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that I saw, nor ony body else, to bid us do ae thing or anither; we lo'ed ither unco well for a lang time before that, and syne we tell'd ither an agreed to marry ither like honest folk; then might na we learn to do the thing married folk do, without the devil helping us.
Whisht, whisht, cried they, ye should be scourg'd, false loon be quiet, ye're speaking nonsense.
Jan. De de'l's in the carles, for you and your ministers is liars, when ye say it is the de'il it was helping Sandy and me to get a bairn.
Come come said they pay down the kirk dues, and come back to the stool the morn; the price is four pund, and a groat to the bell-man.
Jan. The auld thief speed the darth o'r sir, far less might sair you and your bell-man baith. O but this be a warid indeed, when poor honest folks maun pay for makin' use of their own a—. Ye misca' the poor de'il a hint his back, an' gi'es him de wyte o' a' the ill in the kintry, bastard burns and every thing, and if it be as ye say ye may thank de de'il for that four pund and a grout I have given ye, that gars your pot play brown, and gets you jockey coats, pun-handed sarks, and white headed staves, when my father's pot wallops up rough bear and blue water.
The woman is mad said they, for this money is all given to the poor of the parish.
