Jess says he's juist like a man ay at the cross-roads, an' no sure o' his wy.

But the stock has words, an' no ilka body has that." "If I was bidden to put Tammas's gift in a word," said T'nowhead, "I would say 'at he had a wy.

That's what I would say." "Weel, I suppose I have," Tammas admitted, "but, wy or no wy, I couldna put a point on my words if it wasna for my sense o' humour.

Lads, humour's what gies the nip to speakin'." "It's what maks ye a sarcesticist, Tammas," said Hendry; "but what I wonder at is yer sayin' the humorous things sae aisy like.

Some says ye mak them up aforehand, but I ken that's no true." "No only is't no true," said Tammas, "but it couldna be true.