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had but three miles and a bittock to an ale-house, and he might march on; and she did well enough when she gied bits of bread for naething to beggars, tho’ she gied nane to idle Sodgers, he had naething to do there-awa’. Hout, said the good-man, gie him a ladle-fu’ o’ our kail, he’s been ay somebody’s bairn before he was a fodger. What! said she, there’s not a drop in the pot, they’re a' in the plate before you. Then, said the goodman, gie him a spoon, and let him sup wi’ us. The Soldier gets a spoon, and thinking he could sup all he saw himself, the first soup he put in his mouth, he spouted it back again in the plate, and cries out, O my sore mouth! the hide’ all off it yet, since I had the clap: Then ever one threw down his spoon, and the Soldier got all to sup himself: The wife stood cursing and scolding all the while, and when he was d ne, burnt both plate and spoon in the fire, to prevent the clap.—So the Soldier came off with a full belly, leaving the wife dressing the goodman’s rigging with a four-footed stool, for bidding him sup with them.
FINIS.
