Jock Carter's Courtship. By F.S.A. Waikawa.

Otago Witness, Issue 2206, 11 June 1896, Page 52

Jock Carter's Courtship. By F. S. A. Waikawa.

Jock Carter was a decent, honest eallant, nae ne'er-do-weel. His love was a milkmaid on a farm near by. On orra nichts Jock gaed to see her. He thocht he lookit douse, and staupit to the shieling whaur his sweetheart bade as skeieh as qiiy bubblej jck. But when he vappit at the door aud heard her schauliu' bin, Jock's heart gaed thump, thump on his rib*, aad he felt wae and haugin' luggit. . . Jock had been ooartin' over 13 years, bnt for his life he daurna pap the question. He only ?at and glowered syne, rase, and gaed awa. At length a bright idea struck him, and desperate with prolongtd auxiety, Jock washed his face twice ower, put on hi 3 Sunday breeks, and tying a big red cravat round his throat aw&y he sped to m ot his doom. Margat wbb ready to receive him, and &% in day's before welcomed Jock aud did her beat to make him cheery. Jock found his tongue. He spoke of kye and byres and bakies ; penning tbe heddericks and yoking hordes ; of tatties, neeps, ai d aits, and hoo his faither'a coo had haea anither cauf ; he blawed how he had stoppit luntin to please his mither, and then ho stopped. " Margat," at length he said, wi' a meikle sough, " d'ye ken what the gude book says ? " " Aye, Jock, it say.i a wale o' things. What ane ie'fc ye are thinkin' o' ? " "It says, Marget— it says— it says ' That it's no gude for a mun to be alane.' " " Is that the truth yer teliiu' me noo, Joek — are yo shure yer no leein' ? Say 'As shure as death ! '" " Shure's death, Msrget." " Megsy mo ! Then d'ye no think ye had as weel gae awa' hamo tae yer mither ? '