Page:Exploits of Wise Willie and Witty Eppie, the ale-wife, of Buckhaven (1).pdf/5

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Now, Wiſe Willie and Witty Eppie the ale wife, lived there about a hundred years ago: Eppie's chamber was their College and Court-houſe, where they decided controverſies, and explained their wonders; for the houſe was like a little kirk, had four windows and a gayle door the wives got leave to flyte their fill, but fighting was prohibited, as Eppie ſaid, "Up-hands was fair play. Their fines was a pint o' ale, and Eppie fale'd it at a plack the pint. They had neither miniſter nor magiſtrate, nor yet a burley-bailie, to brag them wi' his Tolbooth. The Lord o' the Manor decided all diſputable points, and Wiſe Willie and Witty Eppie, the ale wife, were the rulers of the town.

Now, Eppie had a daughter, ſhe ca'd her Lingle-tail'd Nancy, becauſe of her feckleſs growth; her waiſt was like a twitter, had nae curpen for a creel, being Edinburgh-bred, and brought up wi' her Loudin aunty, was learned to read and few, made coarſe claiths, and callicoe mancoes; there was nae a ſcholar in the town but herſel, ſhe read the Bible, and the book of kirk fangs was newly come in faſhion. Willy and Eppie tell'd them ay what it meant, and ſaid a' the letters in it was litted by my Lord, for they low him hae a feather that he dipped in black water, and made crooked ſcores, juſt like the ſame; and then he ſpoke o'er again, and it tell'd him what to ſay.