Page:Tale of three bonnets (NLS104185475).pdf/24

24 But now and then, when they did need him, A ſupper and a pint they gied him! That done, they ha'e nae mair to ſay, And ſcarcely ken him the neiſt day. Poor fallow, now this mony a year, With ſome faint hope, and routh of fear, He has been wreſtling with his fate, A drudge to Joukum and his mate; While Briſtle faves his manly look, Regardleſs baith of Roſe and Jouk; Maintains right quietly 'yond the cairns, His honour, conſcience, wife and bairns, Jouk and his rumlegary wife, Drive on a drunken gaming life, 'Cauſe ſober they can get nae reſt, For Nick and Duniwhiſtle's ghaiſt, Wha in the garrets often tooly, And ſhore them with a bloody gully.
 * Thus I have ſung, in hamlet rhyme,

A ſang that ſcorns the teeth of time, Yet modeſtly I hide my name, Admiring virtue mair than fame. But tent ye wha deſpiſe inſtruction, And give my wark a wrong conſtruction, Frae 'hind my curtain, mind I tell ye, I'll ſhoot a ſatire thro' your belly; But wha with havins jees his Bonnet, And ſays, Thanks t'ye for your Sonnet, Ye ſhanna want the praiſes due To generoſity. Adieu.