"I never kent nae Geogehans in Thrums." "Weel, it's forty-one years syne come Michaelmas," said Jess.
"Hoo do ye ken ?" "I ken fine.

Ye mind his father had been lickin' 'im, an' he ran awa in a passion, cryin' oot 'at he would never come back?
Ay, then, he had a pair o' boots on at the time, an' his father ran after 'im an' took them aff 'im.

The boots was the last 'at Davie Mearns made, an' it's fully ane-an-forty years since Davie fell ower the quarry on the day o' the hill-market.

That settles't.

Ay, an' Jeames 'll be turned fifty noo, for he was comin' on for ten year auld at that time.