Page:Ancient and modern history of Buck-haven in Fife-shire (5).pdf/20

 ( 16 ) P A R T. III. NOW Wife Willy was fo admired for his juft judg- ment in cutting off the fow‘s nofe, that my Lord in a moeking manner, made him burly bailie of Buck- hine. Lang Sandy was provoft, and John Thrums the weaver, was dean of guild, but Witty Eppie had ay the cafting vote in a'their courts and controverfies There happened one day a running horfe to ftand at one of their doors, and a child going about, the horfe trampled on the child’s foot, which caufed the poor child to cry, the mother came running in a paffion ; crying a wae be to you for a ‘orfe it ere ye was born of a wowan, filthy barbarian brute it t‘ue is, jetting your muckle iron lufe on my bairn‘s

wee fittie, odd fur, I'll rive the hair out o'your head, grip- ping the horfe by the mane, and the twa lugs, cutting his chafts as if he had been a fellow crea- ture, crying, Be-go laddie, I'll gar you as good, I'll tak you before Wife Willy the hailie, and he will cut aff your hand wi' de iron lufe, and dan you will be cripple, am gang through the kitntry on a barrow, or on twa fhuie ftaffs like Rab the Randy, an a meal-pock about your neck ; Her neighbour wife hearing and feeing what paft, cried, A ye fool taupy, what gars you fay that a -orfe was born o’ a woman, do you think dat a ‘orfe has a fadder or a midder like you or, me or ony ither body about. A what way do they come to the warld dan ? A ye fool taupy, divna they whalp like the loufes, ae a old ‘orfe hobbles on anither anes buck, and dat