But there was no end to Tammie's tongue.
"Weel," said he, "speaking o' the brig, I'll tell you a gude story about that.

Auld Jamie Bowie, the potato merchant, that lived at the Gate-end, had a horse and cart that met wi' an accident just at the turn o' the corner yonder; and up cam a chield sair forfaughten, and a' out of breath, to Jamie's door, crying like the prophet Jeremiah to the auld Jews, 'Rin, rin away doun to the Cow Brig; for your cart's dung to shivers, and the driver's killed, as weel as the horse!' "James ran in for his hat; but, as he was coming out at the door, he met another messenger, such as came running across the plain to David, to acquaint him of the death of Absalom, crying, 'Rin away doun, Jamie, rin away doun; your cart is standing yonder, without either horse or driver; for they're baith killed!' "Jamie thanked Heaven that the cart was to the fore; then, rinning back for his stick, which he had forgotten, he stopped a moment to bid his wife not greet so loud, and was then rushing out in full birr, when he ran foul of a third chield, that mostly knocked doun the door in his hurry.

'Awfu' news, man, awfu' news,' was the way o't, with this second Eliphaz the Temanite.

'Your cart and horse ran away--and threw the driver, puir fellow, clean owre the brig into the water.

No a crunch o' him is to be seen or heard tell of; for he was a' smashed to pieces!! It's an awfu' business!' "'But where's the horse?
and where's the cart, then ?' askit Jamie, a thought brisker.