Page:Ancient and modern history of Buckhaven in Fife-shire.pdf/5

 hook, nor red a line, hook sandeels, nor gather periwincles. Now Wise Willy and Witty Eppie the ale-wife lived there, about an hundred years ago. Eppie's chamber was their College and Court-

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house, where they dicided their controveries, and explained their wonders! for the house was wide like a little kirk; had four windows and a gavel-door. The wives got leave to flyte their fill, but fighting was forbidden (as Eppie said, up-hand was fair play.) Their fines were a' in pints o' ale, and Eppie sold it at a plack the pint. They had neither minister nor magistrate, nor yet a burly-bailie, brag them wi' his tolbooth. My Lord was their landlord, Wise Willy and Witty Eppie, the ale-wife, were the rulers of the town. Now Eppie had a daughter called Lingletail'd Nancy, because of her feckless growth; her waist was like a twitter, had nae curpen for a creel, being Embruch bred, and brought up wi' her Lowdin aunty; was learned to read, and sew, make corse claiths and calico mutches, there wasna a scholar in the town but hersel. She read the Bible, and the book of Kirk-sangs,which was newly come in fashion. Willy and