Page:Ancient and modern history of Buck-haven in Fife-shire (4).pdf/5

Rh Hook nor rade a line, houk ſandles nor gather periwinckles.

Now Wiſe 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 ſtyte their fill, but fighting was forbidden, (as Eppie ſaid, up hands was fair play) their fines were a’ pints o’ ale, and Eppie ſold it a' at a plack the pint; they had neither miniſter nor magiſtrate, nor yet a burly baillie 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, call’d Lingle tail’d Nancy, becauſe of her ſeckleſs growth, her waiſt was like a twitter, had nae curpen for a creel, being bred, and brought up wi’ her Lowdin aunty, was learned to read and ſew, made coarſe-claiths and callico mutches, there warna a ſcholar in the town but herſel, ſhe read the bible and the book of kirkings, which was newly come in faſhion, Willie and Eppie tell'd ay what it meant, and ſaid a’ the letters in it was litted by my lord, for they ſaw him hae a feather that he dipped in black water, and made crooked ſcores juſt like the ſame, and then he ſpake to it o’er again, and it tell’d him what to ſay.

It happened on a day, that two of their wives found a horſe ſhoe near the town, brought it hame, and ſent for Wiſe Willie to ſee what’ it was; Willie comes and looks