Page:History of John Cheap the chapman (1).pdf/22

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I had a perfect view of her bonny thing, as the coal fire burnt so clearly all the night; and then another arose and did the same; last of all got up the old matron, as she appeared to be, like a second handed goodwife, or a whir’d o’er maiden, six times overturned, and as she let her dam go, she also, with full force, when done, let a fart, like the blast of a trumpet, which made the ashes on the hearth-stone to fly up like dust about her buttocks, whereat I was forced to laugh out, which made her to run for it, but to smother the laughter I stapt the blankets in my mouth: she went to bed, and wakened the other two, saying, O dole ! what will I tell you? yon chapman body has seen a’ our arses the night; shame fa’ him, said they, for we had nae mind he was there. I wat weel, says one of them, I’se no rise till he be awa, but, said the auld woman, gin he has seen mine, I canna help it, it’s just like other fouk’s, an’ fin’t a hair I care. On the morning, the old matron got up first, and ordered up the house, then told me to rise now, for chapman and every body was up; then she asked me if I had an use