Page:Scotland's skaith, or, The history o' Will and Jean.pdf/4

 4 Trig her house, and oh! to busk aye Ilk sweet bairn was a' her pride! But at this time News and Whisky Sprang nae up at ilk road-side. Luckless was the hour whan Willie, Hame returning frae the fair, Ow'r-took Tam, a neebar billie, Sax miles frae their hame and mair : Simmer's heat had lost its fury: Caindy smil'd the sobor c'en; Lasses on the bleachfield hurry Skelping bare-fit owre the green ; Labour rang wi' laugh and clatter, Canty hairst was just begun, And on mountain, tree, and water, Glinted saft the setting sun. Will and Tam, wi' hearts a' lonpin', Mark'd the hale but cou'dna bide: Far frae hame nae time for stoppin'; Baith wish'd for their ain fireside. On they travell’d, warm an drouthy, Cracking owre the news in town: The mair they crack'd, the mair ilk youthy Pray'd for drink to wash news down. FORTUNE, wha but seldom listens To poor Merit's modest pray'r, And on fools heaps neodless blessin's, Harken'd to our drouthy pair,