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mony a year. She's ay contentit, poor body, an' thankfu', whether I hae little to gie her or muckle. This life's naething but a fight, Johnie, frae beginning to end."

"It's a true ye say, Tibby," said the cooper, interrupting her, for he was afraid she was going to begin on religion, a species of conversation that did not accord with John's talents or dispositions, It's a' true ye say, Tibby; but your master will soon be sic a rich man now, that we'll a' be made up, and you amang the lave will be made a lady."

"If he get his riches honestly, n' the blessing o' the almighty wi' them, John, I shall rejoice in his prosperity, but neither me nor ony ither poor body will ever be muckle the better o' them. What way is he gain to get sickan great riches? If a' be true that I hear, he is gann to the wraneg part to seek them?"

"Aha, lass, that's a' that ye ken about it. Did ye no hear that he had won the law-plea on his laird, whilk has been afore the Lords for mair than seven years? An' did ye no hear he had won ten pleas afore the courts o' Dumfries, a' rising out o' ane