Page:Whole proceedings of Jockey and Maggy (4).pdf/20

 20 THE PROCEEDINGS OF

Jock. Juſt twa hailyerts; and I got her wi' bairn about a year after ſhe came, and its no a year yet ſince I was married.

Meſs John, Dear John, there is a contradiction indeed, a woman cannot go two years with child.

Jock. Deed ſtir, it was then the wean was first gotten.

Meſs John. A John, John, I find you out to be a ſinful liver, you and that woman has had arnal dealings for ſome time; it is ill keeping the cow out of the corn if the once get a way of going to it, you ſhould actually a married the poor woman, when ye cohabited ſo long together.

Jock. No, ſtir, we didna cow habit together, tho' ſhe kiſt me, and I kiſt her, ſometimes in the barn, and ſometimes in the byre; nane kent o't but my mither, an' ſhe wadna let me tak her, but ſent me awa to court our Maggy.

His mother cries through the hole o' the door: A ye ſenſeleſs fumph, is that a the thanks I got for counſelling you to do weel, war na me ye wad a been married on a lownlike leepet, lazy lump, who had neither wit nor wyles, no fae much judgment as wyfe the wind frae her tail but lute it gang afore fouks.

Up gets the elders, crying, Fy, fy, Duncan the bell-man drive the wicked wife frae the door, ſhe diſturbs us all.

Duncan runs to the door whiſpering, ſhame fa you for a wife, had out o' that: but I wad rather hear you, as hear them yet.

Meſs John. Now John will you be ſo plain as tell me whether you promiſt to marry the woman or no when ye lay with her.

Jock. Na, ſtir, I didna lie wi' her, for the herd and me lay in the byre-bed, and ſhe lay in the little lang ſadle at the hallen end.

Meſs John. It is all one whether ye lay with her ow not, when ye have got her with child, that's what ye confeſs.

Jock. I kenna whether I got her wi' bairn or not