Page:Ancient and modern history of Buck-haven in Fife-shire (5).pdf/9

 ( 5 ) three fons daudet againft the Bafs or I faw ony ane of them married on a muck, a byre‘s daughter, a wheen ufelefs 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 fandles, nor gather periwinkels. Now Wife Wiily’and witty Eppie the al-wife lived. there about an hundred, years ago. Eppie's chamber was their collage and court houfe, where they decid- ed their controverties, and explained their wonders, for the houfe 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 faid up hands was fair play) their fines were a‘ in pints o‘ ale and Eppie fold it-at a plack the pint, they had neither minifter nor magiftrate nor jot a burly bailie to brag them wi‘ his tolbooth, my Lord was their landlord, Wife Willy and Witt Eppie the ale- wife were the rulers of the town.

Now Eppie had a daughtsr, called Lingle tail'd Nancy, becaufe of her feeklef's growth, her waift was like a twitter, had nae curpen for a creel being Embruch bred, and brought up wi' her Low din aunty was learned to read, and few, made corfe claiths and mutchas, there wifna a fcholor in the town but herfel, fhe read the Bibie, and the book of Kirk fangs, winch was newly come in fafhion, Willy an Eppie tell'd ay what it mean't, and the letter