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pair of gun-mouth’d breeks o’ his father’s, gaun as
proud as ony baillie; and at laſt he comes to the
houſe where his ſweet heart liv’d; in he goes, and
ſaid, Where is Beſſy Gibb? Indeed, ſays the good-
wife ſhe’s awa’ frae hame, ye may look gin ye ſee
her coming in the hill-ſide.
Out gangs Willie, to look for his ſweet-heart, and
ſees her at a diſtance; he rins and meets her, and
cries Fu are ye, Beſſy? I thank ye, Willie, ſaid ſhe;
are ye braw an weel yourſel? Right weel, ſaid Wil-
lie: but I maun ſpeak a word to’ye!
Beſſy Well. Willie, what wad ye ſay, man?
Willie. Go into this auld ſheep-cot, an’ I’ll tell
you: So in they go: Now, ſays Willie, I am in
great need of a wife, an’ I came to you firſt, to ſee
if you will tak me for my mither is grown auld, an’
I canna want a wife langer.
Beſſy Indeed, Willie, I’m rather young to marry
yet, but I ſal think about it afterwards: but I canna
bide langer at this time, my miſtreſs will be angry
at me for biding it’s near late.
Willie Well than, I maun hae a bit kiſs, for I
like yon far better nor ony ither laſs that ever I ſaw,
and my mither likes you, ye are ſic a good ſervant.
Beſſy Indeed Willy, ye need not want a kiſs at
ony time but I canna bide langer. I'll ſee ye at an-
ither time.
Juſt ſo, ſaid Willie: and home he comes, ſing-
ing like a mevis: Open the door, ſaid Willie; I
truth I ha’e gained the victory on her now, mither,
ſhe never had power to ſay me no.
Mither. Dear Willie, ye hae bidden late, man, I
thought Waterkelpy or our guid neipers had oung
you o’er in a moſs-pot an’ drown’d you.
Willie Indeed no mither; But ſat like is Water-
kelpy i I widna ken him, tho’ I ſaw him
Mither Indeed Willie, he’s a muckle auld thief,
ſometimes like a duddy beggar man and ſometimes
like an auld horſe, an’ his face is as black’s our muckle
pot bottom: But deed, Willie, I’m glad ye ſped ſae
well; but ye maun gang back gin twa days, and ſee
