A wanton widow Leezie was,

As cantie as a kittlen ;

But Och! that night, amang the shaws,

She gat a fearfu' settlin!

She thro' the whins, an' by the cairn,
An' owre the hill gaed scrievin,
Whare three lairds' lands met at a burn,
To dip her left sark-sleeve in,

Was bent that night.

Whyles owre a linn the burnie plays,
As thro' the glen it wimpl't;
Whyles round a rocky scar it strays;
Whyles in a wiel it dimpl't;
Whyles glitter'd to the nightly rays,
Wi' bickering, dancin dazzle;
Whyles cocket underneath the braes,
Below the spreading hazle,

Unseen that night.

Amang the brachens on the brae,
Between her an' the moon,
The Diel, or else an outler Quey,

Gat up an' gae a croon :

Poor Leezie's heart maist lap the hool;

Near lav'rock-height she jumpet,

But mist a fit, an' in the pool

Out owre the lugs she plumpet,

Wi' a plunge that night.

In order, on the clean hearth-stane,
The Luggies three are ranged;
And ev'ry time great care is ta'en,
To see them duely changed:
Auld uncle John, wha wedlock's joys
Sin' Mar's-year did desire,
Because he gat the toom dish thrice,
He heav'd them on the fire

In wrath that night.

Wi' merry sangs, and friendly cracks,

I wat they did na weary;
And unco tales, an' funnie jokes,

Their sports were cheap and cheary ;

Till butter'd So'ns, wi' fragrant lunt,
Set a' their gabs asteerin;
Syne, wi' a social glass o' strunt,

They parted aff careerin

Fu' blythe that night.

F

THE JOLLY BEGGARS.

A CANTATA.

WHE

RECITATIVO.

honny

HEN lyart leaves bestrow the yird, Or wavering like the Bauckie bird, Bedim cauld Boreas' blast;

When hailstanes drive wi' bitter skyte,

And infant frosts begin to bite,

In hoary cranreuch drest;

Ae night at e'en a

wany core

O' randie, gangrel bodies,

prit

In Poosie-Nansie's held the splore,
To drink their orrá duddies:

гада

Wi' quaffing and laughing,
They ranted and they sang;
Wi' jumping and thumping,
The verra girdle rang.

nearest

First, niest the fire, in auld red rags,

Ane sat; weel brac'd wi' mealy bags,

And knapsack a' in order;

His doxy lay within his arm,

Wi' usquebae an' blankets warm,

She blinket on her sodger:

whiskey

An' aye he gies the tozie drab non-
The tither skelpin' kiss, lunies
While she held up her greedy gab,

น

Just like an aumos dish.

Ilk smack still, did crack still,
Just like a cadger's whip,
Then staggering and swaggering,
He roar'd this ditty up—

AIR.

TUNE-"Soldier's Joy."

I AM a son of Mars who have been in many wars,

And show my cuts and scars wherever I come;
This here was for a wench, and that other in a trench,
When welcoming the French at the sound of the drum.
Lal de daudle, etc.

My 'prentiship I past where my leader breath'd his last, When the bloody die was cast on the heights of Abram ; I serv'd out my trade when the gallant game was play'd, And the Moro low was laid at the sound of the drum.

Lal de daudle, etc.

I lastly was with Curtis, among the floating batt❜ries
And there I left for witness an arm and a limb:
Yet let my country need me, with Elliot to head me,
I'd clatter on my stumps at the sound of a drum.
Lal de daudle, etc.

And now, tho' I must beg with a wooden arm and leg,
And many a tatter'd rag hanging over my bum,
I'm as happy with my wallet, my bottle and my callet,
As when I us'd in scarlet to follow a drum.

Lal de daudle, etc.

What tho' with hoary locks, I must stand the winter shocks,
Beneath the woods and rocks oftentimes for a home;
When the tother bag I sell, and the tother bottle tell,
I could meet a troop of hell, at the sound of the drum.

RECITATIVO.

rafters

He ended; and the kebars sheuk,

Aboon the chorus roar ;

While frighted rattons backward leuk,
And seek the benmost bore:

A fairy fiddler frae the neuk,
He skirl'd out encore !

But up arose the martial chuck,
And laid the loud uproar.