Page:Wonderful exploits of wise Willie & witty Eppie, the ale wife.pdf/7

( 7 ) andman's! The whole town was in an uproar! ſome would go with picks and ſpades, to hang him in pieces; others wad 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', an no ſaſh us nae mair; he is o'er ouple to be catch'd in a net, a' your pith will neither hang him nor drown him, and the kintry he comes frae, is a' het coals, he'll lever burn; we'll gae to him in a civil manner, and ſee what he wants: Get witty Eppie, the ale-wife, and Lingle-tail'd Nancy wi' the Bible and Pſalm-Book. So aff they name in a crowd, either to kill the de il or catch him alive ; and as they came near the place, the aſs fell a-crying, cauſing many to faint and run back! Na, na, co' willie, that's nae the de'il's words at a', it's my Lord's rumpeter touting on his braſs whiſtle: willie ventured till he ſaw the aſs's twa lugs; Now, dried willie to the reſt, come forward an had im faſt, I ſee his twa horns! Hech, ſirs, he as a white beard, like an auld beggar man! o they incloſed the poor aſs on all ſides, hinking it was the de'il; but when willie aw he had nae cloven feet, he cried out, carna lads, this is no the de'il, it's ſome living caſt, it's neither cow nor horſe. An what is'e then, willie? Indeed, co' willie, it's the father the maukins, I ken by its lang lugs.