Page:Watty and Meg, or, The wife reformed (6).pdf/3

3 ⟨Something's⟩ wrang—I'm vext to see you— Gudesake! but ye're desperate thin! ⟨"⟩Aye, (quo' Watty) things are alter'd, But its past redemption now; ⟨O!⟩ I wish I had been halter'd When I married Maggy Howe! ⟨I've⟩ been poor, and vext, and raggy, Tried wi' troubles no that sma'; ⟨Them⟩ I bore—but marrying Maggy Laid the cape-stane o' them a'. ⟨Night⟩ and day she's ever yelpin, Wi' the weans she ne'er can ⟨gree;⟩ When she's tir'd wi' perfect skelpin, Then she flees like fare on me. ⟨See⟩ ye, Mungo! when she'll clash on Wi' her everlasting clack, Whiles I've had my nieve, in passion, Liftet up to break her back." "O! for gudesake, keep fra cuffets," Mungo shook his head and said, ⟨"⟩Weel I ken what sort o' life it's; Ken ye, Watty, how I did? After Bess and I war kippled, Soon she grew like ony bear, ⟨Brak⟩ my shins, and, when I tippled, Harl'd out my very hair! ⟨For⟩ a wee I quietly knuckled, But, whan naething would prevail, Up my claes and cash I buckled— Bess, for ever fare ye weel!