Page:Watty and Meg, or, The wife reformed (2).pdf/3

3 Oh! I wish I had been halter'd

When I married Maggy Howe!

I've been poor, and vex'd and raggy,

Try'd wi' troubles no that sma';

Them I bore—but marrying Maggy

Laid the cape-stane o' them a'.

Night and day she's ever yelping,

Wi' the weans she ne'er can gree:

When she's tir'd wi' perfect skelping,

Then she flees like fire on me.

See ye, Mungo! when she'll clash on

Wi' her everlasting eleek,

Whiles I've had my nieve, in passion,

Lifted up to break her back!”

“O for gudesake keep frae cuffets!"

Mungo shook his head and said;

“Weel, I ken what sort o' life it's;

Ken ye, Watty, how I did?

After Bess and I were kippled,

Soon she grew like ony bear,

Brak my shins, and when I tippled,

Haurl't out my very hair!

For a wee I quietly knuckled;

But when naething could prevail,

Up my claes and cash I buckled,—

"Bess, for ever fare ye weel."

Then her din grew less and less aye,

Haith I gart her change her tune;

Now a better wife than Bessy

Never stept in leather shoon.