Page:History of John Cheap the chapman (2).pdf/16

 a hearty blow upon his ear with my rung, which made him go rumbling towards his master's door, and when he got up, he could not fight any, his mouth being so full of prickles, by the biting of the briar, which caused him go about yowling, and rubbing his mouth with his foot; the people of the house came running out to see what was the matter. I then shewed them the briar, and telling them their dog came running to bite me, but my briar had bitten him; they then called him in, and fell to picking the prickles out of his tongue.

On the Saturday night thereafter, I was like to be badly off for quarters, I travelled until many people were gone to bed: but at last I came to a farmer's house, asked what they would buy, naming twenty fine things which I never had, and then asked for quarters, which they very freely granted thinking I was some gentle packman with a rich pack; but I being weary with travel, could take but little or no supper. Being permitted to lie in the spence beside the goodman's bed, the good wife being very hard of hearing, she thought that every body was so, for when she went to bed, she cried out, A how hearie, isna yon a brave moderate chapman we hae here the night, he took just seven soup o' our sowens, and that fill'd him fu', a dear Andrew man, turn ye about, an' tak my cauld a-se in your warm lunchoch. On the morrow I went to the kirk with the goodman, and I missing him about the door, went into the middle of the kirk, but could see no empty seats but one big form, where none sat but one woman by herself, and so I set myself down-beside her, not knowing where I was until sermon was over, when the minister began to rebuke her for using her Merry-bit against law or licence and then she began to whinge and yowl like a dog which made me run out cursing before the minister