Page:Ancient and modern history of Buck-haven in Fife-shire (3).pdf/11

                   ( 11 ) bladdering about the buttock-mail, summoned him and her before the hally band, a court that is held in the kirk on Sunday morning; and a‘ the ill bred laddies, round about, cried, Ay, ay, Sandy, pay the bill- siller, or we'll cut the cow‘s tail awa, so poor San- dy suffered sadly in the flesh, besides the penalty and kirk penance. But wise Willy had pity upon them, and gade wi' them to the kirk court, what learned folks call the session, Jenny was first called upon, and in she goes where all the hally band were conveened, eld- ers and youngers, deacons and dog payers keeping the door, the cankeredest carles that could be gotten between Dysart and Dubby side, white heads and bald heads sitting wanting bonnets, wi' their white headed staves, and hodding grey jockey coats about them Mess John says, Come away Jannet, we're a waiting on you here, Min.) Now Jannet, where was this child gotten? you must tell plainly. Jan. A deed sir it was gotten amang the black stanes, at the cheek o' the crab holes. Mess John stares at her, not knowing the place, but some of the elders did; then said he, O Janet, but the de'il has been busy with you at that time. Jan. A by my figs sir, that‘s a great lie ye're tel- ling now, for the de'il wasna thereabout, it I saw, nor nae body else, to bid us do either ae thing or a- nither, we loo‘d ither unco weel for a lang time be- fore that and syne we tell‘d ither, and ‘greed to marry ither like ither honest fouk, than mightna we learn to do the thing married fouk does, without the de'il helping us. Whiest, whiest cried they, you should be scurged fause loon quean it thou is, ye‘re speaking nonsense,