Page:Art of courtship (1).pdf/2



was a young man about 30 years of age: he lived a few miles from Frazerſburgh, in Buchan. His father put him to the ſhoemaker trade, but he wan only the length of a Cobler, an I mended ſhoes. His micher was drawn to age they called her Beatrich Broun, the had been twice married, and wad ſain been marry’d the third time; for, ſaid ſhe. If I cou’d get a bit blind ſidler, or a ſticked taylor. he would had my back warm in the night-time, and help to win my bread. But her fore-tee-h being all out, and the moſt of her chaſt- teeth, made the wooers to paſs by the door. Willie riſes ae morning, very ſoon till’s wark, and than cries on’s mither. Riſe up mither, and wirk fome for your meat; for ar, ye dinna wirk better, I winna keep you langer.

Mither Indeed Willie, I keeped you fan ye wiſna able to wirk, an’ ye canna mak' a bit meat to yourſel’; but ye may gang and ſeek a wife to yourſel, and I ſal gang in till a hole-houſe o’ my ain.

Willie Weel, mither, fu’ will I ken a guid wife be a bad wife?

Mither. Indeed, Willie, if ye want a thriſty wife, ye may wale a gay ſtout hiſſy, wi’ braid ſhoulders, an’ thick about the haunches, an’ braw sn’ braid on the buttocks, that can ſup her wamefu’ o’ broſe or pottage, or eat a dry peaſe bannock, if better carna be gotten; that has been lang a ſervant in ae houſe, though twice or thrice awa', an’ ay feed back again; that’s nae cankert to the cats, nor kicks the colly dogs amang her feet; that wad let a brute beaſts live, an’ it binna rats an’ mice, an’ bogs an’ flaes, that bites the bairns in their beds, an’in their cradles ; that carefully kains the young things heads, waſhes their faces, and ſnites the ſnotter frae their noſe, as gin they were a’ her ain ; that’s the laſs that will make a guid wiſe: for them that dauts the young bairns, will be kind to auld folk, an’ they had them Willie Bat, mither, I had a kindneſs for Jean Kid fu will ſhe di think ye?