Hold Your Tongue

Neil Gow, the famed composer and performer on the violin, possessed a great share of mother-wit and readiness of retort, and was never the least put about in any company. Neil having borrowed some money from Mr Murray of Abercairney the latter took a bet that he would for once put Neil to the blush; and just when a large party had assembled, and Neil had been placed at the head of his orchestra, he addressed the leader:

“I say, Neil, are you not going to pay me that five pounds you owe me?”

Neil very calmly exclaimed, “Oh, if you had held your tongue, I would have been the last to speak of it.”

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