Page:History of Buckhaven.pdf/12

12 came bladdering about the buttock meal, summoned him and her before the haly band, a court that was held in the kirk on Saturday morning and all the herd laddies round about, cried, ay, ay, Sandy, pay the bull siller or we'll cut the cow's tail away, so poor Sandy suffered sally in the flesh, besides the penalty and kirk penance.

But Wise Willie took pity on them, and gade wi' them to the kirk's court, what learned folk call the session. Jenny was first called upon and in she goes, where all the haly band was convened, elders and younger eacons, and dog-keeper keeping the door, the cankerdest carle that could be gotten between Dysart and Duby, side, white heals ard bald heads sitting wanting bonnets, wi' their white beaded' staves and hodden grey jockey coats about them.

Mess John says, Come awa Janet, we're waiting on you here.

Minister. Now Janet, where was this child gotten?

Janet. A deed sir, it was gotten amang the black stanes, at the cheek of the crab holes.

Mess John stares at her, not knowing the place, but some of the elders did, Then said he, O Janet but the devil was busy with you at that time.

Janet. A by my fegs, sir, that's a great lie ye're telling now, for the de'il was nae there,