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Kay's Originals Vol. 2

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166 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. No. CCXXIX. MARGARET SUTTIE, A HAWKER OF SALT. THIS well-known character was an native of Fisherrow. Her mother, Margaret Suttie-for neither she nor her daughter were ever married-was reputed a witch; and some of her “cantrips,” particularly her encounter with Jamie Vernon’s dog, and the manner in which she retaliated on Jamie’s cows, are still remembered and believed by many among whom the superstitions of a former age are not yet entirely eradicated. After the death of the old woman, Margaret the younger took up her residence at Niddry, half-a-mile south-east of Duddingston, and made her living, as her mother had done before her, by vending salt in Edinburgh-daily going the rounds of the city in the manner portrayed in the caricature. On leaving home in the morning, her route was directed by the Saltpans of Joppa or Pinkie, where she purchased a supply sufficient for the day. The price ‘of salt at the Pans was then thirteenpence halfpenny a peck-about seven pounds weight -which she retailed at sixpence a caup-a wooden measure one-fourth of a peck’ “ Wha’ll buy my lucky forpit oJ wat-Na, na, deil ane yet ! I J was Maggy’s usual cry, sometimes varied into a species of rhyme, as she proceeded along the streets. By lucky she meant good measure; and when questioned as to her reason for repeating the words-“Na, na, deil ane yet “-her reply was, that she always experienced mist luck on the days she used them, Whatever happened to be passing in her mind found unconscious utterance from her lips ; and she was frequently followed by the youngsters, who were amused by her singular ejaculations. One day, while plying her vocation in the Cowgate, an extremely corpulent gentleman of ‘‘ the ‘cloth ” happened to be wending his way a short distance ahead. His waddling gait, and excessive breadth, immediately attracted the notice of Maggy. “Eh, but he’s fat-see how he shugs I-Wha’ll buy my lucky forpit oJ sa-adsee how he shugs ! ” In this way she continued to sing her cry, much to the amusement of the bystanders, until the fat man in black had fairly waddled out of her sight. In consequence of the repeal of the duty on salt, old Maggy’s occupation ceased, and with it the cry of Wha’ll buy sa-at ”-which used to be a source of great annoyance to the inhabitants. It is somewhat remarkable that this Margaret had an inveterate habit of talking aloud. The one end of the meamre wm a forpit ; the other, half a forpit.
Volume 9 Page 223
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