Violet Jacob > Flemington

A COACH-AND-FIVE
4i
“ The laddie saw the tod gae by, an’ killed him wi’ a stane,
And the bonnie lass wha grat sae sair she sits nae mair her
lane,
But the guidwife’s no contented yet—her like ye never saw,
Cries she, ‘ This time it is the lass, an’ she’s awa’!’
Aye, yon laddie’s waur nor ony tod, for Jean’s awa’ I”
Archie beat the top rail of the paling with so
much enthusiasm that the yellow cur began to
bark. The beggar quieted him with a storm of
abuse.
The beldame disappeared from the window, and
her steps could be heard descending the wooden
stair of the cottage. She approached the cart with
a handful of meal on a platter which Skirling
Wattie tilted into an old leather bag that hung on
his carriage.
“ Whaur’s the bawbee ?” cried the squinting
child.
A shout of laughter went up, led by Archie.
“ He kens there’s nae muckle weicht o’ meal,
and wha’ should ken it better ?” said the beggar,
balancing the bag on his palm and winking at the
miller’s man.
The latter, who happened to be the child’s
unacknowledged parent, disappeared behind the
house.
“ One more song, and I will supply the bawbee,”
said Archie, throwing another coin into the cart.
Skirling Wattie sent a considering glance at his
patron; though he might not understand refine¬
ment, he could recognize it; and much of his local
success had come from his nice appraisement of
audiences.