Page:Wonderful exploits of wise Willie & witty Eppie, the ale wife.pdf/12

( 12 ) ye're tellin' now, for the De'il was sae there that I ſaw, nor ony body elſe, to bid us do ae thing or anither; we lo'ed ither unco wel a lang time before that, an ſyne tell'd ither and 'greed to marry ither, like honeſt folk then might na we learn to do the thing married folk does without the de'il helping us?

Whiſht, whiſht, cried they, ye ſhould be ſcourg'd ſauſe loon quein it thou is, ye're ſpeaking nonſenſe.

Jan. De de'il's in the carles, for you and your miniſters is liars, to ſay it is de de'il i was helping Sandy and me to get de bairn.

Come, come, ſaid they, pay down the kirk dues, and come back to the ſtool the morn four pund, and a groat to the bell-man.

Jan. The auld thief ſpeed the darth o't ſir for leſs might fair you and your bell-man baith. O but this be a warld indeed, when poor honeſt folks maun pay for making uſe o' their ain a-! Ye miſca' the poor de'i a-hint his back, an' gi'es him de wyte o' a de ill in the kintry, baſtard bairns and every thing; and if it be ſae as ye ſay, ye may thank the de il for that four pund and a groat I had gi'en ye; that gars your pot play brown, and gets you jockey coats, purl-handed ſarks, and white headed ſtaves, when my father's p wallops up rough bear and blue water.

The woman's mad, ſaid they, for this money is all given to the poor of the pariſh.

Fna. The poor o' the pariſh, ſaid ſhe, a that's the gate o's, ſint a heit ye gi'e them bu