3
⟨A⟩lloway's auld haunted kirk.
⟨A⟩h, gentle dames! it gars me greet,
⟨To t⟩hink how many counsels sweet,
⟨How⟩ many lengthen'd sage advices,
⟨The⟩ husband frae the wife-despises
⟨B⟩ut to our tale! Ae market night
⟨Tam⟩had got planted unco right
⟨Fast⟩ by an ingle, bleezing finely
⟨Wi'⟩reaming swats that drink divinely,
⟨And⟩ at his elbow, Souter Johnny,
⟨His⟩ ancient, trusty, drouthy crony;
⟨Tam⟩ lo'ed him like a very brither;
⟨The⟩y had been fou for weeks thegither
⟨The⟩ night drave on wi' songs and clatter,
⟨And⟩ aye the ale was growing better:
⟨The⟩ landlady and Tam grew gracious,
⟨wi'⟩favours, secret, sweet, and precious:
⟨The⟩ Souter tauld his queerest stories;
⟨The⟩ landlord's laugh was ready chorus;
⟨The⟩ storm without might rair and rustle.
⟨Tam⟩ did not mind the storm a whistle.
⟨Care⟩, mad to see a man so happy to:
⟨E'en⟩ drown'd himsel amang the nappy.
⟨As⟩ bees flee bane wir lades o' treasure,
⟨The⟩ minutes wing'd their way wi' pleasure
⟨Kin⟩gs may be blest, but Tam was glorious,
⟨O'er⟩ a' the ills o 'life victorious!
⟨B⟩ut pleasures are like poppies spread,
⟨You⟩ seize the flower, its bloom is shed;
⟨Or l⟩ike the snow falls in the river,
⟨One⟩ moment white-then melts for ever;
⟨Or l⟩ike the borealis race,
⟨That⟩ flit e'er you can point their place,
⟨Or⟩ like the rainbow's lovely form,
