Border Farmer

A BORDER farmer, whose practical mind soared above a taste for things beautiful, had the good or bad fortune to marry a wife who brought with her a wooden substitute for one of her nether limbs. On being remonstrated with on the exercise of his choice, John answered his questioner in a manner that showed he had the shrewd utilitarian character of a Scotchman. “Hech, sir,” said he, “it’s may be no’ a vera bonnie thing to marry a woman wi’ a wudden leg; but, man, she’ll be awfu’ usefu’ at settin’ time, when I’m a puttin’ doon my cabbage, neeps, or tatties. She can gang in front an’ mak’ a hole wi’ her stump, while I come ahint and put in the seed.”