Each guest was obliged to empty
this at his departure. If the guest's name was Scott, the necessity was
doubly imperative.
When the landlord of an inn presented his guests with DEOCH AN DORUIS,
that is, the drink at the door, or the stirrup-cup, the draught was not
charged in the reckoning. On this point a learned Bailie of the town of
Forfar pronounced a very sound judgement.
A., an ale-wife in Forfar, had brewed her 'peck of malt,' and set the
liquor out of doors to cool; the cow of B., a neighbour of A. chanced
to come by, and seeing the good beverage, was allured to taste it, and
finally to drink it up. When A. came to take in her liquor, she found
the tub empty, and from the cow's staggering and staring, so as to
betray her intemperance, she easily divined the mode in which her
'brewst' had disappeared. To take vengeance on Crummie's ribs with a
stick, was her first effort. The roaring of the cow brought B., her
master, who remonstrated with his angry neighbour, and received in reply
a demand for the value of the ale which Crummie had drunk up. B. refused
payment, and was conveyed before C., the Bailie, or sitting Magistrate.
He heard the case patiently; and then demanded of the plaintiff A.
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