Page:Four funny tales.pdf/20



While Beſſy huddl'd a' things by, That nought the cuckold might eſpy; Syne loot him in,———but out of tune, Speer'd why he left the mill fae ſoon: 'I come,' ſaid he, as manners claims, To crack and wait on Maſter James, Whilk I ſhould do, tho' ne'er fae bizzy: I ſent him here, good-wife, where is he?" 'Ye ſent him here (quoth Beſſy, grumbling), Kend I this James? A chiel came rumbling, But how was I aſſur'd, when dark, That he had been nae thieviſh ſpark, Or ſome rude wencher gotten a doſe, That a weak wife cou'd ill oppoſe?' 'And what came of him? ſpeak nae langer,' Cries Halbert, in a Highland anger. 'I ſent him to the barn,' quoth ſhe: 'Gae quickly bring him in,' quoth he.

James was brought in———the wife was bawked——— The prieſt food cloſe-the miller cracked——— Then aſk'd his ſunkan gloomy ſpouſe, What ſupper had ſhe in the houſe, That might be ſuitable to gi'e Ane of their lodger's qualitie? Quoth ſhe, 'Ye may wiel ken, good-man, Your feaſt comes frae the pottage-pan: The ſtov'd and roaſted we afford, Are aft great ſtrangers on our board.' 'Pottage,' quoth Hab, 'ye ſenſeleſs tawpie! Think ye this youth's a gilly-gawpy? And that his gentle ſtamock's maſter To worry up a pint of plaiſter? Like our mill-knaves that lift the laiding, Whale kytes can ſtreek out like raw plaiding. Swith roaſt a her, or fry ſome chickens, And ſend for ale frae Maggy Picken's 'Hout aye,' quoth ſhe, ye may wiel ken, 'Tis ill brought but that's no there ben; When but laſt owk, nae farder gane, The laird got a' to pay his kain.'