Page:North country lass.pdf/6



N Scotland there lived a humble beggar,

He had neither house, nor hauld, nor hame,

But he was well liked by ilka bodie,

And they gae him sunkets to rax his wame.

A nivesow of meal, and a handsow of groats,

A dad of bannock or herring brie,

Cauld paradge, or the lickings of plates,

Wad make him blythe as a beggar could be.

This beggar he was a humble beggar,

The feint a bit of pride had he,

He wad ta’en his a’ms in a bikker,

Frae gentlemen, or poor bodie.

His wallets ahint and afore did hang,

In as good order as wallets could be,

A lang kail-gully hang down by his side.

And a meikle nout horn to rout on had he.

It happen’d ill, it happen’d warse,

It happen’d fae, that he did die,

And wha do ye think was at his late-wake,

But lads and lasses of high degree.

Some were blythe, and some were sad.

And some they play’d at Blind Harrie,

But suddenly up started the auld carle,

I redd ye good folks tak tent o’ me.

Up gat Kate that fat i’ the nook,

Vow kimmer, and how do ye;

Up he gat, and ca’d her a limmer,

And ruggit and tuggit her cockernonie.

They houkit his grave in Duket’s kirk-yard,

E’en far frae the companie;

But when they were gaun to lay him i’ the yird,

The feint a dead nor dead was he.