with critical observations and biographical notices, by Robert Burns

176
But had I nine dathers, as I hae but three,
The safest and soundest advice I cud gee,
Is that they frae spinning wad keep their hands freej^
For fear of a bad beginning o't.
Yet in spite of my counsel if they will needs run
The drearysome risk of the spinning o't,
Let them seek out a lythe in the heat of the sub,
And there venture o' the beginning o't
But to do as I did, alas, and awow !
To busk up a rock at the cheek of the low,
Says, that I had but little wit in my pow,.
And as little ado with the spinning o't.
But yet after a', there is ae thing that grieves
My heart to think o' the beginning o't.
Had 1 won the length but of ae pair o' sleeves,
Then there had been word o' the spinning ^^'t
This I wad ha' washen an' bleech'd like the snawj,
And o' my twa gardies like moggans wad draw,
An' then fouk wad say, that auld Girzy was bra',
An' a' was upon her ain spinning o't.
But gin I wad shog about till a new spring,
I should yet hae a bout of the spinning o't,,
A mutchkin of linseed I'd i' the yerd flings
For a' the wan chansie beginning o't.