A collection of ancient and modern Scottish ballads, etc

380
THE FARMER^S HA\
%%-»'V'W'\r'VW\V'V-V^>^
[The evening occurrences and gossip of a large farm«house
are minutely described in this poem, written by Dr
Charles Keith, who has ingeniously and ably character-
ised the loquacious tailor, the garrulous kind-hearted auld
gudewife, the mirthful jeering maidens, the wheedling
pedlar, the overbearing insulting guager, '* dressed in a
little brief authority," the whining beggars, and the saga-
cious head hire-man.]
In winter nights^ wlia e'er has seen
The Farmer's canty Ha* conveenj
Finds a' thing there to please his een.
And heart enamoiu'.
Nor langs to see the town^ I ween.
That houff o' clamour.
Whan stately stacks are tightly tiieekit.
And the wide stile is fairly steekit,
Nae birkie_, sure, save he were streekit
For his lang hame^
But wad gi'e niair for ae short week o't
Tlian I call name.