set the liquor out
of doors to cool; the cow of B., a neighbour of A., chanced to come by, and
seeing the good beverage, was allured to taste it, and finally to drink it up.
When A. came to take in her liquor, she found the tub empty, and from the cow's
staggering and staring, so as to betray her intemperance, she easily divined the
mode in which her »browst« had disappeared. To take vengeance on Crummie's ribs
with a stick, was her first effort. The roaring of the cow brought B., her
master, who remonstrated with his angry neighbour, and received in reply a
demand for the value of the ale which Crummie had drunk up. B. refused payment,
and was conveyed before C., the Bailie or sitting Magistrate. He heard the case
patiently; and then demanded of the plaintiff A., whether the cow had sat down
to her potation, or taken it standing. The plantiff answered, she had not seen
the deed committed, but she supposed the cow drank the ale standing on her feet;
adding, that had she been near, she would have made her use them to some
purpose. The Bailie, on this admission, solemnly adjudged the cow's drink to be
deoch an doruis - a stirrup-cup, for which no charge could be made, without
violating the ancient hospitality of Scotland.
 
21 This has been censured as an anachronism; and it must be confessed that
agriculture of this kind was unknown to the Scotch Sixty Years since.
 
22 Suum cuique. This snatch of a ballad was composed by Andrew MacDonald, the
ingenious and unfortunate author of Vimonda.
 
23 The learned in cookery dissent from the Baron of Bradwardine, and hold the
roe-venison dry and indifferent food, unless when dressed in soup and Scotch
collops.
 
24 A bare-footed Highland lad is called a gillie-wet-foot. Gillie, in general,
means servant or attendant.
 
25 The Baron ought to have remembered that the joyous Allan literally drew his
blood from the house of the noble Earl, whom he terms
 
Dalhousie of an old descent,
My stoup, my pride, my ornament.
 
26 The story last told was said to have happened in the south of Scotland; but
cedant arma togoe - and let the gown have its dues. It was an old clergyman, who
had wisdom and firmness enough to resist the panic which seized his brethren,
who was the means of rescuing a poor insane creature from the cruel fate which
would otherwise have overtaken her.