5
he, 'the house will stand these hundred
years.' Leper knowing they were both in,
comes and plays the same trick over again,
which also frightened the goodman so much,
that he cried out----'run Maggy, run, for
my heart plays pitty patty.' And they
would not lodge in the house any more, till
the masons convinced them of its suffi-
ciency.
There was another neighbour who had a
snarling cur dog, which bit Leper's leg ;
Leper resolved to be revenged on the dog,
and so one night he catches the dog, and
carries him to the kirk where the rope of the
bell hung on the outside, so with his garter
he tied the dog's fore foot to the rope, and
left him hanging; the dog strugling to get
free set the bell a ringing, which alarmed
the whole village, every one cried out won-
derful fire! wonderful fire! the devil is ring-
ing the bell.'. When they saw the black
colly hang at the rope, I trow it set the
minister and all the people to their prayers:
but Leper fearing he would be detected by
his garter, came to the minister's side, and
asked the reverend gentleman what was the
matter; indeed my bairn, said he, 'tis the
deil ringing the kirk bell; says Leper, I'll
go and see him, for I never saw the devil;
the minister cried stop the mad laddie, but
Leper ran and loosed the dog, crying it's
