And after a', the bleir-ein'd bell-man came bladdering about the buttock-mail, ſummoned him and her before the hally-band, a court that held in the kirk on Saturday morning, and a' the bred ladies round about, cried, Ay, ay, Sandy, pay the bill-ſiller, or we'll cut the cow's tail awa', ſo poor Sandy ſuffered ſadly in the fleſh, beſides the penalty and kirk-penance.
But Wife Willy had pity upon them, and gade wi' them to the kirk-court, what learned folks call the ſeſſion, Jenny was firſt called upon, and in ſhe goes where all the hally-baod were conveened, elders and youngers, deacons, and dog-payers keeping the door, the cankerdeſt Carles that could be gotten between Dyſart and Dubby-ſide, white heads and bald heads ſitting wanting bonnets, wi' their white headed ſtaves and hodden-grey jockey- coats about them.
Meſs Jolin ſays, Come away Janet, we're a waiting on you here.
Min.) Now Janet, where was this child gotten? you muſt tell plainly.
Jan. A deed ſtir, it was gotten amang the black Canes, at the cheek o' the crab holes.
Meſs John ſtares at her, not knowing the place but ſome of the elders did ; then ſaid he, O Janet, but the de'il was buſy with you at that time.
Jan. A by my figs ſtir, that's a great lie ye're telling now, for the de'il waſna thereabout, it I ſaw, nor nae body elſe, to bid us do either ae thing or anither, we loo'd ither unco' weel for a lang time before that, and ſyne we tell'd ither, and greed to marry ither like ither honeſt ſouk, than mightna we learn to do the thing married ſoul. does, without the de'il helping us.
Whiſt, whiſt, cried they, you ſhould be ſcurged, fruſe loon quean it thou is, ye're ſpeaking nonſenſe.
