Poor Cranstoun, of refined and delicate mental and bodily temperament, was a bad hand at such work, and was soon off the field.

On the party breaking up, the Selkirk writer expressed his admiration of Scott, assuring him that _he_ would rise high in the profession, and adding: "I'll tell ye what, Maister Walter, that lad Cranstoun may get to the tap o' the bar, if he can; but tak my word for't, it's no be by drinking." There was a sort of dogged tone of apology for excess in drinking, which marked the hold which the practice had gained on ordinary minds.

Of this we have a remarkable example in the unwilling testimony of a witness who was examined as to the fact of drunkenness being charged against a minister.

The person examined was beadle, or one of the church officials.

He was asked, "Did you ever see the minister the worse of drink ?" "I canna say I've seen him the waur o' drink, but nae doubt I've seen him the _better_ o't," was the evasive answer.