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 pair of gun-mouth’d breeks o’ his father’s, gaun as proud as ony baillie; and at laſt he comes to the houſe where his ſweet heart liv’d; in he goes, and ſaid, Where is Beſſy Gibb? Indeed, ſays the good- wife ſhe’s awa’ frae hame, ye may look gin ye ſee her coming in the hill-ſide.

Out gangs Willie, to look for his ſweet-heart, and ſees her at a diſtance; he rins and meets her, and cries Fu are ye, Beſſy? I thank ye, Willie, ſaid ſhe; are ye braw an weel yourſel? Right weel, ſaid Wil- lie: but I maun ſpeak a word to’ye!

Beſſy Well. Willie, what wad ye ſay, man? Willie. Go into this auld ſheep-cot, an’ I’ll tell you: So in they go: Now, ſays Willie, I am in great need of a wife, an’ I came to you firſt, to ſee if you will tak me for my mither is grown auld, an’ I canna want a wife langer.

Beſſy Indeed, Willie, I’m rather young to marry yet, but I ſal think about it afterwards: but I canna bide langer at this time, my miſtreſs will be angry at me for biding it’s near late.

Willie Well than, I maun hae a bit kiſs, for I like yon far better nor ony ither laſs that ever I ſaw, and my mither likes you, ye are ſic a good ſervant. Beſſy Indeed Willy, ye need not want a kiſs at ony time but I canna bide langer. I'll ſee ye at an- ither time.

Juſt ſo, ſaid Willie: and home he comes, ſing- ing like a mevis: Open the door, ſaid Willie; I truth I ha’e gained the victory on her now, mither, ſhe never had power to ſay me no.

Mither. Dear Willie, ye hae bidden late, man, I thought Waterkelpy or our guid neipers had oung you o’er in a moſs-pot an’ drown’d you. Willie Indeed no mither; But ſat like is Water- kelpy i I widna ken him, tho’ I ſaw him Mither Indeed Willie, he’s a muckle auld thief, ſometimes like a duddy beggar man and ſometimes like an auld horſe, an’ his face is as black’s our muckle pot bottom: But deed, Willie, I’m glad ye ſped ſae well; but ye maun gang back gin twa days, and ſee