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decided all disputable points, and Wise Willie and Witty Eppie were the rue of the town.
Now Eppie had a daughter, she ca'd Ugly-tail'd Nancy, because of her sickless growth; her wrist was like a cutter, wi' nae curpen for a creel; being Edinburgh bred, and brought up wi'. her Loudin aunty, she had learned to mend and sew, make coarse claiths, and fico mancoes; there was nae scholar in the town but hersel; she read the bible, the book of kirk-sangs that was newcome in fashion. Willie and Eppie I'd them ay what it meant, and said the letters in it was litted by my word, for they saw him hae a feather that he dipped in black water, and made crooked scores, just like them; and then he spoke them o'er again, and he tell'd him what to say.
It happened on a day, that two of their wives, near the town, found a horse-shoe, and brought it home, and then sent for Willie to see what it was.
