Page:History of Buckhaven, or, The exploits of Wise Willie and Witty Eppie.pdf/16

16 The next exploit was an action at law, against the goodman of Muiredge, a farmer, who lived near by, that kept sheep and swine. His sheep come down and broke into their yards, and ate up their kail; the wild hares they thought belonged to the same man, as they ran to his house when they were hunted. The swine came very. often in about their houses, seeking fish guts and ony thing they could get; so it happened when one of the children was sitting easing itself, that one of the swine tumbled it over, and bit a piece out of its backside! The whole town rose in an uproar against grumphy, as they called her, caught her, and took her before Wise Willie. He took an axe and cut two or three inches off her long nose. Now, says he,' I trow I hae made thee something like another beast, thou had sic a lang mouth before it wad frighted a very de'il to look at ye, but now you're faced like a little horse or cow. The poor sow 'ran home roaring, ail blood, and wanting the nose ; which caused Muiredge to warn them in before my Lord. So the wives that had their kail eaten appeared first in the court, complaining against Muiredge.' Indeed, my Lord, said they, Muir- edge is no a good man when he is sic an ill neighbour, he keeps black hares and white hares, little wee brown backed hares, with white arses, and loose wagging hornes ; they creep in at our water gush holes, and does the like. When we cry pussy, pussy, they rin hame to Muiredge;