Page:History of Buckhaven in Fifeshire.pdf/4

 fishers in Bucky-harbour; and, on the other hand, Witty Eppie, the ale-wife wad a sworn, Bego laddie, I wad rather see my boat an’ a’ my three sons daded against the Bass, or I saw ony ane them maried to a muck-a byre's daughter; awheen useless tappies, that can do naething but rive at a tow rock, and cut corn; they can neither bait a boo’ nor redd a line, houk sand-eels, nor ga ther pirewinkles.

Now Wise Willie, and Wittie Eppie the ale-wife, lived there about a hundred years ago. Eppie’s chamber was their College and Court-house, who they decided controversies and explained their wonders; for the house was like a little kirk, with four windows and a gavel door. The wives got leave to fly their fill, but fighting was prohibited as Eppie said, up-hands was fair play. Their fine was a pint o’ ale, and Eppie said it at a plack the pint. They he neither minister nor magistrate, no yet a burley-bailie, to brag them his tolbooth. The Lord o’ the man