Page:Witty and entertaining exploits of wise Willie, and witty Eppie.pdf/9

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It happened on a dark winter morning that two of their wives were going to Dysart to sell their fish; and on the roadside there happened to be some tinker s ass tethered. The poor ass seeing the two wives coning with their creels, thought it was the tinkers coming to flit or relieve him, tell a-crying: the two wives threw their fish away, and run home like mad persons, crying they had seen the deil ay the very horned deil, and that hs spoke to them, but they did na ken what he said, for it was waur than a Highlandman's; the whole town was in an uproar; some would go with picks and spades and hag him to pieces,? others wad go and catch him in a strong net, and then they could either hang or drown him. Na, na, co Wise Willie, we mauna cast out wi' him at the first, as he's gotten the twa burdens o' fish, he'll e'en gang his wa' and no fash us ony mair; he is d'er souple to be catch'd in a net; a' your pith will neither hang him