Page:Raising the wind, or, Habbie Sympson & his wife baith deid (1).pdf/2



I put nae dout bot ye a' heard tell o Habbie Simpson, the Pyper o' Kilbarchan, bot I'm no thinking that ye c'er heard the storie that I am gaun to tell ye about him and his wife Janet. 'Weel, ye see, it sae happenit, that Habbie, like monie mae noo a days was gayan fond o'a wee drap o'the blue, and as the storie gangs, sae wus his wife; sae it aften happened, when Habbie yokit the fuddle, Janet yokit it tae. Noo it's an auld Scotch saying and a true ane buns dune—an' it was sae verified in the present caise, for Habbie waukening ae morning after a heavy fuddle, says to Janet, "Rise, wuman, and see if ye can get me hauf a gill; for oh! ma heid is jist likin to split." Haufa gill!” quo' Janet, “whaar wud I get it, when there's no a plack in a' the house and as for takin' it on, ye ken that's clean out o'the quastion; sae ye maun jist lie still and thole the best way ye can!' "Oh! Janet, cries Habbie, ye're no amiss at scheming; is there næe way ava ye can think o' to raise the win?" "I'll tel you what I'll date, quo? Janet, I'll awa to the Laird o' Johnston, and I'll tell him that ye're deid, and as ye're a great favourite o'his I'm sure I'll get something frae him, to help to burie ye." Od, that I do graun, quo' Habbie, So up gets Janet, and awa to the Laird's house; when rapping the knocker, the door was opened by the leddie,