Whyles cookit underneath the braes,P Amang the brachens, on the brae Poor Leezie's heart maist lap the hool ;* Out-owre the lugs she plumpit, Wi' a plunge that night. In order, on the clean hearth-stane, Because he gat the toomdisha thrice, In wrath that night. Wi' merry sangs, an' friendly cracks,b Their sports were cheap an' cheery. o Appeared and disappeared by fits. 9 Fern. p Declivity or precipice. A young cow running at large, not housed. s To roar, or bellow. t Leaped out of her skin. r Over head and ears. w Missed a foot. u Lark. y Take three dishes: put clean water in one, foul water in another, leave the third empty: blindfold a person, and lead him to the hearth where the dishes are ranged: he (or she) dips the left hand if by chance in the clean water, the future husband or wife will come to the bar of matrimony a maid: if in the foul a widow if in the empty dish, it foretells with equal certainty, no marriage at all. It is repeated three times; and every time the arrangement of the dishes is altered. 2 The year 1715. a Empty dish. b To converse. 'Till butter'd so'nsd wi' fragrant lunt, Fu' blythe that night. SCOTCH DRINK. Gie him strong drink until he wink, An' liquor guid to fire his bluid, Till he forgets his loves or debts, Solomon's Proverbs, xxxi. 6, 7. LET other poets raise a fracas 'Bout vines, an' wines, an' drunken Bacchus, An' crabbit names an' stories wrack us, An' grate our lug, I sing the juice Scots bear can mak us, O thou, my Muse! guid auld Scotch drink, To sing thy name! Let husky Wheat the haughs adorn ; Leeze me on thee, John Barieycorn, Thou king o' grain! d Sowens-oatmeal made into a kind of pudding. This is always the Halloween supper. f Mouths. g Stirring. e Smoke of tobacco. h Then. i Spirituous liquor. Qn thee aft Scotland chows her cood, Wi' kail an' beef; But when thou pours thy strong heart's blood, There thou shines chief. Food fills the wame,m an' keeps us livin'; The wheels o' life gae down hill, scrievin', Thou clears the head o'doitedP Lear;9 Thou even brightens dark Despair Aft clad in massy siller weed, His wee drap parritch, or his bread, Thou art the life o' public haunts; * Flexible bread; i. e. Bannocks made of barley meal, &c. which when baked are so flexible as to admit of being easily rolled together. The choice. n Grieving. m The belly. o Swiftly. p Stupified, fatigued with study. 9 Learning, knowledge. r Silver dress; alluding to the silver cups and tankards used at the tables of the gentry. s Ale is here intended, a small portion of which is frequently mixed with the porridge of the poorer sort of people. ! Gives a relish to. u Without. Ev'n godly meetings o' the saunts, When gaping they besiege the tents, That merry night we get the corn in, An' just a wee drap sp'ritual burn in, When Vulcan gies his bellows breath, Then Burnewinf comes on like death Nae mercy then for airnh or steel; When skirlin' weaniesm see the light, Nae howdiep gets a social night, When neebors anger at a plea, An' just as wud as wud can be, w Foams. A wooden cup or dish. y A small quantity of spirits burnt in a spoon, and put into the 2 Tasteful. ale. Tackle, geer. a Sugar. c To make a hissing noise. d Froth. e A cup with a handle. J Burn-the-wind-the blacksmith. g Stroke. h Iron. i Bony. k The smith's large hammer. ¿ Anvil. m Crying children. n Tell id e stories. • Ninnies. p A midwife. 9 Mad. How easy can the barley bree It's aye the cheapest lawyer's fee, Alake! that e'er my Muse has reason An' hardly, in a winter's season Wae worth that brandy, burning trash! An' sends, beside, auld Scotland's cash Ye Scots wha wish auld Scotland well, Wi' bitter dearthfu' wines to mell,b May gravels round his blether wrench, Out-owre a glass o' whisky punch O Whisky soul o' plays an' pranks! r Juice. $ To blame. 1 Weasand. w Sudden illness. r Parts, deprives. ? A fellow who knows neither how to act propriety. a Pennyless. c The phiz. |
