United States or Tanzania ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
"Hoots!" said the woman, "dinna speyk that gait, sir. It's no wice-like. Tak a dram, an' tak hert, an' dinna fling the calf efter the coo. Whaur's yer boatle, sir?" John paid no heed to her suggestion, but Jean took it up. "The boatle's whaur ye s' no lay han' upo' 't," she said.
"Fowk 'at's been ill-guidit, no kennin' whaur their help lies, whiles taks to the boatle. But this is but a day o' punishment, no a day o' judgment yet, an' I'm thinkin' the warst's near han' ower. Gien only Gibbie war here!" Jean left the room, shaking her head, and Janet stood alone at the window as before. A hand was laid on her arm. She looked up.
"Gibbie," he said, solemnly, "never ye drink a drap o' whusky. Never ye rax oot the han' to the boatle. Never ye drink anything but watter, caller watter, my man." As he said the words, he stretched out his own hand to the mug, lifted it to his lips, and swallowed a great gulp. "Dinna do't, I tell ye, Gibbie," he repeated. Gibbie shook his head with positive repudiation.
If Thomas was right in this, then certainly he himself was one of his offspring. If he was wrong, then there was much well worth his unlearning. The prayer was soon over, and the company again seated themselves, waiting till the coffin should be placed in the hearse, which now stood at the door. "We'll jist draw the cork o' anither boatle," whispered a sharp-faced man to his neighbour.
He paused, stretched down his hand to the floor, lifted the mug, and drank a huge mouthful; then with a cough that sounded apologetic, set it down, and recommenced: "O Lord, I doobt there's nae houp for me, for the verra river o' the watter o' life wadna be guid to me wantin' a drap frae the boatle intil 't. It's the w'y wi' a' hiz 'at drinks.
"I'll tak but this ae mou'fu' mair," she said to herself; "it's but a mou'fu', an' it's the last i' the boatle, an' it wad be a peety naebody to get the guid o' 't." She poured it out. It was nearly half a glass. She took it in one large mouthful.
But noo, as 'tis, I'm awa' hame to the whusky boatle, an' the sin o' 't, gien there be ony in sic a nicht o' cauld an' fog, 'ill jist lie at your door." "You shall have a plate of soup, and welcome, Mistress Croale!" said the minister, in a rather stagey tone of hospitality " Jane, take Mistress Croale to the kitchen with you, and " "The deil's tail i' yer soup!
It was easy therefore for Gibbie to impart to Donal his anxiety concerning her, and his strong desire to help her, and doing so, he lamented in a gentle way his present inability. This communication Donal judged it wise to impart in his turn to Mistress Croale. "Ye see, mem," he said in conclusion, "he's some w'y or anither gotten 't intil's heid 'at ye're jist a wheen ower free wi' the boatle.
Word Of The Day