Winning a Church Bet

Horowhenua Chronicle, 7 October 1915, Page 2

Winning a Church Bet

MA'KLNU .UO.NKV Jj 1' SXKIiZLN'U

There is a story tola about Sytluey •Smith that represent him a « carrying a concealed pun intq the pulpit with him. The most familiar version is that which Lord Hough ton used to ueii. When settled at his small living in Yorkshire, Sydney willingly assisted his brethren in that neighbourhood in their clerical duties. Un one occasion he dined with the incumbent, on tho preceeding Saturday. The evening passed in great hilarity, the Squire, Kershaw by name, being conspicuous by his loud enjoyment ol his visitor's jokes "1 am very glad l have amused you," said Sydney .Smith at parting ; "but you must not laugh at iu/ sermon to-mor-row." "I should .hope I knew the difreren- e between here and church." remarkoj the squire, a little tartly, perhaps, "fin not su sure of tint." "I'll Bet mi it!' , "Take divh ■> Next day The preacher asoeiidel '',hp steps o) ihr pulpit. appa'-n:ly scoring from ;i severe cold. iviMi fiis lui'idkeicluV'f to his face, and ,H once sneezed ont the name "Kersnaw , " several times in various intonati -as. This ingenious assumption of the readiness with which a n.in ivnM recognise his own naane in sounds unintelligible to the ears ol others prc\od accurate. The poor .Squre burst ir-to a guffaw, to the scandal • ' t!ic. enneros , .- ation. The minister, aft«r look-ng nt bin , Tvith stern reproach, pr.icvlr-l with his discourse and won the bet.