APRIL 75 



Wi' ready gaff the callant l stan's, 



The fish ashore to draw, man ; 



The fisher bids him hauld his han's, 



And no to hash 2 the saumon. 



' He 's clean done oot : gae grup the tail, 



Just whaur it tapers sma', man ; 



And land him up, baith safe and hale 3 



My word ! a bonnie saumon.' 



' Gae bid the lass set on the pat, 

 And see it's not ower sma', man, 

 And pit twa gowpens in o' saut, 4 

 To boil my bonnie saumon ; 

 And send for Jock and Eab and Tarn 

 They 're fishers ane and a', man, 

 And bid them come to me at hame, 

 An' eat my bonnie saumon.' 



The gentry get their cooks frac France, 



Wi' mony a queer kickshaw, man, 



But, haith ! 1 wadna tak' their chance 



When I hae sic a saumon. 



Wi' it, and some o' Scotland's best, 



A cheerer maybe twa, man, 



We '11 gang like decent folk to rest, 



And dream o' catchin' saumon. 



Ance I was dining in the toon, 



Whaur a' things is sae brae, man, 



And there I saw a Lunnon loon 



Eat lobster sauce wi' saumon. 



Wae 's me that sic a slaister 5 should 



Gang into mortal maw, man ! 



To fyle the stamach spile the food 



And siccan " food as saumon ! 



1 Gallant, a lad. = Hash, to disfigure. 3 Hale, whole. 



4 Twa gcnvpens o' saut, two double handsful of salt. 



5 Slaister, nasty mess. 6 To fyle, to defile, pollute. 

 7 Siccan, such. 



