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A collection of ancient and modern Scottish ballads, etc

A collection of ancient and modern Scottish ballads, etc

A collection of ancient and modern Scottish ballads, etc

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376<br />

; ; :<br />

Frae the big stack, weel wmnow't on the hill^<br />

Wi' divots theekit frae the weet <strong>and</strong> drift.<br />

Sods, peats, <strong>and</strong> heathery trufs the chimley fill.<br />

And gar their thickening smeek salute the lift.<br />

The gudeman, new come hame, is blithe to find.<br />

Whan he out-owre the hallan flings his een.<br />

That ilka turn is h<strong>and</strong>led to his mind ;<br />

That a' his housie looks sae cosh <strong>and</strong> clean<br />

For cleanly house lo'es he, tho' e'er sae mean.<br />

Weel kens the gudewife, that the ploughs reqviire<br />

A heartsome meltith, <strong>and</strong> refreshin synd<br />

O* nappy liquor, owre a bleezin fire<br />

Sair wark <strong>and</strong> poortith downa weelbe join'd.<br />

Wi* butter'd bannocks now the girdle reeks<br />

I* the far nook the bowie briskly reams<br />

The readied kail st<strong>and</strong>s by the chimley cheeks.<br />

And h<strong>and</strong> the riggin het wi' welcome streams^^<br />

Whilk than the daintiest kitchen nicer seems^.<br />

Frae this, lat gentler gabs a lesson lear:<br />

Wad they to labouring lend an eident h<strong>and</strong>.<br />

They'd rax fell Strang upo' the simplest fare.<br />

Nor find their stamacks ever at a st<strong>and</strong>.<br />

Fu' hale <strong>and</strong> healthy wad they pass the day ;<br />

At night, in calmest slumbers dose fu' sound ;:<br />

Nor doctor need their weary life to spae,.<br />

Nor drogs their noddle <strong>and</strong> their sense confound.<br />

Till death slip sleely on,<strong>and</strong> gi'e the hindmost woittidi<br />

On sicken food has mony a doughty deed<br />

By Caledonia's ancestors been done<br />

By this did mony a wight fu weirlike bleed<br />

In brulzies frae the dawn to set o' sun.<br />

;<br />

;

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