The ART of COURTSHIP.
WILLIAM LAWSON was a young man about
30 years of age: he lived a few miles from
Frazerſburgh, in Buchan. His father put him to the
ſhoemaker trade, but he wan only the length of a
Cobler, an I mended ſhoes. His micher was drawn
to age they called her Beatrich Broun, the had been
twice married, and wad ſain been marry’d the third
time; for, ſaid ſhe. If I cou’d get a bit blind ſidler,
or a ſticked taylor. he would had my back warm in
the night-time, and help to win my bread. But her
fore-tee-h being all out, and the moſt of her chaſt-
teeth, made the wooers to paſs by the door.
Willie riſes ae morning, very ſoon till’s wark, and
than cries on’s mither. Riſe up mither, and wirk fome
for your meat; for ar, ye dinna wirk better, I winna
keep you langer.
Mither Indeed Willie, I keeped you fan ye wiſna
able to wirk, an’ ye canna mak' a bit meat to yourſel’;
but ye may gang and ſeek a wife to yourſel, and I ſal
gang in till a hole-houſe o’ my ain.
Willie Weel, mither, fu’ will I ken a guid wife
be a bad wife?
Mither. Indeed, Willie, if ye want a thriſty wife,
ye may wale a gay ſtout hiſſy, wi’ braid ſhoulders,
an’ thick about the haunches, an’ braw sn’ braid on
the buttocks, that can ſup her wamefu’ o’ broſe or
pottage, or eat a dry peaſe bannock, if better carna
be gotten; that has been lang a ſervant in ae houſe,
though twice or thrice awa', an’ ay feed back again;
that’s nae cankert to the cats, nor kicks the colly
dogs amang her feet; that wad let a brute beaſts
live, an’ it binna rats an’ mice, an’ bogs an’ flaes, that
bites the bairns in their beds, an’in their cradles ;
that carefully kains the young things heads, waſhes
their faces, and ſnites the ſnotter frae their noſe, as
gin they were a’ her ain ; that’s the laſs that will
make a guid wiſe: for them that dauts the young
bairns, will be kind to auld folk, an’ they had them
Willie Bat, mither, I had a kindneſs for Jean
Kid fu will ſhe di think ye?
