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But Maggy grew better the next day and was able to muck the byre; ⟨yet⟩ there gaed sic a tittle tatlin ⟨through⟩ the town every auld wife tell'd ⟨anither⟩ o't, and a' the light-hippet hissies ⟨that⟩ rins between towns at e'en tugging ⟨a'⟩ their tow rocks, spread it round ⟨the⟩ kintra, and everybody's mouth ⟨was⟩ filled wi' Jockey and Jenny and how Maggy had parted wi' a bairn.
At last Mess John Hill hears of the foul fact, and sends the Elder of that quarter, and Clinkum-Bell, the grave maker to summon Jockey and Jenny, to the Sessions, and see how the stool of repentance wad set them. No sooner had they entered the door but Maggy fa's a greeting and wringing her hands, Jockey's mither fell a-flyting, and he himself a-rubbing his lugs, and riving his hair, crying out, O gin I were but half an ell higher, I sud be a sodger or it be lang; gie me a guid flail or a corn fork, I wud kill Russians anew, before I gaed to face yon flyting Ministers and be set up like a warld's wonder, on their cock-stool, or back stool; and
