Next door to John there dwelt his sister Peg, Once a wild lass as ever shook a leg When the blithe bagpipe blew--but, soberer now, She DOUCELY span her flax and milk'd her cow. And whereas erst she was a needy slattern, Nor now of wealth or cleanliness a pattern, Yet once a month her house was partly swept, And once a week a plenteous board she kept. And, whereas, eke, the vixen used her claws And teeth of yore, on slender provocation. She now was grown amenable to laws, A quiet soul as any in the nation; The sole remembrance of her warlike joys Was in old songs she sang to please her boys. John Bull, whom, in their years of early strife, She wont to lead a cat-and-doggish life, Now found the woman, as he said, a neighbor, Who look'd to the main chance, declined no labor, Loved a long grace, and spoke a northern jargon. And was d--d close in making of a bargain. The Sultaun enter'd, and he made his leg, And with decorum courtesy'd sister Peg; (She loved a book, and knew a thing or two, And guess'd at once with whom she had to do). She bade him "Sit into the fire," and took Her dram, her cake, her kebbuck from the nook; Ask'd him "About the news from Eastern parts: And of her absent bairns, puir Highland hearts! If peace brought down the price of tea and pepper, And if the NITMUGS were grown ONY cheaper;-- Were there nae SPEERINGS of our Mungo Park-- Ye'll be the gentleman that wants the sark? If ye wad buy a web o' auld wife's spinning I'll warrant ye it's a weel-wearing linen." Then up got Peg, and round the house 'gan scuttle In search of goods her customer to nail, Until the Sultaun strain'd his princely throttle And hallo'd--"Ma'am, that is not what I ail. Pray, are you happy, ma'am, in this snug glen?"-- "Happy?" said Peg; "What for d'ye want to ken? Besides, just think upon this by-gane year, Grain wadna pay the yoking of the pleugh."-- "What say you to the present?"--"Meal's sae dear, To make their brose my bairns have scarce aneugh."-- "The devil take the shirt," said Solimaun, "I think my quest will end as it began.-- Farewell, ma'am; nay, no ceremony, I beg"-- "Ye'll no be for the linen then?" said Peg.