Page:Ancient and modern history of Buckhaven in Fife-shire.pdf/15

 edge. Indeed, my Lord, Muiredge is no a good man when he is sic ad ill neighbour; he keeps black hares and white hares, little wee brown backed hares wi' white arses, and long wagging horns; de muckle anes loups o'er de dyke and eats a' de kail; and de little anes wi' de wagging horns, creeps in at our water gush-holes, and does the like; when we cry Pisue, they rin awa hame to Muiredge; but I'll gar my colly haud 'em by the fit, and I'll haud 'em by the horn, and pu a' de hair aff 'em, and send 'em hame wanting de skin. In comes Willy. A weel, my Lord, ye maun just gar Muiredge gie ten merks to buy a plaister to hail the bit poor wean's arse again. Well said, Willy, says my Lord, but who puts on the sow's nose again? A figs, my Lord, said Willy, she's honester like wanting it; an' gin ye had hane a nose, my Lord, as lang as the sow had, ye'd been obliged to ony body it wad cut a piece aft. A gentleman passing through their town, asked Witty Eppie where their college stood? Said she, Gie me a shilling, and I'll let you see baith the sides o't. He gives her a shilling, thinking to see some curious sight. Now, says she, there's one side of the shilling, and there's the ither, and 'tis mine now.

Now Wise Willy was so admired for his judgement in cutting off the sow's nose, that my Lord in a mocking manner, made him burly-bailie of Bucky-hine. Lang Sandy was provost, John Thrums, the weaver, was dean of