The Happy Stranger, or, The Fortunate Meeting/The Humble Beggar

by Anonymous

For other versions of this work, see The Humble Beggar.

Text divider from 'The Happy Stranger, or, The Fortunate Meeting', a chapbook printed in Glasgow in 1802

THE HUMBLE BEGGAR.

In Scotland there lived a humble Beggar, He had neither house, nor hauld, nor hame,⟨But⟩ he was well liked by ilka bodie, And they gae him sunkets to rax his wame.

⟨A⟩ nivefoy o' meal, and a handfow o' groats, A dadd o' bannock, or herring brie,Cauld parrage, or the lickings o' plates, Wad made him as blyth as a beggar cou'd be.

⟨This⟩ Beggar he was a humble Beggar, The feint a bit o' pride had he,⟨He⟩ wad a ta'en his a'ms in a bikker, Frae gentleman, or poor bodie.

⟨His⟩ wallets a-hint and a-fore did, hang, In as good order as wallets cou'd be:⟨A⟩ lang kail-gully hang down by his side, And a meikle nowt-horn to rout on had he.

⟨It⟩ happened ill, it happened warse, It happened sae, that he did die:⟨And⟩ wha do ye think was at his late-wake, But lads and ladies o' high degree.

Some were blyth, and some were sad, And some they play'd at blind Harrie;But suddenly up-started the auld Carle, I redd ye, good fowks, tak tent o' me.

Up gat Kate that sat i'the nook, Vow Kimmer, and how do ye?Up he gat, and ca'd her a Limmer, And ruggit and tuggid her cockernonie.

They houkit his grave in Duker's kirk-yard, E'en far frae the companie;But whan they were gawn to lay'm i'the yird, The feint a dead not dead was he.

And whan they brought him to Duket's kirk-yard, He dunted on the kilt, the boards did flie,And whan they were gawn to put'm i'the yird, In fell the kist, and out lep he.

He cry'd, I'm cauld, I'm unca cauld, Fu' fast ren the fowl, and fu' fast ran he:But he was first hame at his ain ingle side, And he helped to drink his ain dirgie.