Page:Scotland's skaith, or, The sad effects of drunkenness (1).pdf/4

4 Luckless was the hour, when Willie
 * Hame returning frae the fair,

O'ertook Tam, a neighbour billie,
 * Sax miles frae their hame and mair.

Simmer's heat had lost its fury;
 * Calmly smiled the sober e'en,

Lasses on the bleachfield hurry,
 * Skelping barefit on the green:

Labour wi' laugh and clatter,
 * Canty hairst was just begun,

And on the mountain, tree, and water,
 * Glinted saft the setting sun.

Will and Tam, wi' hearts a' louping,
 * Mark't the hale, but could nae bide;

Far frae hame, nae time for stopping,—
 * Baith wished for their ane fire side.

On they travelled, warm and drouthy,
 * Cracking owre the news in town;

The mair they crack't the mair ilk youth aye
 * Prayed for drink to wash news down.

Fortune, wha but seldom listens
 * To poor Merit's modest prayer,

And on fools pours needless blessings,
 * Harkened to our drouthty pair.

In a howm, wha's bonny burnie
 * Whimpering rowed its cyrstal flood,

Near the road whar travellers turn ay,
 * Neat and bield a cot-house stood: