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 Mither. Na, na Willie my bairn, ſhe will never di, man, her arms an’ legs are ſma up and down like the cat’s elbick; ſhe can di maething but prick an' few, an’ wear braw clouts an’ black caps, an’ drink tea; but ye maun get ane that can card an’ ſpin, an’ wirk in barn an’ byre: but tak my advice, Willie an’ ne’er gang to kirk nor market, to wale a wife, for ye win- na ken their ſhape wi’ braw clouts and black caps; for ye canna ſee a bit o’ them, but a bit o’ their face an’ the point o’ their noſe glowring out beneath their black cap: an’ tyne the back o' their head is as braid as a browſter-wiſe’s back-ſide

Willie Well, mither, can ye tell me far I’ll get a guid wife?

Mither. Indeed, Willie, ye may try Beſſy Gibb in Hill ſide, gin ſhe will take you, for ſhe is a guid ſervant, beith out an’ in. Ye may gang there upo' Friday at four in the afternin: its a very happy time to court a wife.

Willie. Well, mither, l will gang there upo’ Fri- day, but ſat will I ſay till her?

Mither I’ll tell thee man ſat to ſay, tell her that ye are fair needin a wife, an’ that ye lo’e her better nor ony ither laſs; an’ than ye may tak her head in your oxter, an clap her cheeks, an’ than gle her a bit kiſs: an’ gin ſhe dinna like ye, ſhe will ha’d her head far awa’: bat gin ſhe lo’e ye, ſhe will meet ye ha’f way wi’ her mou’: an’ if ſhe di that, for my bleſſing Willie, lae the kiſſes thick upo’ her, thick and mony ſauld, ſhe will lo’e you the better!

Willie. Bat mither, i dinna ken how I wad like to ſleep wi’her I the night-time. I never ſleepſt wi' a woman a’ my days, an its hard to be bound till a biſneſs aſore a body get a trial o’t!

Mither Indeed, Willie, ye may try gin ſhe'll lat ye ſleep a night wi’ her, before, it's the far ſhurreſt way, but ſan ye gang to court, dinna tell nae body but herſel, get a quiet word o’ her in the barn, or the ſtabie.

But the morn being Friday, aſſ ſets Willie to the courting, wi’ a’ his blaws on, wi’ a laug coat, an’ a