Page:Watty and Meg, or, The wife reformed (5).pdf/4

4 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.

Try this, Watty---Whan ye ſee her

Raging like a roaring flood;

Swear that moment that ye'll lea' her!

That's the way to keep her gude!"

Laughing, fangs, and laffes, ſkirls

Echo'd now out-through the roof,

Done! quo' Pate, and syne his erls

Nail't the Dryſter's wauket loof.

I' the thrang o' ſtories telling,

Shakin hauns, and ither cheer,

Swith! 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 ſcawlin wife.

Scarcely had ſhe croſs'd the threſhold,

Till ſhe rais'd a clam'rous din,

Which made Watty ſhak an' tremble,

For to hear her thus begin:

«Ye naſty, gude-for-naething being!

O ye ſnuffy, drunken ſow!

Bringan wife and weans to ruin,

Drinkin' here wi' ſic a crew!

Devil nor your legs were broken!

Sic a life nae fleſh endures---

Toilan like a ſlave to ſlocken

You, you dyvour, and your 'hores!