Watty heard her tongue unhallow't,
Paid his groat wi' little din;

Left the house, while Maggy follow't,
Flyting a' the road behin'.

Fowk frae ev'ry door cam lampin,
Maggy curst them ane and a',
Clappit wi' her hands, and stampin,
Lost her bauchels i' the sna'.

Hame at length, she turn'd the gavel,
Wi' a face as white's a clout,

Ragin like a very devil,

Kickin chairs and stools about.

'Ye'll sit wi' your limmers round ye! 'Hang you, Sir! I'll be your death! 'Little hauds my hands, confund ye! But I'll cleave you to the teeth.'

Watty, wha midst this oration,
Ey'd her whiles, but durstna speak,
Sat like patient Resignation,
Tremblin by the ingle cheek.

Sad his wee drap brose he suppet,
Maggy's tongue gaed like a bell;
Quietly to his bed he slippet,
Sighin aften to himsel.

Nane are free frae some vexation;
Ilka ane has ills to dree;

But thro' a' the whole creation
Is a mortal vext like me!

A' night lang he row'd and grunted,
Sleep or rest he coudna tak;
Maggy aft, wi' horror hunted,
Mum'lin, started at his back.

Soon as ere the morning peepit,
Up raise Watty, waefu' chiel,
Kist his bairnies while they sleepit,
Wakens Meg, and bids fareweel.

'Fareweel Meg !—and, O may Heaven < Keep you ay within its care!

'Watty's heart you've lang been grievin; Now he'll never fash you mair.

Happy coud I've been beside ye,
Happy baith at morn and e'en:

6

'A' the ills did e'er betide you,
'Watty ay turn'd out your frien'.

But ye ever like to see me

Vext and sighin late and air': 'Fareweel, Meg, I've sworn to leave thee, So thou'lt never see me mair.

Meg, a' sabbin sae to lose him,
Sic a change had never wist ;
Held his hand close to her bosom,

While her heart was like to burst.

'O my Watty! will you leave me
Friendless, helpless, to despair ?
'O! for this ae time forgie me,
'Never will I vex you mair!'

6 Ay, you've aft said that, and broken 'A' your vows ten times a week! 'No, no, Meg! see, there's a token 'Glittering on my bannet cheek.

Owre the seas I march this morning, Listet, testit, sworn and a', 6 Forc'd by your confounded girning: 'Fareweel, Meg, for I'm awa.'

Then poor Maggy's tears and clamour
Gusht afresh, and louder grew,
While the weans, wi' mournfu' yammor
Round their sabbin mither flew.

Thro' the earth I'll wander wi' you→ 'Stay, O Watty! stay at hame; 'Here upon my knees I'll gie you Ony thing you like to name.

'See your poor young lammies pleadin?
"Will ye gang and break my heart?
"No a house to put our head in—
"No a friend to tak our part !'

Ilka word cam like a bullet,
Watty's heart begoud to shake;
On a kist he laid his wallet,
Dighted baith his een, and spake-

If ance mair I coud by writing,
'Leave the sogers, and stay still,
Wad you swear to drap your flyting?
'Yes, O Watty, yes I will.'

Then (quo' Watty), mind be honest,
Ay to keep your temper strive;
Gin ye break this dreadfu' promise
"Never mair expect to thrive.

'Marget Howe! this hour ye solemn 'Swear by ev'ry thing that's guid, 'Ne'er again your spouse to scald him, 'While life warms your heart and bluid;

That ye'll ne'er in Mungo's seek me―
'Ne'er put drucken to my name—

Never out at e'ening steek me-
"Never gloom whan I come hame:

2

That ye'll ne'er, like Bessy Miller,
Kick my shins, or rug my hair :-
Lastly-I'm to keep the siller-
'This upon your saul ye swear.'

Oho!' (quo' Meg)—' Aweel,' (quo' Watty) Fareweel!- -faith I'll try the seas.' 'O stand still (quo' Meg, and grat ay), Ony-ony way you please!'

Maggy syne, because he prest her,
Swore to a' things o'er again :
Watty lap, and danc'd and kiss'd her;
Wow! but he was wondrous fain

Down he threw his staff victorious,
Aff gaed bannet, claes, and shoon;
Syne below the blankets glorious
Held anither hinny moon,