Begging the Devil's Pardon

Mr. Hill was always annoyed when there happened to be any noise in the chapel, or when anything occurred to divert the attention of his hearers from what he was saying. On one occasion, about three years before his death, he was preaching to one of the most crowded congregations that ever assembled to hear him. In the middle of his discourse he observed a great commotion in the gallery. For a time he took no notice of it, but finding it increasing, he paused in his sermon, and looking in the direction in which the confusion prevailed, he exclaimed, "What's the matter there? the devil seems to have got amongst you!"

A plain country-looking man immediately started to his feet, and addressing Mr. Hill in reply, said, "No, sir, it arn't the devil as is a-doing on it; it's a lady wot's fainted; and she's a very fat un, sir, as don't seem likely to come to agin in a hurry."

"Oh, that's it, is it," observed Mr. Hill, drawing his hand across his chin; "then I beg the lady's pardon—and the devil's too."—Metropolitan Pulpit, vol. i.