Page:History of John Cheap, the chapman (8).pdf/14

 lay more ſong than among the ſwine. Now there was three women lying in a bed in the ſame apartment, and they not minding that I was there, firſt one of them roſe and let her water go in below the chimney grate, where I had a perfect view of her bonny-thing, as the coal fire burnt ſo clearly all the night; then another roſe and did the ſame; laſt of all got up the old matron, as ſhe appeared to be, like a ſecond-handed goodwife, or a whirled-o'er maiden, ſix times overturned, and as ſhe let her dam go, ſhe alſo, with full force, when done, let a fart like the blaſt of a trumpet, which made the duſt on the hearth-ſtone to fly up like duſt about her buttocks, whereat I was forced to laugh out, which made her to run for it, but to ſmother the laughter, I ſtapt the blankets in my mouth; ſhe went to bed and wakened the other two, ſaying, O dole! what will I tell you! yon chapman body has ſeen a' our a-ſes the night; ſhame fa' him, ſaid they, for we had nae mind he was there: I wat well, ſays one of them I'ſe no riſe till he be awa', but ſaid the old woman, gin he has ſeen mine, I cannot help it, it's juſt like other fouks, and ſin't a hair I care. On the morning, the old matron got up firſt, and ordered up the houſe, then told me to riſe now, for chapman and every body was up; then ſhe asked me if I had an uſe of laughing in my ſleep? Yes, ſaid I, when I ſee any daft like thing, I can look and laugh at it, as well ſleeping as waking: A good preserve us, ſaid ſhe, ye're an unco body, but ye need nae wait on our porrage time, I'ſe gie you cheeſe and bread in your pouch, which I willingly accepted, and away I came.

Then I kept my courſe weſt by the foot of Pentland hi1ls, where I got plenty of hair, good and cheap, beſides a great quantity of old braſs, which was an excellent article to make my little pack ſeem