Page:Ancient and modern history of Buck-haven in Fifeshire.pdf/10

10 shot. Willy sees her jumping o'er the dike, thought it was a child brought forth, cries, Come back, my dear, and be christened, and no rin to the hills and be a Pagan. So Willy grew better every day thereafter, being brought to bed in the kail-yard: but his daughter was brought to bed some months thereafter, which was the cause of the doctor's mistake.

OW Wise Willy had a daughter, called Rolioching Jenny, because she spoke thick, six words at three times, half sense and half nonsense, as her own words and actions will bear witness. She being with child, was brought to bed of a bonny lass bairn: and a' the wives in the town cried, Bego laddie, its just like its ain daddy, lang Sandy Tason (or Thomson) we ken by its nose; for Sandy had a great muckle red nose like a lobster-tae, bowed at the point like a hawk's neb, and Sandy himself said that it was surely his or some ither body's, but he had used a' his birr at the getting o't, to sey his ability, being the first time e'er he was at sic a business before, and when he had done a' that man could do at it, said, it was nonsense and shamefa' him, but he wad rather row his boat round the Bass and back again or he did the like again: for Wise Willy gade wood at the wean, and said, it had mair ill-nature in't than the auldest wife about the town, it piss'd the bed, and shate the bed, skirl'd like a wil-cat, and kept him frae his night's rest; and a' the auld haggs about the town, ca'd him Sandy de bairns daddy, and a' the young gilly-gawkie lasses, held out their fingers, and cried, Tie, hie, Sandy, the kirk will kittle your hips for yon yet.