"Aweel, Guidman! I'm seer I sanna hinner; But, losh, ye mith hae tauld a bodie seener. There's mony things we're needin' unco sair-- What need I speak! the fient _ae_ singit hair Care ye for what the hoose, or bairns, or me Are needin'. _We_ maun just _oor_ wants lat be', An' clout the auld the best way that we can. Wow, sirs! gin ever I saw sic a man! Had ye but mintit what ye had in view, I mith hae moyens laid to win wi' you; But there's the kirn to ca', chessels to fill, An' steep a maskin' for the New Year's yill-- I canna gang! Wha ever saw the like! Man, ye're a byous han' for breedin' fyke!-- But see that ye come hame in timeous hours On your twa feet, an' nae upo' a' fours, Like ony haulket hummledoddy stirk, Tynin' yersel' an' wan'rin' i' the mirk. Lundie an' you--I maist cu'd lay my lugs-- Hae set a tryst to meet at Luckie Mugs'. Deil tak' her blinkin' een an' soople snout, For wilin' men to drink waur than a brute.-- Yea, na!--ye're seer o' that? Weel noo, Guidman, I wadna grudge a drappy noo an' than; But ilka market thro' the year's the same, Nae ance dae ye come freely sober hame. Saul! gin ye dinna o'er a new leaf turn, The deil may grip ye at the Collieburn; Or, gin ye win as far's In'rugie Brig, The kelpie there may beff ye ticht an' trig; Or oor guid neebours o' the Castlehill Rin aff wi' you hale buik, some post to fill In Fairyland; or, aiblins, wi' you pay That Kain to hell _they_ awe ilk seven years' day. See there, min, to the nowt doun by the foord, _They_ drink nae till their rizzon's fairly smoored-- In troth, they micht a serious lesson gie ye." "A-h! but there's nane ayont to say, 'Here's tee you.'" "Aweel, I'm seer I needna waste my breath; But, tak' ye tent, or else, as seer as death, Gin you an' Lundie gie nae o'er that drink, Some nicht ye'll meet a sad an' sair begink. Sae gang yer wa's; but, oh, my dear Guidman! Come hame just ae nicht sober--_gin ye can_."