Page:Scotland's skaith, or, The sad effects of drunkenness (2).pdf/6



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Hout, quo Tam, what's a' the hurry? Hame's now scarce a mile of gate— Come, sit down, Jean winna wearie; Hout, I'm sure its no sae late.

Will, owrecome wi Tam’s oration, Baith fell to and ate their fill; Tam, quo Will, in mere discretion, We maun hae the widow's gill.

After ae gill cam anither— Meg sat cracking 'tween them twa; Bang cam in Mat Smith and's brither, Geordie Brown and Sandie Shaw.

Neebours wha ne'er thought to meet here, Now sat down wi double glee, Ilk gilt aye grew sweet and sweeter, Will gat hame'tween twa and three.

Jean, puir thing, had lang been greeting; Will, niest morning, blamed Tam Lowes But ere lang an owkly meetings Was set-up at Maggie Howe's.

Maist thing hae a sma beginning, But wha kens how things will end? Owkly clubs are nae great sinning, Gin folk haė enough to spend.

But nae man of sober thinking E'er will say that things can thrive, If there's spent in owkly drinking What keeps wife and weans alive.