Page:Ancient and modern history of Buck-haven in Fifeshire.pdf/14

14 yet, baggity beast it tu is, mair it I bore thee now, a hear ye that my dow.

The next exploit was an action at law, against the goodman of Muir-edge, a farmer who lived near by, that kept sheep and swine; his sheep came down and broke into their yards, and ate up their kail. The wild hares, they thought, belonged to the same man, as they ran towards his house when they were hunted. The swine came very often in and about their houses, seeking fish guts and ony thing they could get: so it happened that one of their children, sitting easing itself, one of the swine tumbles it over, and

bites a piece out of the child's backside: The whole town rose in an uproar, and after Grunkie, as they called her, they catched her and took her before Wise Willy. Willy takes an ax and cuts two or three inches off her long nose; Now, says Willy, I trow I have made thee something Christian-like. thou had sic a long mouth and nose before, it wad a frighted a very de'il to look at ye, but now ye're faced like a little horse or cow. The poor sow ran home roaring, all blood, and wanting the nose, which caused Muir-edge to warn them in before my Lord: so the wives who had their kail eaten, appeared first in the court, complaining against Muir-edge. Indeed, my Lord, Muir-edge is no a good man, when he's sick an ill neighbour, he keeps black hares and white hares, little wee brown backed hares wi' white arses, and loose wagging horns, de muckle anes