To the Right.

Otago Witness, Issue 2323, 8 September 1898, Page 61

To the Right.

A clergyman, whose countenance is ordinarily grave and solemn in the most mirthprovoking circumstances, nevertheless tells of several occasions on which his gravity has uoeu completely upset, much to his disfcraas. One Sunday evening he was delivorrag an address in the vestry of a church in a neighbouring town, where ho had gone to " supply a brother clergyman. Just as he i cached tiie warmest and most eloquent part of his address, he discovered the lamp which provided all the light for the small room v as apparently out. Without stopping in his address, he put out his hand and endeavoured to turn .ip tbo wick of the lamp, but was not at first successful. He was at tho time speaking fervently of the impossibility of escape from the law for the Einner. Still fumbling with the lamp, ho A'ied earnestly : " Which way shall he turn? Which way, I say, shall he turn?" An anxious-faced deacon who sat in the front seat, and had been watching with much interest the minister's ineffectual efforts to secure more light, suddenly rose in his seat, unmindful of everything f.ave tho preacher's predicament. ; Turn to the right, Mr Brown 1" he

called clearly. " Turn to the right, and bo quick about it or " | His admonition came to a sudden end, for the minister, losing his wits and his gravity ' at the same moment, so he says, turned the j wick to the left, and out went the light. It .' was some moments before matters were satisj factorily arranged and he could resume his i sermon. j "And," ho says, in telling the story, "I I was glad to have that time to gain control of my unruly features, which seemed bound to , twitch with amusement for the rest of the evening."