Page:Ancient and modern history of Buck-haven, in Fife-shire.pdf/5

Rh tow rock, and cut corn; they can neither bait a hook nor red a line, hook ſandles nor gather periwinkles.

Now Wie Willy and Witty Eppie the ale-wife lived there, about an hundred years ago. Eppie's chamber was their college and court-houſe, where they decided their controverſies, and explained their wonders, for the houſe was wide like a little kirk, had four windows and a gavel-door, the wives got leave to flyte their fill, but fighting was forbidden (as Eppie ſaid, up hands was fair play) their fines, were a' in pints o' ale, and Eppie old it at a plack the pint: they had neither miniſter nor magiſtrate, nor yet a burly-bailie to brag them wi' his tolbooth; my Lord was their landlord, Wife Willy and Witty Eppie the ale-wife were the rulers of the town.

Now Eppie had a daughter, called Lingle-tail'd Nancy, becauſe of her feckleſs growth, her waiſt, was like a twitter, had Dae curpen for a creel, being Embruch bred, and brought up wi' her Low-din aunty, was learned to read and few, made Scorſe-claiths and callico matches, there waſna a ſcholar in the town but herſel, he read the Bible and the book of Kirk-angs, which was newly come in faſhion, Willy and Eppie tell'd ay what it meant, and ſaid all the letters in it, was litted by my Lord, for they ſaw him hae a feather that be dipped in black water, and made creclcs