Page:Ancient and modern history of Buck-haven in Fife-shire (3).pdf/12

                ( 11 ) Jan. De de'ils i' do carles, for you and your mi- nister is liars, when ye say that de de’il was helping Sandy and me to get de bairn. Come, come, said 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 stir, for less might sair you and your bell-man baith, O but this be a hard warld indeed, when poor honest folk maun pay for making use o' their r—, ye misca ay de poor deil ahint his back, and gie him de wyte o’ a’ de ill its dune in the kintry, bastard bairns and e- very thing, and if it be as you say, ye may thank de deil for that gude four pound and de groat I ha’e 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 all given to the poor of the parish. Jan. The poor o’ the parish, said she, and that’s the way o’t, a fint hait ye gie them but wee pickles o’pease meal, didna I see’t in their pocks, and de mi- nister’s wife gies naething ava to unco beggars, but bids them gang hame to their ain parish, and yet ye’ll tak de purse frae poor fouks for naething but playing the lown a wee or they be married, and syne cocks them up to be looked on and laught at by every body a deil speed you and your justice sir; 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 she comes, cursing and greeting: Sandy's next called upon, and in he goes. Min. Now Saunders, you maun tell us how this child was gotten