Page:Raising the wind, or, Habbie Sympson & his wife baith deid (2).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 e'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 fondo'a weedrap o' the blue, and as the storie gangs, sae was 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, that when a cannel's lichted at baith ends, it sune burns dune--an' it was sae verified in the present caise, for Habbie waukening ae morning after a heavie fuddle, says to Janet," Rise, wuman, and see if ye ean get me hauf a gill; for oh! ma heid is jist likin to split." “ Hauf a gill!" quo' Janet, “whaar wud I get it, when there's no a plack in a' the house; and as for takin' it on, ge 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 nae way ava ye ean think o' to raise the win?" "I'll tell ye what I'll dae, 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 'ill 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,