"Yes, mem, I've had the sma'pox, the nirls[63], the blabs[64], the scaw[65], the kinkhost[66], and the fever, the branks[67] and the worm[68]." There is indeed a case of Scottish pronunciation which adds to the force and copiousness of our language, by discriminating four words, which, according to English speaking, are undistinguishable in mere pronunciation.

The words are--wright (a carpenter), to write (with a pen), right (the reverse of wrong), rite (a ceremony).

The four are, however, distinguished in old-fashioned Scotch pronunciation thus--1, He's a wiricht; 2, to wireete; 3, richt; 4, rite.
I can remember a peculiar Scottish phrase very commonly used, which now seems to have passed away.

I mean the expression "to let on," indicating the notice or observation of something, or of some person .-- For example, "I saw Mr .-- -- at the meeting, but I never let on that I knew he was present." A form of expression which has been a great favourite in Scotland in my recollection has much gone out of practice--I mean the frequent use of diminutives, generally adopted either as terms of endearment or of contempt.

Thus it was very common to speak of a person whom you meant rather to undervalue, as a _mannie_, a _boddie_, a _bit boddie_, or a _wee bit mannie_.