Page:Scots piper's queries, or, John Falkirk's cariches (3).pdf/13

 house, for a touch of love, for which he gave her a six and thirty-shilling piece: On  next morning he mounted his horse, without asking a bill, or what was to pay; but sir, said the landlord, you forgot to pay your reckoning: well minded, sir, said he,  want my change. I gave your maid a six and thirty to change, the poor maid is called on in all haste, yes said she I got it, but was not for that, throws it down and off she goes: her mistress understood, and gave her the challenge, she told her it was so, but she should be up with him; so in twelve months thereafter, he came past with his drove, puts up at the same inn as formerly; then the girl goes to a neighbour woman, who had a young child about three months old, comes into the company where he was, lays it down on the table, saying, sir, there's the change of your six and thirty; and away she comes, the child cries, and the bell's rung, the landlord was ready enough to answer. O sir, said he, call her back, for this will ruin my family, and crack my credit; but sir said the girl, you thought nothing to ruin my character, and crack my maiden-head; peace, peace, said he, my dear, here's one hundred and fifty pound, and take away the child and trouble me no more; well said she I'll take it, and you will make more of buying cows than maiden-heads; so away she came with the money, and returned the borrowed child to its own mother.