21
take the devil with him. So home he went, but never was employed by that wife any more. (illegible text) Leper had a deal of the best customers, both in town and country ; So one tine le lad occasion go to the parish of Inchinan to male a wedding. suit for a gentleman. After they were finished, he asked drink-money to his lads, which the gentle- man-refused. Leper resolved to be even with him ; so he goes up to the hay-loft, where the groom slept, and takes his stockings, breeches, and jacket, news them altogether, and stuffs them full of hay, makes a head, puts a rope about the neck, and hangs it on a tree opposite to the laird's window; then goes to the laird, and tells him that his groom had hanged himself, and that if he would open his window, he would see him hanging ; the laird, struck with astonishment, knew not what to do. Leper advised him to bury him privately. The Baird said he had not a servant le could trust, so begged of Leper to do it. Ieper refuses, till the aird promised him a load of meal; then Leper bulls the hay out of the 'groom's clothes, goes und gets his load of meal, and sends it to Glasgow, then goes to the groom, and says kastily, Lad, thy master is wanting thee, so the lad runs in a haste to see what his master wanted : the saird no sooner saw him opening the door, than je cry'd out, 'Avoid thee, Satan, avoid thee, Satan; the lad says, ' What the matter, sir? What's the matter? ' Did not you hang yourself this mor- ning ?' ' Lord forbid, said the lad. The laird
