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 think ye aboot this hoose, that wad be al sic a fash?"

"Why what trouble is there in it?" said Mrs Mason. "It is only teaching your children to pay a little attention to such things, and they will soon come to find no trouble in them. Thcy cannot too soon learn to be neat and regular in their ways."

"Ilka place has just its ain gait," said the goodwife; "and ye needna think that ever we'll learn your's. And indeed to be plain wi' you, cousin, I think you have owre mony fykes. There did na' ye keep Grizzy for mair than twa hours yesterday morning, soopin' and dusting your room in every corner, and cleaning out the twa bits o' buird, that are for naething but to set your feet on after a'."

"But did you know how dirty they were?" said Mrs Mason.

"Hoot! the chickens just got their meat on them for twa or three ouks, poor wee beasties! the buirds war a wee thought