Here is a characteristic piece of comedy from the Book of Scottish Anecdote (seventh edition, 1888). A gentleman upbraids his servant: is it true, he asks him, that you have had the audacity to spread around the idea that your master is stingy? No, no, replies the servant, you won't find me doing that kind of thing: 'I aye keep my thoughts to mysel'.'

LRB 3 January 2002 | PDF Download