You are a stranger,
it is true, but them that winna entertain a stranger will never
entertain an angel unawares."
I never was apt to be taken with the simplicity of nature; in
general I despised it; but, owing to my circumstances at the time,
I was deeply affected by the manner of this poor woman's
welcome. The weaver continued in a churlish mood throughout
the evening, apparently dissatisfied with what his wife had done
in entertaining me, and spoke to her in a manner so crusty that I
thought proper to rebuke him, for the woman was comely in her
person, and virtuous in her conversation; but the weaver, her
husband, was large of make, ill-favoured, and pestilent; therefore
did I take him severely to task for the tenor of his conduct; but the
man was froward, and answered me rudely with sneering and
derision and, in the height of his caprice, he said to his wife:
"Whan focks are sae keen of a chance o' entertaining angels,
gude-wife, it wad maybe be worth their while to tak tent what
kind o' angels they are. It wadna wonder me vera muckle an ye
had entertained your friend the Deil the night, for aw thought aw
fand a saur o' reek an' brimstane about him.
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