Page:Exploits of wise Willie and witty Eppie, the ale-wife, of Buckhaven (2).pdf/9

 9                     him fast! I see his twa horns; hech, sirs, he has a wbite beard like an auld beggar man! So they inclosed the poor ass on all sides, thinking it was the de'il; but when Wise Willie saw he had nae cloven feet, he cried out, Scarna lads, this is no the de'ıl, it's some living beast; it's neither cow nor horse. An' what is't then, Willie? Indeed co' Willie, it's the father o' the mankins, I ken by                     its lang lugs. Now, some say this hstory is too sati- rical; but it is according to the know- ledge of those times, not to say any place by another. The old wives will tell you yet of many such stories, of the devil appearing to their grandfathers and grandmothers; and dead wives coming back again to visit their families long after being dead: So this Buck-haven was once noted for droll exploits; but it                     is now become more known, and a place said to produce the hardiest watermen, or sailors, of any town on the Scots coast. Yet, many of the old people in it still retain the old tincture of their ancient and uncultivated speech, such as, Be-go laddie; they are also of a fiery nature, for if you ask any of their wives, where their College stands, they'll tell you, if                     your nose were in their a—--, your mouth would be at the door of it.