Page:Whole proceedings of Jocky & Maggy's courtship (1).pdf/23

23 mither winna let me gae to the black stool.

Just. O John you must go to the black stool, when you have been guilty of such a siufulsinful [sic] action as deserves it: If you have any reasons why you should not go, argument it in the Session, and clear yourself if you can; to which Jockey was obedient

Aff he goes to the minister, and owns a' his faut to him; and Mess John desired him to appear before the congregation the next Sabbath, to be rebuked for his fau't.

Jock. Indeed, Sir, I wad think nae-thing to stan' a tims or twa on the black stool, to please you, if there were nae-body in the kirk, on a ouke-day, but you and the elders to flyte a wee on me; but 'tis waur on a Sunday to have a' bodies look-ing and laughing at me, as I hand been codding the peas, sipping the kirn, or some-thing that's no bonny, like pissing the bed.

Minist. Aweel John, never mind you these things, but come ye to the stool it's nothing when it's over, we cannot say o'er muckle to you about it.

Upon Sunday thereafter, John comes with Uncle Rabby's auld wide coat, a muckle grey lang-tail d wig. and a big, which covered his face, so that he seemed more like an old Pilgrim than a young fornicator! mounts the creepy wi' a stiff, stiff back, as he had been a man of sixty! Every one booked at him,