Page:Ancient and modern history of Buck-haven in Fife-shire (2).pdf/5

(5) three ſons daudet againſt the Baſs or I ſaw ony ane of them married on a muck a byre's daughter, a wheen uſeleſs taupies that can do naething but rive at a tow rock and cut corn, they can neither bait a hook, nor red a line, hook ſandles, nor gather periwinkels.

Now Wiſe Willy and witty Eppie the ale-wife lived there about an hundred years ago. Eippie'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, and four windows and a gavel door, the wives got leave to flyte their fill, but fighting was forbiden (as Eppie ſaid up hands was fair play; their fines were a' in pints o‘ ale and Eppie ſold it at a plack the pint, they had neither miniſter nor magiſtrate nor yet a burly ballie to brag them wi‘ his tolbooth, my Lord was their landlord, Wiſe 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 nae curpen for a creel being Embruch bred, and brought up wi' her Lowdin aunty, was learned to read, and few, made corſe claiths and calilen mutches, there wiſna a ſcholor in the town ut herſel, ſhe 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 at the letter