence of the repeal of the p-'por duty, gontlemen can be shaved, wash, and nave a new collar for 2d,— Court Journal, ,