Page:Humorous poems.pdf/14

14

And every time great care is ta'en
To see them duly changed:
Auld uncle John, wha wedlock's joys
Sin' Mar's year did desire,
Because he gat the toom dish thrice,
He heav'd them on the fire
In wrath that night.

Wi' merry sangs, and friendly cracks,
I wat they didna weary;
And unco tales, and funny jokes,
Their sports were cheap and cheery;
Till butter'd sow'ns,^[1] wi' fragrant lunt,
Set a' their gabs a-steerin;
Syne, wi' a social glass o' strunt,
They parted aff careerin,
Fu' blythe that night.
Burns.

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THE GUDEWIFE O' GUILSTON.

To farnish matter for some rhymes,
I'll tell a tale o' former times:—

A farmer, near the east nook o' Fife,
Was carried aff in prime o' life,
And left a widow fu' o' grief,
Her sorrow real, but unco brief.
At first nae comfort would she hear,
Frae scripture, or frae reason clear;

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1. Sowans, with butter instead of milk to them is always the Hallowe'en supper.