Page:History of Buchaven (sic) in Fifeshire (2).pdf/12

 the devil appearing to their grandfathers and grandmothers, and dead wives coming back again to visit their families long after being dead. So this Buchaven was once noted for droll exploits; but it is now become better known, and a place that produces the hardiest 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 was in their ae, your mouth would be at the door of it.

Now, it happened when Wise Willie turned old, he took a great swelling in his wame, and casting up his kail, collops, and cauld fish, that nothing could stand on his stomach; and a stout stomach he had for crabs heads, and scate broo, or brose in a bridal morning; yet it fail'd him, and he fell sick. None could cure him, nor tell what ail'd him, till a mountebank stage doctor came to Kircaldy that could judge by people's piss the trouble of their person. Wise Willie hearing of his fame, pissed into