Page:Exploits of wise Willie, and witty Eppie the ale-wife, of Buchaven (sic).pdf/6

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explained their wonders; for the houſe was like a little kirk, had four wicdowa and a gavle 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 ole, and Eppic ſald 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 Vitay Eppie were the rulers of the town.

Now Eppie had a daughter, ſhe ca'd Lingle-tail'd Nancy, becauſe of her feckleſs growth; her waiſt was like a twitter, bad 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 o' kirk langs that was new-