Page:Scots piper's queries, or, John Falkirk's cariches (5).pdf/20

20 about?" "But," said he, "did he no tye you to the cow's stake?" "No," said she, "I did not need any tying." "And how far was between the byre and the house?" "Just but and ben, up and down twa staps of a stane stair." "Then," says the priest, "why did you not cry to the folks in the house?" "Indeed sir," says she, "I could not get cried for the laughing at it."

A soldier being on a forlough from the north of Scotland, having got no breakfast, fell very hungry by the way and no alehouse being near, came in to a farmer's house and wished them to sell him some bread, or any kind of victuals; to which the surly goodwife replied, she never sold any bread, and was net going to begin with him, he had but three miles and a bitteck to an alehouse, and he might walk on, as she did fair enough when she gied bits of bread for naething to beggars, tho' she gied nane to idle soldiers, he had naething to do there awa'. "Hout," said the goodman, "gie'm a ladlefu' o' our kail he's been somebody's bairn before he was a soldier." "What!" said she,