Page:Four funny tales.pdf/22



'Neiſt, O!' cries Halbert, 'cou'd your ſkill But help us to a waught of ale, I'd be oblig'd t'ye a' my life, And offer to the deel my wife. To ſee if he'll diſcreeter mak' her, But that I'm feed he winna tak' her.' Said James; 'Ye offer very fair, The bargain's hadden, ſay nae mait.'

Then thrice be ſhook a willow wand, With kittle words thrice gave command; That done, with look baith learn'd and grave, Said, Now ye'll get what we wad have; Twa bottles of as nappy liquer As ever ream'd in horn or bicker, Behind the ark that hads your meal, Ye'll find twa ſtanding corkit wiel.' He ſaid, and faſt the miller flew, And frae their neſt the bottles drew: Then firſt the ſcholar's health he toaſted, Whaſe art had gart him feed on roaſted; His father's nieſt,——— and a' the reſt Of his good friends that wiſh'd him beſt, Which were o'er langſome at the time, In a ſhort tale, to put in rhyme.

Thus, while the miller and the youth Were blythly flock’ning of their drowth, Beſs, fretting, ſcarcely held frae greeting, The prieſt inclos'd, ſtood vex'd and ſweating.

'O wow!' ſaid Hab, 'if ane might ſpear, Dear Maſter James, wha brought our cheer? Sic laits appear to us fae awfu', We hardly think your learning lawfu'.

'To bring your doubts to a concluſion,' Says James, 'ken I'm a Roſicrucian; Ane of the ſet that never carries On traffic with black deels or fairies; There's mony a ſp'rit that's no a deel, That conſtantly around us wheel.