Mrs Tabitha chancing to accost her brother by the familiar
diminutive of Matt, 'Pray, sir (said the lieutenant), 'is your
name Matthias?' You must know it is one of our uncle's foibles to
be ashamed of his name Matthew, because it is puritanical; and
this question chagrined him so much, that he answered, 'No, by G-d!'
in a very abrupt tone of displeasure. -- The Scot took umbrage
at the manner of his reply, and bristling up, 'If I had known
(said he) that you did not care to tell your name, I should not
have asked the question -- The leddy called you Matt, and I
naturally thought it was Matthias: -- perhaps, it may be
Methuselah, or Metrodorus, or Metellus, or Mathurinus, or
Malthinnus, or Matamorus, or --' 'No (cried my uncle laughing), it
is neither of those, captain: my name is Matthew Bramble, at,
your service. -- The truth is, have a foolish pique at the name of
Matthew, because it favours of those canting hypocrites, who, in
Cromwell's time, christened all their children by names taken
from the scripture.' 'A foolish pique indeed. (cried Mrs Tabby),
and even sinful, to fall out with your name because it is taken
from holy writ.
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