Page:Ancient and modern history of Buck-haven in Fifeshire.pdf/11

Rh And after a' the bleir-ein'd bellman came bladdering about the muttock-mail, summoned him and her before the hally band, a court that held in the kirk on Saturday morning; and a'the bred ladies round about, cried, Ay, ay, Sandy, pay the bill-siller, or we'll cut the cow's tail awa, so poor Sandy suffered sadly in the flesh, besides the penalty and kirk-penance.

But Wise Willy had pity upon them, and gade wi' them to the kirk-court, what learned folks call the session, Jenny was first called upon, and in she goes where all the hally band were conveened, elders and youngers, deacons and dog-payers keeping the door, the cankerdest Carles that could be gotten between Dysart and Dubbyside, white heads and bald heads sitting wanting bonnets, wi' their white-headed staves and hodden-grey jockey-coats about them.

Mess John says, Come away, Janet, we're a waiting on you here.

Min.] Now, Janet, where was this child gotten? you must tell plainly.

Jan.] A deed sir, it was gotten amang the black. stanes, at the cheek o' the crab-holes.

Mess John stares at her, not knowing the place, but some of the elders did: Then, said he, O Janet, but the de'il was busy with you at that time.

Jan.] A by my figs stir, that's a great lie ye're telling now, for the de'il wasna thereabout, it I saw, nor nae body else, to bid us do either ae thing or anither, we loo'd ither unco' weel for a lang time before that, and syne we tell’d ither, and greed to marry ither like ither honest fouk, than mightna we learn to do the thing married fouk does without the de'il helping us.

Whist, whist; cried they, you should be scurged, fause loon quean it thou is, ye're speaking nonsense.

Jan.] The de'ils i' the carles, for you and your