Page:Coalman's courtship to the creel-wife's daughter (10).pdf/18



18       Sawny. Ha ha mither, the poor fouk, like the lice, ay when they meet they marry, and maks mae o' them: and I think the mi- nisters might christen their bits o' weans for naething, the water's no sae scant; they are weel paid for their preaching, they may very weel baith marry and christen a' the poor fouks into the bargain, by the way o' a     maggs. Mither. Ay, ay, my man Sawny, mar- riage is a sweet thing for young fouk, and the bed undefiled. Sawny. What the vengeance, mither, do     ye think that a body is to file the bed every night because they did it ance. Mither. Na, na, that's no what I mean it is the happiness that fouk bae that's mar- ried, beside the wearied lonesome life that I     hae, lying tumbling and gaunting in a bed my lane: O sirs, but a man in bed be a     usefu' body, an it were but to claw ane's back, as for a body's foreside, they can claw it them- selves. Sawny. Ah mither, mither, ye hae fun astring again, I think ye might a wanted a'     your days, when ye hae wanted sae lang: ye      have plenty o' baith milk and meal, snuff and tobacco; but ye smell at the crack o' the whip, I kend my mither wad ride yet, for I've seen her fit waggan this lang time. Mither. A dear Sawny man, an thou were ance fairly aff the fodder, I'll be cast into a hole o' house by mysel, where I'll