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PART III.
Aff he goes to the Minister, and owns a' his faut to him and Mess John desired him to appear before the congregation the next Sabbath to be rebuked for his fau't.
Jock. Indeed, sir, I wad think naething to stan' a time or twa on the black stool, to please you, if there were naebody in the kirk, on a ouke day, but you and the elders to flyte ⟨a⟩ wee on me; but 'tis waur on a Sunday to have a' bodies looking and langhing at me, as I had been codding the ⟨pease⟩ sipping the kirn, or something that's no bonny.
Min. Aweel John, never mind you these things but come ye to the stool it's nothing when it is over, we cannot say o'or muckle to you about it.
On Sunday thereafter, John comes with Uncle Rabby's auld wide eoat, a muekle grey lang-tailed wig, and a big bonnet, which covered his faee, so that he scemed more, like an old pilgrim than a young fornicator! mounts the creepy wi' a stiff back, as he had been a man of sixty.
Every one looked at him, thinking he was some old stranger, who knew not the stool of repentanee by another seat, unknown but to very few; yet, or the seeond it became to be well known, that the whole parish and many more, came to see him whieh eaused such a eonfusion, that he was absolved, and got his children baptized the next day,—but there happened a tullie between the twa mothers' who would would have both their names to be John. A-weel says auld John their father to the minister, A-deed, sir, ye maun ca' the tane John and the tither Jock, and that will please baith these enemies of mankind.
Minister. Now John, you must never kiss another woman, but your own wife; live justly, like another honest man, and you will come to die well.
Jock. A black end on me, sir, if ever I lay wi' another woman, as lang as our Maggy lasts; and for dying, there's nae fear of that, or I'll no get fair play, if ye and a' the aulder folk in the parish be not dead before me. So I hae done wi' you now, fareweel, sir.
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