to pay her stock and annual. So I went to the barn and lay till next morning about chapman's rising time, when the pottage was ready, and then gives the wife a fine cotton lace and a few pins, which pleased her so well, that she went thro' the cogs and collected about a mutchkin of pottage for me, for which I thanked her: A wat well lad, said she, an ye be coming by any time, ye's be welcome to a night o' our barn, frae ye hae na steal'd naething; thanks to you goodwife, said I, that's very fair fair. Indeed lad it's no every ane we'll trust wi' our new barn, farfore sud we? O goodwife it wad be a great thief that wad rin awa wi' a barn on his back; I wonder ye let it stand out all night; Hute awa' ye daft body, how can we get it in, ke awa chapman, yere joking me now. I then took a turn round the country for two weeks, and then came back to be avenged on the naughty wife and her sowens. It being very dark or I came in, the goodwife did not know me, but made her speech as follows: Indeed, ye'se no be here; for there is so mony thieves and robbers gawn athort the kintry, and our goodman's no at hame; art thou honest enough? I can want naething o' my honesty, goodwife; but did ye ever see any people gawn thro' the kintry telling they were thieves? Na, a wat well no, said she: then said I, I'm sure I did not take away your barn on my back the last time I was here, Yea lad, said she, are ye the chapman that cracket sae well to our goodman? come in by, ye’se get a night o' the barn yet; Thanks to you goodwife, an we sud get nae mair. I then being preferred to my old seat, and got the sowens to steer, until they were near ready, when the goodwife ordered the lad to take the old blankets, and shew me to my bed in the barn; I then gave the sowens the last turn, and having about
