Page:Art of courtship (2).pdf/4

4) Willie. Weel, mither, fu’ will I ken a guid wife frae a bad wife?

Mither. Indeed Willie, gif ye wart a thrifty wife you may wale a gay stout huffy wi’ braid shoulders an’ thick about the haunches, an’ braw and braid on the buttocks, that can sup her wame fu’ o’ brose or porrage, or eat a dry pease bannock, if better canna 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 beafts live, an it binna rats an mice, an bogs an flaes, that bites the bairns in their beds, an in their cradles; that carefully kaims the young things heads, washes their faces, and dights the snotter frae their nose, as gin they were a’ her ain; that's the lass that will make a guid wife: for them that dauts the young bairns, will be kind to auld souk an they had them.

Willie. But, mither, I had a kindness for Jean Kid su will she do, think ye?

Mither. Na, na, Willie my bairn, she will never die man, her arms an legs are sma up in down like the cat's elbeek, she can dae naething but prickan few an wear bra 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 fee a bit o them but a bit o their face, an the point o’ their nose glowring out beneath their