Page:Exploits of Wise Willie and Witty Eppie, the ale-wife, of Buckhaven (1).pdf/13

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that I ſaw, nor ony body elſe, to bid us do ae thing or anither; we lo'ed ither unco well for alang time before that, an' ſyne we tell’d ither, an' 'greed to marry ither, like honeſt folk; then might na we learn to do the thing married folk do, without the de'il helping us.

Whiſht, whiſht, cried they, ye ſhould be ſcourg'd, fauſe loon quein it thou is, ye'er ſpeaking nonſenſe.

Jan. De de'il's i' the carles, for you and your miniſters is liars, when ye ſay it is de de'il it was helping Sandy and me to get de bairn.

Come, come, ſaid they, pay down the Kirkdues, and come back to the ſtool the morn; the price is four pund, and a groat to the bell man.

Jan. The auld thief ſpeed the darth o't ſir, far leſs might fair you and your bell-man baith, O but this be a warld indeed, when poor honeſt folks maun pay for making uſe o' their own a-: Ye miſca' the poor de'il a-hint his back, an' gi’es him de wyte o'a' de ill in de kintry, baſtard bairns, and every thing; an'if it be fae as ye ſay, ye may thank de de'il for that four pund and a groat I ha'e gi'en ye; that gars your pot play brown, an' gets you jockey-coats, an' purl-handed farks, an' white-headed ſtaves, when my father's pot wallops up rough bear and blue water.

The woman is mad, ſaid they, for this money is all given to the poor of the pariſh

Jan.