Page:Four funny tales.pdf/6



garter, which a babe had ſtrangled, A knife, a father's throat had mangled, Whom his ain ſon o life bereſt, The grey hairs yet Back to the heſt: Wi' mair o' horrible and a wefu', Which ev'n to name wad be unlawfu',

As Tammie glowr'd, amaz'd, and curious, The mirth and fun grew faſt and furious: The piper loud and louder blew: The dancers quick and quicker flew; They reelid, they ſet, they croſs'd, they cleekit, Till ilka carlin ſwat and reekit, And cooſt her duddies to the wark, And linket at it in her fark

Now Tam, o Tam! had thae been queans, A' plump and ſtrappin in their teens, Their ſarks, inſtead o creeſhie ſlannen, Been ſnaw-white ſeventeen hunder linen! Thir breeks o' mine, my only pair, Thatance were pluſh, o'gude blue hair, I wad hae gi'en them off my hurdies, Tor ae blink o'the bonne burdies!

But wither'd beldams, auld and droll, Rigwoodie hags-wad ſpean a foal, Lowping and flinging on a crummock, I wonder didna turn thy ſtomach.

But Tam kend what was what fu' brawlie, There was ae winſome wench and wawlie, That night enliſted in the core, (Lang after kend on Carrick ſhore; For mony a beaſt to dead the ſhot, And periſh'd mong a bonnie boat, And ſhook baith meikle corn and bear, And kept the country ſide in fear); Her cutty ſark, o' Paiſley harn, That while a laſſie ſhe had worn, In longitude tho' ſorely ſcanty,