Page:Ancient and modern history of Buck-haven, in Fife-shire.pdf/12

 12 THE HISTORY OF Jan. The de'ils i' the carles, for you and your miniſter is liars, when ye fay it de de'il was helping Sandy and me to get the bairn. Come, come, fay they, pay down the kirk-dues, and come back to the ſtool the morn, four pound, and a groat to the bell-man. Jan. The auld thief ſpeed the dearth o't Dir, for leſs might fair you and your bell-man baith, O but this be a hard warld indeed, when poor honeſt ſouk maun pay for making uſe o' their ain a--, ye miſca' ay de poor de'il a-hint his back, and gie him de wyte o' a' de ill it's done in the kintry, baſtard barns and every thing, and if it be ſae as ye fay, ye may thank de de'il for that gude four pund and de groat I hae gi'en you, that gars your pots boil brown, and get jockey-coats, purl-handed ſarks and white-headed ſtaves, when my father's pot wallops up rough bear and blue water. The woman's mad, said they, for this money is a' given to the poor of the pariſh. Jan. The poor o' the pariſh, ſaid ſhe, and that's the way o't, a ſint bate ye gie them but wee pick leſs o' peaſe-meal, didna I ſee's in their pocks, and the miniſter's wife gic's naething ava to unco beg- gars, bur, bids them gang hame to their ain pariſh, an yet ye'll tak de purſe frae poor ſouks, for nac- thing but playing the lown awee or they be mar- ried, and ſyne cocks them up to be looked on and laught at by every body, a de'il ſpeed you and your juſtice ſtir; hute, tute, ye are a coming on me now, like a wheen colly dogs, hunting awa' a poor, ragget chapman frae the door, and out the comes curling and greeting: Sandy's next called upon, and in he goes. Min. Now Saunders, you maun tell us how this child was gotten? San. A wow, Meſs John ſtir, you hae bairns your ain, low did you get them? but yours is