WATTY AND MEG 



A TALE 

 "We dream in courtship, but in wedlock wake." — Pope. 



Keen the frosty winds were blawing, 



Deep the snaw had wreath'd the ploughs; 



Watty, weary'd a' day sawing, 

 Daunert^ down to Mungo Blue's. 



Dryster Jock was sitting cracky ,2 



Wi' Pate Tamson o' the Hill; 

 "Come awa'," quo' Johnny, "Watty ! 



Haith we'se hae anither gill." 



Watty, glad to see Jock Jabos, 



And sae mony neibours roun', 

 Kicket frae his shoon the snawbas, 



Syne ayont^ the fire sat down. 



Owre a broad wi' bannocks heapet, 

 Cheese, and stoups, and glasses stood; 



Some were roaring, ithers sleepit, 

 Ithers quietly chewt their cude.'* 



Jock was selling Pate some tallow, 



A' ths rest a racket hel', 

 A' but Watty, wha, poor fallow ! 



Sat and smoket by himsel'. 



Mungo fill'd him up a toothfu', 



Drank his health and Meg's in ane; 

 Watty, puffing out a mouthfu'. 



Pledged him wi' a dreary grane. 



I Strolled. ^^ "Jokey." » Then before. * Chewed their cud. 



