man's business, such as the _mool-brod_, but this also is refused;
another, perhaps, gives the _sock_, another the _stilts_, another the
_spattle_, another the _naigs_, another the _naig-graith_, and so on;
until one gives the _soam_, which was the article he most wanted, and
was the thing secretly told to one, and is the thing that throws the
giver in a _wadd_, out of which he is relieved in the following
manner:--

The ploughman says to the one in the _wadd_, "Whether will ye hae three
questions and twa commands, or three commands and twa questions, to
answer or gang on wi', sae that ye may win oot o' the _wadd_?" For the
one so fixed has always the choice which of these alternatives to take.
Suppose he takes the first, two commands and three questions, then a
specimen of these may run so:--

"I command ye to kiss the _crook_," says the ploughman, which must be
completely obeyed by the one in the _wadd_--his naked lips must salute
the _sooty_ implement.

"Secondly," saith the ploughman, "I command ye to stand up in that neuk,
and say--

'Here stan' I, as stiffs a stake,
Wha'll kiss me for pity's sake?'"

Which must also be done; in a corner of the house must he stand and
repeat that couplet, till some tender-hearted lass relieves him. Now for
the questions which are most deeply laid, or so _touching_ to him, that
he finds much difficulty to answer them.

"Firstly, then, Suppose ye were sittin' aside Maggie Lowden and Jennie
Logan, your twa great sweethearts, what ane o'm wad ye ding ower, and
what ane wad ye turn to and clap and cuddle?" He makes answer by
choosing Maggie Lowden, perhaps, to the great mirth of the party.

"Secondly, then, Suppose you were standin' oot i' the cauld, on the tap
o' Cairnhattie, whether wad ye cry on Peggie Kirtle or Nell o'
Killimingie to come wi' your plaid?"

He answers again in a similar manner.

"Lastly, then, Suppose you were in a boat wi' Tibbie Tait, Mary Kairnie,
Sallie Snadrap, and Kate o' Minnieive, and it was to cowp wi' ye, what
ane o'm wad ye _sink_? what ane wad ye _soom_? wha wad ye bring to lan'?
and wha wad ye marry?" Then he answers again, to the fun of the
company, perhaps, in this way, "I wad sink Mary Kairnie, soom Tibbie
Tait, bring Sallie Snadrap aneath my oxter to lan', and marry sweet Kate
o' Minnieive."

And so ends that bout at the _wadds and the wears_.

* * * * *

But the games engaged in exclusively by the "