Page:Watty and May, or, The wife reclaimed.pdf/5

5 Try this, Watty—-When you see her Raging like a roaring flood, Swear that moment that ye'll lea’ her, That’s the way to keep her good.”

Laughing, sangs, and lasses’ skirls, Echoed now out-through the roof, “ Done ! ” quo’ Pate, and syne his erls Nailed the Dryster’s wauked loof.

In the thrang of stories telling, Shaking hauns, and ither cheer, Faith ! a chap comes on the hallan, “ Mungo, is our Watty here? ”

Maggy’s weel kent tongue and hurry, Darted through him like a knife, Up the door flew—-like a fury In came Watty’s scaul’ing wife.

“ Nasty, gude-for-naething being ! O ye snuffy, drucken sow ! Bringing wife and weans to ruin, Drinking here wi’ sic a crew !

Devil nor your legs were broken, Sic a life nae flesh endures, Toiling like a slave to sloken You, ye dyvor, and your whores.

Rise, ye drucken beast o’ Bethel, Drink’s your nicht and day’s desire : Rise, this precious hour, or faith I’ll Fling your whiskey i’ the fire.

Watty heard her tongue unhallowed, Pay’d his groat wi’ little din, Left the house, while Maggy fallowed, Flyting a’ the road behin’.

Fowk frae every door came lamping, Maggy curst them ane and a’; Clappet wi’ her hands, and stamping, Lost her bauchles i’ the sna’