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at a cow's stake, and what other place would you want to ken about? but said he, did he not tye you to the cow's stake? No, said she, I did not need any tying; and how far was between the byre and the house? Just but and ben, up and down twa staps of a stane stair: Then says the priest why did you not cry to the folks in the house? indeed sir, says she, I could not get cried for the laughing at it.
A soldier being on a forlough from the north of Scotland, having got no breakfast, fell very hungry by the way and no alehouse being near, came in to a farmer's house, and wished them to sell him some bread, or any kind of victuals; to whch the surly goodwife replied, she never sold any bread, and was not going to begin with him, he had, but three miles and a bittock to an alehouse, and he night walk on, as she did fair enough when she gied bits of bread for naething to beggars, tho' she gied nane to idle soldiers, he had naething to do there awa'. Hout, said the goodman, gie'm a ladlefu' o' our kail, he's been somebody's bairn
