Oor ain folk times

A COUNTRY CHRISTENING 11
' Deed ay, it is a' that, sir, and I'm thinkin' it'll be
thicker afore I'm back hame.'
' Aweel, aweel, come awa' in and tell me what I can
do for ye,' said the minister ; ' and, Isie, jist bring in
a wee bit drappie to slocken Sandie, for I've nae cloot
he's some drouthie efter sic a lang walk.'
' Isie ' was not long in reappearing with the
' materials ' ; and after these had been in due course
sampled, Sandie came to the object of his visit.
'Ye see, meenister,' he said, a little diffidently,
'Kirsty's jist haen anither ane.'
' Bless me,' said the minister, ' anither ane 1 Is't a
laddie or a lassie this time ? '
' Oh 'deed, sir, it's a lassie ! an' a bonnie black-ee'd
bit teddie she is, na ! '
' Ay, ay, an' so ye'll be wantin' to arrange for the
christenin' nae doot 1 '
' 'Deed that's jist fat brocht me doon the Glen this
nicht,' quoth Sandie.
' Weel, weel,' said the kind-hearted minister, seeing
Sandie was still a little blate, ' jist tak' an " eik " 1
Sandie, it'll no hurt ye.'
' Eh, sirss ! but it's jist prime,' said Sandie, wanting
no second invitation. And then arrangements were
made that on ' Feursday nicht,' after the prayer meet-
ing up the Glen, the baby would be baptized. A
pleasant chat ensued, and the shepherd made for the
door. He had not got it half opened, however, before
the minister recalled him, and said —
' By the bye, Sandie, ye've no tell't me what ye're to
ca' the bit lassock.'
1 An 'eik,' an additional quantity.