Page:History of Buckhaven.pdf/16

16 The next exploit was an action at law, against the gudeman of Muiredge, a farmer, who lived near by. that kept sheep and swine. His sheep came 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; is 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 or her long nose. Now, says he, I trow I hae made thee something like another beast, thou had sie a lang mouth before it wad frighted a very de'il to look at ye; but now ye're faced like a little horse or cow. The poor sow ran home roaring all blood, and wanting the nose; which caused Muiredge to warn them in before my Lord. So the wives that had their kail eaten appeareil first in the court, complaining against Muiredge. Indeed, my Lord, said they, Muiredge is to a good man when is sic an ill neighbour, he keeps black hares and white hares, little wee brown backed hares, with white arses, and loose wagging horns; they creep in at our water gush holes, and does the like. When we cry pussy, pussy, they rin hame to Muiredge;