Now, do thy speedy utmost Meg,
An' win the key-stane * o' the brig;
There at them thou thy tail may toss,
A rinnin stream they darena cross.
But e'er the key-stane she coud make,
The fient a tail she had to shake!
For Nannie, far afore the rest,
Hard upon noble Maggie prest,
An' flew at Tam wi' furious ettle;
But little wist she Maggie's mettle-
Ae spring brought aff her master hale;
But left behind her ain gray tail :
The carlin caught her by the rump,
An' left poor Maggie scarce a stump.

Now, wha this tale o' truth shall read,
Ilk man an' mither's son tak heed;
Whane'er to drink you are inclin❜d,
Or cutty-sarks rin i' your mind,
Think, ye may buy the joys owre dear,
Remember Tam o' Shanter's mare.

It is a well-known fact, that witches, or any evil spirits, have no power to follow a poor wight any farther than the middle of the next running stream.It may be proper likewise to mention to the benighted traveller, that when he falls in with bogles,' whatever danger may be in his going forward, there is much more hazard in turning back.

THE

MONK

AND

MILLER'S WIFE

A TALE.

BY ALLAN RAMSAY,

E

MONK

AND

MILLER'S WIFE.

Now lend your lugs, ye benders fine,
Wha ken the benefit o' wine,

An' ye wha laughin' scud brown ale,
Leave jinks a wee, an' hear a tale.

AN honest miller won'd in Fife,
That had a young and wanton wife,
Wha sometimes thol'd the parish priest
To mak her man a twa-horn'd beast.
He paid right mony visits till her,
And, to keep in wi' Hab the Miller,
Endeavour'd aft to mak him happy,
Where'er he kend the ale was nappy.
Sic condescension in a pastor,
Knit Halbert's love to him the faster :
And by his converse, troth 'tis true,
Hab learn'd to preach when he was fou.
Thus all the three were wonder pleas'd;
The wife well serv'd, the man well eas'd:
This grounds his corns, and that did cherish
Himsel wi' dining round the parish.
Bess, the gudewife, thought it nae skaitl
Since she was fit, to serve them baith.