For Johnnie to himsell he said, As he came duntin' down the brae, "A wooer ne'er should hing his head, But blink the breeze an' brow the day;" An' Johnnie said unto himsell, "A wooer risks nae broken banes; I'll tell the lassie sic a tale Will gar her look twa gates at anes." But yet, for a' his antic dress, His cheeks wi' healthy red did glow; His joints war knit and firm like brass, Though siller-grey his head did grow. An' John, although he had nae lands, Had twa gude kie amang the knowes; A hunder punds in honest hands, An' sax-an-thretty doddit yowes. An' Nelly was a sonsy lass, Fu' ripe an' ruddy was her mou', Her een war like twa beads o' glass, Her brow was white like Cheviot woo; Her cheeks were bright as heather-bells, John crackit o' his bob-tail'd yowes; An' aye he show'd his boordly limb, An' a' the honours paid to him At kirk, at market, or at fair. Wi' sicklike say he wan the day, Nell soon became his dashin' bride; But ilka joy soon fled away Frae Johnnie's canty ingle side; For there was fretting late an' air, An' something aye a-wanting still, The saucy taunt an' bitter jeer Now, sic a life does unco ill. M An' John will be a gaishen soon; His teeth are frae their sockets flown; The hair's peel'd aff his head aboon; May ilka lassie understand In time the duties of a wife; But youth wi' youth gae hand in hand, Ye lasses, lightsome, blithe, an' fair, Wi' doited age, for gear or land. When ilka lad your beauty slights, An' ilka blush is broke wi' wae, Ye'll mind the lang an' lanesome nights O' Nell, the lassie o' the Brae. DOCTOR MONROE. "DEAR Doctor, be clever, an' fling aff your beaver, Come, bleed me an' blister me, dinna be slow; I'm sick, I'm exhausted, my prospects are blasted, An' a' driven heels o'er head, Doctor Monroe !" "Be patient, dear fellow, you foster your fever; Pray, what's the misfortune that troubles you so?" "O, Doctor! I'm ruin'd, I'm ruin'd for ever— My lass has forsaken me, Doctor Monroe! "I meant to have married, an' tasted the pleasures, Or grant me some poison, dear Doctor Monroe!" |