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Mither. Na, na Willie my bairn, ſhe will never
di, man, her arms an’ legs are ſma up and down like
the cat’s elbick; ſhe can di maething but prick an'
few, an’ wear braw clouts an’ black caps, an’ drink tea;
but ye maun get ane that can card an’ ſpin, an’ wirk
in barn an’ byre: but tak my advice, Willie an’ ne’er
gang to kirk nor market, to wale a wife, for ye win-
na ken their ſhape wi’ braw clouts and black caps;
for ye canna ſee a bit o’ them, but a bit o’ their face
an’ the point o’ their noſe glowring out beneath their
black cap: an’ tyne the back o' their head is as braid
as a browſter-wiſe’s back-ſide
Willie Well, mither, can ye tell me far I’ll get a
guid wife?
Mither. Indeed, Willie, ye may try Beſſy Gibb
in Hill ſide, gin ſhe will take you, for ſhe is a guid
ſervant, beith out an’ in. Ye may gang there upo'
Friday at four in the afternin: its a very happy time
to court a wife.
Willie. Well, mither, l will gang there upo’ Fri-
day, but ſat will I ſay till her?
Mither I’ll tell thee man ſat to ſay, tell her that
ye are fair needin a wife, an’ that ye lo’e her better
nor ony ither laſs; an’ than ye may tak her head in
your oxter, an clap her cheeks, an’ than gle her a bit
kiſs: an’ gin ſhe dinna like ye, ſhe will ha’d her head
far awa’: bat gin ſhe lo’e ye, ſhe will meet ye ha’f
way wi’ her mou’: an’ if ſhe di that, for my bleſſing
Willie, lae the kiſſes thick upo’ her, thick and mony
ſauld, ſhe will lo’e you the better!
Willie. Bat mither, i dinna ken how I wad like
to ſleep wi’her I the night-time. I never ſleepſt wi'
a woman a’ my days, an its hard to be bound till a
biſneſs aſore a body get a trial o’t!
Mither Indeed, Willie, ye may try gin ſhe'll lat
ye ſleep a night wi’ her, before, it's the far ſhurreſt
way , but ſan ye gang to court, dinna tell nae body
but herſel, get a quiet word o’ her in the barn, or
the ſtabie.
But the morn being Friday, aſſ ſets Willie to the
courting, wi’ a’ his blaws on, wi’ a laug coat, an’ a
